ence between them and the bishops was in the opposite direction from that desired by the former. The chief changes were the substitution of the word "church" for "congregation," of "priest" for "minister" in the rubric before the absolution; of "bishops, priests, and deacons” for "bishops, pastors, and ministers of the Church" in the Litany; the addition of the clause concerning departed saints to the Prayer for the Church militant; the placing the prayer for the king, and those which follow it, in the Order for Morning and Evening Service; the addition of the "Collect or Prayer for all conditions of men," the general thanksgiving, the Prayers for ember weeks, the Prayer for the Parliament, and some others; the printing of the Epistles and Gospels in the words of the last translation; the omission of the rubric, "And (to the end the people may the better hear) in such places where they do sing there shall the lessons be sung in a plain tune after the manner of distinct reading; and likewise the Gospel and Epistle;" the alteration of the rubric before the Prayer for the Church Militant, so as to order the presentation of the alms and the placing of the bread and wine upon the Lord's Table; the addition of the rubric before the Prayer of Consecration, directing the priest to stand before the Table and so order the bread and wine, that he may with more readiness and decency break the bread before the people, and the restoration of the rubrics respecting his manual action. A service also was provided for the baptism of those of riper years, and a form of prayer to be used at sea.

This last review was the completion of the Prayer Book, which from that time (1662) to this has remained unaltered. Its history is the best witness to its worth. Formed upon the models of ancient liturgies, it was yet adapted to the use of later times. Translated from the service books long used in the Church, it was yet reduced to the agreement with "the most sincere and pure Christian religion taught by the Scripture, and with the usages in the primitive Church" (Act of Uniformity, 2 and 3 Edw. VI. c. 1). The liberty, which bishops had originally exercised, of putting forth different liturgies and afterwards different user in their respective dioceses, was yielded up by them all,

when they agreed to one uniform order of Common Prayer and administration of Sacraments. The nation ratified the same by repeated Acts of Uniformity, whereby both clergy and laity accepted the Prayer Book as the standard of public worship for this Church and realm. It is not too much to say of it, that it has been from the first until this day the loved and valued treasury of pious thought, of public and of private devotion to the most godly men in England, and that, whereever known, it has been respected and honoured, even by those of other nations and other communions. It may well be believed to have been drawn up "by the aid of the Holy Ghost" (Act, 2 and 3 Edw. VI. c. 1). May the good Providence of God strengthen, perfect, preserve, and bless it to our use and to His glory, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

E. H. ELY.

PALACE, ELY,

Jan. 6, 1866.

xix

Act of Uniformity Amendment (1872).

XXXV. & XXXVI. VICTORIÆ.

CAP. XXXV.

An Act for the Amendment of the Act of Uniformity.

[18th July, 1872.]

WHEREAS by the Act of Uniformity it is enacted that all and

singular ministers in any cathedral, collegiate, or parish church or chapel, or other place of public worship in England, shall be bound to say and use the Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, celebration and administration of both the Sacraments, and all other the public and common prayer, in such order and form as is mentioned in the Book of Common Prayer annexed to the said Act:

And whereas in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixtynine Commissioners were appointed by Her Majesty to inquire and consider, amongst other matters, the differences of practice which have arisen from varying interpretations put upon the rubrics, orders, and directions for regulating the course and conduct of public worship, the administration of the sacraments, and the other services contained in the Book of Common Prayer, with a view of explaining or amending the said rubrics, orders, and directions so as to secure general uniformity of practice in such matters as may be deemed essential, and to report thereon from time to time, having regard not only to the said rubrics, orders, and directions, but also to any other laws or customs relating to the matters aforesaid, with power to suggest any alterations, improvements, or amendments with respect to such matters or any of them:

And whereas the said Commissioners have by their Report dated the thirty-first day of August one thousand eight hundred and seventy recommended in manner therein mentioned:

And whereas Her Majesty was pleased to authorise the Convocations of Canterbury and York to consider the said Report of the said Commissioners, and to report to Her Majesty thereon, and the said Convocations have accordingly made their first reports to Her Majesty:

Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

I. In this Act,

The term "Act of Uniformity" means the Act of the fourteenth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, chapter four, intituled "An Act for the Uniformity of Public Prayers and Ad66 'ministration of Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies, "and for establishing the Form of Making, Ordaining, and Con"secrating Bishops, Priests, and Deacons in the Church of Eng

Definitions.

Use of shortened form of

Morning and
Evening
Prayer.

Special service for special occasions.

Additional service on

Sundays and holy-days.

"land," and includes the enactments confirmed and applied by that Act to the Book of Common Prayer:

The term "Book of Common Prayer" means the book annexed to the said Act of the reign of King Charles the Second, and intituled "The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of "the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church "according to the Use of the Church of England, together with "the Psalter or Psalms of David pointed as they are to be sung 66 or said in Churches, and the Form or Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons :" The term "cathedral" means a cathedral or collegiate church in which the Book of Common Prayer is required by the Act of Uniformity to be used:

The term "church" means any parish church, chapel, or other place of public worship which is not a cathedral as before defined, and in which the Book of Common Prayer is required by the Act of Uniformity to be used.

2. The shortened Order for Morning Prayer or for Evening Prayer, specified in the schedule to this Act, may, on any day except Sunday, Christmas Day. Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Ascension Day, be used, if in a cathedral in addition to, and if in a church in lieu of, the Order for Morning Prayer or for Evening Prayer respectively prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer.

3. Upon any special occasion approved by the ordinary, there may be used in any cathedral or church a special form of service approved by the ordinary, so that there be not introduced into such service anything, except anthems or hymns, which does not form part of the Holy Scriptures or Book of Common Prayer.

4.

An additional form of service varying from any form prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer may be used at any hour on any Sunday or holy-day in any cathedral or church in which there are duly read, said, or sung as required by law on such Sunday or holyday at some other hour or hours the Order for Morning Prayer, the Litany, such part of the Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion as is required to be read on Sundays and holy-days if there be no Communion, and the Order for Evening Prayer, so that there be not introduced into such additional service any portion of the Order for the Administration of the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion, or anything, except anthems or hymns, which does not form part of the Holy Scriptures or Book of Common Prayer, and so that such form of service and the mode in which it is used is for the time being approved by the ordinary; provided that nothing in this section shall affect the use of any portion of the Book of Common Prayer as otherwise authorised by the Act of Uniformity or this Act.