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Title: The Church Handy Dictionary
Author: Anonymous
Release Date: February 3, 2010 [EBook #31165]
Language: English
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THE CHURCH HANDY DICTIONARY
TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD
CHRISTOPHER WORDSWORTH, D.D.
LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN,
THIS LITTLE BOOK IS
(WITH HIS LORDSHIP'S KIND PERMISSION)
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY
THE AUTHOR.
THE CHURCH HANDY DICTIONARY
_Dedicated by permission_
TO THE RIGHT REV. THE LORD BISHOP OF LINCOLN.
NEW YORK:
JAMES POTT & CO., 14 & 16, ASTOR PLACE.
1890
CHURCH HANDY DICTIONARY.
_Additions and Corrections_.
ALTAR CLOTH, p. 3 add--
This is the modern Roman sequence of colours, but there is another
more truly belonging to the English Church, viz., the Sarum, in
which only _Red_ and _White_ are used.
HERESY, p. 53, line, for "not taught" read "_formally condemned_."
MIRACLES, p. 69, at the end, dele. and add--
, which latter deals with certain specious arguments adduced by
these writers against the _a priori_ possibility of a miracle
taking place.
PRESENCE, REAL, p. 81, add,--
Bishop Harold Brown says, in his history of Art. 28, "The
doctrine of a real, spiritual presence is the doctrine of the
English Church," and quotes the following passage from Jer.
Taylor: "The result of which doctrine is this: it is bread,
and it is Christ's Body. It is bread in substance, Christ in
the Sacrament; and Christ is as really given to all that are
truly disposed, as the symbols are: each as they can; Christ
as Christ can be given; the bread and the wine as they can; and
to the same real purpose to which they were designed."
The Article referred to above states, "The Body of Christ is
given, taken, and eaten, in the Supper, only after an heavenly and
spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is
received and eaten in the Supper is Faith."
Preface
From the nature of the case a little work such as this cannot lay
claim to much originality, but must be, in the main, a compilation
from various sources. Thus the articles on controverted subjects set
forth the views of the best authorities to which the compiler has
had access, but not necessarily his own, though his stand-point all
along is, he trusts, distinctly that of the Church of England.
The idea of this book was suggested by Dean Hook's invaluable Church
Dictionary, but, as will be seen on comparison, it is by no means a
mere abridgement of that work, many other authors having been laid
under contribution, and fresh articles having been added. Dean
Hook's Dictionary is admirable for its comprehensiveness and general
accuracy, but unfortunately the price puts it out of the reach of
most of those for whose use the present "Handy Dictionary" is
intended.
The compiler wishes to furnish not only the younger clergy, but
also the laity of the Church of England, with a cheap and handy
book of reference on all Church matters. He believes that Sunday
School Teachers and Church Workers, Teachers in National Schools,
the upper scholars in Church Schools of higher grade, both public
and private; and, indeed, all engaged in the elementary study of
the Prayer Book, or of Church History, will find this short "Handy
Dictionary" full of useful information.
The compiler desires in this place to acknowledge gratefully his
obligations to all the authors and books consulted, especially to
those contained in the following list:--
Hook's Church Dictionary.
Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity.
Bishop Harold Browne on the Thirty-nine Articles.
Bishop Wordsworth's Greek Testament.
Bishop Wordsworth's Theophilus Anglicanus.
Hart's Ecclesiastical Record'.
Riddle's Christian Antiquities.
Smith's Bible Dictionary.
Sir R. Phillimore's Ecclesiastical Law.
The S.P.C.K. Teacher's Prayer Book.
Bishop Barry's Teacher's Prayer Book.
Procter on the Book of Common Prayer.
Palmer's Origines Liturgicae.
Wheatly on the Book of Common Prayer,
Pearson on the Creed.
Sanderson's Handbook of Theology.
Hardwick's and other Church Histories.
Blunt's Household Theology.
Encyclopedia Britannica.
Chamber's Encyclopedia
The Globe Encyclopedia.
The Official Year Book of the Church of England.
Whitaker's Almanack,
etc., etc.
ABLUTIONS. Small quantities of wine and water poured into the
chalice, after a celebration, and consumed by the Priest. Some
take two ablutions, the first of wine, the second of wine and water
mixed. The object of this is to insure the entire consumption of
the consecrated element.
ABSOLUTION. In the Anglican Church the authoritative declaration,
by a Bishop or Priest, of God's pardon to the truly penitent. "All
the office and power of man in it is only to minister the external
form, but the internal power and grace of remission of sins is
properly God's." (_Bingham_.)
There are three forms of absolution in our Prayer Book, viz., in
the Order for Morning and Evening Prayer; in the Communion Service,
and in the Office for the Visitation of the Sick. It is to be
noticed in each case that Confession precedes Absolution. The
Scriptural authority for Absolution is found in Matt. xvi.19;
xviii.18; John xx.23; 1 Cor. v.3-5; 2 Cor. ii.10.
St. Jerome compares the office of the Christian Priest in
Absolution, with that of the Jewish Priest in cases of cleansing
from leprosy.
ABSTINENCE, _see_ Fasting.
ACOLYTE. One of the minor Orders of the Church of Rome. An Acolyte's
duties are to wait upon the Priests and Deacons, carrying the bread
and wine, &c. In some of our churches a layman, called a "Server,"
performs these duties.
ADULT BAPTISM, _see_ Baptism.
ADVENT. _Latin_, Coming. Four Advent Sundays immediately precede
Christmas. They are so called because they are designed to prepare
us to commemorate the _advent_, or _coming_, of Christ in the flesh
at Christmas, and also to prepare for His second coming to judge
the world. The Ecclesiastical, or Church Year, begins with Advent
Sunday. The season of Advent is spoken of in a homily written as
far back as the year A.D. 450.
ADVOWSON. The right in perpetuity of patronage to a church, or
any ecclesiastical benefice.
AFFINITY, _see_ Kindred.
AGAPAE. Love feasts. After a celebration of Holy Communion the early
Christians frequently partook of a social and friendly repast known
by this name. This custom was discontinued in the Vth. century on
account of abuses. It has been partially revived by some dissenting
sects of our own day, who partake of a frugal meal and narrate their
spiritual "experiences."
AGNUS DEI. Two Latin words, meaning "Lamb of God." It is an anthem
sung in some places by the choir during the Communion of the Priest.
The choir sing thrice, "O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of
the world," adding twice, "Have mercy upon us," and the third time,
"Grant us Thy peace." The anthem is found in Edward VI.'s First
Prayer Book.
AGNOSTICISM. A school of thought which denies that we can know
anything of God, or of a future state. It does not say that there
is no God, but simply that it is impossible for us to know anything
of God. It would do away with all revelation and theology, and make
us think of God as the great Unknown and Unknowable.
AISLE. From a Latin word, meaning a _wing_. The lateral division
of the choir, nave, or transept of a church.
ALB, _see_ Vestments.
ALLELUIA or HALLELUJAH. A Hebrew word, meaning _Praise ye the Lord_.
ALL SAINTS' DAY. Nov. 1st. On this day the Church commemorates all
the known and unknown departed Christian worthies, and the communion
of the Church triumphant with the Church as yet militant on earth.
It is called also All Hallows Day.
ALMONER. One who has the distribution of alms to the needy. In
monasteries it was the officer who had charge of the Almonry, or
room where alms were distributed. The Lord High Almoner is a Prelate
who has the disposing of the alms of the sovereign.
ALMS. Relief given out of pity to the poor. In ecclesiastical
language, the money collected during the Offertory. Alms should be
collected every Sunday, whether there is a communion or not, as the
rubric directs. The disposal of the alms rests with the clergyman
and churchwardens, when there is an offertory, _i.e._, when the
offertory sentences are read (see Rubric). Collections made at other
times seem to be at the Clergyman's sole disposal.
ALTAR; LORD'S TABLE; HOLY TABLE; COMMUNION TABLE. Disputes have
frequently arisen as to whether the Holy Table was to be called the
_Communion Table_ or the _Altar_. Bingham writes--"The ancient
writers used both names indifferently; some calling it Altar, others
the Lord's Table, the Holy Table, the Mystical Table, the Tremendous
Table, &c., and sometimes both Table and Altar in the same sentence.
Ignatius, Irenaeus, Origan, and Tertullian all call it Altar. It is
certain that they did not mean by Altar what the Jews and heathen
meant: either an altar dressed up with images, or an altar for
bloody sacrifices. In the first sense they rejected altars, both
name and thing. But for their own mystical, unbloody sacrifice, as
they called the Eucharist, they always owned they had an altar."
In our Prayer Book it is styled the _Table_, the _Holy Table_, and
the _Lord's Table_. The phrase _Communion Table_ occurs in the
Canons only. The word _Altar_ is used in the Coronation Service.
Bishop Sparrow, one of the reviewers of the Prayer Book in 1662,
writes thus:--"That no man take offence at the word _Altar_, let him
know, that anciently both these names, _Altar_, or _Holy Table_ were
used for the same thing; though most frequently the Fathers and
Councils use the name _Altar_. And both are fit names for that holy
thing. Por the Holy Eucharist being considered as a sacrifice, in
the representation of the breaking of the bread, and the pouring
forth of the cup, doing that to the holy symbols which was done to
Christ's body and blood, and so showing forth and commemorating the
Lord's death, and offering upon it the same sacrifice that was
offered upon the cross, or rather the commemoration of that
sacrifice, it may fitly be called an _Altar_; which again is as
fitly called an _Holy Table_, the Eucharist being considered as a
Sacrament, which is nothing else but a distribution and application
of the sacrifice to the several receivers."
ALTAR CLOTH. The 82nd Canon provides that the Altar be covered with
a carpet of silk, or some other decent stuff; also with a fair linen
cloth at the time of the ministration. It is usual in many churches
to vest the Altar in different colours to mark the various seasons
of the Church. Thus at Christmas, Easter, and festivals, other than
the feasts of Martyrs, _White_ is used. For Whit Sunday and feasts
of Martyrs, _Red_ is used. For Trinity Sunday _White_ is used, but
for the Sundays after Trinity, _Green_. _Violet_ is the colour for
Advent, Lent, Rogation Days, and Vigils.
ALTAR LIGHTS, CANDLES. On this subject, Proctor in his book on the
Prayer Book says, "No direction was given upon the subject of the
Ornaments of the Church in Edward VI.'s First Prayer Book, or in the
Act of Uniformity which sanctioned it: but the publication of the
Book was immediately followed by Injunctions (1549), condemning
sundry popish ceremonies, and among them forbidding to set 'any
lights upon the Lord's board at any time.'" This was especially
mentioned because the Injunctions of 1547 had forbidden candles
before pictures or images, but allowed "only two lights upon the
high altar, before the Sacrament, for the signification that Christ
is the very true light of the world." Although these Injunctions
(1549) have not the authority of Parliament, yet they were
undoubtedly issued with the intention of promoting that uniformity
in all parts of Public Worship which had been enjoined by statute,
and under the large notions of the royal supremacy which then
prevailed. They may fairly be considered as affording evidence of
the contemporary practice, and of the intention of the authors of
the Prayer Book in matters of rites and ceremonies. Persons who
yield the amount of authority to these Injunctions (which never
became law) which is readily given to others (which were law),
consider that candles upon the Communion Table are ornaments which
were forbidden in the second year of Edward VI., and therefore are
not authorized by our present Rubric. On the other hand, we may
conclude from the terms of Elizabeth's Act of Uniformity, and from
the Rubric of her Prayer Book, that it was her intention to
distinguish between the customs of 1549, represented by Edward's
Injunctions of that year, and those which, not being mentioned and
forbidden in the statute, might be considered as authorized by the
Parliament of 1549. And she certainly gave this practical
interpretation to her own law, since in the royal chapel "the cross
stood on the altar, and two candlesticks, and two tapers burning."
Hook, in his Church Dictionary, says,--"From the time of Edward
there never seems to have been a time when the lights were not
retained in Cathedral churches, and wherever we might look for an
authoritative interpretation of the Law. And to the present day the
candles are to be seen on the Altars of almost all Cathedrals. In
Collegiate churches, also, they are usually found; and so also in
the Chapels Royal, and in the Chapels of several Colleges in Oxford
and Cambridge."
ALTAR LINEN. The rubric at the beginning of the Communion Service
provides that "The Table, at the Communion-time," is to have a "fair
white linen cloth upon it." And a further rubric declares that "What
remaineth of the consecrated Elements" is to be covered with "a
fair linen cloth." This latter cloth is called a _corporal_, although
some understand a cloth laid on the altar by that name. Other things
used in some churches at the time of the celebration are--(1) a
_chalice-veil_, which is a square of silk embroidered and fringed,
varying in colour, according to the season, or of transparent
material edged with lace. It is used for covering the chalice.
(2) The _pall_, a small square of card-board, with linen on either
side, is sometimes used to cover the chalice till after the people
have communicated. (3) The _burse_ is a kind of purse or pocket in
which the corporal and pall are kept.
ALTAR RAILS. Archbishop Laud, 1640, ordered that the Holy Table
should be placed at the east end of the chancel, and protected from
rude approach by rails. They do not appear to have been in general
use in the Western Church before the Reformation; although it is
probable their use in the side chapels of Cathedrals is early. It
is hard to say whether by the Latin word _cancelli_ is meant the
chancel-screen or the altar-rails, in some cases probably the
latter. The use of altar-rails is ancient in the Eastern Church.
The space within the rails, where the altar stands, is called the
sanctuary.
ALTAR SCREEN. A screen behind the altar.
ALTAR VESSELS. Flagon, Chalice or Cup, and Paten. To these may be
added the _cyborium_, a covered vessel, placed upon the altar of
Roman Catholic churches, and holding the consecrated host. Altar
vessels from very ancient times have usually been made of the most
costly materials which the congregation using them could afford.
The flagon appears to be the vessel in which the wine is placed
before consecration. The chalice, or cup, that in which it is
consecrated, and administered to the people. The paten is the plate
on which the bread is consecrated, and from which it is dispensed
to the people. A second plate is used for the unconsecrated bread,
and is placed, with the flagon, on the Credence Table.
ALTRUISM, _see_ Comtism.
AMBULATORY, or PROCESSIONARY. The continuance of the aisles round
the east end of a church, behind the altar.
AMEN. A Hebrew word meaning "So be it," and thus it is explained in
the Catechism. The same word in the Greek is rendered the "Verily,
verily" of our Lord's parables. It should be said aloud by every
member of the congregation, as testifying his assent to the prayer
or praise offered, who thus makes it his own. St. Jerome says the
primitive Christians at their public offices "echoed out the Amen
like a thunderclap."
When printed in the Roman character in our Prayer Book it is for
the minister to say alone; when in Italics, it is for the people
to say, and not for the minister.
AMICE, _see_ Vestments.
ANABAPTISTS, _see_ Baptists.
ANDREW'S (St.) DAY. Nov. 30th. St. Andrew appears to have been a
disciple of the Baptist before he became a follower of our Lord.
He was the means of bringing his brother Simon, afterwards called
Peter, to Jesus. After the Ascension he is supposed to have laboured
in Scythia, and finally to have suffered death by crucifixion. The
form of the cross on which he was martyred is called after him the
St. Andrew's Cross.
ANGEL. A Greek word, meaning a _messenger_, and as such it is
applied sometimes to God's ministers on earth; _e.g._, the
Bishops of the seven Churches of Asia are called "Angels" in
Rev. i. and ii. The word is more generally used of those bright
beings who wait around the throne of God to do His will. They are
the ministers of His good Providence to us.
Angels are of a different order of creation from man. It is a
mistake to believe that "the dead in Christ" become angels.
There are different orders among the angels; the Prayer Book speaks
of "Archangels," of "Cherubim and Seraphim." The Bible tells us
that the name of one of the Archangels is Michael; Gabriel is also
probably of this order, and Raphael. The Cherubim (the derivation
of this word is uncertain) are frequently spoken of in the Bible:
Gen. iii.24; Exodus xxv.19, 20; Ezekiel i.10; Rev. iv.6. The
Seraphim, (plural of _Seraph_, a Hebrew word, meaning _fiery_, or
_burning_) are possibly referred to in Psalm civ.4, "He maketh His
angels spirits, and His ministers a flaming fire."
The Holy Angels are the objects of worship in the Church of Rome,
in a degree which many think idolatrous, although Romanists deny
this.
ANGLO-CATHOLIC CHURCH, _see_ Church of England.
ANNATES, _see_ Bounty, Queen Anne's.
ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. March 25th. At the time
of the Reformation the Church held seven festivals in honour of
the Virgin. Our Reformers have appointed a Collect, Epistle, and
Gospel, for only those two which have a foundation in the Gospel,
viz: the Annunciation and the Purification. Two more, however, are
retained in the Calendar, viz: the Visitation of the B. V. M.,
July 2nd, and the Nativity of the B. V. M., September 8th. The two
principal festivals were probably observed as early as the 5th
century. It is to be noticed how the collects for both these
festivals bring forward their bearing on our Lord's life, rather
than the incidents they commemorate in the life of the Blessed
Virgin.
ANTHEM, _see_ Church. Music.
ANTINOMIANISM. (literally "_against law_") The doctrine or opinion
that the _Elect_ (see _Calvinism_) are freed from obligation to
keep the Law of God. A power or privilege is asserted for the elect
to do what they please without prejudice to their sanctity; it being
maintained that to them nothing is sinful, and this is represented
as the perfection of Christian Liberty. History shows, as was to be
expected, that this doctrine has borne the most disastrous fruits
among those who have embraced it.
ANTIPHON, ANTIPHONALLY, _see_ Church Music.
ANTI-TYPE, _see_ Type.
APOSTASY. A renouncing of our religion either formally, or virtually
by our actions.
APOSTLE. From a Greek word, meaning "one sent." A designation of
those twelve who were our Lord's companions on earth, and who,
afterwards, were _sent_ into "all the world to preach the Gospel to
every creature." After the treachery and death of Judas Iscariot,
Matthias was chosen to fill his place, St. Paul, by virtue of his
heavenly commission, is also termed an Apostle.
APOSTLES' CREED, _see_ Creed.
APOSTOLICAL SUCCESSION. "The line in which the ministry of the
Church is handed on from age to age by the laying on of hands by
Bishops; the _corporate_ lineage of the Christian clergy, just as
in the Jewish Church there was a _family_ lineage. The Church of
England maintains the Apostolical Succession in the preface to her
Ordination Service. Those are said to be in Apostolical Succession
who have been sent to labour in the Lord's vineyard by Bishops, who
were consecrated by other Bishops, who, in their turn, were
consecrated by others, until the derived authority is traced to the
Apostles, and through them to the great Head of the Church. The
Apostolical Succession of the Ministry is essential to the right
administration of the Sacraments. The clergy of the Church of
England can trace their connexion with the Apostles by links in the
long chain, not one of which is wanting, from the times of St. Paul
and St. Peter to our own." (_Hook's Church Dictionary_.)
APPROPRIATION. In pre-Reformation times. Monasteries, and other
spiritual corporations, frequently annexed to themselves benefices,
placing in them some clergyman, who was called a Vicar, to do the
work of the place, for which they allowed him a certain sum out
of the income they had appropriated. At the Reformation, the
Monasteries, and religious houses were put down, and their property
distributed among the favourites of Henry VIII., and so the
patronage and major part of the income of these appropriated
benefices came into the hands of laymen. Thus, at the present day,
a great number of our nobility and landed gentry are drawing large
incomes from land, which is, in all right, the property of the
Church, while the clergy who do the work of the Church receive a
miserable pittance out of what was once their own. Laymen drawing
these incomes, "great-tithes," as they are called, are named
Lay-Rectors. A benefice in the hands of a layman is termed, not
an Appropriation, but an _Impropriation_.
APSE or APSIS. A semi-circular, or polyhedral termination of the
chancel. This style of Church building, although common in the
East, has not been in use since the 13th century in England until
quite the last few years. Mr. Street, the Architect of the Law
Courts, built many churches in this style. In churches of this
kind the altar should not be placed against the East wall, but
upon the chord of the arc, as in the ancient Basilicas.
ARCHBISHOP. An Archbishop does not differ from a Bishop in _order_,
but only in _degree_. Like a Bishop he has his own diocese, but
besides that he is the chief of the clergy of a whole province.
This, however, is not always the case in the Roman and Eastern
churches. To him all appeals are made from inferior jurisdictions
within his province. He also, upon the King's writ, calls the
Bishops and clergy within his province to meet in Convocation.
ARCHDEACON. As each province is divided into dioceses, severally
presided over by a Bishop, so each diocese is divided into
archdeaconries, consisting of a certain number of parishes. Over
each archdeaconry one of the clergy, a priest, sometimes a bishop,
is appointed to preside in subordination to the Bishop of the
diocese. The office dates back to very early times. In England
the dioceses were divided into archdeaconries about the time of
the Norman Conquest.
ARCHES, COURT OF. An ancient court of appeal, belonging to the
Archbishop of Canterbury. The judge of it is called the Dean of
_Arches_, because he anciently held his court in the Church of St.
Mary-le-Bow (Sancta Maria de Arcubus). (See _Ecclesiastical
Courts_.)
ARCHITECTURE. The principal styles of English Architecture are:
Norman, 1066 to 1154. Round-headed doorways, windows and arches,
heavy pillars and zig-zag ornaments. The Nave of Rochester Cathedral
is a good example. From 1154 to 1189 this style underwent a
_Transition_, the rounded arches becoming pointed, as in the choir
of Canterbury Cathedral.
Early English, 1189 to 1272. Narrow, pointed windows, lancet-shaped;
clustered pillars. Example, the choir, Westminster Abbey, or
Salisbury Cathedral. 1272 to 1307 was another _Transition_ period,
tracery being introduced into the windows, as at the east end of
Lincoln Cathedral.
Decorated, 1307 to 1377. Geometrical tracery in windows, enriched
doorways, and beautifully arranged mouldings. The Lady Chapel of
Ely Cathedral is a good example. This style underwent _Transition_
from 1377 to 1407, when the lines became less flowing, as in the
choir of York Minster.
Perpendicular, 1399 to 1547. Upright lines of moulding in windows;
doorways, a combination of square heads with pointed arches. Example,
King's College Chapel, Cambridge.
Tudor, or Elizabethan, 1550 to 1600. A debased species of
Perpendicular, mostly employed in domestic architecture.
Jacobean, 1603 to 1641. An admixture of the Classical with the
Gothic, or Pointed style.
ARIANS. Heretics, so named from Arius, a native of Libya, their
first founder. He was born about the middle of the 3rd century,
and taught that God the Son was not equal to God the Father, being
neither consubstantial nor co-eternal with the Father. As created
by the Father, Arius looked upon our Lord as the highest of all
creatures, and in that sense the Son of God. These heretics were
condemned by the Council of Nice, in 325.
ARMINIANS. A party so-called after Arminius, (the Latin form of
James Harmensen, a Dutchman,) the opposer of Calvinism. Arminius
held that salvation is possible for all men, if they repent and
believe in Jesus Christ, inasmuch as He died for the sins of the
whole world. They reject the doctrine of Predestination, as
generally held; and the doctrine of final perseverance, they
deem uncertain and needing more proof. (See _Antinomianism and
Calvinism_.)
ARTICLES, THE THIRTY-NINE. The Church of England's definition of
Christian doctrine, and as such they have to be subscribed by all
who seek Holy Orders. Formerly, every graduate of our Universities
had to subscribe them. Many of the Articles are of a confessedly
elastic nature, being so framed as to embrace the views of the
various parties in the Church: but at the same time they are not
so indefinite as many would have us believe.
Their history is this:--In 1553 Cranmer, Ridley, and others, drew
up 42 Articles, which were more or less taken from the "Confession
of Augsburgh," composed by Luther and Melancthon. In 1562 these 42
Articles were entirely re-modelled by Archbishop Parker and
Convocation, when they were reduced to 38. In 1571, Parker and
Convocation added Article xxix., which made up our present 39,
which were subscribed in the Upper House of Convocation, by the
Archbishops and Bishops, and by all the clergy of the Lower House.
They were published the year after (1572) under the superintendence
of Bishop Jewel, and the Ratification, still subjoined to them in
the Prayer Book, was added. With regard to their arrangement--The
first five treat of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity; the three
following establish the rule of Christian Faith; from the ninth to
the eighteenth they bear reference to Christians considered as
individuals; and thence to the end they relate to Christians,
considered as Members of a Church or religious society.
