A Methodist Prayer Book The Methodist Conference has taken an
interesting step in sanctioning the issue of a prayer book for optional and experimental use in Methodist churches. The book has been written and compiled by Methodists, and corresponds to a growing tendency among the Free Churches to have at least a limited recourse to printed liturgies. Liturgies have two advantages ; they enable an increased part to be taken by the congregation, and they are some protection against the inequalities of ministers. But the latter point must not be stretched too far ; no liturgy can save an incompetent minister ; and there are ministers who can kill the finest liturgy. Methodism can never dispense with the living voice. Meanwhile, since the demand for a service book exists, it has been thought well that there should be one of which .the Conference has definite knowledge. * * * *
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