The Book of Common Worship of 1906

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The Book of Common Worship of 1906 was the first liturgical book of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. It was replaced by a new edition in 1932.

The book was the result of overtures from the Synod of New York and the Presbytery of Denver. Henry Van Dyke was the chairperson of the committee charged with the publication of the book.

The book relied heavily on the liturgical reforms of the Church of Scotland and incorporated much of the liturgical tradition from the Book of Common Prayer. Many Presbyterians were angered by what they felt was a loss of liberty in worship and criticized "canned prayers."

In the General Assembly meeting to approve the book, one commissioner threw the book across the room and said, "Faugh! It smells of priestcraft." Another speaker responded, "This is not van Dyke's prayer book. It belongs to every member of the committee you appointed. It is not a liturgy. It's not a ritual. It does not contain 'canned' prayers. It contains great live prayers of our fathers. Are you going to tell the man who wants to use this book that he can't have it?"

In the end, the book was published but not fully embraced. However, it paved the way for a continuing tradition of liberty in Presbyterian worship in America, balanced with written resources for worship.

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