ASCENSION DAY or HOLY THURSDAY. The observation of this Festival
cannot be traced with certainty to an earlier period than the 4th
century, although, in the Western Church, at any rate, it was in
St. Augustine's time so thorough and universal, that he supposes it
to have had an Apostolic origin. It is one of the four great
Festivals of the Church. It is held forty days after Easter, in
memory of our Lord's _Ascension_ into heaven. Special psalms and
lessons are appointed for the day, as is also a special preface in
the Communion Service.
ASH-WEDNESDAY. The first day of Lent. It is so called from the
ceremony anciently used in admitting people to penance, ashes being
sprinkled upon their heads.
A special service, called the Commination Service, is appointed
for use on this day.
ASSOCIATIONS, CHURCH, _see_ Societies.
ATHANASIAN CREED, _see_ Creed.
ATHEIST. The "fool who saith in his heart, There is no God." Ps liii.
The _atheist_ differs entirely from the _sceptic_ and _agnostic_
(which see). In "A plea for Atheism," the writer says: "If the word
'God' is defined to mean an existence other than that existence of
which I am a mode, then I deny 'God,' and affirm that it is
impossible that 'God' can be." The Psalmist's definition is the
clearer.
ATONEMENT. Originally _at-one-ment_, the reconciling of two parties
who were before at variance. From that the word easily passed into
a term to denote the means by which the reconciliation was made,
viz: the life and death of our Saviour, Eph. ii. 16.
The doctrine of the Church on this subject is expressed in Article
11.
ATTRITION. This term is used by Romanists to denote the lowest form
of Contrition, or Repentance; namely, mere sorrow for sin because
of its consequences.
BANNS OF MARRIAGE _see_ Matrimony.
BAPTISM. This word means literally "dipping." Holy Baptism is
one of the two Sacraments taught by our Church to be generally
(universally) necessary to salvation. The _reason_ why the Church
baptizes is well shewn in the exhortation which immediately follows
the Gospel in the Service for the "Public Baptism of such as are of
riper years." The _doctrine_ of the Church on the subject is
explained in Article xxvii., and in the Catechism; also throughout
her Baptismal Offices she shows what she believes it to be.
Notwithstanding this, there are diverse views held of Holy Baptism
by parties in the Church; as, for example, some will deny that the
passage in John iii. 3 has anything to do with Baptism, although
the Church quotes it as a Scriptural authority for Baptism in the
exhortation previously alluded to. These seem to degrade Holy
Baptism into a mere formal admittance into the visible Church, this
being the view the Wesleyans of the _present day_ take, but
not their founder's view. Hooker, in his fifth book, writes
thus,--"Baptism is not merely a sign or token of grace given, but
an instrument or mean whereby we receive that grace; for it is a
Sacrament instituted by God for incorporation into Christ, and so
through His merit to obtain (1) that saving grace of imputation
which takes away all former guiltiness, (2) that infused divine
virtue of the Holy Ghost which gives to the powers of the soul
their first disposition towards future newness of life. It is a
seal perhaps to the grace of election before received; but to our
sanctification here a step that hath not any before it."
BAPTISM, ADULT. This office was added at the last revision of the
Prayer Book, in 1661. It was made necessary by the general neglect
of Church ordinances during the Rebellion. The Service is formed
from that for the Baptism of Infants, but there are important
differences, as will be seen by comparison. Confirmation and
Communion should immediately follow the Baptism of an adult.
BAPTISM, INFANT. The question whether it is right to baptize infants
will be gone into under the head of _Baptists_. Our present service
for the Baptism of Infants is the out-come of many much older.
Baptism should always be administered in the presence of a
congregation, as the Rubric orders. The question about _sponsors_
will be gone into under that head. The first prayer is by Luther,
the second is from an old Office; the Gospel, with nearly all the
addresses or exhortations here and elsewhere in the Prayer Book, is
from the "Consultation," the work of Hermann, a German reformer.
The questions to the sponsors are taken from an old Office. The
prayer of Consecration came into the present form in 1661; but by
Consecration here we only mean that the element of water is
separated from common to sacred uses. It is not a necessary part
of Baptism, as is shown by its being omitted in the Office for
Private Baptism. The only two things necessary for the validity of
Holy Baptism are (1) that it should be administered in water, (2) in
the name of the Holy Trinity, as is shown by the questions in that
part of the Office for Private Baptism which treats of receiving a
child publicly into the Church. It is to be noticed that the _rule_
of our Church is that the child should be immersed in the water
(see the Rubric before the form of words which accompany the act of
Baptism). Thus the rite of immersion can be claimed by any Church
people. The custom of affusion, or aspersion, or sprinkling, came
into use in the Western Church as early as the 13th century; but in
the ancient Church Baptism was so administered to the sick. The
difference in the climates of Western Europe and the Holy Land is
sufficient to account for the custom.
The words which express the reception of the newly-baptized child
into the congregation belong altogether to the English Prayer Book.
The ceremony of making the sign of the cross has come down from the
ancient Church.
The Address to the congregation, the Lord's Prayer, and the
Thanksgiving which follows, were placed here in 1552. It is to
be noticed how clearly the Church expresses her belief in the
regeneration (see _Regeneration_) of each baptized infant. The
latter part of the last exhortation was added in 1661. "The vulgar
tongue" of course means the "common" or English language.
The note at the end of the Office, although declaring the eternal
safety of a baptized child, dying before it commits actual sin,
does not express any opinion as to the future of an unbaptized
child.
BAPTISM, PRIVATE. To be used only for "great cause and necessity."
This service was drawn up in 1661, chiefly from the "Consultation."
It is very much to be deplored that so few of the children baptized
at home, who live, are brought to be publicly received into the
Church. The distinction which the poor draw between Baptism and
Christening as meaning respectively Private and Public Baptism is,
of course, unfounded. Baptism is also called "_Christening_,"
because in it the child is made a Christian, or member of Christ.
Under this head we may also treat of
Lay Baptism. Until 1604 this was allowed in the Church of England,
but the rubrics were then brought into such a shape that Baptism by
any but a "lawful minister" was distinctly disallowed. Still we
find that by the present law, Lay Baptism, that is to say, Baptism
by any man, or even woman, is valid so far as to qualify for burial
with the usual service. Lay Baptism is allowed in the Roman Church,
as it was in the Mediaeval Church, and in primitive times. Such
having always been the custom of the Catholic Church, it is well
that anybody should baptize a child in a case of great emergency,
when a "lawful minister" cannot be procured. Should the child live
and be brought to church, the clergyman can always, if doubtful of
the validity of the Baptism, use the hypothetical form at the end
of the Office for Private Baptism.
BAPTISTS or ANABAPTISTS. A name improperly assumed by those who
deny the validity of Infant Baptism. They were formerly called
_Anabaptists_ because they _re-baptized_ all who had been baptized
in their infancy. The Baptists formed a separate community in
England in 1633. They may be looked upon as the successors of the
Dutch Anabaptists. Their object in forming themselves into a
separate body was (1) for the maintenance of a strictly Calvinistic
doctrine; (2) for the exercise of a vigorous and exclusive
discipline; (3) for the practice of a literal scriptural ritual,
especially in the matter of Baptism. In Church polity they follow
the Independents. The Baptists hold that _immersion_ is essential
to the validity of the ordinance. Their leading idea is that the
Church must consist of true Christians, and not merely of
professing ones.
In 1882 in the United Kingdom there were
_Sunday_
_Ministers_, _Members_, _Chapels_, _Scholars_
1,905. 298,880. 3,502. 401,517.
In addition to these they have numerous congregations abroad, and
they raise about L200,000 yearly for missionary and benevolent
purposes.
Infant Baptism. The following reasons seem to afford ample proof
that the baptism of infants has always been the practice of the
Church, notwithstanding all the Baptists allege against it.
Under the Law infants were admitted into covenant with God by
circumcision when eight days old. Gen. xvii.10, 14, so, too, when
the Jews admitted proselytes into their communion, they not only
circumcised all the males, but baptized all, male and female,
infant and adult.
Thus, when the Apostles were sent "to make proselytes of all
nations, by baptizing them" (Matt, xviii.19, should be so
translated) would they not baptize infants as well as adults,
seeing that such was the Jewish custom?
Compare John iii.5, "Except a man (Greek, except _any one_) be born
of _water_ and of the Spirit he cannot enter the _kingdom of God_,"
with Mark x.14, where our Lord says of infants that "of such is
the _kingdom of God_." If so, they must be capable of baptism, both
by water and the Spirit.
St. Peter, when speaking of baptism, said the promise was not only
to adults, but also to their _children_, Acts ii.38, 39.
Again, where there no _children_ among the whole households which
were baptized by the apostles, Acts xvi.15, 33, 1 Cor. 1.16?
The early Fathers show that children were baptized in their time,
which, in some cases, was less than a century after the Apostles
lived. Justin Martyr, for instance, writing A.D. 148 (_i_._e_., 48
years after the death of the last Apostle), speaks of persons 60
and 70 years old, who had been made disciples to Christ in their
infancy. How can infants be made disciples, but by baptism? And,
if these had been baptized in their infancy, it must have been
during the lifetime of the Apostle St. John, and of other apostolic
men.
BARNABAS' (St.) DAY. June 11th. This Apostle's name was changed
from Joses into Barnabas, which means the "Son of Consolation." He
was a highly educated man, being brought up, as St. Paul was, at
the feet of Gamaliel. He travelled with St. Paul until there was a
disagreement on the subject of Mark, the kinsman of Barnabas. After
they separated, it is probable that St. Barnabas laboured in
Cyprus. He is believed to have suffered martyrdom at Salamis by
being stoned.
BARTHOLOMEW'S (St.) DAY. August 24th. This Apostle is believed to
have been identical with Nathaniel. We are told nothing of his
labours in the Bible. He is believed to have worked in Armenia and
Lycaonia, and to have suffered martyrdom by crucifixion at
Albanople.
This day is rendered famous in history, on account of the horrible
massacre of Protestants in Paris in 1572. Thirty thousand persons
were put to death in France, and this with the deliberate consent
of the Pope and the authorities of the Roman Church!
BELFRY. Originally and properly, a watch-tower. That part of a
church where the bells are hung.
BELLS. Bells have been used in churches in England from the 7th
century. Their various uses are well summed up in the following
monkish distichs,--
"Laudo Deum verum, plebem voco, congrego clerum,
Defunctos ploro, pestem fugo, festa decoro."
"Funera plango, fulgura frango, sabbata pango,
Excito lentos, dissipo ventos, paco cruentos."
In the Roman Church they are "baptized," with a certain ceremony;
in the English Church they are merely consecrated, that is, set
apart for a sacred purpose.
The "passing bell" is the tolling of a bell while anybody is dying,
or _passing_ out of this life, in order that the faithful may offer
prayers on his behalf. It is ordered by Canon 67.
BENEDICITE. The apocryphal ending of Daniel iii. It is a
paraphrastical exposition of Ps. 148; it was commonly sung in the
Christian Church in the 4th century. In 1549 it was ordered to be
sung during Lent instead of the _Te Deum_. It is now generally used
when the lessons speak of the Creation. The "three children" are
Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, who are better known by their
Chaldean names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
BENEDICTION. A solemn act of blessing performed by Bishops and
Priests of the Church. A certain form was given by God Himself for
the use of the Jewish Priests, Num. vi.22-27. In our Church
several forms are used agreeing with the Office of which they form
a part. The ordinary benediction at the end of the Communion
Service is from Phil, iv.7, and Num. vi.23.
BENEDICTUS. The song of Zacharias, the father of the Baptist,
Luke 1.68-79. The alternate Psalm, called the _Jubilate Deo_, was
inserted in 1552 to be used when the _Benedictus_ happened to be
read in the second lesson. The song of Zacharias has always been a
hymn of the Church.
BENEFICE or LIVING. A church endowed with a revenue for the
performance of Divine Service; the holder of which is called a
Rector, or Vicar, or Incumbent, or Perpetual Curate (see under each
head). Heresy, Simony, and other grave offences, disqualify a man
from holding a benefice.
A clergyman can only be deprived of his benefice for want of
capacity, Heresy, Contempt of Court, or crime.
BIBLE, THE HOLY. So called from a Greek word, meaning "the books,"
just as the word _Scriptures_ means "the writings." The Bible is
divided into two parts--the Old and the New Testaments, or
Covenants. The Old Testament, or the Covenant of God with the
Hebrew nation, is written partly in Hebrew, and partly--the latter
part--in Aramaic. It is most important to remember that it was
written by many different persons, and at widely different times,
spreading over the course of 2,000 years. The New Testament, or the
New Covenant of God with His people, whether Jews or Gentiles,
although also written by many various authors, was produced between
the years A.D. 50, and A.D. 100.
The Bible is called the "Word of God" because the authors wrote by
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, Heb. i.i; Acts iv.25; 2 Peter
i.21; &c. It is important to remember that we do not claim a
_verbal_ inspiration, for the writers, but simply that God put
into their minds what they should write. Inspiration did not
preserve them from errors in grammar, or natural philosophy, or
anything else foreign to the actual design of the Bible, which is
the revelation of God, and of His will to man.
Thus, it is most important that we should know what books are
inspired, and have a right to form a part of the Holy Scriptures,
in other words what books are _canonical_. The Old Testament, as
we have it now, was used by the Jews in the time of our Lord, who
often quotes from its various books Himself, thus stamping them
with the divine authority which they claimed. Ezra seems to have
determined the canon of Old Testament Scriptures. With regard to
the New Testament, the question of the authenticity and canonicity
of some books was very much more difficult to determine, and an
enormous amount of labour and scholarship has been expended on the
subject. There can be no reasonable doubt now with regard to any
of the _books_ of the New Testament; the only thing now doubtful
is what the original words were in the places where the ancient
manuscripts differ. These differences are called _various
readings_. The publication of the Revised Version of the New
Testament in 1881 was partly an attempt to settle this question.
The differences, as a rule, are very unimportant.
The chief translations of the Bible into English are Wiclif's, 1360;
Tindal (or Tyndale) and Coverdale's, 1526; The Geneva Bible, 1560;
The Bishops' Bible, 1568. The Translation we use now, called the
Authorized Version, was published in 1611. About 50 learned men were
appointed by King James 1st for the task.
We will now proceed to consider the contents of the Bible, first
remarking that the division into Chapters and verses does not date
back beyond the 13th century, that it rests on no authority, and
very often spoils the sense.
The Old Testament consists of 39 books, which may be thus
classified:--The Books of the Law; The Historical Books; The Holy
Writings, or Poetical Books; and the Prophetical Books.
_The Books of the Law_, five in number, were written by Moses, and
are called the Pentateuch; they are:--Genesis. Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
_The Historical Books_ are twelve. Where the name of the Author
differs from the name of the Book it is given in brackets,--Joshua,
Judges (Samuel?), Ruth (Samuel or Ezra), 1st and 2nd Samuel (Samuel,
Nathan, and Gad), 1st and 2nd Kings (Jeremiah), 1st and 2nd
Chronicles (Ezra?), Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther (author not known).
_The Poetical Books_, or _Hagiographa_, consist of five books,--Job
(author not known), Psalms (by various authors, about half by
David), Proverbs (Solomon chiefly), Ecclesiastes (generally
attributed to Solomon), Song of Solomon, or Canticles.
_The Prophetical Books_ are divided into two classes, the Greater
Prophets and the Lesser Prophets. They are so called, not from any
superiority or inferiority, but from the extent of their writings.
_The Greater Prophets_ are four in number,--Isaiah, Jeremiah
(author of two books--his Prophecy and his Lamentations), Ezekiel,
Daniel.
_The Minor Prophets_ are twelve,--Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah,
Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
The ordinary reader of the Bible misses much from the fact that the
books are not grouped in any chronological order. In the following
table the books are placed so as to form a continuous history of
the Jews, while, by their side, are the names of those books which
should be read as commentaries on the period. The book of Job,
however, it is impossible to place. He seems to have been a shepherd
king, perhaps of the time of Abraham, but he was not of the Hebrew
nation. The two books of the Chronicles contain a summary of
history from the Creation down to the Restoration under Cyrus;
parts, however, may be read with other books. (_For Table_, _see
opposite page_.)
From the time of Malachi to the Birth of John the Baptist, a period
of about 400 years, there seems to have been no special revelation
from God. The _Apocrypha_ was composed in that period by various
authors. Although parts of it are appointed to be read as Lessons
in Church, yet it is not considered as inspired, and consequently
it does not belong to the Word of God. Our Church, in Art. vi.,
says that "the other books (viz., the Apocrypha) the Church doth
read for example of life and instruction of manners, but yet it
doth not apply them to establish any doctrine." The Church of Rome
receives the Apocrypha as Canonical.
We now pass on to consider the New Testament. It consists of 27
books, written by eight persons. They were all written in Greek,
unless perhaps St. Matthew's Gospel, which some critics hold was
originally written in Hebrew. The whole of the New Testament was
written before the end of the first century, and during the lifetime
of the Apostle John. The books were all received from the first as
inspired, except the Epistle to the Hebrews, Epistles of James and
Jude, 2nd of Peter, 2nd and 3rd of John, and the Book of the
Revelation; but all these were in early times accepted as Canonical.
It is still doubtful who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews.
The _Four Gospels_ are by St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St.
John. Of these, the first three are called the Synoptical Gospels,
because they give a general view, and contain a brief account of
the chief events of our Saviour's life, His miracles and His
parables, from the same standpoint. St. John chiefly dwells on our
Lord's words and discourses. The word "Gospel" means "_good news_."
The Book of the _Acts of the Apostles_ is generally considered to
have been written by St. Luke (c.f. Acts 1.1 with Luke 1.1-4).
The Epistles were written by the authors whose names they bear
(except perhaps Hebrews). Seven of them are called _Catholic_,
which means addressed to the Church _generally_, or _universally_,
and not to particular persons or particular bodies of Christians.
The Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, is by St. John the Apostle.
The following is a chronological table of the books of the New
Testament, with their probable dates:--
Books Date
A.D.
S. Matt's 60
S. Mark's 64
S. Luke's 64
S. John's 70
The Acts 64
I. Thess. 52
II. Thess. 52
Galatians 52
I. Corinth. 53
II. Corinth. 57
Romans 58
Ephesians 61
Philipp. 62
Colloss. 62
Philemon 62
I. Tim. 56
Titus 56
II. Tim. 61
S. James 61
I. Peter 64
II. Peter 64
Jude 64
I. John 80
II. John 85
III. John 90
Revelation 95
Some scholars assign an earlier date to the Revelation.
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | BOOKS ILLUSTRATING | CONTEMPORARY
PERIOD | HISTORY | SAME PERIOD | PROPHETS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Creation | Genesis, | I. Chron. i. to x. |
To | Exodus. | (geneaologies). |
Settlement| Numbers. | Leviticus. |
In | Deuteronomy.| |
Canaan. | Joshua. | |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judges. | Judges. | Ruth. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kings. | I. Samuel. \| I. Chron. x. to xxix. 22; Psalms |
| II. Samuel./| of David,Asaph, Ethan, and |
| | Sons of Korah. |
| I. Kings | | Ecclesiastes, Canticles, and | Jonah (time of Jehu).
| \| Proverbs, (time of Solomon). |
| II. Kings /| I. Chron. xxix. 22, to end of II. | Amos
| | Chron. | Hosea | From Uzziah
| | | Isaiah \ to end of
| | | Joel / Hezekiah.
| | | Micah |
| | | Nahum |
| | |
| | | Zephaniah\ Time of
| | | Jeremiah / Josiah.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Esther. | Psalm cxxxvii. | Habakkuk, Daniel,
| | Obadiah, Ezekiel.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ezra. | Psalms cxx. to cxxxiv. (probably sung | Haggai, Zechariah,
| on the way back). | Malachi.
Nehemiah. | Psalms cxiii. to xcviii. at consecration of |
| Temple. |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIBLE CHRISTIANS. Sometimes called Bryanites. They are the followers
of a Mr. William O'Bryan, a Wesleyan local preacher in Cornwall,
who, in 1815, separated from the Wesleyans, and began himself to
form societies upon the Methodist plan. In doctrine they do not
appear to differ from the various bodies of Arminian Methodists.
The forms of public worship are of the same simple character. But
in the administration of the Lord's Supper "it is usual to receive
the elements in a sitting posture, as it is believed that that
practice is more comformable to the posture of body in which it was
first received by Christ's Apostles, than kneeling; but persons are
at liberty to kneel, if it be more suitable to their views and
feelings to do so." Members of this sect are nearly all Cornish
people.
_Ministers_. _Lay Preachers_. _Members_.
173. 1,442. 24,238.
_On_ _Sunday_
_Probation_. _Chapels_. _Scholars_.
822. 574. 37.361.
BIDDING PRAYER. The Prayer before the Sermon. Before the Reformation
it was called the _Bidding of the beads_. The people were bid to
pray for certain objects as the preacher successively named them.
The canonical form of the present prayer is given in the 55th Canon.
The ordinary practice of using a collect is now sanctioned by
custom. An extempore prayer, however, from the preacher is quite
unauthorized. At the University sermons, and also on occasions of
more than usual solemnity, the Bidding Prayer is always used. In
Borough towns it is appropriately repeated on the Sunday next after
November 9th, when the Mayor is elected.
BIER. The carriage on which the coffin is carried to the grave.
BISHOP, _see_ Orders.
BOUNTY, QUEEN ANNE'S. Before the Reformation, the _Annates_ or
_First-fruits_, being the profits for one year of every vacant
benefice, were paid to the Pope. In Henry VIII.'s reign they were
paid to him instead. Queen Anne, however, instead of receiving
them for her own use, established a fund for the benefit of the
poor clergy. This fund has since been called Queen Anne's Bounty.
Money was granted to it also by Parliament, and many generous
individuals increased the sum.
BOWING AT THE NAME OF JESUS. This pious custom is ordered by the
18th Canon of our Church, in supposed accordance with the idea of
the Apostle in Phil. ii.9. In many churches the custom is now
observed by bowing at the Sacred Name in the Creed only; but the
Canon orders "due and lowly reverence to be done" whenever the
"Name of the Lord Jesus is mentioned in the time of Divine Service."
BOWING TOWARDS THE ALTAR. This reverent custom is still practised
in many of the Royal Chapels, and in some churches and Cathedrals,
_e.g._, in Christ Church, Oxford, in many village churches where
the custom, once universal, has not died out, and it survives in
some College Chapels.
The synod of 1640 said, "We heartily commend it to all good and
well affected people, that they be ready to tender to the Lord
their reverence and obeisance, both at their coming in and going
out of church, according to the most ancient custom of the primitive
Church in the purest times."
BROAD CHURCH, _see_ Church Parties.
BURIALS ACT. A Bill passed in Parliament, 1880. Before the passing
of the Act no deceased persons (with certain exceptions, specified
in the Rubric) could be buried in consecrated ground without the
Service of the Church of England being read over their remains.
Now, anyone who wishes to have his relatives or friends buried in
any such ground without any religious service, or with any other
Christian and orderly service than that of the Church of England,
can do so. This service may be conducted by anybody, man, woman, or
child, but 48 hours' notice must be given in writing to the
incumbent, who still has all his legal rights preserved. The
Burials Bill deals solely with the churchyard, and confers no
rights as to the tolling of the bell, or to the use of any church
or consecrated chapel.
Under this Act the Clergy are empowered to use the Service of the
Church for the burial of the dead in any unconsecrated burial
ground or cemetery.
The Bill owes its origin to the agitation of Dissenters, and that
their supposed grievances were purely sentimental is shown by the
fact that comparatively few funerals are taken under this Act.
BURIAL SERVICE, THE. The present arrangement of this Office is the
outcome of several revisions. In 1549 (1st Prayer Book of Edward VI.)
there was a special Communion Office for use at funerals. The custom
obtaining in many places of the mourners coming to church on the
Sunday next following the funeral perhaps has its origin in the
ancient practice of their receiving Holy Communion together. The
Rubric denying Christian burial to the unbaptized, the excommunicate,
and to suicides was added in 1661. The first two sentences, or
anthems--John xi.25, 26, and Job xix.25-27, formed part of an
ancient Office. The third sentence, I Tim. vi.7, and Job i.21, and
the two Psalms, were added in 1549. The Lesson formerly formed part
of the Mass for the Dead. The sentences, or anthems, to be said at
the grave side are from old Offices, so also what follows down to
the Collects. The prayer, "For as much," &c., is called the
_Committal Prayer_, and the practice of casting earth upon the
coffin is part of a very old ceremony. The last two prayers were
added in 1552, and the "Grace" in 1661. Many of the dissenting
sects use this Service. The whole Office is of a nature to cheer
the heart of the mourner, and to rouse in all a "hope full of
immortality."
