202 LIFE AXD CORRESPONDENCE OF THE \j-7'^^ 



This ends the correspondence between Dr. White and Dr. Smith 

 on the subject of giving the alterations, etc., in the old Prayer 

 Book, ordered by the Convention of 1785, such form in print as 

 should best carry out the general purpose of that body. 



A single letter additional of Dr. Smith to a gentleman who, as 

 Bishop of Massachusetts, subsequently became eminent, though 

 he died within three months after his consecration, shall conclude 

 what I have of my ancestor's correspondence on the Proposed 

 Book, while it was yet going through the press.* 



Dr. Smith to the Rev. Samuel Parker. 



Chester, Kent County, Maryland, April 17, 17S6. 



Dear Sir : Dr. White having a more ready communication witli you 

 than I could have, he has at the desire of our committee for the press, 

 sent you the sheets of our revised Prayer Book, and I hope you will 

 have the whole complete by the meeting of your Convention, which 

 Dr. White writes me is to be about the end of this month. I trust that 

 after a serious and candid consideration of what we have done, it will 

 have the approbation of the worthy body, clergy as well as laity, who 

 are to meet you in convention ; or that if there be some things, which 

 you may judge could have been done otherwise, or better, we can in 

 future editions come to an easy agreement on this head, as would cer- 

 tainly have been the case had we been so happy as to have had your 

 advice and assistance as we expected at the last Convention. I think 

 there are few alterations which you did not wish. As chairman of the 

 grand committee for revising, etc., I had the alterations which you had 

 proposed in your last meeting, put into my hands the first day of our 

 sitting, and you will see that I paid a full attention to them, and that 

 we have agreed with you almost in every matter, except only respecting 

 the Nicene Creed, and our Convention in Maryland which met last 

 week have recommended the restoring that creed also, so that either it 

 or the Apostles' may be read at discretion, provided both be not used 

 in one service. The Maryland Convention have proposed also an addi- 

 tion in the consecration prayer in the holy communion, something 

 analogous to that of the liturgy of Edward Vlth and the Scots' liturgy, 

 invoking:; a blessing on the elements of bread and wine, which was left 

 out at the first review of the English liturgy, it is said, at the instance 

 of Bucer, and otherwise because the invocation favored the doctrine of 

 transubstantiation and it does now in the Scots' liturgy praying to bless 

 and sanctify the elements that they may becoine the body and blood, etc. 



* The Rev. Samuel Parker, consecrated Bishop (for Massachusetts) September 141I1, 

 1804, died December 6th, 1804. 



