Untitled - Electric Scotland

1863-67] THE CHANGE EFFECTED 495
the covers of the Prayer Book, and to an acknowledg
ment that "all and everyone of the Articles, being in
number nine and thirty, besides the Ratification, are
agreeable to the Word of God/ a clergyman has now on
his ordination to declare once for all as follows :-
"
I assent to the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion and to the
I>ook of Common Prayer, and of Ordering of Bishops, Priests,
and Deacons I believe the doctrine of the Church of England
as therein set forth to be agreeable to the Word of God ; and in
public prayer and administration of the Sacraments I will use the
form in the said book prescribed and none other, except so far
as shall be ordered by lawful authority."
To give legal effect to the new subscription it was
necessary to make certain changes, not in Acts of Parlia
ment only, but in the Canons ; and Convocation obtained
leave from the Crown to formulate the alterations. Long
debates took place upon the constitutional questions thus
raised, but although the English Church Union petitioned
against the change, there was practically no difference of
opinion in either House upon that subject, and the neces
sary alterations were unanimously carried.
Seldom has there been a more conspicuous example
of the advantage of grasping the irritating nettle with
firmness and determination. The controversy is now
long over, and it is difficult to understand either the
vehemence of opposition to the suggested change, or the
wrathful surprise excited when Bishop Tait declared him
self to be in favour of the relaxation.