Frederic Morehouse writes to his employees (1921)

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Anti-Episcopal Mice (1640)

Mr. Winthrop the younger, having many books in a chamber where there was corn of diverse sorts, had among them one wherein the Greek testament, the psalms and the common prayer were bound together. He found the common prayer eaten with mice, every leaf of it, and not any of the two other touched, nor any other of his books, though there were above a thousand.

—Journal of John Winthrop, October 15, 1640.

Bishop Raphael’s New Attitude (1912)

THE daily papers state that Bishop Raphael, of the Syrian mission in the United States, has recalled his permission formerly given to his people to receive the ministrations of our American clergy in the absence of Orthodox Eastern priests, in a letter which concludes:

“I am convinced that the doctrinal teaching and practices, as well as the discipline of the whole Anglican Communion, are unacceptable to the Holy Orthodox Church.”

Bishop Raphael had some time previously resigned his position as vice-president in the Anglican and Eastern Orthodox Churches Union.

We regret exceedingly that Bishop Raphael has reached this determination, particularly at a time when Greek and Russian ecclesiastics in their own countries are showing an increasing desire for friendly relations. It is of course true that there are variations in doctrinal teaching, practices, and discipline between the Eastern and the Anglican communions. Practices and discipline are changeable factors, and at no time has the Church Catholic maintained that they must be uniform in all ages and in all lands. The Anglican Churches will undoubtedly adhere to the principle that their practices and their discipline are subjects for their own internal regulation; and it would be easy for them to point out that laxity in such a serious matter of discipline as the easy re-marriage after divorce which is permitted by Eastern Christians is, in their judgment, a serious blot upon the disciplinary record of the Eastern Communion. If either party deems it profitable to point out the failures of the other to reach the high ideal at which, we believe, both are aiming, it will be an easy task, but it might not promote the cause of comity between the Churches. Variations in doctrinal teaching are more serious; and it is in the hope of finding common ground in this difficult field that the more friendly relations between the two communions are so greatly desired by those who hope and pray for the unity of the Church.

Only the desire to serve strangers in a strange land, and to show the friendship of one of the youngest of the national Churches to one of the oldest, has animated our clergy in their attempts to be of service to the unshepherded communicants of the Eastern Church in this country. And if sometimes our services have been too ardently pressed upon these strangers, as Bishop Raphael appears to intimate, it is because of our intense desire to extend this hospitality, and not because of any desire, in any quarter, to disturb the allegiance of Eastern Christians to their own hierarchy.

We believe Bishop Raphael has made a serious mistake: but in the meantime it behooves our clergy to be very circumspect and to withdraw from any relations with Syrians in this country.

—The Living Church, November 2, 1912, p. 5.

Pew Rental Plan Dropped by Church (1961)

New York, Jan. 21 (Associated Press)—Historic Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, one of the best-known landmarks in the city, has abandoned its 153-year-old practice of allowing persons to rent pews.

The Rev. Benjamin Minifie, rector of the church, told his parishioners of the move in a letter that will appear in tomorrow’s issue of the church calendar.

“It is my feeling,” he said, “that, because this is God’s house, any person should be free to enter it and to sit wherever he might choose.”

Donald Trump Answers the Westminster Catechism

W. Cat.: Brother Donald, thou art welcome here for a trial of thy knowledge in the Christian faith and its doctrine.
Trump: I was just hoping we could have a few questions back and forth here. When was the last time anybody saw us beating, let’s say, China in a doctrine deal? They kill us every time it comes to the Catechism. Well I beat China all the time. All the time. I’m going to build a new Great Wall of China before the next time they try to even make a deal with us about the Catechism. The Chinese are going to be the new Catechism losers, that’s what.

Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
Trump: Sometimes your best investments are the ones you don’t make. I’ve believed that my whole life. Do you see what I’m saying?

Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
Trump: That’s a very personal question, Cat. And I’ve said that before.

Q. 16. How did God create angels?
Trump: That’s a concept, not a fact. And you know, and I know, it was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. Are we still spending money on this? I’ll tell you what: I buy the angels and make them work for us. End of problem.

Q. 19. What is God’s providence towards the angels?
Trump: Very, very little corporate tax.

Q. 24. What is sin?
Trump: I really don’t know, Cat, that’s not my job to know that.

Q. 46. What was the estate of Christ’s humiliation?
Trump: Taxation over 25%.

Q. 66. What is that union which the elect have with Christ?
Trump: When I’m elected, you’re going to see a lot of big change, a lot of good change. That’s what.

Q. 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?
Trump: I don’t know if I’d go that far. My father had a four-step formula for getting things done: Get in. Get it done. Get it done right. And get out. Do you see what I mean? Why is this news to you people? Next.

Q. 84. Shall all men die?
Trump: Is this a gotcha question? I don’t do that. Don’t play games with me, Cat. I know your games.

Q. 90. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment?
Trump: I’ll tell you what: I am the worst thing that ever happened to any day of judgment. The IRS is already afraid of me. They donate to my campaign. I donated a lot to them through my whole life. They’re going to be applying for a lot of jobs soon.

Q. 99. What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of the Ten Commandments?
Trump: Did you hear about Starbucks? There’s no more Ten Commandments on the cups. You know what I’m going to do? Buy Starbucks and put the Ten Commandments back on the cups. Are we done here?

2015 Prayer Book Year in Review

In an annual ritual, here’s my roundup of translations, editions, and adaptations of the Book of Common Prayer I’ve digitized over the last year.

