CHAPTER XIX.

ORDER AND DIRECTIONS FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP

Ques. 1. What directions are given for uniformity in public worship?

Ans. 1. The morning service shall be conducted in the following order:

ORDER OF PUBLIC WORSHIP

1. Organ voluntary or song.

2. Singing, congregation standing.

3. Repeating "Apostles' Creed."

4. Prayer—closing with Lord's prayer, repeated or chanted.

5. Singing—anthem or hymn.

6. Reading lessons out of the Old and the New Testament—with chant by choir or suitable song between the lessons.

7. Announcements and notices.

8. Singing—congregation sitting.

9. Preaching.

10. Singing—congregation standing.

11. Prayer.

12. Doxology and benediction.

2. The afternoon and evening services shall be the same as the morning, except that one of the lessons, or both, may be omitted, at the discretion of the minister.

3. The Lord's Supper shall be administered monthly, in every congregation, wherever it is practicable; and where it is not, at every quarterly meeting. Let the service preceding the administration be so proportioned as to admit of due time for this solemn ordinance.

4. Let the Lord's Prayer be used on all occasions of public worship, in concluding the first morning prayer, the congregation repeating after the minister; and the apostolic benediction (2 Cor. xiii. 14) in dismissing the congregation.

5. The Ritual shall be invariably used in all the offices for which it is prescribed.

Ques. 2. How shall we guard against formality in singing?

Ans. 1. By choosing such hymns as are proper for the occasion.

2. By not singing too much at once; seldom more than five or six verses.

3. By suiting the tune to the words.

4. By often stopping short, when the words are given out, and asking the people: "Now, do you know what you said last? Did you speak no more than you felt?"

5. In all our congregations let the people learn to sing, and use our own Hymn and Tune Books.

6. Exhort every person in the congregation to sing.