CALENDAR, THE CHURCH, is the detailed (excepting, of course, the
rubrics) law of the Church for the daily worship of God. It also
contains a list of Fasts and Festivals, or Holy Days. Our Church
recognises eighty-two such Holy Days, of which the following is a
classification, not including Ash Wednesday, Holy Week or Passion
Week, and Easter Eve:--
In honour of our Blessed Lord (including 50 ordinary Lord's Days) 57
In honour of God the Holy Ghost 3
In honour of the Holy Trinity 1
In honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2
In honour of the Holy Angels 1
In honour of the Apostles and Evangelists 14
In honour of S. John Baptist and other Saints 4
The object for which Holy Days are instituted, is the commemoration
of some person or event by devotional observance, the devotion
being, of course, offered to Almighty God. (_Blunt's Household
Theology_.)
The Calendar contains a Table of Lessons, or portions of Holy
Scripture, to be read in Church, and rules for finding the date of
the Moveable Feasts.
The present Table of Lessons came into use Jan. 1st, 1873.
(For Holy Days, &c., see under their respective heads.)
CALL TO THE MINISTRY. Every Candidate for Deacon's Orders (see
Ordinal) has this question put to him by the Bishop,--"Do you trust
that you are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you this
Office and Ministration, to serve God for the promoting of His
glory and the edifying of His people?"
In the "Ordering of Priests" a similar question is put in this
form,--"Do you think in your heart that you be truly called,
according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of
this Church of England, to the Order and Ministry of Priesthood?"
And in the "Consecration of Bishops" the question is put thus,--"Are
you persuaded that you be truly called to this Ministration,
according to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the order of
this realm?"
It should be noticed that the question is not "Are you sure?" but
(_a_) "Do you trust?" (_b_) "Do you think?" (_c_) "Are you
persuaded?" If a man deals earnestly and truly with his own heart,
he can scarcely be deceived as to whether he answers these solemn
questions truly or not. He need not wait for some miraculous
intimation from the Holy Spirit. By ordinary signs he may safely
judge: primarily, from his own sincere inward conviction; and in
an inferior degree from the advice of his parents, or of God's
ministers, or of other godly persons qualified to advise in such a
matter. These are all ways of learning God's will.
Bishop Oxenden, in his "Pastoral Office," says to the Candidate for
Holy Orders, "If, after looking well at your motive, you find it
pure,--if you are entering the Ministry in a serious, thoughtful
spirit,--if the love of souls, and an earnest desire to save them,
impels you--if you feel the work is one in which your soul will
find delight, and that you are heartily willing to labour in the
service of your Heavenly Master,--then I hesitate not to say that
you have chosen for yourself the best and most delightful of all
professions." This consciousness of purity of motive is a true
indication that a candidate is called of God.
CALVINISTS. These form no particular sect, but are to be found
among different bodies of Christians. They are the followers of the
Reformer, John Calvin, who was born in 1509. The five _points_, or
essential doctrines of Calvinism, are (1) particular election, (2)
particular redemption, (3) moral inability in a fallen state, (4)
irresistible grace, and (5) the final perseverance of the saints.
In other words, a Calvinist holds that before the foundation of
the world God _elected_ a certain number to salvation, and
_reprobated_ the rest of mankind to damnation; that Christ Jesus
died only for the elect; that mankind are totally depraved in
consequence of the fall; that God, in His own good time, calls all
those he has before predestinated to life by the _irresistible_
power of the Holy Spirit to grace and salvation; that those once
called can never finally fall from a state of grace.
It is true that the 17th Art. is so ambiguous in language that
even such a doctrine as the above is not reproved by it; but the
Church of England, in her Communion Office, says that "Christ, by
the one oblation of Himself once offered, made a full, perfect,
and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins
of the _whole_ world," and in the Church Catechism it is said that
"God the Son hath redeemed _all_ mankind." These two passages alone
are enough to show that the Church of England is not Calvinistic
in her doctrine. (See _Antinomianism_ and _Arminians_.)
CANDLES, _see_ Altar Lights.
CANON. A Greek word, meaning a Rule or Measure. The laws of
the Church are called _Canons_. The Canons made before the
Reformation are binding on our Church now, and are acted upon
in the Ecclesiastical Courts, except where they have been superseded
by subsequent Canons, or by the provisions of an Act of Parliament.
CANON. An ecclesiastic, having the right to a stall in a Cathedral,
and of giving a vote in the Chapter. He differs from a Prebendary
in that a Prebendary means one who enjoys a Prebend, or endowment,
whereas a Canon does not necessarily do so. In England the Honorary
Canons are all without capitular revenues.
CANON. A name applied to part of the Roman Office of Mass, and it
was also made use of in first Prayer Book of Edward VI. The name
is given to the more solemn part of the Eucharistic Service, from
just after the Preface till the final close.
CANON OF SCRIPTURE, _see_ Bible.
CANONICAL HOURS. At a very early date special hours of prayer were
appointed by the church. In the Church of Rome the Canonical Hours
begin with _vespers_, or evening prayer, about 6 o'clock, or sunset;
next follows _compline_, a service at bedtime; at midnight the
service of _nocturns_, or _matins_, was held; _lauds_, an early
morning service of praise, was held at cock-crow. Then came the
"Little Hours," _prime_ at 6 o'clock, _terce_ at 9, _sext_ at noon,
and _nones_ at 3.
CANTATE DOMINO. Psalm xcviii, used occasionally at Evening Prayer
in place of the Magnificat.
CANTICLES. Songs, especially also the Song of Solomon. The sacred
songs appointed to be sung or said in the Order for Morning and
Evening Prayer. These are the Venite, Te Deum, Benedicite,
Benedictus, Jubilate, Magnificat, Cantate, Nunc Dimittis, and Deus
Misereatur; each of which see.
CASSOCK, _see_ Vestments.
CATECHISM. From a word meaning to _instruct by word of mouth_. The
insertion of this elementary exposition of Christian Faith and
Practice into the Prayer Book is a feature of the Reformation. The
Catechism, as drawn up in 1549, finished with the explanation of
the Lord's Prayer. The explanation of the Sacraments was not added
until 1604. Bishop Overall is believed to have written it. The
Catechism formerly stood in the Confirmation Service, but was
placed in its present position in 1661. The first rubric at the
end of the Catechism has for a long time been rendered practically
obsolete by the institution of Sunday Schools and Children's
Services.
CATHEDRAL. The chief church of every diocese is called the
Cathedral, because in it is the _cathedra_, or _seat_, of the
Bishop. Every Cathedral has a body of clergy belonging to it of
various degrees of dignity. (See _Dean_, _Dean and Chapter_.)
CATHOLIC. A Greek word, meaning _universal_ or _general_. The
Holy Catholic Church is the visible Church of Christ throughout
the world, of all ages, all whose branches have retained unbroken
the Apostolical succession in the Ministry. There may be erring
Branches of the True Church. Art. xix. declares, "As the Church of
Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred, so also the Church
of Rome hath erred...."
It is improper to speak of the _Roman_ Catholic Church simply by
the name of Catholic; in England, members of the Church of England
are _Catholics_.
CEMETERY. _A sleeping place_. The beautiful name given to places of
burial by Christians.
CEREMONY. _Ceremonia_ in its classical sense was a general term for
worship. Johnson defines a ceremony to be "outward rite, external
form in religion." Hooker uses the word in this sense. In a larger
sense it may mean a whole office. All should read that part of the
introduction to our Prayer Book which treats "Of Ceremonies, why
some are to be abolished, and some retained" (written in 1549).
_see_ also Art. xxxiv.
CHALICE, _see_ Altar Vessels.
CHANCEL. The choir, or upper part of a church, commonly at the east
end, is called the chancel. It is the freehold of the Incumbent
should he be a Rector. Where there is a lay impropriator he has the
freehold. It usually is raised some steps above the level of the
nave, from which it was formerly separated by a screen, called the
_rood_ screen, upon which was the _rood_, or figure of our Blessed
Lord on the Cross. The chancel contains the seats, or stalls, for
the clergy and the choir. The east end of the chancel is partitioned
off by the altar rails. The part thus enclosed is called the
sanctuary, and contains the altar. The sanctuary is usually raised
still higher than the chancel by additional steps.
CHANCELLOR. A deputy of the Bishop, with a jurisdiction in all
ecclesiastical matters throughout the diocese.
The Chancellor of a Cathedral is quite a different personage. He is
an ecclesiastic, frequently a canon, who discharges many duties in
connection with the Cathedral of which he is Chancellor. He directs
the services, is secretary of the chapter, the librarian, the
superintendent of schools connected with the Cathedral, &c. These
offices, however, are not always combined.
CHANT, _see_ Church Music
CHAPEL. Any consecrated building other than a Parish Church or
Cathedral. The word is also now applied to the Meeting Houses of
the various dissenting bodies. Lately, some of these bodies have
taken to calling their places of worship _churches_.
CHAPLAIN. A person authorized to officiate in places other than
the Parish Church, such as the private chapels of noblemen, and
the chapels attached to Asylums, Workhouses, Hospitals, and the like.
A statute of Henry VIII. restricts the number of chaplains which
may be appointed by personages of various ranks as follows:--an
Archbishop, eight; a Duke or Bishop, six; Marquis or Earl, five;
Viscount, four; Baron, Knight of the Garter, or Lord Chancellor,
three; a Duchess, Marchioness, Countess, Baroness, the Treasurer
or Comptroller of the King's household, the Clerk of the Closet,
the King's Secretary, the Dean of the Chapel, Almoner, and Master
of the Rolls, each of them two chaplains. The Queen has forty-eight
chaplains, called Chaplains in Ordinary.
CHAPTER. The governing body of a Cathedral or Collegiate Church,
consisting of the Dean, the Canons, Prebendaries, &c. (See _Dean
and Chapter_.)
CHAPTER HOUSE. A building attached to a Cathedral, in which the
Dean and Chapter meet for the transaction of business.
CHARGE. The address delivered by a Bishop or Archdeacon at their
respective Visitations of the Clergy.
CHASIBLE, or CHASUBLE, _see_ Vestment.
CHERUB, _see_ Angel.
CHIMERE, _see_ Vestments
CHOIR, or QUIRE. That part of a church which is called the chancel,
is generally called the _choir_ in a Cathedral. The word is also
applied to the singing men and boys, who lead the musical part of
the service. (See _Church Music_.)
CHORISTER. A member of the choir, and more properly one of the boys
of the choir.
CHRIST. _The Anointed One_. The Greek form of the Hebrew _Messiah_.
One of the titles of our Blessed Lord. Acts x.38. (See _Trinity_,
_The Holy_.)
CHRISTEN, TO. The same as to Baptize. (See _Baptism_.)
CHRISTIAN. A title given, in ridicule possibly in the first
instance, to the believers in Christ by the people of Antioch.
(Acts. xi.26.)
CHRISTIAN NAME. The name given us when we were made Christians,
viz., at our baptism.
CHRISTMAS DAY. Dec. 25th. The day kept as the anniversary of our
Saviour's birth. This is believed to be the true day and month.
W. H. Mill says that the objections against it are "for the most
part weak and groundless." This high Festival has been kept at
least since the IVth century. There are special Psalms and Lessons
appointed, and a "proper preface" in the Communion Service. It is
one of those "three times" at which all professing members of the
Church are expected to communicate every year.
CHURCH, THE. Our Prayer Book supplies us with a definition in Art.
xix. The three chief branches of the Church Catholic are--(1) the
Eastern, or Greek Church; (2) the Western, or Roman Church; and (3)
the Anglican Church, of which the Episcopal Churches of England,
Scotland, Ireland, America, and the Colonies form part. Although,
unhappily, there are grave differences in both faith and ceremony
among these great branches of the Church, yet we can still profess
our belief in "one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church," inasmuch
as we are all one by unity of faith in Christ, by Apostolical
foundation, and succession of Orders. It seems well here to give
a brief sketch of the English, Greek, and Roman Churches.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND. Christianity was introduced into Britain at the
end of the first, or beginning of the second, century. Three British
Bishops were present at a Council held at Arles, in Gaul, in 314.
At the invasion of the heathen Anglo-Saxons the British Church
retreated into Wales. In 597 Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome,
sent Augustine to this island, who was instrumental in reviving
Christianity in the south-east of England. When he came he found
seven Bishoprics existing, and two Archbishoprics, viz., London and
York. Augustine was made the first Archbishop of Canterbury; this
was the first appointment by Papal authority in England. The
northern part of England was evangelized in the earlier portion
of the following century, by Irish Missionaries from Iona, under
Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne; and his successor, Finan, who lived
to see Christianity everywhere established north of the Humber, and
died in 662. "The planting, therefore, of the Gospel in the
Anglo-Saxon provinces of Britain was the work of two rival
Missionary bands (597 to 662); in the south, the _Roman_, aided
by their converts, and some teachers out of Gaul; in the north,
the _Irish_, whom the conduct of Augustine and his party had
estranged from their communion. If we may judge from the area of
their field of action, it is plain that the Irish were the larger
body; but a host of conspiring causes gradually resulted in the
spread and ascendancy of Roman modes of thought." (Hardwick.)
In the time of Archbishop Theodore (668--689) the fusion of the
English Christians was completed, and the Pope began to assert
(not without opposition) an usurped authority in the English Church
(_c.f._, Hardwick).
What are called the "dark ages" were indeed dark in the Church, for
then it was that she became erring in faith, doctrine, and practice,
and almost a caricature of what she once was. This state of things
continued until the 16th century, when the Reformation took place.
The movement was popular in England, and nearly all, clergy and
people, were glad to see the superstitions and corruptions which
had crept into the Church swept away by Archbishop Cranmer and
his colleagues. Still, there was a party which would take no
share in this movement, but remained faithful to the Pope,--the
representatives of what was falsely called the "old faith."
Notwithstanding the differences of faith between these two parties,
they both continued nominally members of the Church of England. It
was not until 1569 that the Roman Catholic party seceded from the
Church of England, and formed a distinct sect. It is most important
for Churchmen to remember that the Church of England did not secede
from that of Rome, but Romanists seceded from the Church of England.
Just as Naaman the leper remained the same Naaman after he was
cured of his leprosy as he was before, so the Church of England
remained the same Church of England after the Reformation as she
was before, composed of the same duly consecrated Bishops, of the
same duly ordained Clergy, and of the same faithful people. The
present Church of England is the old Catholic Church of England,
reformed in the 16th century of certain superstitious errors, but
still the same Church which came down from our British and Saxon
ancestors, and as such it possesses its original endowments, which
were never, as some suppose, taken from one Church and given to
another. And thus, when Roman Catholics speak of our grand old
Cathedrals and Parish Churches as being once theirs, they assert
what is not historically true. These buildings always belonged, as
they do now, to the Church of England, which Church has been
continuous from British times to the present. (See _Endowment_.)
The Established Church in England is governed by 2 Archbishops and
31 Bishops. Besides these, there are 4 Suffragan (which see) Bishops
(Dover, Bedford, Nottingham, and Colchester). There are also 22
retired Colonial Bishops in England. Four new Bishoprics have
recently been created, and two more are in course of formation.
As assistants to the Bishops there are 82 Archdeacons, and 613
Rural Deans. There about 13,500 benefices in England, and about
23,000 clergymen of every class. The Church sittings number about
6,200,000. It is somewhat difficult to arrive at the number of the
members of the Church of England, as Nonconformists have always
objected to a religious census being made. Taking the following
official returns, we find that, out of every 100,--
Chrchs. Dsntrs.
School returns give 72 28
Cemetery " " 70 30
Marriages " " 75 25
Army " " 63 37
(Of which 37 no fewer than 24 are Roman Catholics.)
Navy returns give 75 25
Workhouse " " 79 21
Giving an average of 72 per cent, to the Church, and 28 per cent,
to Dissenters.
The whole population in England and Wales in 1878 was 24,854,397
Church population at 72 percent. 17,995,159
Nonconformist population (including Roman Catholics) 6,859,238
With regard to Educational Matters, we find that
Scholars.
In Day Schools connected with the Church, there are 2,092,846
Ditto with Wesleyans 173,804
Ditto Roman Catholics 223,423
In British and Undenominational Schools 324,144
School Board Schools 1,197,927
We also find that on Hospital Sunday, 1881, the following
contributions were made:
Church of England L174,662
Methodists (the various sects together) L 9,012
For Missionary purposes the sums of money collected in 1881
were:
Church of England L460,395
Nonconformist Societies in England L313,177
_Statistics of the Anglican Communion_ _Bishops_. _Clergy_.
England and Wales (including 4 Suffragan,
and 4 Assistant, Bishops) 41 23,000
Ireland 12 1,700
Scotland 7 250
British Colonies, India, &c. 75 3,100
United States 69 3,600
Retired Bishops 22
--- ------
Total (in round numbers) 226 30,000
CHURCH, THE GREEK. This ancient branch of the Catholic Church is
the Church of the East. The great schism between the Eastern and
Western Churches took place in the eleventh century, though for
centuries before a separation had been imminent. One of the chief
causes of the separation of the Eastern from the Western Church
was that the latter holds the doctrine that the Holy Ghost proceeds
from the Son (_filioqe_) as well as from the Father, eternally; and
inserted the words "filioque" (and from the Son) in the Nicene
Creed. This the Eastern Church rejects; and also she errs in other
details both of faith and practice. Her orders are without doubt
Apostolical, and efforts have been made for her union with the
Anglican Church, but the "filioque" clause in the Creed has
hitherto hindered this from being accomplished.
CHURCH OF ROME. This is properly that branch of the great Church
Catholic over which the Bishop, or Pope, of Rome presides. It in no
way belongs to the object of this work to trace the history of this
Church from Apostolic times, nor yet to notice how by degrees it
claimed and assumed the supremacy over other churches. But since
we find amongst us certain congregations who worship according to
the Roman use, and who look up to the Pope of Rome as their head,
it will be well to see how Romanism was introduced into this land
after the Reformation. As has been before noticed (see _Church of
England_), it was not until about forty years after the Papal
usurpation had been suppressed in England that those who still
remained Roman at heart fell away from the ancient Church of
England, and constituted themselves into a distinct community or
sect. This was in the year 1570. This schismatic community was
first governed by the Jesuits. In 1623 a Bishop, called the Bishop
of Chalcedon, was consecrated, and sent from Rome to rule the Roman
sect in England. The Bishop of Chalcedon was banished in 1628, and
then the adherents of the Papacy in England were left without any
Bishops until the reign of James II. This King favoured the
Romanists, and would gladly have re-introduced the Roman Catholic
religion into the country. He filled many vacant Sees with members
of the Church of Rome; but all he did in favour of Popery was more
than reversed in the reign of his successor, William III., Prince
of Orange. In 1829 a Bill, called the Roman Catholic Emancipation
Bill, was passed, by which Roman Catholics were made eligible
to sit in Parliament, and restored to other rights of English
citizenship from which they had before been excluded. In the present
reign (1850) Dr. Wiseman, and a few other Roman Catholic priests,
led the Pope to trench upon the Royal prerogative by establishing a
Romish Hierarchy in this country. Cardinal Wiseman was made
Archbishop of Westminster; and twelve others, Bishops of territorial
Sees. A Bill, however, was brought into Parliament by the Government
to resist this Papal aggression, and forbidding the assumption of
English territorial titles. This Act has been repealed.
We of the Reformed Church hold that many doctrines and practices of
the Church of Rome are erroneous and unscriptural, the most
important of which are the following:--The doctrine of Original Sin,
and Justification, as defined by the Council of Trent; Propitiatory
Sacrifice of the Mass; Transubstantiation; Communicating in one kind
only; the Seven Sacraments; Purgatory; the Worship, Invocation, and
Intercession of the Blessed Virgin, Saints, and Angels; Veneration
of Relics; Worship of Images; Universal Supremacy of the Roman
Church; the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin; and the
Infallibility of the Pope. These two last were not imposed upon the
Roman Church as articles of faith, necessary to be believed, until
1854 and 1870. With the exception of the last two, the above is a
summary of the errors of Rome, drawn up by Dr. Barrow, and quoted
by Bishop Harold Browne in his book on the 39 articles.
In England the Roman Church has two Cardinals, one of whom
(Cardinal Manning) is also Archbishop, 17 Bishops, 2,112 other
Clergy. The number of Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops now
holding office in the British Empire is 131.
CHURCH MUSIC. Certain parts of our Service are directed to be "said
or sung," the former possibly describing the parochial, the latter
the Cathedral, manner of performing Divine Service. The use of
musical instruments in the singing of praise to God is very ancient.
The first Psalm in the Bible--viz., that which Moses and Miriam sang
after the passage of the Red Sea--was then accompanied by timbrels.
Afterwards, when the Temple was built, musical instruments were
constantly used at public worship. In the 150th Psalm the writer
especially calls upon the people to prepare the different kinds of
instruments wherewith to praise the Lord. And this has been the
constant practice of the Church in all ages. It is not clearly known
when organs were first brought into use, but we find that as early
as the year 766 the Emperor of the East sent an organ as a present
to Pippin, King of France. It is certain that the use of them has
been very common now for several hundreds of years.
The custom of dividing the choir into two parts, stationed on either
side of the chancel, in order that they may say, or sing, alternate
verses, dates from the primitive Church. Thus Miriam sang. (Ex.
xv.20.) Thus the angels in heaven sing. (Isaiah vi.3)
The Psalms and Canticles are generally sung to a chant. These are
of two kinds--_Gregorian_ and _Anglican_. Gregorian chants are very
ancient; a collection of them was compiled by Gregory, Bishop of
Rome, about A.D. 600. They are sung in unison. Anglican chants,
which are of much more recent invention, are sung in harmony. Nearly
all our Church music is based on the Gregorian chant. A _single_
chant is an air consisting of two phrases, corresponding to the two
parts into which every verse of the Psalms and Canticles is divided
in our Prayer Book by a colon. A double chant consists of four
parts. Sometimes the Canticles are sung to what is called a
_Service_, which is a musical arrangement similar to the Anthem.
_Hymn_, a metrical song of praise. Hymns are nowhere formally
authorised in our Church, with one exception, viz., the _Veni
Creator_ in the Ordination Service. Still, metrical hymns have
been sung in the Church from Apostolic times, the words of some of
which are extant. The "hymn" sung by our Lord and his disciples at
the Last Supper was probably the "Hallel," Psalms cvii.--cxviii.
_Anthem_, as the term is usually understood in England, consists of
passages from Holy Scripture set to music; such also are _Introits_.
Anthems are almost peculiar to our Church, but have been in constant
use in it since the Reformation.
Other parts of the Service, such as the Prayers, the Versicles, the
Litany, are frequently read either on one note (_monotoned_), or on
one note occasionally varied at the end by a cadence (_intoned_).
This is objected to by some as being unnatural; but it is not so.
A child naturally _intones_ or _monotones_ if set to read or recite.
And where a congregation have to repeat the same words together, it
is absolutely necessary that they should do it on some given note,
or the result would be Babel. Children in school, of their own
accord, say their lessons together in a monotone. The practice of
doing so in the Church dates from the very earliest times.
CHURCH PARTIES. There always have been, and probably always will be,
in every religious community different schools of thought. Truth is
many-sided, and while men may agree in prescribing a certain limit,
outside which is error, yet within the boundary there may be room
for many different views of central truths. In the Church of England
the views held by different parties are generally reckoned under
three heads,--(1) _High Church_, a section of which party are
Ritualists; (2) _Low Church_, or _Evangelicals_; (3) _Broad Church_.
Roughly speaking their influence may be thus described: The High
Church party has deepened the sense of the Church's corporate life
and work, and added to the reverence, the order, the beauty of holy
worship. The Low Church party has done much to awaken a spirit of
vital personal religion. The Broad Church party has done much to
co-ordinate the truths of religion with the certain results
of science. The members of this party hold views more or less
latitudinarian. The teaching of these three parties will best be
seen by an enumeration of the names most favoured by each; thus
High Churchmen appeal to Laud, Hammond, Sancroft, Hooker, Andrewes,
Cosin, Pearson, Ken, Wilson, Robert Nelson, George Herbert, John
Keble, and Pusey. Low Churchmen delight in Melanchthon, Zwingli,
Cranmer, Hooper, Ridley, Jewel, Bunyan, Whitfield, Cowper, Scott,
Cecil, John Newton, Romaine, Venn, Wilberforce, Simeon, and Henry
Martyn. The Broad Church School contains such names as Bacon,
Milton, Hales, Jeremy Taylor, Tillotson, Locke, Isaac Newton,
Coleridge, Arnold, Maurice, Hare, Robertson, Kingsley, Thirlwall,
and Stanley.
