[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Slit,—As it is still constantly asserted that the New Prayer Book omits Prayers for the King, may I point out why this statement is untrue ?
The New Book retains all the present prayers for the King and for the Royal Family. In addition to these it provides two more, one for the King and all in Authority under him, and another, much needed, for the British Empire, in which the King is very prominently mentioned by name.
The only excuse for the mistake is that what are called the Five Prayers (those at present printed after the Third Collect in Mattins and Evensong) are now printed in a more conve- nient, and perfectly obvious, place. Some people, unused to liturgical subjects, have therefore assumed that the obligation to use these is changed. This is not the case : as liturgical authorities have for many years pointed out, Mattins and Evensong proper have always ended at the Third Collect, the other prayers being used in greater or less number at dis- cretion. At the present day in the vast majority of churches the greatest freedom is used after the Third Collect, and the Five Prayers are not treated as of obligation.
As the law stands at present, it is not legal to say the Prayer for the King at Sunday Morning Prayer ; because the rubric requires the Litany to be used on Sundays instead of the Five Prayers. Under the New Book the Prayers for the King and Royal Family will be made lawful at Sunday Morning Prayer. Indeed, the parson will be able lawfully to use the two Commu- nion Service prayers as well ; and also to use more prayers for the King at the Communion Service than before, if he chooses. The regalism of the Prayer Book is in fact increased.—I am,
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