SEPTEMBER 12, 1801 & SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 --- 200 YEARS

ON THE TWELTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1801, THE BISHOPS, CLERGY AND LAITY OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONVENTION, APPROVED THE ARTICLES OF RELIGION.

At an earlier Convention they had approved THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER and
THE ORDINAL received from the Church of England. Thus by 1801 the three
basic and classic Anglican Formularies were approved by the PECUSA and it
was a wholly Anglican jurisdiction of the Church.

We need to be well versed in these Formularies, especially now when the
question of the identity and nature of the Anglican Way is under scrutiny
and attack.

I stand ready to help promote these celebrations wherever I am able. Let
there be essays and articles in parish magazines and diocesan papers. Let
there be a special service on September 12 where the Articles are publicly
read. Let there be one day conferences on them and let there be a revival of
interest in the Reformed Catholicism of the Anglican Formularies.

There is a good commentary on the Articles on the PBS website ---
www.episcopalian.org/pbs1928

Peter Toon (presbyter)ptoon@ont.com