Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/91

 10 s. VIL JAN. 26, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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andra, George, Prince of Wales, and all the Royal Family ; for the Lords and others of His Majesty's most honourable Privy Council ; for the Great Coun- cil of the nation now assembled in Parliament ; for the nobility, gentry, and commonalty of this land ; for the magistrates, and others who are in authority, and herein especially for the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the City of Westminster ; that all in their several stations may labour to advance the glory of God, and the present and future welfare of mankind, remembering always that solemn account which they must one day give before the tribunal of God. But for the sake of all let us pray for the clergy, whether bishops, priests, or deacons, espe- cially for Randall, Lord Archbishop of this pro- vince, and Arthur Foley, Lord Bishop of this diocese, that they may shine like lights in the world, and adorn the doctrines of God our Saviour in all things.

"And for a due supply of persons qualified to serve God in Church and State let us implore His especial blessing on all schools and seminaries of religions and useful learning, particularly upon our Universities ; that in these and all other places more immediately dedicated to God's honour and service whatsoever tends to the advancement of true religion and useful learning may for ever flourish and abound.

" To these our prayers let us add our unfeigned praises for mercies already received ; for our crea- tion, preservation, and all the blessings of this life ; but. above all, for the inestimable love of God our heavenly Father in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace afforded us here, and for the hope of glory here- after. Finally, let us praise God, for all His servants departed this life in His faith and fear, beseeching Him to give us grace so to follow their good example that, this life ended, we may dwell with them in life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose most perfect form of words we pray Our Father, which art in heaven," &c.

The additions and alterations are in the amplification of the King's style and title, introduced by the present rector, Canon Hensley Henson, after His Majesty's acces- sion, when the royal style and titles were amended. It is a question, however, if the phrase " Defender of the Faith " ought not to go before " Emperor of India " rather than after it. When Westminster received its most recent charter of incor- poration, the words " City of " were added to the paragraph relating to the Mayor, &c. When the present Dean of Westminster (Rev. Dr. J. Armitage Robinson) was rector of St. Margaret's, in the section of the prayer relating to the Universities he used to invoke a special blessing upon his own particular college at Cambridge (Christ's College) ; but this was never done before, nor has it been continued by his successor. It may be mentioned that Canon Robert Eyton, when he came from Chelsea to Westminster, tried to abandon the use of this prayer altogether ; but several members of Parlia- ment and old members of the congregation

objected to the omission, and after a few weeks it was resumed, conformably to ancient custom, and so it remains to the present time. For my own part, I may say that I greatly prefer the opening as used in our church to the one mentioned by the querist, as it appears to link the clergy and laity in making the various supplications in the prayer. W. E. HARLAND-OXLEY.

Westminster.

The 55th Canon of 1603 orders the use of the Bidding Prayer, and gives the form of it, which, as H. G. P. correctly surmises, commences, " Ye shall pray for," &c. ; and no alteration has ever been allowed by authority. It is therefore somewhat re- markable that at such a gathering as the recent Church Congress the form "Let us pray for," &c., should have been substituted, not only because it was irregular, but further because the latter form would imply ignorance of its structure and character. The Bidding Prayer is not in itself a prayer at all, but is an instruction to the congregation as to the things for which they should make their petitions at the time of public worship. It is further remarkable, seeing how almost entirely it has fallen into disuse, that it is the only form which may lawfully be used before the sermon. It is drawn up upon the lines of the pre-Reformation Bidding of the Bedes (prayers), as the prayer before the sermon was then termed, and, although admirable in form and matter, was originally framed with the intention of depriving the Puritans of the opportunity, which they frequently utilized, of making the prayer before the sermon an occasion of preaching sedition and disloyalty to the Church. In those days the preaching of sermons without any preparatory form of religious service was very customary, and the introductory prayer was frequently made the vehicle for violent attacks upon the settled order in Church and State. It was to check these abuses that the Bid- ding Prayer was drawn up. The Bidding Prayer is frequently used in parish churches, especially at such services as the Commemo- ration of Benefactors ; and only a few Sundays ago it was so used at my own parish church, where the preacher recited it in the proper form. Perhaps preachers who are unaccustomed to the prayer think, in using the form " Let us pray for," &c., they are conforming more nearly to the Prayer Book, where the exhortation is always " Let us pray," especially before such prayers as^that for the Church Militant,