Select Portions of the Book of Common Prayer, according to the Use of the United Church of England and Ireland.
Translated into Bullom by Gustavus Reinhold Nyländer.
London: Ellerton and Henderson, 1816.
http://mammana.org/bcp/bullom1816/

Portions of the Book of Common Prayer in Arabic.
Liturgiæ Ecclesiae Anglicanae partes præcipuæ: sc. preces matutinæ et vespertinæ, ordo administrandi cænam Domini, et ordo baptismi publici; in Linguam Arabicam traductæ.
Translated by Edward Pococke.
London: R. Watts for the Prayer Book and Homily Society, 1826.
http://mammana.org/bcp/arabic1826/

Hebrew
סֵדֶר תְּפִלּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל
London: 1833.
http://mammana.org/bcp/hebrew1833/

A Selection of Prayers for the Morning, from the Service of the Church of England, Intended for the Introduction of Public Worship amongst the Aborigines of Australia.
By the Venerable W.G. Broughton, Archdeacon of New South Wales and Its Dependencies.
Translated into the Northumberland Dialect by L. E. Threlkeld.
Sydney: no publisher, 1835.
http://mammana.org/bcp/awabakal1835/

教會禱文.
Common Prayers of the Church.
Philadelphia: Episcopal Committee in Promoting Christian Work among the Chinese in Philadelphia, 1884.
http://mammana.org/bcp/chinese/philadelphia1884/

Daily Prayers, Holy Communion and Devotions, Form of Confession and Instruction, Etc. in the Ubir Language, of Wanigela, Collingwood Bay, Papua.
Sydney: D.S. Ford, 1920.
http://mammana.org/bcp/ubir1920/

Kiswahili
Sala Ya Jioni. Nyimbo Za Kanuni.
London: Society of SS. Peter and Paul, 1925.
http://mammana.org/bcp/kiswahili1925/

Kiswahili
Kitabu Cha Ibada Za Kanuni na Kuhudumu Sakramenti Pamoja Na Kawaida Za Kanisa Ilivyo Desturi Ya Kanisa La Unguja.
London: Society of SS. Peter and Paul, 1928.
http://mammana.org/bcp/kiswahili1928/

An Alternative Form of the Calendar and Occasional Offices of the Church Set forth by Authority for Use in the Church of the Province of South Africa Where Allowed by the Bishop.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1946.
http://mammana.org/bcp/cpsa1946/

Nga Tolaha Ana Ngaunga Maea. [Nga Mailaka Munia; Na Mwai Halui Teangaiha I Suli Haudinga.]
Holy Communion Manual with Prayers for Daily Use in the Language of Ulawa, British Solomon Islands.
Summer Hill, New South Wales: Melanesian Mission Press, 1948.
http://mammana.org/bcp/ulawa1948/

Kitap De Duɔr.
Prayer Book with Hymns, in Dinka, Bor dialect, modified.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1956.
http://mammana.org/bcp/dinka1956/

Ateso Prayer Book.
Ekitabo loka ailip naka ituŋa kere ido loka akorakin asakarementon ka ipitenio ice lukapolok luka ailip naka ekanisa ido ka isabulin. Kwape ejaar eipone loka Ekanisa loka England, loeseunitai aitwasam kotoma aanyanaret naka Upper Nile.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1957.
http://mammana.org/bcp/ateso1957/

Surat Sambiang.
A Prayer Book in the Sea Dayak Language, Authorised for Use in the Diocese of Borneo.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1957.
http://mammana.org/bcp/iban1957/

Benunu tepo ae sakrament da kandoari ae ekalesia da jimbo nenei ainda book England da ekalesia da jimbo ango.
The Book of Common Prayer in the Binandere Language, Papua.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1959.
http://mammana.org/bcp/binandere1959/

Kamba
Ĩvuku ya Mboya kwa andũ Onthe.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1963.
http://mammana.org/bcp/kamba1963/

Maasai-Samburu Prayer Book.
Embuku E Sayiata Too Ltung’ana Pooki.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1967.
http://mammana.org/bcp/maasai_samburu1967/

Luhya
Eshitabo Eshiokhulaama Nende Tsisakalamendo Nende Akebiima Bindi Bieikanisa.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1967.
http://mammana.org/bcp/luhya1967/

Littafin adduʼa.
Portions of the Book of Common Prayer in Hausa.
London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1968.
http://mammana.org/bcp/hausa1968/

Eastern Canadian Inuktitut
The Book of Common Prayer Translated into the Eastern Arctic Eskimo Tongue.
No place indicated: Diocese of the Arctic, revised 1972.
http://mammana.org/bcp/eastern_arctic1972/

Ekpere Na Usoro Ofufe-nru Di Iche Iche.
Appendix to the Ibo (Union) Prayer Book.
No place: C.S.S. Bookshops, no date.
http://mammana.org/bcp/igbo_appendix/

The Lord’s Service: Interim Rite.
London: The Faith Press, no date.
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1662/interim_rite.htm

Ang Kaayusan Ng Misa
Holy Eucharist (Rite Two) in Tagalog from the 1979 US Book of Common Prayer
No place: no publisher, no date.
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/tagalog_HC.html

O le Iukalesitia o upu
Holy Communion in Samoan.
No place: no publisher, no date.
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/Samoan_HC.html

I also helped in having translations into Polish of portions of Common Worship and the 1979 US Book of Common Prayer digitized and published online as Fragmenty Modlitewnika Powszechnego Kościoła Episkopalnego.

Finally, I started and did not finish working on a glorious translation into Serbo-Croatian, acquired through remarkable effort by my friend Benjamin Letzler. On to 2016.