CHURCH RATE. A rate which the Churchwardens and Vestry had the
right to levy on ratepayers for the repairs of the Church, and for
the expenses connected with Divine Service. Ina, king of Wessex,
drew up a code of Ecclesiastical Laws, which were accepted in a
National Council in A.D. 690. Among these laws was that--"The
_Church Scot_ (or Rate) for the repair of Churches, and supply of
all things necessary for Divine Worship, was to be paid by every
house before Martinmas, according to a valuation made at Christmas."
This right of the Church to levy compulsory Church Rates was only
taken from her by an Act passed in the present reign, in consequence
of the opposition raised by Dissenters.
CHURCH WARDENS. The Office of Church Warden dates from very early
times in England, but we have no clear account of its origin. The
Church Wardens, of whom there are two in most Parishes, are
appointed at a meeting of parishioners held at Easter. The
Incumbent has the power of appointing one, the other is elected by
the vote of the parishioners. The Church Wardens were originally
mere ecclesiastical officers; the State then added various civil
functions to the office, such as levying rates, &c., but a good
deal of this civil power has now been withdrawn. Their business has
become in substance that of assisting in the finances, repairs,
warming, &c., of the Church. It is also their duty to complain to
the Bishop or Archdeacon if the Incumbent be neglectful or irregular
in the conduct of Divine Service.
When Church Wardens have been chosen, they are admitted to their
office by the Archdeacon. The office is of one year's duration only.
In many larger parishes they are assisted by Synodmen, or Sidesmen.
A Church Warden should be a resident rate-payer; but non-residence
is not always a disqualification. The following are certainly
disqualified to hold office,--all aliens born, as well as aliens
naturalized; all Jews; all children under 10 years of age; all
persons convicted of felony; all idiots and insane persons.
CHURCH YARD. The ground adjoining the Church, in which the dead are
buried. It is the freehold of the parson, but inasmuch as it was
the common burial place, it was fenced and cared for at the charge
of the parishioners, who could be rated for it. Recent _Burial Acts_
(which see) have lately given power to laymen to conduct funeral
services even in the consecrated Churchyard. Rates have also been
done away with, and thus we find the parson burdened with the charge
of a Churchyard in which any man, woman, or child, may hold funeral
services. The Church of England is the only religious body in
England which may not have a distinct burial ground for her dead!
CHURCHING OF WOMEN. From the earliest times it has been usual for a
woman after child-birth to come to God's house to offer thanks. It
was so among the Jews, although with them the idea of purification
is involved as well as of thanksgiving, as it is in the Eastern
Church at the present day. In some country places there is an idea
that a woman can be "_Churched_" at home, which is a contradiction
in terms.
CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. A feast dating from before the 6th century,
when a special service was already in use for it. The collect--a
translation from an ancient Latin one--sums up well the teaching
of the day.
CLERGY. A general name for ecclesiastics of all orders (see
_Orders_), as distinguished from the laity. The word is from a
Greek one, meaning a _portion_.
CLERK. The legal designation of a clergyman is "_Clerk in Holy
Orders_." The _Parish Clerk_ was formerly a person in Holy Orders,
but his office, as defined in our Prayer Book, is usually discharged
by a layman. The appointment of a Parish Clerk is in the hands of
the incumbent, by whom also he may be dismissed; but in some
parishes the office is a freehold. The almost universal use of
choirs in churches has nearly done away with that strange mode of
public worship which consisted of a duet between the parson and
clerk. The clerk has certain stated fees for his assistance at
marriages and funerals.
CLOISTER. A covered walk attached to monastic and collegiate
buildings and Cathedrals.
COLLATION. The appointment to a benefice by a Bishop is called a
_collation_.
COLLECT. A short concentrated prayer. The derivation of the word
is doubtful. The greater part of our Collects are found in the
Sacramentaries of St. Leo (A.D. 420), Gelasius (A.D. 494), and
Gregory the Great (A.D. 590.) Fifty-seven out of tie existing
eighty-two Prayer Book Collects are thus translations from the
Latin. The later Collects may sometimes be distinguished from these
ancient ones by their lack of terseness, and by their greater use
of scriptural language.
COLLEGE. A corporation or community. The Colleges of our Universities
are independent societies, governed by their own statutes and
officers. Still, they are connected in certain ways with the greater
Corporation, called the _University_ (which see.)
COLLEGIATE CHURCHES. Churches with a _College_, or body of Canons or
Prebendaries attached, such as Westminster Abbey, and St. George's,
Windsor. The only others remaining now are Wolverhampton, Middleham,
and Brecon.
COMMANDMENTS, The TEN. The recital of the Decalogue is peculiar to
our English Communion Service. It was ordered in 1552, possibly to
counteract the growth of Antinomianism (which see.) While other
parts of the Levitical Law relating to _ceremonies_ and the like
are not binding on Christians, the Commandments are so, because they
embody the _Moral_ Law, which is for all time and all people.
For the sense in which the Commandments are to be understood, see
the explanation of them in the Catechism. The reason of their being
placed in the Communion Service is to remind us of the duty of
self-examination before we "presume to eat of that bread and drink
of that cup," and to give us a standard whereby we may measure
ourselves. For the alteration from the _seventh_ day to the _first_,
see _Sunday_.
COMMENDATORY PRAYER. One of the four extra prayers added to the
Office for the Visitation of the Sick in 1662. It is a most
beautiful commendation of a "sick person at the point of departure"
to God's gracious mercy.
COMMINATION. The word means a _threat_, or _denunciation of
vengeance_. The Service, so-called in our Prayer Book, took its
present shape in 1549. It is, as the first exhortation states, an
imperfect substitute for the primitive practice of open penance.
Notice that in using this Service we do not invoke the wrath of God
on sinners, but merely declare that a curse must rest on sin. The
Service is used on Ash Wednesday, although, if ordered, it may be
used at other times. The first seven sentences are from Deut.
xxvii.15-26; the eighth is from Jer. xvii.5; the ninth is an
agglomeration of sins condemned in Scripture. The _Amen_ here means
not _So be it_, but _So it is_. The exhortation which follows is a
succession of quotations from Scripture. The Rubric mentions the
"place where they are accustomed to say the Litany," which place
is neither the _pulpit_ nor _reading pew_ mentioned in the first
Rubric in the Office, but is a desk placed "in the midst of the
church" (Injunctions of 1549). Following the Lord's Prayer,
Versicles, and Collects, comes a most forcible confession couched
in the words of Scripture, but less comprehensive than those of
the Morning and Communion Services. The Blessing, added in 1662,
is a shortened form of the old Jewish Blessing (Num. vi.24-26), but
here it is precatory not declaratory.
COMMITTAL PRAYER. That prayer in the Burial Service in which the
minister _commits_ the body to the ground, "earth to earth, ashes
to ashes, dust to dust." (See _Burial Service_.)
COMMON PRAYER, _see_ Liturgy.
COMMUNION, THE HOLY. Variously called the _Lord's Supper_ and the
_Eucharist_. This Service, formerly exclusively called the _Liturgy_
is the highest act of Christian worship. We will consider it under
four heads,--(1) History; (2) Rubrics; (3) Service; (4) Views.
(1) _History_. The two Sacraments--Holy Communion, and Holy
Baptism--differ from all other Christian observances in that they
are the only two expressly ordained by our Lord. We have four
records of the institution of the Lord's Supper in the New
Testament, viz., Matt, xxvi.26-28; Mark xiv.22-24; Luke xxii.19-20;
1 Cor. xi.23-25. In obedience to our Lord's command, "This do in
remembrance of Me," we find the Apostles constantly celebrated the
Holy Communion; Acts ii.46; xx.7; &c. This was always accompanied
by a set form of prayer, traces of which we may even find in the
New Testament--Acts ii.42; 1 Cor. x.16; 1 Cor. xiv.16. Justin
Martyr, who wrote A.D. 140, gives an account of a Sunday Service.
Almsgiving usually, if not always, accompanied a celebration of the
Holy Communion. As the number of Christians increased, the various
Churches throughout Europe compiled for their own use forms of
prayer for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the form most
used in England was known by the name of the "Sarum, or Salisbury,
Use." The Communion Service in our Prayer Book is based upon, and
translated from, this "Sarum Use," with considerable modifications
and adaptations. The first reformed Office appeared in 1548; the
first full English Office was put forth in 1549; the present Office
is substantially that in the second Prayer Book of Edward VI., 1552.
A great deal of it is from Hermann's "Consultation," a Liturgy drawn
up in 1543 by Melanchthon and Bucer.
(2) _Rubrics_. The first, inserted in 1661, has become virtually
obsolete. The "Ordinary," mentioned in the third, is the Bishop,
and the "Canon" referred to is the 109th. For first part of fourth
rubric, see _Altar_. For the latter part of this rubric, see
_Eastward Position_. This rubric was added in 1552.
The rubric before the Commandments was inserted in 1552, but the
words "turning to the people," were added in 1661. The next was
inserted in 1549. In the next rubric, the alternate form of giving
out the Epistle is for use when the passage selected as the Epistle
is not really from the Epistles, but is some other "portion of
Scripture;" the "sung or said" refers, possibly, to the Cathedral
and Parochial modes of conducting Service. (See _Church Music_.)
Three rubrics follow the Nicene Creed; in the first, 1662, the word
"Curate," there and elsewhere in the Prayer Book, means the minister
in charge of the parish, having "cure of souls," not the assistant
minister generally so denominated now. The direction that notice of
Holy Communion is to be given at this part of the service is quite
contradictory to the rubric following the Prayer for the Church
Militant, which should be altered. The word "Homily," in the second
of these rubrics, means "a plain sermon." Two books of Homilies
have been put forth, one in 1547, by Archbp. Cranmer and others,
and the second in 1562, by Bishop Jewel. There is no authority in
this, or any other rubric, for changing the surplice for a black
gown, neither is there any direction for a prayer before the
sermon, although a form is given in the 55th Canon. (See _Bidding
Prayer_.)
For the next rubric see _Offertory_.
The first rubric after the Offertory Sentences was inserted in 1661;
in 1552 the alms were to be put in the poor box, and not presented.
The next rubric orders the bread and wine to be placed on the Holy
Table, thus implying the existence of some shelf or table, called
the Credence Table, on which they had been previously placed. This
rubric was omitted from 1552 to 1661, which perhaps accounts for
the custom existing in some churches of not placing the elements on
the altar till the time of consecration. The rubrics before the two
exhortations giving notice of Holy Communion, were inserted in
1661, but now they have fallen into disuse. The next rubric,
inserted in 1552, refers to the custom, almost obsolete now, of
intending communicants taking places in the chancel for the rest
of the service.
The rubric before the Confession is ambiguous in language, and may
mean that the Confession is to be said by the minister alone. The
next rubric, directing the Bishop, if present, to pronounce the
Absolution, is from the Scottish Office, and was introduced here
in 1661. For the rubric before the Consecration prayer, see
_Eastward Position_. The "fair linen cloth," ordered to be thrown
over what remains of the consecrated elements, is by some thought
to represent the linen clothes in which the Saviour's body was
wrapped when placed in the tomb.
Of the nine rubrics at the close of the service, the second, third,
and fourth are directed against the practice obtaining in the Roman
Catholic Church of solitary masses. The fifth is stated by
Archbishop Parker and Bishop Cosin not to forbid the use of
wafer-bread, but merely to legalize the use of ordinary bread. The
rubric in the Scottish Liturgy expresses this more clearly,--"Though
it be lawful to have wafer-bread, it shall suffice that the bread
be such as is usual." The sixth rubric exhibits the Church's
careful and reverent treatment of the remains of the consecrated
elements; but its main office was to forbid the reservation of the
Blessed Sacrament for the use of invalids and others. This was
allowed in the primitive Church, and is now by the Scottish
Episcopal Church; but the superstitions which grew up around the
custom seemed to make the present rule necessary. The next rubric
has been required since offerings in kind were discontinued.
In the next rubric the Lateran Council (1215) enjoined one communion
yearly, at Easter-tide only; but the present rule is more in
accordance with the custom of the ancient Church, and encourages
lay communions.
The last rubric only provides for the distribution of alms when
there is an offertory, _i.e._ the reading of the offertory
sentences. Other collections are in the hands of the incumbent
only. The Ordinary is the Bishop.
The "declaration" is a protest against certain low and gross
notions of a carnal presence, as taught in the Roman Church. The
"_kneeling_" here, and the "_meekly kneeling_" in the rubric after
the Consecration Prayer, exclude prostration, which is not kneeling.
(3) _The Service_. As was said in the paragraph on the _History_ of
the Communion Service, it is chiefly taken from the "Sarum Use."
When there is no celebration, the Service concludes with a Collect
and the Benediction, said immediately after the Prayer for the
Church Militant; and this is called the Ante-Communion Office. The
Lord's Prayer is said by the Priest alone, notwithstanding the
general rubric to the contrary; that, and the Collect following,
being taken from an Office which was repeated by the Priest alone,
in preparation for Mass. The Decalogue was inserted in 1552 (see
_Commandments_.) In the Collects following, the Mediaeval Offices
coupled the Pope, King, and Bishop of Diocese together.
It is an ancient custom to sit during the reading of the Epistle,
and to stand during the reading of the Gospel, out of reverence for
the repetition of the words or acts of Christ. The Doxology "Glory
be to Thee, O Lord" has, from a very early period, followed the
announcement of the Gospel; but the "Thanks be to Thee, O Lord,"
afterwards, is a comparatively late custom. For the Nicene Creed,
see _Creed_. In the Prayer Book of 1662, the Banns of Marriage were
ordered to be published after the Nicene Creed. For the Sermon see
article _Sermon_. The sentences following are called the "Offertory
Sentences;" formerly a verse was sung before the oblation of the
elements. The next prayer, called the _Prayer for the Church
Militant_, has, in some form or other, formed part of every known
Liturgy. It is divided into three main parts--(1) The Oblation; (2)
Commemoration of the living; (3) Commemoration of the faithful
departed. The oblation is twofold, firstly of the alms which have
been collected, and, secondly, of the elements, the bread and wine
for Holy Communion. The Exhortations, here and elsewhere in the
Prayer Book, are sixteenth century compositions. The first is from
Hermann's "Consultation" (which see); the close of this exhortation
is important as shewing that in certain cases the Reformers allowed
auricular confession. The parts of this Service following the
Exhortations are respectively called the Invitation, Confession,
Absolution, and the "Comfortable Words," and are very characteristic
of the Anglican Liturgy. After the "Comfortable Words" begins the
most solemn part of the Office, anciently called the Canon. The
versicles, called, after the Latin for the first, the "Sarsum
Corda," are found in all Liturgies; and the "Holy, Holy, Holy,"--the
Ter-sanctus,--is probably from Apostolic times. The "Proper
Prefaces" are five out of the ten found in English and Roman
Missals; the first is an old form, re-modelled in 1549; the second
remains as it was in 494; the third dates from 590; the fourth seems
to be a new composition in 1549; the fifth, like the second, dates
from 494. Next follows a very beautiful prayer, called the "Prayer
of Humble Access," which is peculiar to the Anglican Liturgy. After
this comes the "Prayer of Consecration." The recital of the words
and actions used by our blessed Lord at the Institution of this Holy
Feast has always formed an essential feature in every Liturgy. The
form of words to be used at the Reception has varied. Originally,
the words used were, "The Body of Christ," "The Blood of Christ."
Of the form in use now, the first clause only was ordered in 1549,
the second only in 1552, and both were combined in 1559. The Lord's
Prayer, following, formerly was part of the Consecration Prayer; and
the next prayer, called the "Oblation," was the conclusion of the
Consecration Prayer in 1549. After the alternate prayer, composed
in 1549, comes the ancient hymn known as the "Gloria in Excelsis,"
or "Angelic Hymn," or the "Great Doxology." It is of Eastern origin,
and in the time of Athanasius was said, together with certain
Psalms, at dawn. The "Benediction" is a Scriptural composition
of the Reformed Church, the latter part being from Hermann's
Consultation. Of the collects concluding the service, the first,
second, and fourth are from ancient Offices, the others being
composed in 1549.
(4) _Views_, _or Doctrine_. In nothing does the belief of men so
differ as in this matter of Holy Communion. There may be said to be
three views existing among members of the Church of England relative
to that which all allow to be the greatest ordinance of religion.
This difference of belief in this matter is the real foundation of
party spirit in the Church.
(_a_) The _Symbolic_: viz., that consecration simply implies a
setting apart for a holy use of certain elements by a Minister
authorised to do so; that the Bread and Wine thus set apart are
symbols of Christ's Body, which was broken, and of His blood, which
was shed; and that the participation of them is, on the one hand,
a sign of the fellowship of love binding all true hearts together;
and, on the other, a sign of the nourishment and growth of the soul,
as fed by Christ Himself. This is the doctrine of Zuinglius, the
Swiss Reformer. It is adverse to the doctrine of the whole primitive
Church, which, says Bishop H. Browne, "unquestionably believed in
a _presence_ of Christ in the Eucharist." (Art. xxviii. Sec. I.)
(_b_) The _Receptionist_; viz., that after consecration the elements
become in such a sense changed that they become the channels through
which the Body and Blood of Christ are subsequently conveyed to
those who receive them with certain dispositions of mind. The
Presence of Christ in the elements is potential, not actual; that
is, the elements have the power of conveying the Presence of Christ
to only a properly qualified receiver.
(_c_) The _Objective_; viz., that after the consecration the
elements receive not potentially, but actually, the Present Body
and Blood of Christ, and that therefore, the Presence does not
depend, as in the view above, upon faithful participation, but upon
the act of consecration.
More briefly, the Holy Communion is considered as (1) a memorial
feast of love; (2) the actual Presence of Christ in the heart of
the faithful recipient; this might also be called the Subjective
view of the Real Presence; and (3) the Real Presence of Christ in
the consecrated elements themselves, or the Objective view.
There is also the _Sacrificial_ view of the Eucharist, which is
held, in a greater or less degree, by all schools of thought.
Sadler, in "Church Doctrine,--Bible Truth," thus states what he
believes to be the Church of England view--"The Eucharist is the
solemn ecclesiastical memorial of the Sacrifice of the Death of
Christ. It is the Saviour's own ordained means of showing forth
before God, men, and angels. His love in His Death. Just as the Old
Law sacrifices were anticipatory showings forth of the One Atoning
Death which was to be, so this Communion is a memorial, or
commemorative showing forth, of the One Atoning Death which has
been."
COMMUNION OF THE SICK. This Office differs from the ordinary
Communion Service in its introduction, a special Collect, Epistle,
and Gospel being appointed. After this is concluded, the Priest
continues with the ordinary Office, beginning "Ye that do truly,"
&c. Up to 1552 it was allowed to carry the consecrated elements
from the church to the sick person; and even later than this we
find the rubric allowing of reservation inserted at large in Queen
Elizabeth's Latin Prayer Book. This Prayer Book was drawn up for
the use of the Universities and the Colleges of Winchester and Eton.
The third rubric in the Service is for the prevention of infection.
The direction in the fourth rubric with regard to what is called
"Spiritual Communion" is from the ancient Office of Extreme Unction.
The last rubric does not allow mere infection to be a sufficient
excuse for a clergyman's not giving Holy Communion.
COMMUNION OF SAINTS. An article of our Faith. The faithful have (1)
an external fellowship, or communion, in the Word and Sacraments;
(2) an intimate union as the living members of Christ. Nor is this
communion, or fellowship, broken by the death of any, for in Christ
all are knit together in one uninterrupted bond.
COMTISM, or POSITIVISM. A philosophy taught by one Auguste Comte, a
Frenchman, who was born in 1798, and died 1857. He denied the
Deity, and introduced the worship of Humanity. In his religion,
which must not be confounded with his philosophy, there are many
festivals, a calendar of saints, nine sacraments, and a caricature
of the Holy Trinity. His _philosophical_ system is based on
altruism, a word meaning much the same as the Biblical command,
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This philosophy has
many adherents.
CONCEPTION, THE IMMACULATE, OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. A doctrine
of the Roman Church, invented about the middle of the ninth century.
It teaches that the Blessed Virgin herself was conceived and born
without sin. Although this dates from so far back, yet it was not
imposed by the Church of Rome upon her members as a definite article
of faith until the year A.D. 1854.
CONFESSION. The verbal admission of sin. The Prayer Book provides
three forms of public confession--one in Morning Prayer, one in the
Communion Service, and one in the Commination Service. Besides this
the Church of England allows private confession to a priest in
exceptional cases, as in the latter part of the first exhortation
in the Communion Service, and in the rubric immediately preceding
the Absolution in the Office for the Visitation of the Sick.
Private, or _Auricular_, Confession forms a prominent feature in
the Church of Rome, and it is that which gives to the Roman Priest
his great authority over his flock. The practice is, to some extent,
founded upon S. James v. 16, which, however, is not necessarily to
be understood as speaking of confession to a priest.
CONFIRMATION, RITE OF. The practice of confirming those who have
been baptized is spoken of in Acts viii.12-17; xix.4-6. In the early
Church it was administered by Bishops alone, and followed as
immediately as possible after Baptism. Such is the custom of the
Greek Church at the present day, but there the Office is not
restricted to Bishops, as in the Western Church, confirmation being
administered with chrism, an unguent consecrated by a Bishop. In
the Western Church the Rite became gradually dissociated from
Baptism, although it has never lost its primary signification as a
_confirming_, or strengthening, by the Holy Ghost of those who have
been baptized. It is now administered, as the rubric directs, to
those who have arrived at "years of discretion," that is to say, to
those who are old enough to understand the leading doctrines of the
Christian Faith. The age at which Bishops of the Anglican Church
will confirm children varies a little in the different dioceses,
but 13 or 14 is the general age. The Rite of Confirmation forms one
of the seven Sacraments of the Churches of Greece and Rome.
The Preface to the Service, inserted in 1661, is, in substance, the
rubric of 1549. The Vow, at all times implied, was not explicitly
inserted until 1661. The Versicles and Prayer are from ancient
Offices. The form of words accompanying the Imposition of Hands
dates from 1552. The Lord's Prayer was inserted in 1661, and the
Collect following was composed in 1549. The second Collect is from
the Communion Office. The concluding rubric, although making it a
point of Church order that people should be confirmed before coming
to Holy Communion, allows that in certain cases the privilege
conferred by the Rite may be anticipated.
CONFIRMATION of a BISHOP. When a Bishop dies, or is translated, the
sovereign grants a license, called a _conge d'elire_, to the Dean
and Chapter of the vacant see to elect the person, whom by his
letters missive he has appointed. The Dean and Chapter, having made
their election, certify it to the sovereign, and to the Archbishop
of the province, and to the Bishop elected; then the sovereign
gives his royal assent under the great seal, directed to the
Archbishop, commanding him to _confirm_ and consecrate the Bishop
thus elected. The Archbishop subscribes this "_fiat confirmatio_."
After this, a long and formal process is gone through, and at
length the Bishop elect takes the oaths of office, and the election
is ratified and decreed to be good. The matter is in no way of a
spiritual nature.
CONGREGATION. In an ordinary sense, an assemblage of people for
public worship. In the Bible our translators consider _Congregation_
and _Church_ convertible terms. Psalm xxii.22; Heb. ii.12.
CONGREGATIONALISTS. The newer name of the _Independents_. (which
see.)
CONGRUITY. A term used in the 13th Art. The "School authors"
mentioned are the theologians of the middle ages as compared with
the "Fathers" of the early times. Bishop Harold Browne says, "The
school-authors thought that some degree of goodness was attributable
to unassisted efforts on the part of man towards the attainment of
holiness: and, though they did not hold, that such efforts did, of
their own merit, deserve grace, yet they taught that in some degree
they were such as to call down the grace of God upon them, it being
not indeed obligatory on the justice of God to reward such efforts
by giving His grace, but it being agreeable to His nature and
goodness to bestow grace on those who make such efforts." (Art. X.)
These endeavours on the part of man to attain to godliness were by
the schoolmen said to deserve grace _de congnio_, _of congruity_.
CONSANGUINITY, _see_ Kindred.
CONSECRATION of BISHOPS, _see_ Ordinal.
CONSECRATION of CHURCHES, CHURCH YARDS, and CEMETERIES. A Christian
custom dating, at latest, from the 4th century. Nor does the law of
England recognise any place as a church until it has been consecrated
by a Bishop. Nothing more, however, is implied, than that the
building or place consecrated is set apart for holy uses.
CONSECRATION of ELEMENTS, _see_ Communion, Holy.
