Excerpt from The Prayer Book: Three Lectures Delivered to the Jewish Study Society During the Winter of 1904-1905
I begin this evening a course of lectures on the Prayer Book, regarded from the historical and the religious standpoints. Such a task, I think, is likely to be of interest and value. It cannot but be useful to set the Prayer Book in its true historic perspective, to exhibit it as the outcome of a process of evolution, and to show the relation that exists between the ideas it embodies and the past life of Israel. But no less needful is it to bring into clearer relief the sublimity of our liturgy, and sympathetically to examine its claim to remain the chosen expression of Israel's prayerful yearnings at the present day. It can scarcely be denied that the Prayer Book fails in these times to secure all the homage and reverence and love to which its intrinsic merits entitle it. Some of us do not take the trouble to discover its spiritual beauty; others have lost touch with it. In the one case the more or less unknown tongue in which the Prayer Book is written stands in the way; in the other the very familiarity of the prayers, the habit of repeating them week after week from childhood or youth, has obscured their meaning and diminished their impressiveness. There are doubtless many persons who are honourable exceptions to the rule. But that it is the rule no one, who knows anything of human nature, will question for a single moment.
The task, then, which I am proposing to myself is not superfluous, nor, I trust, is it likely to be without interest for my hearers. There, is sufficient ardour for Jewish things left us, I am sure, to make any effort welcome that aims at restoring the Prayer Book, Israel's great religious and historic monument, to its rightful place in the affections and the spiritual life of its custodians.
But the attempt to accomplish the plan I have formed will come later on.
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