ELEVEN O'CLOCK MATINS
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Siu,—Will you allow me to suggest to " Country Vicar " that the Choral Eucharist is not " a feeble imitation of the Roman Mass"? It is the Mass and our Reformers did not hesitate so to describe it in the first Reformed Prayer Book, but it is the Mass according to our English and not the Roman use. A devout Roman Catholic presumably says his prayers. Are we to cease saying our prayers lest we be accused of imitating Roman Catholics ? May I add that there is a very important point which I think has not been mentioned in this interesting and illuminating correspondence ? Fhe great majority of people who claim to be members of the Church of England are entirely ignorant of the Communion service, cannot find their way about it and naturally feel very uncomfortable if they happen to find themselves present at it. That is my experience after 4o years in the ministry in both town and country parishes. And what a tragedy it is ! for this is the only service ordained by Christ for His people.
It is not their fault that they arc so ignorant. Our method has been wrong. We have substituted Matins—a service ordained by man—for what is pre-eminently the Christian Service—a service of obligation for all the members of Christ and His Church. This is clearly the mind of the Prayer Book, for it is only at this service that we are directed to preach a sermon, to give out notices and to have a collection.
It is a simple plan to have Matins and Choral Eucharist on alternate Sundays for a time, till the people " get used to it." In the end, it may be after some years, the Lord's service wins its way into the hearts of the people. They have dis- covered what Worship is at its best, and that the Eucharist proclaims, as no other service can, the meaning and the purpose of Calvary.
There will be no need to lament the absence of such people from Church on Sunday mornings, and the wireless service will not satisfy them. They will be there, not necessarily for Communion, but to join in this service of high Thanksgiving, and to worship and adore their risen and glorified Saviour.—
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