CONSUBSTANTIATION. A doctrine of the Lutheran Church with regard
to the Real Presence in Holy Communion. "It differs from
Transubstantiation, in that it does not imply a change in the
substance of the elements. Those who hold this doctrine, teach
that the bread remains bread, and the wine remains wine; but that
with, and by means of the consecrated elements, the true, natural
Body and Blood of Christ are communicated to the recipients." (Bp.
Harold Browne.)
CONSULTATION, HERMANN'S. A book frequently referred to in the
articles on the different parts of the Prayer Book. Hermann was
Archbishop of Cologne at the time of the Reformation, and adopted
Protestantism. He employed Melanchthon and Bucer, two celebrated
Reformers, to draw up a book of formularies, doctrine, and the
like, which was called the _Consultation_. Much of our Prayer Book
is derived from it.
CONTRITION, _see_ Repentance.
CONVERSION. Literally, _turning round_. By this is generally
meant a sudden and sensible action of the Blessed Spirit upon a
newly-awakened sinner. A certain party in the Church, and nearly
all dissenting bodies, declare the absolute necessity of _conversion_
before a person can be saved. This view is based upon a mistaken
interpretation of our Lord's intercourse with Nicodemus, S. John
iii., and confuses _conversion_ with _regeneration_ (which see). To
the heathen, and infidel, _conversion_--a change of heart and
life--is absolutely and always necessary to salvation; but the
baptized Christian may, by God's grace, so continue in that state
of salvation (see _Church Catechism_) in which he was placed in
baptism, that _conversion_, in the above sense, is not necessary
to him; but inasmuch as all fall into sin day by day, he will need
_renewal_, or _renovation_--the quiet and continuous work of the
Holy Spirit upon his heart. There is not a single reference to
sudden conversion in any of the formularies of the Church of
England.
CONVOCATION. An assembly of Bishops and Clergy to consult on matters
ecclesiastical. Each Province (Canterbury and York) has its own
convocation, consisting of two Houses--an Upper, in which the
Bishops of the Province sit, and a Lower, in which the Deans,
Archdeacons, and chosen members of the clergy sit. These chosen
clergy are called proctors, and are elected by the votes of the
beneficed clergy. It was, and is, the custom of convocation to sit
at the same time as parliament; but in the sixteenth century a
great deal of the power and authority of convocation was lost, and
it became no longer able to legislate for the Church without the
consent of parliament.
COPE, _see_ Vestment.
CORONATION. The solemn religious rite by which a sovereign prince
is consecrated to his high office. The Coronation Service is
substantially the same as that used in the times of the Heptarchy,
and is very valuable as recording certain high religious and
political principles prevailing in those early times, and still to
be cherished.
CORPORAL, _see_ Altar Linen.
COUNCILS. GENERAL or OECUMENICAL COUNCILS, or SYNODS. Assemblies of
Bishops from all parts of the world, to determine some weighty
matter of faith or discipline. Of such Councils there have been six
received by the whole Catholic Church, but the Roman Church
acknowledges several others. Of these six Councils the first four
are the most important:--(1) Council of Nice, A.D. 325, summoned
by the Emperor Constantine, against the Arian heresy. (2) Council
of Constantinople, A.D. 381, summoned by the Emperor Theodosius,
against the heresy of Macedonius. (3) Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431,
summoned by the Emperor Theodosius the younger, against the Nestorian
heresy. (4) Council of Chalcedon, A.D. 451, summoned by the Emperor
Marcianus, against the heresy of the Eutychians. The other two
generally received Councils are the Second and Third Councils of
Constantinople. (See _OEcumenical_.)
Besides these _General_ Councils, there are National, Provincial,
and Diocesan Councils,
COVENANT. A mutual agreement between two or more parties. In the
Bible, God is spoken of as entering into covenant with man, as in
Gen. xv.8-18; xxviii.20-22; and elsewhere. In an historical sense
it denotes a contract or convention agreed to by the Scots in 1630
for maintaining the Presbyterian religion free from innovation.
This was called the National Covenant. The "Solemn League and
Covenant," a modification of the above, guaranteed the preservation
of the Scottish Reformed Church, and was adopted by Parliament in
1643.
CREDENCE TABLE. A table or shelf near the altar, on which the bread
and wine to be used in Holy Communion are placed previously to
consecration. The word seems to be derived from the Italian
_credenzare_, a buffet, or sideboard, at which meats were tasted
in early times before being presented to the guests, as a precaution
against poison. It is used for the more convenient observance of
the rubric following the offertory sentences, "And when there is a
Communion, the priest shall _then_ place upon the Table so much
bread and wine as he shall think sufficient."
CREED. There are three Creeds recognised in the Catholic Church--the
_Apostles' Creed_, the _Nicene Creed_, and the _Athanasian Creed_.
The name _Creed_ is derived from the Latin _Credo_, "I believe."
The _Apostles' Creed_, rehearsed in the Morning and Evening Service
of our Church, is the most ancient of all creeds, and can be traced
back, with few variations, almost to Apostolic times; some indeed
allege that it, in its earliest form, is referred to in Rom. vi.17,
and 2 Tim. i.13. It is in no way controversial, but is a simple and
plain statement of the fundamental truths of Christianity, and being
such, a profession of faith in it is demanded of all candidates for
Baptism.
The _Nicene Creed_, which has a place in the Communion Service, is
so called from its being drawn up at the Council of Nicaea (A.D.
325). A more distinct enunciation of belief was made necessary by
the growth of the Arian and other heresies which denied the Godhead
of our Lord Jesus Christ. The latter portion, from "I believe
in the Holy Ghost," was added later, viz., at the Council of
Constantinople, A.D. 381. Other heresies led to the introduction
of the "_filioque clause_"--"Who proceedeth from the Father _and
the Son_"--at a still later date. This is one cause of the great
schism between the Eastern and Western Churches.
The _Athanasian Creed_, recited on certain Festivals instead of the
Apostles' Creed, is not so ancient as the other two, nor does it
rest on the same authority. It is not known for certain by whom it
was composed, but at any rate it was not by Athanasius. It has been
regularly used in the Western Church since the year 800, and is
regarded as a most valuable exposition of Scriptural Truth. So much
objection is taken to the "damnatory clauses," as they are called,
that it may be well to quote the declaration of the Convocation of
Canterbury (1879):--"For the removal of doubts, and to prevent
disquietude in the use of the Creed, commonly called the Creed of
St. Athanasius, it is hereby solemnly declared--
"(I.) That the Confession of our Christian Faith, commonly called
the Creed of St. Athanasius, doth not make any addition to the
faith as contained in Holy Scripture, but warneth against errors,
which from time to time have arisen in the Church of Christ.
"(II.) That as Holy Scripture in divers places doth promise life
to them that believe, and declares the condemnation of them that
believe not, so doth the Church in this Confession declare the
necessity for all who would be in a state of Salvation, of holding
fast the Catholic Faith, and the great peril of rejecting the same.
Wherefore the warnings in this Confession of Faith are not to be
understood otherwise than like warnings of Holy Scripture; for we
must receive God's threatenings, even as His promises, in such wise
as they are generally set forth in Holy Writ. Moreover, the Church
doth not herein pronounce judgment on any particular person or
persons, God alone being the Judge of all."
CROSIER. In Skeat's Etymological Dictionary _Crosier_ is derived
from _Crook_; thus a pastoral staff terminating in a crook. The use
of a pastoral staff is ordered in the Prayer Book of the second year
of Edward VI. The pastoral staff of an Archbishop is distinguished
from the pastoral staff of a Bishop by terminating in a cross
instead of in a crook.
CROSS. The instrument of death to our Blessed Lord, and as such it
has been considered in all ages by the Church as the most appropriate
emblem, or symbol, of our Christian profession. The sign of the
cross was formerly used in nearly every part of the Church Service,
but owing to the superstitious use of it by Roman Catholics it is
retained in our Church in the baptismal office only.
CRUCIFIX. A cross upon which is a representation of our Lord's body.
It is used by the Romanists, and the Lutheran Protestants, as an
aid to devotion. In the Church of England we sometimes find it in
reredoses and stained glass.
CRYPT. The subterranean vault under any portion of a Church.
Possibly used as an additional place of worship; and, also, sometimes
of burial, and of concealment.
CUP, _see_ Altar Vessels.
CURATE. Properly the person who has the _cure_, or care, of souls in
a parish. In this way the word, is used in the Prayer Book. But the
word, in common parlance, is used to denote the _assistant_ clergyman
in a parish. He is licensed by the Bishop of the diocese, and can be
removed only by consent of the Bishop after six months' notice. He
can, however, resign, after giving the Incumbent three months'
notice. For particulars with regard to ordination see _Orders_.
CURE. The spiritual charge of a parish, or, in another sense, the
parish itself.
DAILY PRAYERS. Every Priest and Deacon is bound to say publicly in
Church, if a congregation of two or three can be obtained; or
privately, unless hindered by some good cause, the Office for
Morning and Evening Prayer. This is directed in the preface of the
Book of Common Prayer.
DALMATIC, _see_ Vestments.
DAMNATORY CLAUSES, _see_ Creed.
DEACON, _see_ Orders.
DEAD, _see_ Burial Service.
DEADLY SIN, _see_ Sin.
DEAN. An ecclesiastic next in degree to a Bishop. He is the head of
a corporate body called a Chapter, attached to a Cathedral, and has
the direction of the Cathedral services. Deans of Peculiars have no
Chapters. The _Dean_ of a College at Oxford or Cambridge is the
officer appointed to maintain discipline.*
The _Dean_ of _Faculty_ presides over meetings of the particular
faculty of which he is Dean. It is an office in most ancient, and
some modern universities.
* _The Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, is the Head both of the
Cathedral, and the College_.
DEAN, RURAL, _see_ Rural Dean.
DEAN AND CHAPTER. The governing body of a Cathedral.
DECALOGUE, _see_ Commandments.
DECORATION of CHURCHES. It is right and fitting that churches should
be made as beautiful as possible for the worship of Almighty God,
for so God Himself directed the Tabernacle to be made. The custom of
especially decorating them with evergreens, flowers, &c., at the
chief festivals of the Church is a very ancient one.
DEGREES. A rank or grade conferred by a university on her members.
After three years' residence at Oxford or Cambridge, and after the
passing of certain examinations, a degree is conferred on the
student in accordance with the subjects in which he has passed. If,
as is the general rule, he has studied and passed in Arts,--Classics,
Mathematics, and the like--the student is made a B.A., or Bachelor
in Arts, and in about three years--not necessarily of residence--he
is able to proceed to the higher degree of M. A., or Master in Arts,
without further examination. Other degrees are in the faculties of
Divinity, Laws, Medicine, and Music; for the last it is not necessary
to reside. The highest degree conferred by a university in any
faculty is that of Doctor. A Bachelor of Oxford wears a small black
hood _trimmed_ with white fur; a Bachelor of Cambridge has a larger
hood _lined_ with white fur. An Oxford Master wears a hood of black
silk lined with _red_ silk, but the Cambridge Master's hood is of
black silk lined with _white_ silk. The difference in shape can
easily be seen by comparison. A Dublin Master's hood is lined with
_blue_ silk. Other universities have other colours; and many
theological colleges, which have no power to confer degrees, have
arrogated to themselves hoods with various linings, which bear a
close resemblance to some of the hoods worn by graduates.
DEISTS. A _Deist_ acknowledges the existence of a God, but denies
the existence and necessity of any revelation.
DENOMINATIONS. There appear to be about 180 Denominations having
Places of Meeting for Religious Worship in England and Wales. Among
these there are--
8 "Armies," besides the Salvation Army.
9 Baptist Sects.
20 Methodist Sects.
DESK. The name usually given to the "reading-pew," mentioned in the
rubric before the Commination Service, where morning and evening
prayers are said or sung. In 1549 it was directed that the Service
should be said "in the Quire" and "with a loud voice." This was done
by the Priest near to, and facing, the Altar. In 1552 the Service
was directed to be said from such a place as the people could best
hear. This direction caused a great commotion, one party retaining
their old position in the Chancel, the other performing all services
in the body of the Church. In 1559 the rubric before the Order
for Morning Prayer was brought into its present shape, and the
"accustomed Place" would undoubtedly be the Chancel, but still the
discretion left with the "Ordinary" sanctioned the use of the
unsightly "reading-pew" or _desk_, which is occasionally found
outside the Chancel and in the body of the Church.
DEUS MISEREATUR. Psalm lxvii., inserted in the Evening Service for
occasional use instead of the Nunc Dimittis in 1552.
DIGNITARY. One who holds cathedral or other preferment to which
jurisdiction is annexed. "One who holds an ecclesiastical rank
above a priest or canon." (Chambers' Etymological Dictionary.)
DIMISSORY LETTERS. When a Candidate for Holy Orders is ordained by
some Bishop other than the one in whose diocese he is going to work,
it is because the ordaining Bishop has received leave, or _Letters
Dimissory_, from the candidate's rightful Diocesan.
DIOCESE. The extent of a Bishop's rule. England at present is
divided into 32 dioceses; 23 being in the Province of Canterbury,
and 9 in the Province of York. It is to be very earnestly wished
that these dioceses may be sub-divided, and the number of Bishops
increased, that the Church may be more able to cope with the
enormously increased population.
DISSENTERS. A _civil_, not a _religious_ term, and denotes those who
have diverged from the civilly established religion of a country.
Episcopalians are Dissenters in Scotland, Christians are Dissenters
in Turkey. In England all are Dissenters who do not belong to the
Church of England, whether they are Protestants or Papists. For
further particulars see under their various names.
DONATIVE. A form of conferring an ecclesiastical benefice on any
clerk, by which he is exempt from presentation, induction, or
institution; the patron acting virtually as a Bishop. This is said
to be the usual manner in which benefices were anciently conferred.
DOXOLOGY. An ascription of praise to God. The most familiar
doxologies in use in our Church are the "Gloria Patri," the "Gloria
in Excelsis," and the well-known verse, "Praise God from whom all
blessings flow," &c. Many of our prayers, especially those of
thanksgiving, conclude with a doxology.
EAST, TURNING TO THE. This is now generally done at the Creeds. It
is a survival of a general custom of worship towards the East--as
the region of light, symbolical of the rising of the "Sun of
Righteousness"--which is at least as old as the time of Tertullian,
who lived in the second century.
EASTWARD POSITION. A term descriptive of the position used by a
Priest who adopts the custom of celebrating Holy Communion facing
the East, with his back to the people. There is a very great
difficulty in ascertaining what the rubrics with relation to the
Priest's position really mean, because the Altar itself occupied
various positions at the time the rules were framed.
(1.) _Position of Altar_. "The Table. . . .shall stand in the Body
of the Church, or in the Chancel," is the rubric of 1552. "The Holy
Table shall be set in the place where the Altar stood. . . .saving
when the Communion of the Sacrament is to be distributed, at which
time the same shall be so placed in good sort (conveniently) within
the Chancel," is the direction in the Injunctions of 1559.
By degrees, however, the custom of moving the Holy Table at the
time of Communion, and placing it length-ways in the Church ceased,
and it was allowed to remain at all times placed "Altar-wise" at
the East End of the Church.
(2.) _Position of the Priest_. In the rubric of 1549 the direction
was for him "to stand humbly afore the midst of the Altar," of
course with his back to the people. In 1552 the present rubric,
directing the "North-side," was introduced, but owing to the Altar's
standing East and West then, the position of the Priest remained
virtually the same as before. But when, through Laud's influence,
the Holy Table was removed back to its original position, the
question was whether the Priest was still to obey the letter of the
rubric and stand at the "North-side," or rather what was now the
"North end," or whether he too was to retain his old relative and
original position. The matter has been further complicated by the
insertion of the rubric before the Consecration Prayer in 1662,
which seems to favour the Eastward position in directing the Priest
to "stand before the Table," while, on the other hand, that very
position renders it difficult to "break the Bread before the
people," unless, as some maintain, the "before" does not mean "in
the sight of," but "in front of."
EASTER. The great festival of the Church's Year, and kept in
commemoration of our Saviour's glorious Resurrection. It has always
been observed by the Church, but in early ages there were bitter
disputes as to the season when it was to be kept. Some wished it to
be observed on the actual anniversary, whether the day happened to
be a Sunday or not. The matter was settled at the Council of Nice,
when it was decided that Easter should be kept on the first Sunday
following the full moon which falls on, or next after, March 21st.
The word _Easter_ is probably derived from the name of a Saxon
goddess, whose festival was kept in the Spring of the year. The
other name, Paschal, applied to this festival, is a Hebrew word
meaning "passage," and is applied to the Jewish feast of the
Passover, to which the Christian festival of Easter corresponds.
Easter used to be the great day for Baptism, for the restoring of
Penitents, and, in the early ages, even for the freeing of prisoners.
Every confirmed member of the Church of England is expected to
Communicate on Easter Day, in accordance with the direction at the
end of the Communion Service.
EASTER ANTHEMS. Certain passages, chosen from 1 Cor. v., Rom. vi.,
1 Cor. xv., directed to be sung instead of the _Venite_ on Easter
Day.
ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS. "In the year 1837 the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners were embodied. They are not, as many suppose, the
dispensers of State funds to the Church. They are a corporation for
the purpose of holding as trustees a large amount of Church revenues.
The sources from which the income in their hands arises are certain
annual payments from several bishoprics, emoluments of suspended
canonries, the property of suspended deaneries and sinecure
rectories, capitular estates, and other Ecclesiastical sources."
(Webb's "England's Inheritance in her Church.")
"The Ecclesiastical Commission does with the lands of Bishops and
Chapters what these could never do for themselves. It can afford to
wait for the falling in of leases, whereas those old corporations
were obliged to renew them, that they might live on the money paid
for renewals; and when it has got the lands it lets them for their
full value. By this means it is able to pay the old corporations out
of half their lands as much as they used to get from the whole under
their own system, and the other moiety is taken out of the hands of
laymen (regard being had to equity) and devoted to other beneficial
purposes for the Church. In this way the surplus revenues of
capitular estates have been applied to the benefit of an immense
number of parishes which had claims upon them." (Dixon's "Peek
Essay.")
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. The following are the principal: the
Consistory Courts of the Bishops; the Arches Court of Canterbury;
and the Supreme Court of Appeal, composed of members of the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council. Under the Public Worship Act the
Dean of the Arches Court has been made Official Principal of both
Provinces. A Royal Commission has recently issued a Report upon the
Ecclesiastical Courts, and the question of their constitution
generally is under consideration.
ELECTION. A choosing, hence the "chosen people" of God. There are
three views taken of election,--the Calvinistic, the Arminian, and
the Catholic. The Calvinistic view is that certain persons are from
all eternity chosen or elected by God to salvation, the rest of
mankind being condemned to eternal death (See _Predestination_,
_Calvinism_, _Antinomianism_.)
The Arminian view is that God, knowing what the life of every man
born into the world shall be, and foreseeing that some "will refuse
the evil and choose the good," hath elected them to eternal life.
(See _Arminianism_.)
The Catholic view is that God of his mercy elects certain of His
creatures for a place in the visible Church, and thus causes them
to be placed in "a state of salvation," of which, however, they may
fall short by their own perverseness.
The Church of England, as a branch of the great Church Catholic, is
believed to teach this latter view, as will be seen by a study of
her Liturgy.
ELEMENTS. The Bread and Wine used in Holy Communion (See _Communion,
Holy_). In Holy Baptism, Water, wherein the person is baptized, is
the _Element_.
ELEVATION. In Articles xxv. and xxviii. reference is made to a
ceremony of the Church of Rome, called the Elevation of the Host,
which consists in the consecrated wafer being held up, or elevated,
for the adoration of the people. Bp. Harold Browne says, "Elevating
the Host resulted from a belief in transubstantiation. . . .There
is evidently no Scriptural Authority for the Elevation of the Host,
the command being, 'Take, eat.' The Roman ritualists themselves
admit that there is no trace of its existence before the 11th or
12th centuries." (See _Note on Art_. xxviii.)
EMBER DAYS. In early times special fasts were appointed at the four
seasons of the year, and of later years they have been made to have
a special reference to the ordination of clergy which immediately
follows them. The derivation of the name is uncertain. The days
thus set apart, and now used for supplicating God's blessing on
those about to be ordained, are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
after the 1st Sunday in Lent, after Whit Sunday, after the 14th of
September, and after the 13th of December. Special Collects are
appointed for use on these days.
EMMANUEL, or IMMANUEL. A Hebrew word, used as a name of our Lord,
and meaning, "God with us," Isaiah vii.14; Matt. i.23.
ENDOWMENT. The permanent provision for the support of the ministry.
The annual sum derived from the endowments of the Established Church
amounts to rather more than _four millions sterling_. Of this
sum--Tithes and Rents voluntarily given to the Church of England by
charitable persons before the Reformation bring in about L1,950,000;
Tithes, Rents, and Interest on Money voluntarily given to the Church
of England since the Reformation bring in about L2,250,000. Thus
the total of the yearly value of endowments is about L4,200,000. Of
this the State receives as taxes about L200,000, which leaves a net
yearly value of endowments of about; L3,500,000, which is paid to
the clergy, of whom there are about 20,000. It is thus divided: 2
Archbishops, 28 Bishops, 73 Archdeacons, receive about L173,000; 30
Deans, 132 Canons, 128 Minor Canons, 600 Singers, Lay Officers and
Servants, receive about L203,000; 19,600 other Clergy, Rectors,
Vicars, and Curates receive about L3,124,000. The average, therefore,
is just L3, 10s. a week for each clergyman.
To supplement its endowments, which were voluntarily given by
private persons, the Church receives, by free gifts from her own
members, about five millions and a half sterling every year. This
money is _all_ spent on Schools, Church Institutions, Charities,
Relief of the Poor, Foreign Missions, Expenses attendant upon the
regular performance of Divine Worship, and Building and Restoring
Churches (See _Establishment_.)
EPIPHANY. A Greek word, meaning "manifestation." The term applied
to that festival of the Church observed on Jan. 6th, in commemoration
of our Lord's _manifestation_ to the Wise Men from the East, the
representatives of the Gentile world.
EPISCOPACY. The term applied to the Apostolical form of government,
which consisted in the appointment of a Bishop as an _Overseer_
(for that is the meaning of the Greek word) of a particular Church.
(See _Orders_.)
EPISTLE. The name given to the _Letters_ of the Apostles, which the
Church has admitted as forming part of the Canon of the New
Testament (see _Bible_). St. Paul wrote fourteen, if we allow the
Epistle to the Hebrews to have been written by him. St. James wrote
one, which, like others addressed to no particular Church, is called
a _general_ Epistle. St. Peter wrote two Epistles; St. John, three;
and St. Jude, one. Those portions of Scripture read in the Communion
Service, and called Epistles, have been used, with few alterations,
for 1200 years by the Church of England.
EPISTOLER. The 24th Canon directs that "In all cathedral and
collegiate churches the Holy Communion shall be administered, . . .
the principal minister using a decent cope, and being assisted with
the gospeller and epistoler." So, in the advertisements published
in the seventh year of Elizabeth, we read, "The principal minister
shall use a cope with gospeller and epistoler agreeably."
ERASTIANISM. The heresy of Erastus, a German, born 1524. His main
principle was that the source of all pastoral authority is the civil
magistrate, who, whether Christian or not, possesses an inherent
right to nominate and commission teachers of religion, and is under
no necessity of admitting the least difference between priests and
laymen.
ESCHATOLOGY. A term applied to doctrines relative to the state
after death.
ESTABLISHMENT and ENDOWMENT. These two terms are constantly linked
together in the publications of the Liberation Society, and by
other enemies of the Church of England, as though they formed one
and the same thing. In truth, they are wholly distinct, and are
descriptive of two quite different features of the Church of England.
It is _Established_, and it is also _Endowed_. It is called the
former because it is established in this country by the Law of the
land, and professes the acknowledged religion of the State. If the
Church were disestablished to-morrow she would still continue to be
the true Church of God in this country, because her origin,
doctrine, and constitution are Apostolic. Besides being called a
"State Church," the Church of England has also been called a "State
_paid_ Church." It is well to remember that the Parochial Clergy,
and all others except Army and Navy Chaplains and the like, do not
receive one farthing from the State. The property, or _Endowment_,
of the Church was the voluntary gift of private individuals in all
ages, who, out of regard to the spiritual interests of those who
lived upon their estates, built churches, and endowed them for the
maintenance of religious worship. The State has no right to alienate
any portion whatever of that property from the purpose for which it
was given. (See _Church of England_ and _Endowment_.)
