EXPLANATORY. AT the General Conference of 1860 a Committee, consisting of some of the most pious and learned men of the Church, was appointed to revise the Ritual of the Church. During a period of four years these godly men developed and perfected their work, when the result was submitted to the General Conference of 1864. The results of the patient labors of this Committee were again referred by the Conference to the Committee on Revisals, by whom it was reported in successive portions for the consideration and final action of the Conference in its collective form. We may well conclude, then, that in the present forms of our Ritual we have the highest wisdom and best judgment of the Church, and, as sanctioned by the General Conference, it comes to us with the highest recommendation and authority. The Ritual, of course, is published in the Discipline, and is also issued in an elegant octavo form for the pulpit. But there are many reasons why it should be issued in a neat, convenient, and cheap form. The preacher so often needs it, that it should be offered to him in a form convenient for the pocket. The services of the Ritual contemplate such a participation of the people that it is very desirable that there should be several copies in each pew. For example, the general confession in the communion service ought to be repeated by all the communicants. The baptismal service, also, and the form for receiving members contemplate specific answers to the questions proposed to the candidates. For these purposes they should have the Ritual before them, and should follow it in their answers. Now that the General Conference has furnished excellent forms of service for the Church, it is earnestly hoped that they will receive the hearty indorsement of both preachers and people, and that they will be uniformly used on the occasions for which they provide. To facilitate this object we issue the Ritual in this cheap and convenient form. All will perceive the propriety of preceding the forms of service with the Doctrines and General Rules of the Church, which should be in the hands of all our people. |