Preface.

The accompanying Form of Prayer has been prepared principally for the purpose of preventing persons who profess Free thought doctrines from drifting into Atheism. The alterations in the Church of England Service are slight, but very important, fully as important as the alterations effected in Henry the VIII.'s time. Amendment being better than abolition, it has been thought better to amend than to abolish. The Lyceum Leaders and Guides published throughout Australasia offer no form of prayer; they are rather hymn books than prayer books. The accompanying amendment of the Church of England Service will allow all persons to worship God reverently side by side. This. I take it, is what most Colonists desire; thinking men being anxious to escape from the wretched differences of religious creed. A subsequent work will contain an adaptation of those glorious anthems and hymns used by all Churches in God's worship; but in this I hope to receive the aid of friends possessing musical ability. Music hath the power of softening the feelings of men worried by the cares of the world, and rendering the a more ready to bow their heads to God. I would also gladly receive any stiggetions towards correcting the accompanying drafts, which in two or three instances do not satisfy my mind. Especially would I ask Presbyterian and Wes-leyan clergymen to take them into their consideration.

Certain portions of the Church of England Service have necessarily been omitted. Reference will be made to the reasons why this has been done when the Evening Service and the ordinary Prayers and Thanksgivings are submitted. There is nothing to prevent any minister of religion from using the present proposed form of worship, and preaching from any authority he pleases, or from which his congregation desires him specially to preach. Yet even this form of prayer on tains many verses which I should like to omit, were it not that I fear to amend too much. A century hence these words may be omitted. Let that which has been done suffice for the present.

Gladly would I see a Church established in New Zealand to be called the Church of God, in which all men may worship the Great Maker and Ruler of this Universe's de by side But this will be a work of time, and all who aid in toe work must so expect it. Had it not been lor the steady determination of Thomas Cromwell, Cecil, Walsingham, and other English statesmen at the time of the Reformation, we should never have had a Church of England Service at all. The prayers would still be read in Latin, and a multitude of hum in beinss worshi ped not entitled to our adoration. There is out one God, and all men are His one and the prophets of His wondrous laws, l'ruly, it is not for us to worship any page 4 man or woman who has lived upon this earth; for that is equivalent to the setting up a human idol in place of the old graven image. Thinking men of the present day will not tolerate idolatry of any kind, and soon women will follow their example. Earnestly do I ask my fellow colonists of the Roman Catholic Church to think carefully over what I say; to read such a work as Draper's Intellectual Development of Europe," and to make use of the wonderful organization, power, and beautiful musical service of their Church in causing men to combine in the simple worship of God. And, further, to remember what Plato taught, "the unity of God, and brotherly love," so that our children may be educated side by side, and grow into a united and happy people.

The congregation of any church edifice may, by using this form of prayer, and inviting to their pulpit any clergyman who will preach these broad religious views, greatly aid in establishing such a Church as most men wish to see established. School Committees can also have portions of the Prayer Book taught in the schools, so that our present system of education may no longer be termed a Godless one. I hope these Committees will not, upon any account whatever, allow the Bible to be read in the schools; for the reading of the Bible does not mean the worship of God, but rather the perpetuation in Australasia of all the miserable differences of religious creed. Parliament in its wisdom would do well to ordain that every schoolmaster in the Colony should daily open school by reading a portion of these prayers, thereby preventing the strife of religious creeds. And so, with God's good grace, I submit these pages, sincerely hoping that they may tend to bind men's minds to one another in brotherly regard upon earth, and cause them humbly, modestly, and reverently to worship the Father and Ruler of all things who is in Heaven.