Fac-simile of the title page of the first Standard Prayer Book of the American Episcopal Church, printed by Hall & Sellers,

of Philadelphia, in 1790.

Exact size.

EARLY STANDARD PRAYER BOOKS OF THE

AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

THE Proposed Book of 1786 had produced such a wide spread dissatisfaction that there was no possibility of its ratification.

ever regarded it with favor.

Bishop Perry writes:

Only a few persons had

"Its use had never been

general, and in all but a few churches it was now forever laid aside. In New England, its adoption by Trinity Church, Boston, was only temporary. At Trinity, Newport, R. I., the attempt to introduce it, we are told by Bishop Seabury, was productive of consequences threatening the very life of the parish. Connecticut never admitted its use in any of its churches, and in New York the influence of Provoost was insufficient to secure its general introduction. It was used for a time in Christ Church, Philadelphia, as in numerous churches in the Middle and Southern States, but its omissions and alterations

1 The Genesis of the American Prayer Book, p. 96.

were generally distasteful, and it was, in all cases, after a brief time laid aside. The clergy returned to the use of their old office books, the changes being noted in manuscript, as in the case of the Christ Church Prayer Book of the day, still religiously preserved, and showing the alterations made to render the service conformable to our civil independence and the constitution of the independent States."

Moreover the Proposed Book stood in the way of any immediate extension of the Episcopate through the Church of England. The Convention of 1785 petitioned the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishops of the Church of England "to confer the Episcopal character on such persons as shall be recommended by this Church in the several States here represented." In their reply the English prelates after expressing their affectionate regard for the American Church, said, "With these sentiments, we are disposed to make every allowance which candour can suggest for the difficulties of your situation, but at the same time we cannot help being afraid, that, in the proceedings of your Convention, some alterations may have been adopted or intended, which those difficulties do not seem to justify. Those alterations are not mentioned in your address; and, as our knowledge of them is no more than what

has reached us through private and less certain channels, we hope you will think it just, both to you and to ourselves, if we wait for an explanation. For while we are anxious to give every proof, not only of our brotherly affection, but of our facility in forwarding your wishes, we cannot but be extremely cautious, lest we should be the instruments of establishing an Ecclesiastical system which will be called a branch of the Church of England, but afterwards may possibly appear to have departed from it essentially, either in doctrine or in discipline." This communication was presented to the Convention that met in Christ Church, Philadelphia, in June, 1786. A committee, consisting of Rev. Doctors Smith, White and Wharton, and Messrs. Parker and Griffin, was appointed to draw up a reply. This answer was adopted by the Convention and signed by all the delegates, both clerical and lay. In this document is the following language: "We are unanimous and explicit fn assuring your Lordships, that we neither have departed from, nor propose to depart from the doctrines of your Church. We have retained the same discipline and forms of worship, as far as was consistent with our civil Constitutions; and we have made no alterations or omissions in the Book of Common Prayer but such as that consideration prescribed, and such