REVISED TABLES OF LESSONS MEASURE, 1922. (Hansard, 26 July 1922)

§ Lord HUGH CECIL

I beg to move, That, in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Revised 646 Tables of Lessons Measure, 1922, be presented to His Majesty for Royal Assent. This is a Motion of a quite uncontroversial character. For some years past a great many learned men in the Convocations of Canterbury and York have been engaged in framing an alternative lectionary which may be used, at the choice of the minister, in place of the existing lectionary. It is not compulsory; it is provided that the lectionary may be used. The only restriction on the choice of the minister to use one or the other is that he must choose for one year. If he chooses the new lectionary he must continue with it for the remainder of the year. Otherwise, the choice is perfectly free. The difference between the old lectionary and the new is chiefly this: The old lectionary was framed principally on the calendar of months, day by day. The new lectionary is framed principally with regard to the various Christian feasts, which depend mainly upon the particular place of Easter in the year. The new lectionary is drawn up according to such and such a Sunday after Easter and such a Sunday after Trinity. In addition to that, a larger choice of lessons is given; there are two or three lessons provided for most Sundays instead of only one. I do not think there is likely to be any opposition to the details of this Measure.