EUCHARIST. A term applied to the Holy Communion (which see),
derived from the Greek, and meaning, "a giving of thanks." It is
used in the Latin version of our Articles.
EVANGELICALS, _see_ Church Parties.
EVANGELISTS. Properly, preachers of the "Evangel," or Gospel, of
Christ; Eph. iv. 11. The term now is limited to the four writers of
the Gospel.
EVES, or VIGILS. The nights or evenings before certain Holy Days of
the Church. A list of days which have vigils may be found in the
beginning of the Prayer Book, in the table of the Vigils, Fasts,
and Days of Abstinence, to be observed in the year. (See _Vigil_.)
EVEN-SONG. Evening Prayer. The word occurs in the table of Proper
Lessons at the commencement of the Prayer Book. (See _Morning
Prayer_.)
EVOLUTION. A name given to the theory of the origin of animal life,
set forth by certain scientists. Thus they tell us that the account
given us in Genesis of the Creation is certainly wrong. That man
was not created as man, but that he has grown to be what he is
through a series of stages. According to Professor Haeckel, the
pedigree of man is as follows:--1. _Monera_--formless little lumps
of mucus matter supposed to be originated by spontaneous generation.
2. _Amoebae_--a little piece of protoplasm enclosing a kernel.
3. _Synamoebae_--a collection of Amoebae. 4. _Planaeada_. 5.
_Gastraeada_, or primaeval "stomach animals." 6. _Turbellaria_, or
worms of a very simple kind. 7. _Scolecida_, worms of a higher
class. 8. _Himatega_, or worms of a higher class still. 9. _Acrania_,
or skull-less animals. 10. _Monorrhina_, or animals with one nostril.
11. _Selachii_, or primaeval fish. 12. _Dipneusta_, or mud-fish.
13. _Sozobranchia_, or gilled amphibians. 14. _Sozura_, or tailed
amphibians. 15. _Protamnia_. 16. _Primary Mammals_. 17. _Pouched
animals_. 18. _Prosimiae_, or semi-apes. 19. _Tailed Apes_. 20.
_Man-like Apes_. 21. _Ape-like Men_. 22. _Men_.
This may be all true, and yet Genesis need not be false. Genesis
begins with man as man, and not with man as a Monera--supposing he
ever was such. But when scientists speak of the principle of life
as being the outcome of an act of spontaneous generation without
any external creative power, then we must disagree with them. The
principle of life is hidden with God alone, and must come from God.
Nor does it in any way affect our belief in Almighty God, whether
He was pleased to create man from the first in "His own image," or
whether He was pleased to make him first pass through the preliminary
stages Professor Haeckel enumerates!
EXCOMMUNICATION. An ecclesiastical censure, whereby the person
against whom it is pronounced is for the time cast out of the
communion of the church. The first rubric in the Office for the
Burial of the Dead prohibits the use of the Service for any that
die excommunicate.
EXHORTATION. The name given to the various addresses in the Liturgy.
They are nearly all the production of the Reformers. The Burial
Office is the only Service of the Prayer Book which has not one or
more of these exhortations.
EXTREME UNCTION. One of the seven so-called Sacraments of the Church
of Rome. It consists in the application of consecrated olive oil,
by a priest, to the five organs of sense of a dying person. It is
considered as conveying God's pardon and support in the last hour.
It is administered when all hope of recovery is gone, and generally
no food is permitted to be taken after it. This custom is founded
on Mark vi. 13, and James v. 14, 15, but in both these places it is
evident that the anointing should be for the _recovery_ of the sick.
When miraculous powers ceased in the Church, it was reasonable that
the unction should cease also.
FACULTY. An order by the Bishop of a diocese to award some privilege
not permitted by common law. A faculty is necessary in order to
effect any important alterations in a church, such as the erection
of a gallery or an organ. Without a faculty a person is not entitled
to erect a monument within the walls of a church.
FAITH. Man is justified by God in respect of, and by means of, Faith
in Christ. It is not the principal cause for our Justification,
that being God's mercy; it is not the meritorious cause of our
Justification, for that is Christ's death; audit is not the
efficient cause of our Justification, for that is the operation
of the Holy Spirit; but it is the _instrument_ on our _side_, by
which we rely on God's word, and appeal to Him for mercy, and
receive a grant of pardon, and a title to the evangelical promises
of God.
FALD STOOL. The desk at which the Litany is usually said. In the
rubric before the penitential psalm in the Commination Service a
special place is mentioned for the saying of the Litany, and this
we know from the Injunctions of 1549 was to be "in the midst of the
Church," thus marking the congregational character of the service.
FALL OF MAN, _see_ Sin, Original.
FASTING. The Romanist regards the use of fasting, or abstinence,
as a means of grace; the Protestant regards it only as a useful
exercise, recommended in Scripture, for the subduing of the flesh
to the Spirit.
FASTS. Days appointed by the Church for the particular discipline
of the flesh, and for a peculiar sorrow for sin. A list of these
days is given at the commencement of the Prayer Book.
FATHER, GOD THE, _see_ Trinity, The Holy.
FATHERS, THE. A term applied generally to all the ancient orthodox
Christian writers. St. Bernard, who flourished in the twelfth
century, is reputed to be the last of the Fathers. The _Schoolmen_
(which see) succeeded the Fathers. Those writers who knew the
Apostles personally are called _Apostolical_ Fathers; such were
Hermas, Barnabas, Clement of Rome, Ignatius and Polycarp. Other
Fathers of the early Church were Justin, Irenaeus, Clement of
Alexandria, and Tertullian. In the third century we have Origen and
Cyprian, and succeeding them Eusebius, Athanasius, Ambrose, Basil,
Jerome or Hieronymus, John Chrysostom, and Augustine.
The writings of the Fathers are most valuable to us as showing us
what were the doctrines and ceremonies of the first Christians.
The Tractarian movement was of great service in calling attention
to the well-nigh forgotten mine of theological wealth stored up in
these writers. Pusey has published a library of the works of the
Fathers in English.
FEASTS, or FESTIVALS. These are days of rejoicing in the Church,
in commemoration of some great truth of Christianity, or of some
great example of Holy Life. The commencement of the Prayer Book
furnishes us with a list of these Holy Days. The rubric, after the
Nicene Creed, directs that "The Curate shall then declare to the
people what holy days, or fasting days are in the week following
to be observed."
FELLOWSHIP. A settled income bestowed by a college on a student as
a reward for distinguished scholarship. Various conditions are
associated with these prizes in the different colleges.
FERIA. A day which is neither a feast nor a fast.
FLAGON, _see_ Altar Vessels.
FONT. From a Latin word, meaning a _fountain_. The vessel holding
the water for Baptism. The 81st Canon says it is to be made of
stone. By ancient custom it is usually placed at the West end of
the Church, near the door, as signifying that Holy Baptism is the
entrance into Christ's Mystical Body, the Church.
FORMULARY, see _Liturgy_. A formulary is a book containing the
rites, ceremonies, and prescribed forms of the Church. The
formulary of the Church of England is the Book of Common Prayer.
FREE WILL. see Article x. The doctrine of our Church is that
although man has a perfectly free will to choose good or evil, yet
we prefer the animal life to the spiritual life, and, through the
badness of our perverse will, shall continue to prefer it until
prevented by the grace of God.
FUNERAL SERVICE, _see_ Burial of the Dead.
GHOST, THE HOLY, _see_ Trinity, The Holy.
GLEBE. Land belonging to an ecclesiastical benefice, and which
forms part of its endowment, the freehold being vested in the
Incumbent.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS. "Glory be (to God) on high." A hymn in the
Communion Office, sometimes called the Angelic Hymn, because the
first part was sung by angels at Bethlehem. It has been used by
the Church for more than 1,500 years, and, in substance, was sung
by Polycarp at his martyrdom.
GLORIA PATRI. "Glory be to the Father." This is one of the oldest
doxologies of the Church; in substance, at least, it is as old as
the 4th century. It is directed to be said at the end of every
Psalm, thus turning Jewish praises into Christian hymns.
GNOSTICS. Early heretics who boasted of their superior _knowledge_,
for that is the meaning of the word, just as _agnostic_ means
_without knowledge_. This heresy dates back to Apostolic days,
Simon Magus being considered its founder.
They mixed up the Christian faith with systems based on Platonism,
Oriental Philosophy, or corrupt Judaism. St. John is believed to
have written against the gnostics in certain parts of his Gospel.
GOD, _see_ Trinity, The Holy. The word _God_ can be traced back no
further as yet than the Gothic _Gutha_, but no one knows its root.
GOD-FATHER, _see_ Sponsors.
GOD-MOTHER, _see_ Sponsors.
GOLDEN NUMBER. A term used in the elaborate tables placed at the
beginning of the Prayer Book for the finding of Easter. The Golden
Number of a year marks its place in a cycle, called the Metonic
Cycle (from Meton, an Athenian astronomer B.C. 432), of nineteen
years. The year A.D. 1 was fixed as the second year of such a cycle.
Hence the rule given to find the Golden Number, viz., "Add one to
the year of our Lord, and then divide by 19; the remainder, if any,
is the Golden Number; but if there be no remainder, then 19 is the
Golden Number."
GOOD FRIDAY. The day regarded as the anniversary of our Saviour's
death. It has been observed from the first age of the Church as a
day of peculiar solemnity, to be spent in fasting and humiliation.
GOSPEL, _see_ Bible.
GOSPELLER. The priest or deacon who, in the Communion Service,
reads the Gospel, standing at the north side of the Altar. (See
_Epistoler_.)
GRACE. Favour. A word used with various meanings in Holy Scripture.
The influence of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of man.
GRADUATE, _see_ Degree. One who has passed through the curriculum
of a University, and has had a degree conferred on him.
GREEK CHURCH, _see_ Church, The Catholic.
GREGORIAN MUSIC, _see_ Church Music.
GUILD. In the Church, a Society formed for a certain purpose, and
governed by certain rules; to promote personal piety; or active
usefulness.
HADES. Unfortunately two distinct words in the original of the New
Testament have both been translated _Hell_. _Hades_ is one of
these words; _Gehenna_ is the other. The latter is applied only
to the place of the damned, _Hades_ is the abode of departed
spirits, good and bad, waiting for the final Judgment. When, in
the Creed, we say of our Lord that He "descended into Hell," it
should be "into _Hades_," showing that alive and dead He was
perfect man.
It is generally believed that a foretaste of final joy or woe is
experienced in Hades by the spirits waiting for their doom.
HEAVEN. The final abode of the blessed.
HELL. The final abode of the damned. (See _Hades_.)
HERESY. From a Greek word meaning "a choice," and thus an adoption
and obstinate holding of a doctrine not taught by the Catholic
Church. Heresies began very early in the Church, even in Apostolic
times. (See _Gnostic_.) The heresies of the present day are for
the most part revivals of the heresies of the first six centuries.
HERETIC. One who holds doctrines opposed to those of the Catholic
Church. (See above.)
HETERODOX. Contrary to the faith of the true Church.
HIERARCHY. Properly, _rule_ in _sacred_ matters. The apostolic
order of ministry.
HIGH CHURCH, _see_ Church Parties.
HOLY DAY. A festival of the Church. (See _Feast_.)
HOLY GHOST. _see_ Trinity, The Holy.
HOLY THURSDAY. _see_ Ascension Day.
HOLY WEEK. Some consider the terms _Holy Week_ and _Passion Week_
equally to apply to the week preceding Easter--the last week in
Lent. This is Dr. Hook's opinion. Others restrict the term _Holy
Week_ to the week commencing with Palm-Sunday, and call the week
preceding that _Passion Week_. Undoubtedly the fifth Sunday in
Lent was commonly called in old times Passion Sunday, because of
the anticipation of the Passion in the Epistle.
HOMILIES. The Homilies of the Church of England are two books of
discourses, composed at the time of the Reformation, and appointed
to be read in churches, on "any Sunday or Holy Day, when there is
no sermon." Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer are thought to have
composed the first volume; the second is supposed to be by Bishop
Jewel, 1563.
HOODS. The ornamental fold which hangs down the back of a graduate
to mark his degree. (See _Degree_.) The 58th Canon provides that
"every minister saying the public prayers, or ministering the
Sacraments, or other rites of the Church, if they are graduates,
shall wear upon their surplice, at such times, such _hoods_ as by
the orders of the Universities are agreeable to their degrees." The
same Canon goes on to say "It shall be lawful for such ministers
as are not graduates to wear upon their surplices, instead of
_hoods_, some decent tippet of black, so it be not silk."
HYMN, _see_ Church Music.
IDOLATRY. The worship of any person or thing but the one true God,
whether it be in the form of an image or not.
IMMERSION, _see_ Baptism, Infant.
IMPOSITION, or LAYING ON OF HANDS, _see_ Ordinal.
IMPROPRIATION. Ecclesiastical property, the profits of which are
in the hands of a layman. Impropriations have arisen from the
confiscation of monasteries in the time of Henry VIII., when,
instead of restoring the tithes to Church purposes, they were
given to Court favourites.
INCARNATION. The act whereby Christ, the "Word, was made flesh."
The "taking of the Manhood into God."
INCUMBENT. A person in possession of a benefice. (See _Benefice_.)
INDEPENDENTS. The first body of Dissenters which actually broke
away from the Church of England was that of the _Independents_,
or--as they are nowadays perhaps more intelligibly called--the
_Congregationalists_. An Independent sect seems to have existed
about the year 1568, the whole question in dispute between them
and the Church being then, as it is still, essentially one of
"discipline," or Church Polity. They made each congregation a body
corporate, governed exclusively by itself, and disclaim, more or
less, every form of union between churches. In doctrine they are
strictly Calvinistic, and, reviving the ancient heresy of Donatus,
they profess to receive only accredited or really serious Christians
into their fellowship, and to exclude any who may prove themselves
unworthy members.
The Independents are sometimes called _Brownists_, from Robert
Brown, a clergyman of the Church of England, who was the first to
secede from her ranks, and who, retreating to Holland, set up a
separatist communion.
There are 76 County and other Associations at home and in the
Colonies, with 3,895 meetinghouses, and 1,039 preaching stations,
300 being foreign mission stations; of ministers and missionaries
they have about 3,500. They reckon to have about 360,000 members in
the British dominions.
INDUCTION. The ceremony whereby a minister is put in actual
possession of the living to which he has been presented.
INFALLIBILITY. The claim set up by the Church of Rome, either for
the Pope, or the Church, or for the Pope and the Church consenting
together; of absolute freedom from error in deciding questions of
faith and doctrine. Roman divines are not agreed among themselves
as to precisely _where_ the infallibility of their Church is found.
Certain it is that Councils and Popes have contradicted and
anathematized each other.
INNOCENTS' DAY, THE HOLY. This festival has been observed ever
since the 3rd century, in memory of the slaughtered children of
Bethlehem (Matt. ii. 16.) Its old English name is Childermas, and
it is kept on December 28th; the attendants on the nativity being
St. Stephen, a martyr in will and deed, December 26th; St. John the
Divine, a martyr in will though not in deed, December 27th; and The
Holy Innocents, martyrs in deed but not in will, December 28th.
INSPIRATION. The extraordinary and supernatural influence of the
Holy Spirit on the human mind, by which the sacred writers were
qualified to set forth the things of God. In this sense the word
occurs in 2 Tim. iii. 16. (See _Bible_.)
The word is also used of the ordinary influence of the Holy Spirit
on the heart of man, as "Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
_inspiration_ of Thy Holy Spirit."
INSTITUTION. The legal act by which the Bishop commits to a
clergyman the cure of a church.
INSTITUTIONS, CHURCH, _see_ Societies.
INTROIT, _see_ Church Music
IRVINGITES. The followers of Edward Irving, a minister of the
Scottish establishment, who was born in 1792, and died in 1834. He
was deposed from the Presbyterian ministry for teaching that our
Lord's nature was peccable, or capable of sin. He gathered a
congregation round him in London, and now has many followers both
in Scotland and England, and also in Germany. His followers
entertain peculiar notions about the millennium, and they claim
to exercise the power of prophecy, to have the miraculous gift of
tongues, and to be able to raise the dead.
The Irvingites call themselves "The Catholic and Apostolic Church,"
and among their ministers number apostles, prophets, angels,
evangelists, &c. They use as much as possible the liturgies of
the Church in their worship, and observe a very ornate ritual. In
their principal places of worship the Holy Communion is administered
daily, and throughout the day many other Services are held.
They recognise the three Creeds of the Catholic Church as their
rule of faith.
They have 19 places for public worship, besides many preaching
stations, in England; the principal erection is in Gordon Square,
London, and is a large building of considerable architectural
pretensions.
JAMES'S (St.) DAY. July 25th. The day on which the Church celebrates
the memory of the Apostle St. James the Great, or the Elder. He was
one of the sons of Zebedee, and a brother of St. John the Divine.
He was the first of the Apostles to suffer martyrdom. (Acts xii. 2.)
JESUITS, or SOCIETY OF JESUS. A Roman Catholic Society founded by
Ignatius Loyola, a Spaniard, born in 1491. Members of the Order
bind themselves to yield the most blind, implicit, and unlimited
obedience to the General of the Order. Before the conclusion of the
16th century the Jesuits had obtained the chief direction of the
youthful mind in every Roman Catholic country in Europe. They had
become the confessors of almost all its monarchs, and the spiritual
guides of nearly every person distinguished for rank or influence.
At different periods they obtained the direction of the most
considerable courts, and took part in every intrigue and revolution.
Their great principle of action is not so much the advance of
Christianity, as the extension of the Papal power; and in effecting
this, their great maxim is "the end will justify the means." The
Society is still flourishing, and has a power which is probably as
little imagined as it is unknown to all but themselves.
JESUS, _see_ Trinity, The Holy.
JOHN (St.) BAPTIST'S DAY. June 24th. This feast commemorates, not
the martyrdom, but the miraculous birth of St. John Baptist. It is
the only nativity, besides that of our Lord, that is kept by the
Church; although September 8th is marked in our Calendar for the
commemoration of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The
festival has been observed since the 4th or 5th century.
JOHN (St.) THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. December 27th. This festival, with
those of St. Stephen and the Holy Innocents, immediately follows on
Christmas Day. "Martyrdom, love, and innocence are first to be
magnified, as wherein Christ is most honoured." The eagle is
supposed to be emblematic of St. John the Evangelist.
JUBILATE DEO. Psalm c, appointed to be sung in the Morning Service
instead of the Benedictus, when the latter happens to be read in
the Gospel for St. John Baptist, or the lesson for the day.
JUSTIFICATION. This term signifies our being accounted just or
righteous in the sight of God, not for any merit in ourselves, but
solely for the sake of Christ, and by our faith in Him. The 11th
Article of the Church of England treats of this. All believers are
justified by Christ, but that does not necessarily imply that they
are sanctified; the one is a work wrought exterior to ourselves,
the other is the work of the Holy Spirit in the individual heart
of man.
KEYS, POWER OF THE. The authority existing in the Christian
Priesthood of administering the discipline of the Church, and
communicating or withholding its privileges. It is so called from
our Lord's words to St. Peter in Matt. xvi. 19.
KINDRED, TABLE OF. The Table of Kindred and Affinity found at the
end of our Prayer Book was drawn up by Archbishop Parker, in 1563.
It rests on an Act of Henry VIII., and is designed to be an
authoritative interpretation of it. The whole is based on Lev.
xviii. 6-18. The principles on which it is drawn up are the
following:--
(_a_) It places both sexes on the same footing, forbidding to the
man whatever is forbidden to the woman.
(_b_) It forbids marriage to a man on the grounds of near kindred
or consanguinity; omitting, however, prohibition of marriage between
cousins as not being forbidden in the Levitical Law, nor definitely
by the Canon Law.
(_c_) Acting on the important principle sanctioned by our Lord
Himself, that "man and wife are one flesh," it puts affinity, or
connection by marriage, on exactly the same footing as kindred, or
connection by blood, affirming that a man's wife's connections are
to be held strictly as his own. It is for this reason,--a reason
distinctly based upon Holy Scripture,--that the marriage with a
"deceased wife's sister" is forbidden.
KNEELING. The practice of kneeling in confession, in prayer, and
in adoration, is of great antiquity. David says, "Let us worship
and bow down, let us _kneel_ before the Lord our Maker," Psalm cxv.
6. See also Ps. cxxxii. 7; 1 Kings viii. 54; Ezra ix. 5-15; Dan.
vi. 10; Acts vii. 60; Acts ix. 40; Acts xx. 36, xxi. 5. Our blessed
Lord Himself "_kneeled down_" when He prayed, Luke xxii. 14. How
the example of David and Solomon, Ezra and Daniel, St. Stephen, St.
Peter and St. Paul, nay, of our Saviour Himself, condemns the
lolling, irreverent posture assumed by too many Christians of the
present day in the public worship of the Lord of Hosts!
KYRIE ELEISON. Two Greek words, meaning "Lord, have mercy." The
responses to the Commandments are so called.
LAITY, LAYMAN. A baptized member of the Church, not being an
ecclesiastic. The term "layman" denotes a positive rank, not the
mere lack of rank.
LAMBETH DEGREES. The Archbishop of Canterbury has the power of
conferring degrees in any of the faculties of the University to
which he himself belongs. These degrees are called _Lambeth
Degrees_. The Archbishop exercised this power as Legate of the
Pope, retaining it (like the power of granting special marriage
licences) under the Tudor legislation.
LAPSE. When a patron neglects to present a clergyman to a benefice
within his gift, within six months after its vacancy, the benefice
_lapses_ to the Bishop; if he does not collate within six months,
it _lapses_ to the Archbishop: and if he does not collate within
six months, it lapses to the Crown.
LATTER-DAY SAINTS, _see_ Mormonists.
LAY BAPTISM. Baptism administered by laymen. Although not
_authorized_ in our Prayer Book, such baptisms have always been
held valid by the Church of England. It is better that children
should receive lay baptism than not be baptized at all.
LAYING ON OF HANDS, _see_ Ordination. This ceremony has always
been esteemed an essential part of ordination, and rests on
undoubted Scriptural authority. It is also the form, in the
Anglican Church, by which the Bishop conveys the grace of
Confirmation.
LECTURN, or LECTERN. The desk from which the Lessons are read. The
form frequently adopted is that of the eagle, doubtless with some
reference to the eagle, the symbol of St. John. The eagle lectern
in Peterborough Cathedral was given in 1471.
LENT. The name is probably derived from the old English _Lencten_,
"Spring," from its always being observed at the Spring-tide of the
year. The forty days fast before Easter are so called. In primitive
times the duration of the fast appears to have been forty hours.
The present custom of reckoning forty days, exclusive of the
Sundays, prevails from the 7th century.
LESSONS. The portions of Holy Scripture read in Morning and Evening
Prayer. The calendar of lessons now in use was authorized on Jan.
1st, 1873. The lessons were then made generally shorter, by the
selection of parts of chapters containing one complete subject and
no more. A choice of lessons was given in many cases, that the same
portions of Scripture might not be read twice on the same day in
churches with three Sunday services. By the present arrangement
the main substance of the whole of the Old Testament is now read
through once every year; and the New Testament twice, except the
book of Revelation, which, with a few omissions, is read once in
the year.
LETTERS OF ORDERS. A certificate given by the Bishop to every one
whom he ordains, whether Priest or Deacon. Churchwardens have the
power to require the exhibition of the Letters of Orders of any
minister assisting in the church of which they are guardians.
LITANY. In the 4th century this name began specially to be applied
to a Form of Supplication, used in times of need, which was sung in
procession, with hymns and frequent responses, and with collects at
the various halting places. The old Litanies bore a general
resemblance to ours. In 1544 Cranmer, by desire of the king, drew
up the first English Litany, which was compiled principally from
ancient sources. The Litany at first was a separate service. In
1662 it was ordered to be sung after Morning Prayer. The Act of
Uniformity of the present reign, 1872, allows it to be used in the
Morning or Evening, or as a separate service. It was ordered for
Wednesdays and Fridays only in 1549; Sundays were added in 1552.
LITERATE. This term, applied to a Clergyman, means one who has not
taken a degree, and is not a member of a Theological College.
LITURGY. From a Greek word, meaning a public act or duty; it is
now popularly used of the entire Book of Common Prayer, although
formerly it was applied only to the Service for administering the
Holy Eucharist.
As each different part of the Prayer Book is discussed under its
own heading, this article will be confined to (_a_) why a formulary
is used; (_b_) the history of our own.
(_a_) Forms of Prayer were used in the Jewish Church. Moses and
Miriam used a prescribed form as a thanksgiving for the crossing of
the Red Sea, Exodus xv God appointed a form of prayer, Deut. xxi.
