The Liberal vs Orthodox vs Roman Churches

Isn't the Liberal Catholic Church merely another "reformation" of the Roman Catholic Church?

No! The question does not therefore arise whether there is to be any parallel reformation of the Greek Orthodox Church.

The Liberal Catholic Liturgy is in this general sense a reformation of the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom.

Russian Orthodoxy

Now there are points in the worship of the Orthodox Church which Russians and others would not like to give up, such as singing by the choir rather than by the congregation, the special orthodox vestments and the arrangement of the sanctuary.

In that case the alternative is either to adopt the Liberal Catholic Rite and explain the reason for the changes, or to start a new rite which would be halfway between the old one and the Liberal Catholic. It is for the people concerned to decide whether they can go the whole way in making changes.

Personally, I feel that if they did not agree to making all the changes suggested, they might just as well keep the rite they already have, which has the merit of antiquity, and to the language of which not the same objection can be taken as to the wording of the Roman Mass.

Music

Singing by a fine choir may be very uplifting, but it has not all the same value to the congregation or the same effectiveness from an occult point of view as the heartfelt praise and adoration on the part of an entire congregation, when each man is joining in and contributing the uttermost that is in him. This is what we aim at in the Liberal Catholic Church.

The Sanctuary

The vestments of the Latin (i.e., Roman) rite are more scientifically designed to effect this.

The older civilisations certainly had greater respect for holy things than the present, and from their point of view there was something to be said for the sacred Mysteries being celebrated in awe and privacy, away from the gaze of the profane. But I am afraid that the modern world, with its democratic instincts, thinks it should have a share in everything that is taking place.

Of course, it is true that now that education has been democratised, people are more able to take active and intelligent part in what is taking place, and therefore as regards the singing and co-operation on the part of the people.

The Liturgy

In the Preface to the Liberal Catholic Liturgy will be found the reason why we could not borrow more directly from the Orthodox Liturgy in our work of revision.

In examining the working of the Orthodox Liturgy, Bishop Leadbeater found that the Eucharistic form built up was less clearly defined, more vague and cloudy than in the case of the Roman Liturgy.

It is not that I am insensible to the great beauties and deep devotion of the Orthodox worship. I am simply stating the facts as they appear to me.

Our Brother, Sophrony Nickoff, who was a priest of the Bulgarian Church, on looking into the matter decided in his church in Sofia to adopt the Liberal Catholic Rite in its integrity, instead of availing himself of my permission to modify it in any way to suit the modern Orthodox usage.