As the little Prayer Book of 1795 was printed for the sake of the amended Psalter, and as the book is accessible to only a few persons, a liberal quotation has been made from the Psalms, that the drift of the version may be understood. Bishop Seabury was satisfied to let the experiment rest, for he does not refer to the book in any of his writings aside from the Advertisement, and judiciously did not urge the general acceptance of his version of the Psalms. FLIES and CEREMONIES, Fac-simile of the title page of the Proposed Book of Common Prayer of the American Episcopal Church, printed by Hall & Sellers, of Philadelphia, in 1786. Exact size. THE REVISED AND PROPOSED BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER OF 1786, OF THE AMERICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH. AFTER the American Revolution, it was found expedient to make certain alterations in the Book of Common Prayer, that it might be adapted to the conditions of a Republic. In the minds of many conservative persons, the only changes sought for related solely to the State prayers. There were others, however, who believed the time had come to make a general revision of the liturgy. At a Convention of the dioceses of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, held at Boston in 1785, the changes desired were expressed in a resolution. Conventions held in Virginia and Maryland also put themselves upon record as desiring a revision. There were also many individual expressions of opinion bearing upon the same subject. The Rev. Charles H. Wharton, D. D., Rector of Immanuel Church. at New Castle, Del., in a letter to Rev. Mr. Parker, of Boston, said: "I think the simplifying of the Liturgy should be among the first objects of the Convention. Whatever was left with a view of reconciling parties at the period of the Reformation or retained as suitable to Cathedral Service, may safely be omitted by the American Church. Perhaps the opportunity never occurred since the days of the Apostles of settling a rational, unexceptionable mode of worship. God grant we may improve it with unanimity and wisdom." He also wrote to Rev. Dr. White, saying: "If no alterations in the Liturgy are to be made but such as the Revolution requires, there is little need to think upon the subject, unless, perhaps, omissions be not deemed alterations. My decided opinion is that our prayers are too numerous, as well as the repetitions. draw up a motion on this head, which I mean to make to the Convention, if you should approve of it." The Rev. Edward Bass, of Newburyport, who became the first Bishop of Massachusetts, was very cautious in his letters, and the changes in the liturgy indicated by him were few in number. I shall For the revision of the Prayer Book and other important transactions, a Convention was called in Philadelphia in 1785. It was held in Christ Church in that city, and continued its sessions from Sep |