7, 8; also a benediction, Num. vi. 22, 26. Moses used a form of
prayer, Num. x. 35, 36. Josephus and Philo tell us that the worship
both in the Temple and in the Synagogues consisted of a settled
form of prayer; this our Lord sanctioned by His frequent presence.
He Himself gave us a form of prayer--the Lord's Prayer. He promises
a special blessing on congregational worship. Matt, xviii. 19;
the "agreement" must pre-suppose a settled form. Traces of forms
of prayer some think are found in the New Testament.
The voice of history is unanimous on this point, nearly all the
Fathers testifying to the use of formularies.
Common sense reasons are plentiful, as, for instance, that in
Eccles. v. 2. A formulary makes the congregation independent of
the minister's mood, or ability, or piety, or orthodoxy.
(_b_) History. Before the time of Augustine (597) the English
Church had its own National Use, largely derived from the East,
through the Galilean Church. It is certain that the entire Roman
Ritual was never used, although attempts were made to force it
upon the Anglo-Saxon Church. There was a considerable variety in
the manner of performing Divine Service in the different Dioceses,
each having its own particular "Use." (See _Sarum, Use of_.)
The earliest Liturgy in general use in England was the book of
Offices, "secundum usum Sarum," hence called the "Sarum Use,"
compiled by Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, in 1078. This book
contained much that had been in use from very early times. At
the Reformation it became necessary to remove the Roman corruptions
which had accumulated in the various Office books, the "Breviaries,"
the "Missals," the "Manuals," &c. One objection common to them all
was that they were in Latin.
The object of the Reformers was to retain as much of the old as was
free from error. The first English Prayer Book was the _King's
Primer_, published 1545; and a Communion Service was put forth in
1548. The _First Prayer Book of Edward VI_., 1549, was drawn up by
a Commission of Bishops and Divines under Cranmer and Ridley; an
_Ordinal_ was added in 1550.
The _Second Prayer Book of Edward VI_., 1552, was a revised form
of the older book. Cranmer, Peter Martyr, and Bucer assisted in
the revision, and much was added from Hermann's Consultation (which
see). This Prayer Book was almost identical with the one in use
now. Abolished during the reign of Mary, it was restored by Queen
Elizabeth, 1559, with a few alterations. In 1604 a Conference was
held at Hampton Court under James I., between Church and Puritan
Divines, when some further alterations were made in deference to
Puritan objections. The last revision was made in 1661, at the
Savoy Conference, under Charles II., between Bishops and Presbyterian
Divines. The Prayer Book then took the form which we have now, save
that in 1859 the services for use on Nov. 5th, May 29th, and Jan.
30th (Charles the Martyr) were removed. In 1873 a revised Table of
Lessons was put forth. In 1872 permission was given to use the
Shortened Service, to separate the services, and to use hymns.
For further particulars the reader is referred to the articles on
the various different services of the Church.
LIVING, _see_ Benefice.
LOGOS. Greek, a _word_. Christ is called "The Word" because in Him
God is revealed to man. (John i.) The Jews sometimes spoke of the
Messiah as the "Word of God."
LORD, OUR, _see_ Trinity, The Holy.
LORD'S DAY. The first day of the week, so called by St. John,
Rev. i. 10. Sunday has ever been kept as the weekly festival in
commemoration of our Lord's resurrection on that day. In the fourth
Commandment, and elsewhere, we receive stringent directions to keep
the _seventh_ day--that is to say, the Sabbath, or Saturday--holy.
It will be well to see on what authority Christians have hallowed
the _first_, instead of the _last_, day of the week. We find from
writers who were contemporary with the Apostles, or who immediately
succeeded them, that Christians were always accustomed to meet on
the first day of the week for the performance of their religious
exercises. We find them asserting that this festival was instituted
by the Apostles, who acted under the immediate direction and
influence of the Holy Ghost. From the constant practice of the
Apostles in keeping this day holy, it is believed by many that
they must have had especial directions to that effect from their
risen Lord, who, we know, gave them instructions relating to "the
kingdom of God."--His Church,--during the forty days He was with
them. And more, it was often while they were gathered together,
celebrating the festival of the _Lord's Day_, that the Lord Himself
appeared among them.
LORD'S PRAYER. The prayer taught us by our blessed Lord as the
model of all our devotions. (Matt. vi. 9.) But it is not only a
model of prayer, but an express form to accompany all our worship.
(Luke xi. 2.) Thus we find it frequently in our Prayer Book, no
Service being without it. The often repetition of it, however, in
our Sunday Service is caused by the fact of three separate Services
being used as one whole.
LORD'S SUPPER, _see_ Communion, Holy.
LORD'S TABLE, _see_ Altar.
LOW CHURCH, _see_ Church Parties.
LOW SUNDAY. The Sunday after Easter is called _Low Sunday_, because,
although it partakes in some sort of the festal nature of Easter,
it being the Octave, yet it is a festival of a much lower degree
than Easter itself.
LUKE'S (St.) DAY. October 18. Kept in commemoration of St. Luke,
the companion of St. Paul, the author of the third Gospel, and also
probably of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. He is believed to
have been a physician, and his writings prove that he was a man of
education. According to St. Augustine, his symbol is the ox, the
Sacrificial Victim.
LUTHERANS. The followers of Martin Luther, an Augustine monk, a
German, born 1483. He was the great Reformer of the Continent. They
retain the use of the Altar, some of the ancient vestments, lighted
tapers, incense, crucifix, confession, &c. At the time of the
Reformation, the Lutherans, meeting with nothing but opposition
from the Bishops, were constrained to act without them, and
consequently they are in much the same position as the Scottish
Presbyterian body, though not from the same cause. The Lutherans
earnestly protested, that they much wished to retain episcopacy,
but that the Bishops forced them to reject sound doctrine, and
therefore they were unable to preserve their allegiance to them.
The ritual and liturgies differ in the various Lutheran countries,
but in fundamental articles they all agree.
LYCH GATE. A covered gate of the churchyard where the body (_Leich_,
a corpse) rests on its way to burial.
MAGNIFICAT. The song of the Blessed Virgin, Luke i. It is the first
canticle of Evening Prayer, and has been sung in the Church from
very early times.
MANIPLE, or MANUPLE, _see_ Vestment.
MARIOLATRY. The worship, or cultus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
One of the principal errors of the Church of Rome, and on the
increase.
MARK'S (St.) DAY. April 25th. St. Mark was a companion of St.
Peter, and is thought to have written his Gospel under St. Peter's
directions. This evangelist is symbolized by the _Man_.
MARRIAGE, _see_ Matrimony, Holy.
MARTINMAS. November 11th. A festival formerly kept in honour of St.
Martin, Bishop of Tours, in France, in 374.
MARTYR. One who lays down his life for his religion. The word means
a "witness." St. Stephen was the first, or proto-martyr.
MARY, The BLESSED VIRGIN. We admit to her the title of "Mother of
God," but protest against her being worshipped. No instance of
Divine honour being _paid_ her is earlier than the fifth century.
Two festivals only in the Church of England are kept in her honour,
viz., the Purification, and the Annunciation.
MASS. In Latin, _Missa_, with which word congregations were
accustomed to be dismissed. Then it was used for the congregation
itself, and finally became applied only to the Communion Service.
MATERIALISM. One of the philosophies of the day which looks upon
everything as the out-come of mere physical energy; denies the soul,
and every spiritual force; and regards matter as eternal.
MATINS, _see_ Morning Prayer.
MATRIMONY, HOLY. With regard to the Marriage Laws, the Church and
the State are not agreed. The former maintains Holy Matrimony to be
a religious ceremony, while the State recognises the legality of
mere civil contracts, and allows people to enter into the nuptial
state by a civil ceremony. We find the early Fathers distinctly
stating that marriage is of a sacred nature. Paley, in his Moral
Philosophy, says, "Whether it hath grown out of some tradition of
the Divine appointment of marriage in the persons of our first
parents, or merely from a design to impress the obligation of the
marriage-contract with a solemnity suited to its importance, the
marriage-rite, in almost all countries of the world, has been made
a religious ceremony; although marriage, in its own nature, and
abstracted from the rules and declarations which the Jewish and
Christian Scriptures deliver concerning it, be properly a civil
contract, and nothing more." It was forbidden in the 4th century
during Lent, and so custom and propriety forbid it now during the
same season. In the Manual marriages were prohibited in the
following seasons:--(_a_) Advent to the octave of Epiphany, (_b_)
Septuagesima to the octave of Easter inclusive, (_c_) Rogation
Sunday to Trinity Sunday.
The Roman Church has exalted Holy Matrimony into a Sacrament.
The State so far recognises the position of the Church with regard
to Holy Matrimony that no clergyman can be forced to marry a divorced
person, though he may be obliged to lend his church to any other who
will perform the ceremony.
MATRIMONY, THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF. Of all our services this
preserves most of the older Office in the Sarum Manual. Some of the
hortatory portions come as usual from Hermann's Consultation. There
has been no change since 1549, except the omission of the ceremony
of giving gold and silver to the bride as "tokens of spousage."
The Service is divided into two parts (_a_) the Marriage Service
proper, performed in the body of the Church; (_b_) the succeeding
service at the Holy Table, evidently intended as an introduction
to the Holy Communion which should follow.
_The Banns_. From a barbarous Latin word meaning an edict or
proclamation. In 1661 the rubric directed them to be published
immediately before the offertory sentences. The marriage Acts of
the Georges are supposed to set aside this rubric, and to order
them to be published after the Second Lesson. It is doubtful whether
this does not apply to the Evening Service only, in places where
there is no Morning Service.
The _Licence_ of the Bishop makes the publication of Banns
unnecessary. Without a Special Licence, Marriage can be solemnized
only between the hours of 8 and 12 in the forenoon.
(_a_) _The Marriage Service_ proper should be performed in "the
body of the church" (see rubric, 1661) the place selected being
generally the Chancel steps.
The _Exhortation_, 1549, from the "Consultation" chiefly; it rests
on the following passages of Holy Scripture:--Gen. ii. 24; Matt.
xix. 5; Eph. v. 22-33; John ii. 1-11; Heb. xiii. 4. No impediment
being alleged, the _Espousal_ or _Betrothal_ follows. The joining
of hands is from time immemorial the pledge of covenant, and is
here an essential part of the Marriage Ceremony. The words of the
betrothal are agreeable to the following passages: 1 Cor. xi. 1-12;
Eph. v. 22-33; Col. iii. 18, 19; 1 Tim. ii. 10-14; 1 Peter iii. 1-7.
The _Marriage Rite_ itself. The use of the ring is probably of
pre-Christian antiquity. The old Service directed it to be worn on
the fourth finger because "there is a vein leading direct to the
heart."
Gold and Silver was also given the bride in 1549, but omitted in
1552. The word "worship" means "honour," as in Wycliffe's Testament,
Matt. xix. 19, "_Worship_ thy father and thy mother."
(b) _The Post-Matrimonial Service_. The rubric directs only the
"minister or clerks" to go to the Lord's Table, but the practice
is to carry out the older rubric, 1549, "Then shall they"--the
whole marriage party--"go into the Quire." A second Psalm is added
for use in cases when the language of the first would be unsuitable.
The following rubric is almost unique, in directing the Priest to
turn his face to the people. The _Versicles_ are substantially the
same as those used at the Visitation of the Sick and in the
Churching of Women. The concluding rubric dates from 1661; the
rubric in 1549 definitely ordered the reception of Holy Communion.
MATTHEW'S (St.) DAY. Sept. 21st. This Apostle and Evangelist,
before his call to the apostleship, was known as Levi, the publican,
or tax-gatherer. He may possibly have been the brother of St. James
the Less, and of St. Thomas also. He was the first to write a Gospel,
which he addressed to the Jews, his aim being to show that Jesus was
the Messiah. It is probable that he alone, of all the New Testament
writers, wrote in Hebrew. His symbol is the Lion, according to St.
Augustine.
MATTHIAS'S (St.) DAY. Feb. 24th. Of St. Matthias we know simply
nothing, except that he was elected to the vacant place in the
Apostolic College, caused by the desertion and death of the traitor
Judas; Acts i. 15 to end.
MAUNDY THURSDAY. The Thursday before Easter, being the day on which
our Lord instituted the Holy Sacrament of His Body and Blood. The
name is a corruption of the Latin word _mandatum_, meaning a
command, in allusion to the "New Commandment" of mutual love.
MESSIAH, _see_ Trinity, The Holy.
METHODISTS. The original Methodists are the Wesleyans, but already
this sect has split up into numerous sections, or "Churches," as
they call themselves. The leading sub-divisions will each have a
separate notice. The leading idea of Methodism is a revival of
religion by a free appeal to the feelings, and the method adopted
is an elaborate system of "societies," and preaching the doctrine
of "sensible conversion."
The "people called Methodists," or Wesleyans, are the followers of
John Wesley, who was born in 1703. He took his degree at Oxford,
and was ordained in 1725. He held a Fellowship at Lincoln College
until his marriage in 1752. While at Oxford, he, with his brother
Charles, of Christ Church, and his friend Whitefield, of Pembroke,
and some twelve others, determined to live under a common rule of
strict and serious behaviour; to receive frequently the Holy
Communion; and to adopt a methodical and conscientious improvement
of their time. After ordination, these two brothers, John and
Charles, set to work to revive a spirit of religion in the Church
of England, of which they were priests, and were aided by the
good-will and sound paternal advice of some of the Bishops.
In 1735 John Wesley went out as a missionary to Georgia, in America,
but the settlers rejected his services, and his mission to the
Indians was a failure. On his voyage out, he unfortunately came
under the influence of some Moravians; and on returning to England,
after a three years' absence, he became a regular member of the
Moravian Society in London. It was here he learnt the two peculiar
doctrines of subsequent Wesleyanism, viz.: (1) instantaneous and
sensible conversion, (2) the doctrine of perfection, _i_._e_., of
a Christian Maturity, on attaining which, he that is (in the
Wesleyan sense) "born again," "born of God," sinneth not. If,
however, we take into view Wesley's own persistent affirmation in
later times, "I have uniformly gone on for fifty years, never
varying from the doctrine of the Church at all;" and many other
such passages, we cannot escape the inevitable conclusion that
the very doctrine on which his modern followers have built their
separation from the Church, is nothing else than a transient and
_foreign_ element in their great founder's teaching.
In 1744 Wesley called around him his most trusted friends,--six
clergymen of the Church of England and four lay preachers, and
held what we should now call a _Retreat_; this meeting, however,
is regarded by the Wesleyans as the first regular "Conference" of
the Methodist Societies. It was in 1784 that Wesley drew up a
"Deed of Declaration," which was formally enrolled in Chancery,
establishing Methodism in the eye of the Law. This was an
_unintentional_ step on the part of Wesley towards an ultimate
separation from the Church. Now it was too that he made his second
great mistake of consecrating an English Clergyman as bishop, and
two laymen as presbyters of the American Societies. This was the
origin of the Episcopal Methodists of America. John Wesley died in
1791, almost his last printed utterance being, "I declare that I
live and die a member of the Church of England; and none who regard
my opinion or advice will ever separate from it." (_John Wesley_,
_Arminian Magazine_, _April_, 1790.)
Four years after his death, in 1795, the separation took place, and
the Conference allowed the preachers to administer the Lord's
Supper. No sooner was the severance complete than the punishment
followed. In 1795 the _Methodist New Connexion_ split away from
them, under a man named Kilham. In 1810 the _Primitive Methodists_
caused another schism. In 1815 the _Bible Christians_ seceded, and
so on. What would John Wesley have thought of all this? Only nine
months before his death, he had solemnly charged his preachers:
"In God's name, stop there! Be Church of England men still!"
(Wesley, Sermons, iii. 268). And his dying breath was spent in
a prayer for the Church!
The Minutes of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference for the year
1883-4 give the following statistics:--
Members.
1. In Great Britain 407,085
2. In Ireland & Irish Missions 24,384
3. In Foreign Missions 70,747
4. South African Conference 20,739
5. French Conference 1,856
Total 524,811
On Trial.
1. In Great Britain 34,399
2. In Ireland & Irish Missions 668
3. In Foreign Missions 5,299
4. South African Conference 9,093
5. French Conference 168
Total 49,627
Ministers.
1. In Great Britain 1,545
2. In Ireland & Irish Missions 181
3. In Foreign Missions 285
4. South African Conference 93
5. French Conference 28
Total 2,137
On probation.
1. In Great Britain 91
2. In Ireland & Irish Missions 16
3. In Foreign Missions 98
4. South African Conference 74
5. French Conference --
Total 279
Supernumeries.
1. In Great Britain 284
2. In Ireland & Irish Missions 42
3. In Foreign Missions 9
4. South African Conference 10
5. French Conference 3
Total 348
Ministers and full members in the Australian Wesleyan Methodist
"Church," and in the Methodist "Church" of Canada are under their
respective Conferences, and consequently are not enumerated above.
Whitaker's Almanack for 1883 gives the following statistics for
Wesleyan Methodism in Great Britain. It will be seen that its
figures are slightly larger than those given above.
Ministers. 2,170
Lay Preachers. 15,450
Members. 418,229
On Probation. 40,653
Chapels. 6,978
Sunday Scholars. 829,666
The finance of Wesleyan Methodism for 1880 was nearly as follows:--
Missionary Fund L138,346
Home Mission Income 34,210
Education of Minister's Children 22,036
Chapel Building 292,599
Training Candidates for Ministry 12,130
Total L499,321
During the past four years the Wesleyan Methodists have raised a
"Thanksgiving Fund" amounting to L303,600.
METHODIST ASSOCIATION. In 1834 a controversy arose among the
Methodists as to the propriety of establishing a Wesleyan
Theological Institution; and a minister who disapproved of such
a measure, and prepared and published some remarks against it,
was expelled from the Connexion. Sympathizers with him were in like
manner expelled. Hence the formation of the _Methodist Association_,
which differs from the parent Society in a few particulars of Church
government. This Society is now joined with the _Wesleyan Reform
Association_, and with the Protestant Methodists, the union being
effected in 1857. The amalgamation is known by the name of "_The
United Methodist Free Churches_." They number--
Ministers. 377
Lay Preachers. 3,134
Members. 66,297
Sunday Scholars 8,599
On Probation. 1,233
Chapels. 186,254
METHODISTS, CALVINISTIC. Up to 1751, John Wesley and George
Whitefield had worked in harmony, but then arose a difference of
opinion between them on the doctrine of election, which resulted
in their separation. Whitefield held the Calvinistic view, Wesley
the Arminian.
After Whitefield's death, in 1769, his followers gradually settled
into two separate religious bodies, one being the _Lady Huntingdon's
Connexion_, or, as it is sometimes called, the _English Calvinistic
Methodists_, and the other the _Welsh Calvinistic Methodists_.
Whitefield was chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon, and it was
by his advice she became the patroness of his followers, and founded
a college for the education of Calvinistic preachers. The doctrines
of this connexion are almost identical with those of the Church of
England, interpreted, of course, in a Calvinistic sense, and her
liturgy is generally employed. They have no general ecclesiastical
government, and have become virtually Congregational Societies.
The _Welsh Calvinistic Methodists_ owe their origin in a great
degree to a Mr. Harris, who did for Wales much what Wesley
and Whitefield did for England. He instituted "Private Societies"
in 1736, but it was not till 1811 that the connexion separated
from the Church. Their Church government differs slightly from
Wesleyanism, and their doctrines are said to be in accordance with
the 39 Articles, interpreted in a Calvinistic sense.
Chapels 1,343
Ministers and Preachers 981
Deacons 4,317
Members 5,029
On probation 177,383
Sunday Scholars 119,358
During the year 1881-82, L163,875 was collected for various
religious purposes.
METHODIST, NEW CONNEXION. This party, under a Mr. Kilham, split
off from the Wesleyans in 1795, four years after the Wesleyans
had left the Church of England. In doctrines, and in all essential
and distinctive features, it remains the same as its parent society.
The grand distinction rests upon the different degrees of power
allowed in each communion to the laity, the _Methodist New
Connexion_ allowing them to participate in Church government,
whereas the Wesleyans leave Church government in the hands of
the ministers.
Ministers 179
Lay Preachers 1,225
Members 418,229
On probation 442
Chapels 79,697
Sunday Scholars 4,277
METHODISTS, PRIMITIVE. The "Primitives," or "Ranters," as they are
sometimes called, represent more truly the original genius of
Wesleyan Methodism than any other of the various bodies into which
the original secession from the Church of England has split up.
Some still kept to camp-meetings and the like, after the original
connexion had given them up. This practice was condemned by the
Conference of 1807, and the consequence was the birth of the
_Primitive Methodist Connexion_ in 1810. Messrs. Hugh Bourne and
William Clowes may be looked upon as the fathers of this body.
Their doctrines are precisely the same as those of the original
connexion.
Ministers 1,152
Lay Preachers 15,728
Members 191,329
Chapels 4,397
Sunday Scholars 394,238
METHODIST REFORMERS. In 1849 certain points in Methodist procedure
were attacked in anonymous pamphlets called "Fly Sheets," which
resulted in the expulsion of many ministers from the original
Society. They, with those sympathising with them, have set up a
distinct machinery of methodism, although still regarding themselves
as Wesleyan Methodists, illegally expelled.
METROPOLITAN. A Bishop who presides over a province is called a
Metropolitan.
MICHAEL (St.) & ALL ANGELS. A festival observed on the 29th of
September. St. Michael is described in the Old Testament as the
guardian angel of the Jewish people; and in the New Testament he
is the great archangel fighting for God and His Church against the
devil. (See _Angel_.)
MILITANT, THE CHURCH. The name given to the Church on earth in the
Prayer following the Offertory. _Militant_ means _fighting_, and
is used of the Church on earth in contra-distinction to the Church
Triumphant, the Church above.
MILLENNIUM. Latin, _a thousand years_. Certain people look for a
return of Christ to the earth before the end of the world, and hold
that there will be a first or particular resurrection limited to
the good, and a reign of Christ with all the saints upon the earth
for a thousand years, or _millennium_. This doctrine is chiefly
based upon a most literal interpretation of part of the book of
Revelation (chap, xx.), which is confessedly the most figurative
and mystical book in the Bible.
MINOR CANONS. Priests in Collegiate Churches next in rank to
the Canons and Prebendaries, but not of the Chapter. They are
responsible for the performance of daily service, and should be
well skilled in Church music.
MINISTER. _One who serves_. A term applied generally to the clergy
about the time of the Great Rebellion. It is equivalent to the
Greek word rendered _Deacon_. An effort was unsuccessfully made in
1689 to substitute _minister_ for _priest_ throughout the Prayer
Book wherever the latter word occurred.
MIRACLE. Latin, _A Wonder_. The general notion of miracles, viz.,
that they are necessary proofs or credentials of our Saviour's
commission from God, can scarcely be maintained on Scriptural
grounds. (Matt. vii. 28.) A better definition of miracles is given
by Archbishop Thomson: "The miracles of the Gospel are works done
by Christ in the course of His divine mission of mercy, which could
not have proceeded from ordinary causes then in operation, and
therefore proved the presence of a superhuman power, and which, by
their nature and drift, showed that this power was being exerted
in the direction of love and compassion for the salvation of
mankind."
If the miraculous works of Christ were disproved and done away
with, two miracles would still remain which are unassailable,
viz., the character of Christ, and the message of Christ. Therefore
the question is not whether miracles by themselves are probable,
but whether the Lord from heaven, who lived on this earth--for
none could have invented the story of His life; who left a message
on earth--for none could have invented that message; added to
his utterances certain marvels of love and compassion to draw
men's eyes towards Him for their good. This may be called the
_historic_ consideration of miracles; the _scientific_ is briefly
as follows:--We are told that the phenomena of nature are so
many links in a chain of causes and effects, and to suppose
that God breaks through this chain, is to make God contradict
Himself. To this it may be answered that apart from any question
of miracles, there are already flaws in this chain of causation,
or rather, powers from without that can shake it, as, for instance,
the outbreak of a war rendering a country, which should have been
fertile, barren and wasted. Holy Scripture is not responsible
for the phrase, "suspension of the laws of nature." Theologians
do not dogmatise about the nature of miracles, and it would be
well if science were less zealous for the inviolability of laws,
the outside limits of which she cannot now ascertain. Miracles
are but a part of the Gospel, and we judge them by the setting
in which they are placed. Those who received them at first were
not made Christians by them. (Mark ix. 23, 24.) To us they are
not even the beginning of faith, for Christ was our Teacher and
Friend before our infant minds could conceive what miracles meant.
