be used where any one of the memorial days is to be observed.

(e) New Tables.-The Commission has provided tables of the Christian Year, giving in outline the sequence of seasons and days. It is believed that these will be of distinct educational value. A table of the precedence of Holy Days has also been compiled, which will be obviously convenient.

VI. The Psalter.-Recommendations made in 1916 by the Commission in regard to the Psalter were for the most part adopted by the Convention. Further study of the matter has convinced the Commission that other recommendations should be made. These recommendations cover two points. The first is the printing of certain Psalms in sections, indicated by a division in the page, which will make possible the use of parts of Psalms and will give opportunity for omitting, for instance, the imprecatory sections of certain Psalms. The second section concerns the text. The Commission believes that the translation as it stands in the Prayer Book should remain as far as possible intact, but in the interest of edification a few corrections have been made in translation, where the meaning is at present obscure, or clearly erroneous.

VII. The Holy Communion.-The minor amendments offered by the Commission in the Order for the Holy Communion speak for themselves. Such additions as are proposed in the way of enrichment are permissive except in the case of the Proper Prefaces. The form proposed for the printing and the use of the Ten Commandments is believed by the Commission to be worthy of approval. The Commandments appear in full as in their present form, but so arranged that they may be read in the shortened form.

In the order of the parts of the Office, the Commission is recommending only two changes. In general, it may be said that in the great services of the congregation, the Holy Communion, Morning and Evening Prayer, and the Litany, changes in the order or outline of the Offices have been deemed undesirable. The only exceptions of any importance are the removal of the Prayer of Humble Access to a place immediately before the Communion, and the placing of the Lord's Prayer immediately after the Prayer of Consecration.

VIII. Collects, Epistles and Gospels.-In this section, certain amendments are offered, which the Commission believes will commend

themselves. Prominent among them are the provision for the recognition of the Baptism of our Lord on the second Sunday after the Epiphany, and the inclusion of the Parable of the Prodigal Son among the Gospels of the Lenten season. The enrichment afforded by the provision of certain new Collects, Epistles and Gospels will, it is also believed, meet a real need of the Church.

IX-XVIII.-In the case of the Occasional Offices, in contrast to the Congregational Offices, the changes proposed are numerous, and affect both order and contents. This is in response to what the Commission feels to be a very widespread demand, not only in all parts of our Church, but throughout the whole Anglican Communion. For the most part the reasons for the recommendations, as given in the Schedule, are evident. A few explanatory comments, however, are not out of place.

(a) Baptism.-The three Offices for the Public and the Private Baptism of Infants and for the Baptism of those of Riper Years have been combined in one. It will be apparent upon inspection that one form, with appropriate rubrical directions for various conditions, is enough. It is desirable to dis

courage private baptism where it is not really unavoidable. In the revised formula some of the homiletical parts of the old Offices have been omitted.

(b) Catechism.-The substitution of the two Offices of Instruction for the present catechetical text-book seems to be more in keeping with the general scheme of the Prayer Book as a book of devotion. Nothing in the present Catechism is lost. On the other hand, some new matter is added. It is believed that this form of instruction will increase the educational value of this part of the book.

(c) Visitation of the Sick.-The revision of this Office will render it, in the belief of the Commission, more usable and helpful. It provides that which experience shows to be needful, namely, a compendium of material. A number of new prayers and collects have been added, including a Litany for the Dying. A form has been added for the Anointing of the Sick with oil, or for the Laying on of Hands, with prayer.

(d) Burial of the Dead.-The principal changes that have been made in this Office are, first, the addition of four Psalms for optional use; second, the provision of an

alternate Lesson; third, a more distinct Commemoration of the Departed.

A new Form for the Burial of a Child has been added, which is believed by the Commission to be more suited for such an occasion than the general Burial Office.

(e) The Ordinal.-The only important change proposed by the Commission is the provision of a Short Litany, especially adapted to Ordinations, which may be used optionally in place of the Litany.

In conclusion, the Commission recommends that the several Resolutions contained in the Schedule be adopted by the Convention. CORTLANDT WHITEHEAD, Chairman. JOHN W. SUTER, Secretary.

Jan. 30, 1919