He, the sinless Lord, is our first miracle; His teaching is our
second miracle; and a third may be added, viz., the transforming
power of the Gospel in human hearts.
The reader is referred to the sermon on _Miracles_ in Archbishop
Thomson's "Life in the Light of God's Word," "The Reign of Law," by
the Duke of Argyll, and Sir Edmund Beckett's "Review of Hume and
Huxley on Miracles."
MISSION. _A sending forth_. The power or commission to preach
the Gospel. Thus our blessed Lord gave His disciples and their
successors their mission, when He said, "Go ye into all the world,
and preach the Gospel to every creature."
MISSION. An effort to awaken or increase spiritual life in a
Parish by means of special Services and Sermons.
MISSIONARY SOCIETIES, _see_ Societies.
MORAVIANS, or UNITED BRETHREN. A sect generally said to have
arisen under Nicholas Lewis, a German nobleman of the last century,
and thus called because among the first converts were some Moravian
families. They themselves claim to have sprung from the Greek
Church in the ninth century. Hook says, "It is sometimes supposed
that because the Moravians have Bishops they are less to be blamed
than other dissenting sects. But, to say nothing of the doubt that
exists with respect to the validity of their orders, an Episcopal
Church may be, as the English Moravians and Romanists in this
country are, in a state of schism. And the very fact that the
difference between them and the Church is not great, if this be
so, makes the sin of their schism, in not conforming, yet greater."
In England the _Moravians_ number 5,000 members, 6,000 scholars,
and have 32 chapels and preaching stations.
MORMONISTS, or LATTER DAY SAINTS. The founder of this sect was
Joseph Smith, born in 1805, of poor parents, in the State of
Vermont, U.S. At the age of 15 he declared himself to have seen
a vision of "two personages," who informed him that all existing
Christian sects were erroneous. According to his own account, this
vision was repeated three years afterwards, when he was informed
that the American Indians were a remnant of the Israelites, and
that certain prophetical writings of the Jews were buried in a
spot from which he was destined to rescue them. The absurd story
goes on to say that Joseph Smith accordingly found in a stone box,
just covered with earth, in Ontario, the "Record," consisting of
gold plates engraven with "Reformed Egyptian" characters. Although
discovered in 1823, the angel would not allow Smith to remove them
until 1827. Luckily he also discovered the Urim and Thummim in the
same box with the golden plates, and by its aid he was able to
translate a portion of the revelation, which, when complete,
composed a large volume. This volume he called the "Book of Mormon,"
"Mormon" meaning, as he explained, _more good_, from "mor," a
contraction for _more_, and "mon," the Egyptian for _good_.
_Mormon_, too, was the name of a supposed prophet living in the
fourth or fifth century. The golden plates, said to have been
discovered in the above extraordinary manner, were never publicly
produced, but three witnesses were found to testify that they had
actually seen the plates, an angel having exhibited them. These
three witnesses were the two brothers and the father of Smith.
Four other witnesses of the name of Whitmer also testified the
same. The "Book of Mormon" was succeeded by a "Book of Doctrine
and Covenants," being a collection of special revelations made
to Smith and his associates. Followers soon began to flock around
the new "prophet," as Smith called himself. But at the same time
much hostility was shown to the sect. They were expelled from
different States, until at last they settled in Illinois. An
altercation between the "Saints" and the county resulted in the
imprisonment of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum; but in 1844
a mob broke into the prison and the brothers were shot. Brigham
Young succeeded to the post of "prophet." Fresh troubles with the
State caused another migration of the "Saints" in 1846, who, after
much suffering, settled in the valley of the Great Salt Lake. There
they have prospered, and the settlement itself, by the name of
Utah, has been admitted to the United States Confederacy. They
send missionary agents to all parts of the world to make fresh
converts. The practice of polygamy they justify by their doctrine
concerning "spiritual wives." They have published a "Creed," in
which they profess their belief in the Holy Trinity, in Salvation
through Christ, in the necessity of the Sacraments and the ordinary
means of grace. They further believe that the miraculous gifts of
the Spirit continue. They believe in the word of God recorded in
the Bible, and in the Book of Mormon. They look for the restoration
of the Jews, and expect a millennium. They have 82 congregations
in England.
MORNING PRAYER The _construction_ of the Morning and Evening
Services is so similar that they will both be considered under
this heading. It will be noticed that the Services recognise
distinctly what may be called God's part and man's part in the
communion of worship. They open by the message of God to His
people, calling for penitence and promising forgiveness, which
is met by the response of the Confession. Next pardon is pronounced
in God's Name, which naturally awakens in the pardoned soul the
outburst of Praise and Thanksgiving in the Lord's Prayer, the
Psalms and the Canticles. Then the voice of God is again heard
in the Lessons, and His revelation is accepted by the response
of faith in the Creed. Lastly, in the sense of His grace and the
knowledge of His will, we turn to Prayer for ourselves and for
others, and end with the commendation of all to His blessing.
Many parts of the Morning and Evening Service are considered under
their own particular names, but the history of the rest is given
here.
The _Introductory Sentences_, from the Psalms, the Prophets, and
New Testament, are taken from old Lent Services. The _Exhortation_,
1552, was composed partly from the preceding sentences, and partly
from ancient forms. The _Confession_, 1552, is derived from old
forms.
The _Absolution_, like the previous part of the service, was added
in 1552. In the Rubric, the words "Remission of sins" were added
by the Hampton Court Conference in 1604, to meet the objection
that the word _Absolution_ was popish. In 1661 the word _Priest_
was substituted for "Minister," showing that a deacon may not
read the Absolution.
With the _Lord's Prayer_ the old Latin Service begins. The Rubric
directs it to be said with an "audible voice," because formerly
it was said inaudibly, to keep it from the ears of the unbaptized.
The direction that the people are to say it with the Minister was
added in 1661. The _Versicles_ date from the 6th century. The
answer, "The Lord's Name be praised," was added in 1661. For the
_Canticles_ and _Creed_ see different articles.
The _Salutation_, "The Lord be with you," is apostolic. Next comes
the _Lesser Litany_. The _Versicles_ following are said by the
Priest "standing up," in accordance with mediaeval custom. Morning
Prayer ended with the Collect for Grace until 1661, when the five
final prayers were added. The _Second Collect_ dates from 5th
century, the _third_ from 6th century. The prayers for the _Queen_,
and for the _Clergy and People_, stood in the Litany in 1559, and
the _Prayer of St. Chrysostom_ (John, the Golden Mouthed) was in
the Litany in 1545, and dates from the 4th century. The Prayer
for the _Royal Family_ was composed in 1604.
MUSIC, _see_ Church Music.
NAVE. From the Latin _navis_, a ship, because the _nave_, or body,
of a church somewhat resembles the hull of a ship turned upside
down. The nave formerly was always separated from the chancel
(which see) by a screen.
NICENE CREED, _see_ Creed.
NON-CONFORMISTS. The name now given to all those who do not conform
to the practice of the Established Church. Originally, however,
it was restricted to the Puritan section _within_ the Church,
dissidents from the Church being called _Separatists_, which is
still their correct title. In Elizabeth's reign many of the clergy
refused to conform to the Act of Uniformity; the use of the
surplice, and many things in the Book of Common Prayer, being
objectionable to them. The Non-Conformists afterwards assumed
the name of Puritan, which had previously been used of a heresy
of the 3rd century. They formally separated from the Church in 1572.
(See _Puritan_.)
NORTH SIDE, _see_ Eastward Position.
NUNC DIMITTIS, or the SONG OF SIMEON. (Luke ii. 29.) The sweetest
and most solemn of all the Canticles--the thanksgiving of the aged
saint for the sight of the Saviour. It is appropriately sung by
us after the revelation of Christ in the Lessons for the day. It
is, and has been, used by the whole Catholic Church from the
earliest times.
OBLATION. An offering to God. In the Office for the Holy Communion
we pray God to "accept our alms and _oblations_." The word
_oblations_ was added to this prayer at the same time that the
rubric which directs the priest to "place upon the table so much
bread and wine as he shall think sufficient," was inserted, 1662.
From this, many--Wheatly, Palmer, Bishop Patrick, &c.--conclude
that the _oblation_ consists in the offering of the bread and wine.
Others would consider it merely synonymous with "_alms_."
OCTAVE. The octave is the _eighth day_ after any principal
festival of the Church. In ancient times it was customary to
observe these days with much devotion, including the whole period
also from the festival to the octave. In our Prayer Book we observe
the octaves of Christmas, Easter, Ascension, and Whit-Sunday, by
using the special preface appointed in the Communion Service at
every celebration during the octave. The Whit-Sunday preface,
however, is only used six days, because Trinity Sunday falls on
the octave.
OECUMENICAL. (Belonging to the whole inhabited world.) A term
applied to General Councils of the Church, to distinguish them
from councils of less importance. It is also a title of the
Patriarch of Constantinople.
OFFERTORY. In an ecclesiastical sense, the anthem said or sung
while the offerings are being made; it is now frequently used to
denote the alms collected. Oblations in money or kind have always
been made from apostolic times (1 Cor. xvi. 2). Out of these
offerings in kind were taken the bread and wine used in the
celebration of the Holy Communion. (See _Alms_, _Communion_.)
ORDERS, HOLY. Three _Orders_ have always been recognised in the
Church of Christ--Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. The preface to
the Ordinal in our Prayer Book affirms this very strongly. To
these were added, but on a distinctly different footing, what
are called the _Minor Orders_--Sub-Deacon, Acolyte, Exorcist,
Singer, Reader, Door-keeper; these are of merely ecclesiastical
institution, and are not generally retained in the Church of
England, although the office of Reader may be said to be in part
revived, and the revival of Sub-Deacon is recommended. The Church
of Rome has seven Orders. Articles xxiii., xxxvi. and xxxvii., as
well as the preface referred to above, should be carefully read
on this matter. (See also _Apostolical Succession_ and _Ordinal_.)
_Bishop_. From a Greek word (_episcopos_) meaning an "Overseer."
It is the title now given to the highest Order in the Christian
Ministry, to which appertains the function of ordination. Of this
Order were Titus and Timothy, the one being Bishop of Crete, the
other Bishop of Ephesus. In the English Church a Bishop must not
be less than 30 years old, a Priest 24, and a Deacon 23, unless
dispensed by a faculty from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
_Priest_. The second Order in the Christian Ministry. The word is
a corruption of _Presbyter_ (which see). In common with Bishops,
Priests have the power to absolve, to consecrate, and to bless,
but not to ordain. The difference between a Priest and a Deacon
is far greater than that between a Deacon and a layman.
_Deacon_. The lowest Order in the English Church. The word is
derived from the Greek, and means a _minister_. He is the assistant
of the Priest, and may only perform certain spiritual duties--_e._
_g_., the rubrics of our Prayer Book direct certain parts of the
Service to be taken by the "Priest," while the rest is left to
the "Minister," Priest or Deacon as he may happen to be, unless
from the nature of the office, we know that the term "Minister"
refers only to "Priest." (See _Minister_.)
ORDERS, QUALIFICATIONS FOR. Although the preface to the Ordinal
and Canon 39 lay down generally what is necessary from Candidates
for Holy Orders, yet any one intending to be ordained had better
write to the Secretary of the Bishop into whose diocese he thinks
of going for further particulars as to the subjects for examination,
&c. The papers generally necessary for Deacon's orders are the
following--(1) Certificate of Baptism, or a declaration by some
competent witness that the candidate has completed his 23rd year
and has been baptized. (2) Graduates of Cambridge must have passed
either the Special Theological, or the Preliminary Examination for
Holy Orders; Graduates of Oxford must produce Certificates that
they have attended two courses of Lectures by Divinity Professors.
Durham men must be either B.A. or L.Th. Dublin men must be B.A.,
and hold also the Divinity Testimonial. (3) College Testimonials.
(4) The "Si quis," a notice read in the Church of the place where
the candidate resides, to give opportunity for raising objections,
something like the asking of Banns. (5) Letters Testimonial for
three years, or for the time elapsed since the Candidate left
College. This Testimonial must be subscribed by three beneficed
clergymen. (6) A Title, or nomination to a Curacy. For Priest's
Orders, the Candidate requires 4, 5, and 6, as above. When a
Candidate is accepted by the Bishop, he has then to pass an
Examination, which slightly differs in the various dioceses, but
generally comprehends the following subjects, viz.--The Bible;
the New Testament in Greek, and a minute acquaintance with some
specified portion of it; The Prayer-Book; The 39 Articles; Church
History; Latin; some theological authors, such as Pearson, Hooker,
Butler, Paley, &c.; a Hebrew Paper is set for those who care to
take up Hebrew.
ORDINAL. "The form and manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating
Bishops, Priests, and Deacons." Various forms of Service for
Ordination have existed from the earliest times. Although differing
in many ways, each kept the essentials of Ordination, viz.,
Imposition of hands, with Prayer and Benediction, as used by the
Apostles themselves. The first Reformed Service was taken as usual
partly from the ancient ordinals in use. It was revised in 1552, and
again in 1662, when some changes, tending to greater solemnity, were
introduced.
The _Preface_ insists upon the necessity of Episcopal Ordination.
It determines the age at which men may be ordained, viz.. Deacon at
23, Priest at 24, Bishop at 30, and speaks of the qualifications
of candidates for the ministry. Canon 34 of 1604 mentions further
qualifications necessary (see _Orders_, _Qualifications for_). The
times for Ordination appointed by the Canon are, of course, the four
Ember Seasons, which have been so set apart from the 5th century.
_The Form and Manner of making of Deacons_. After Morning Prayer,
including the Sermon, is ended, the Candidates for Deacon's Orders,
dressed either in surplice or gown, are presented by the Archdeacon
to the Bishop, who is sitting in his chair in the Sanctuary. The
Bishop's address to the people is of much the same nature as the Si
quis already read. The Litany is made specially appropriate by the
insertion of the suffrage, "That it may please Thee to bless these
Thy servants, now to be admitted to the Order of Deacons (or
Priests), and to pour Thy grace upon them; that they may duly
execute their office, to the edifying of Thy Church, and the glory
of Thy Holy Name." Then follows a special Collect and Epistle.
Before the Gospel the Bishop proceeds with the Ordination Service.
Until 1865 the Oath of the Queen's Supremacy was administered here,
but now it is taken before the Service. Sitting in his chair, the
Bishop puts certain searching questions to those he is about to
ordain. The first is of the "Inward Call" of the Holy Ghost. This
perhaps is sometimes misunderstood, but several high authorities
unite with Calvin in explaining it to be "the good testimony of
our own heart, that we have taken this office neither from ambition,
covetousness, nor any evil design, but out of a true fear of God,
and a desire to edify the Church." (See _Call to the Ministry_.) The
next question is of the "Outward Call," and implies a willingness
to accept all the regulations under which the Ministry is to be
exercised in the Church of England. The third and fourth questions
demand a belief in the Bible, and a desire to read (and perhaps
expound it) in the Church.
The next question explains the duties of the Diaconate, and marks
very distinctly the great difference between that Order and the
Priesthood. The answer expresses the candidate's intention to be
faithful in the public ministration of his office, and the answer
to the next question his desire to be an example in his private
life. The last question concerns canonical obedience. Next follows
the Ordination itself, which is notable for its extreme simplicity
in comparison with the great solemnity of the Ordination of Priests.
The Gospel is usually read by the Deacon who passes first in the
Examination.
The Communion Service is then proceeded with, one final prayer
being added in behalf of those who have just become Deacons in
the Church.
_The Form and Manner of Ordering of Priests_. The ground-plan of
this Service is the same as that of the preceding. The Deacons are
ordained before the Gospel, the Priests after. The Bishop's
exhortation before putting the question brings out in a striking
manner a picture of the whole pastoral duty and life. The first
question dwells on the _outward call_ to the Priesthood; the second,
third, and fourth, on the _rule of faith and practice_; the fifth
and sixth on the _individual life_; the seventh and eighth on the
submission to _order and peace_. Then follows a call to the
congregation present to engage in _silent prayer_ on behalf of
those about to be ordained to the Priesthood. After which the hymn
_Veni Creator_ is sung, as it always has been sung since the 11th
century on this occasion; and after another prayer the special act
of Ordination is proceeded with. It is to be noticed that Priests
present are to join with the Bishop in the laying on of hands in
obedience to 1 Tim. iv. 14. The Charge given in this Ordination
is threefold, (_a_) The Dispensation of the Word; (_b_) The
Dispensation of the Sacraments; (_c_) the "Power and Commandment"
of Absolution, John xx. 23, and compare Matt, xvi. 19; xviii. 18.
The Service of the Holy Communion is then proceeded with, the
final collect being a twofold prayer for the newly-ordained and
for the people. The concluding rubric is a direction for the order
of the Service if Priests and Deacons are to be ordained on the
same occasion.
_The form of Ordaining and Consecrating of an Archbishop or Bishop_.
This form of Service differs from the other services in beginning
with the Communion Service, placing the Sermon in its usual place
in that Service, and then inserting the Litany after the Gospel and
before the Consecration. The Service is to be conducted by the
Archbishop, or some Bishop appointed by him. The presence of other
Bishops is implied throughout, according to the old rule, which
prescribed, as a matter of church order, though not of absolute
necessity, that three Bishops at least should concur in the
Consecration. The Candidate, vested in a Rochet, is presented by
two Bishops, in accordance with a custom of great antiquity. The
Queen's mandate is then read, and the oath of canonical obedience
taken. The Litany contains a special suffrage and prayer. The
questions which follow are substantially the same as in the
Ordination of Priests; except that (_a_) in the sixth the duty
of enforcing discipline is insisted upon; and (_b_)the seventh
requires a promise to be faithful in ordaining others; and (_c_)
the eighth lays stress on the duty of gentleness and charity. After
this the Bishop elect is to put on the rest of the episcopal habit.
The form of consecration itself corresponds to the Ordination of
Priests, save that in place of conferring the power of absolution,
we have St. Paul's exhortation to Timothy (2 Tim. i. 6, 7), to stir
up the gift of Consecration in "power, love, and soberness." The
charge at the delivery of the Bible takes the form of an earnest
exhortation. The Holy Communion is then proceeded with.
ORDINARY. Where used in the Prayer Book this word almost always
means the Bishop of the Diocese. The word properly signifies any
judge authorized to take cognizance of causes in his own proper
right.
ORGAN, _see_ Church Music.
ORIGINAL SIN, _see_ Sin.
ORNAMENTS OF THE CHURCH, and MINISTERS THEREOF. This Rubric is well
known as the "Ornaments Rubric." It will be considered under two
heads, (1) the Vestments of the Minister, (2) the Ornaments of the
Church.
(1.) This Rubric had no existence in 1549; but a direction in the
Communion Service says that the Priest is to wear "a white albe
plain, with a Vestment or Cope," and the assisting Priests or
Deacons, "Albes with tunicles," or Dalmatics. At other Services
in Parish Churches the ministers were to use a surplice and, in
Cathedrals and Colleges, the hood of their degree. At a celebration
a Bishop was to wear a Surplice or Albe, and a Cope or Vestment.
In 1552 the Ornaments Rubric ran thus:--"The Minister, at the time
of the Communion, and at all other times of his ministration, shall
use neither Albe, Vestment, nor Cope; but, being Archbishop
or Bishop, he shall have and wear a Rochet, and being Priest
or Deacon, a Surplice only." In 1559 this Rubric was altered
thus:--"The Minister....shall use such ornaments in the Church
as were in use by authority of Parliament in the second year of
Edward VI., according to the Act of Parliament set forth in the
beginning of this book." This Act spoke of authorizing the Queen
to ordain other ceremonies; but whether she did so or not,
according to this Act, has been a matter of controversy. But in
the "advertisements" of Archbishop Parker (1566), no other vestment
than the Cope and Surplice is named. In 1662 the Rubric was altered
into its present form.
As a matter of history, it seems unquestionable that, with a few
exceptions, all vestments except the Surplice and Hood in Parish
Churches, and Copes in some Cathedrals, were disused after 1564.
Within the last 25 years, the use of the old vestments ordered in
the first Prayer Book, and authorized by Parliament, has been
revived on the authority of the Rubric of 1662. The Privy Council,
however, has, rightly or wrongly, pronounced against the legality
of the revival of the vestments named in the Rubric. (See
_Vestments_.) (2.) The ornaments of the Church are discussed under
the headings of _Altar_, _Altar Lights_, &c. In Canons 80 to 84
among the things pertaining to the Church are enumerated (1) a
great Bible and Prayer Book, (2) a Font of stone, (3) a "decent
Communion Table covered in time of Divine Service with a carpet
of silk or other decent stuff," (4) the "Ten Commandments to be
set up" and "other chosen sentences written," (5) a Pulpit, (6) an
Alms Chest.
ORTHODOX. Sound in doctrine according to the consentient testimony
of Scripture and the Church. The opposite is _heterodox_.
PALM SUNDAY. The Sunday next before Easter, so called from palm
branches being strewed on the road by the multitude, when our
Saviour made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
PANTHEISM. From two Greek words meaning "all" and "God." It is a
subtle kind of Atheism, which makes God and the universe the same,
and so denies the existence and sovereignty of any God over the
universe. What may be called Natural Religion partakes largely of
Pantheism.
PAPISTS. Roman Catholics. The term is derived from Papa, a title
restricted in the West to the Pope. In the Greek Church it is the
title of all parish priests.
PARABLE. In the New Testament a figurative discourse, or a story
with a typical meaning. In the Old Testament it sometimes signifies
a mere discourse, as Job's parable, Job xxvi-xxxi. inclusive. The
Parable, in the New Testament sense, was and is a common mode of
expression in the East.
PARISH. "That circuit of ground which is committed to the charge
of one parson or vicar, or other minister." Some think England
was divided into parishes by Archbishop Honorius, about the year
630. There are instances of Parish Churches in England as early as
the year 700. The cause of the great difference in the extent of
different parishes is explained by the fact that churches were most
of them built by lords of the manor for their tenants, and so the
parish was the size of the lord's manor. In 1520 the number of
Parish Churches was between 9,500 and 10,000. There are now about
13,500 Benefices; and many more District and Mission Churches, and
Chapels of Ease.
PARSON. The Rector or Incumbent of a Parish, when the income of the
living is derived from land. It represents two Latin words,
'Persona Ecclesiae,' the ecclesiastical _person_ of a place.
PASSING BELL. A bell tolled now _after_ the death of a person. The
67th canon orders "When any one _is passing_ out of this life, a
bell shall be tolled, and their minister shall not then be slack
to do his last duty." Thus the beautiful idea of calling for the
prayers of the Church, by the tolling of a bell, for the dying
person is altogether lost sight of by our modern custom.
PASSION WEEK, _see_ Holy Week.
PASTOR. Literally, a _shepherd_: hence one who shepherds souls.
PASTORAL STAFF. A Staff shaped like a crook, which a Bishop shall
either bear "in his hand" or else have "borne or holden by his
chaplain." This is the direction of a rubric in the Prayer Book of
1549, and which is still the law of the Church according to the
present Ornaments Rubric.
PATEN, _see_ Altar Vessels.
PATRON. The person who has a right to present to a benefice.
PAUL (St.), THE CONVERSION OF, January 25. The festival of St.
Paul is not, as usual, of the day of his martyrdom, but of his
miraculous conversion, and it is upon this, rather than on his
wonderful character and work, that the services lay stress.
PECULIARS. Parishes exempt from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of
the Diocese in which they lie. They were for the most part abolished
in the reign of William IV.
PENANCE. In the law of England penance is an open ecclesiastical
punishment for sin. This discipline of the Church has fallen
into disuse, a fact deplored in the opening exhortation of the
Commination Service. Absolution after penance has been exalted
into a Sacrament in the Church of Rome.
PENITENTIAL PSALMS. Seven psalms, from their internal character,
are thus called, viz., 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. These are
appointed to be read on Ash-Wednesday.
PENTECOST. A solemn festival of the Jews, so called because it is
celebrated _fifty days_ after the Passover. It corresponds to the
Christian Whitsuntide, which is sometimes called by the same name.
PERPETUAL CURATE. The incumbent of a church, chapel, or district,
within the boundaries of a rectory or vicarage. His position is
in every respect that of a Vicar.
PESSIMISM. A philosophy which acknowledges the evils that are in
the world, but instead of looking for a "new heaven and a new earth"
it looks for release in unconsciousness. It is the religion of
doubt, and hopelessness, and despair. It makes _the worst_ of
everything.
PETER'S (St.) DAY. June 29. This festival, originally a festival
of both St. Peter and St. Paul, on the traditional anniversary of
their common martyrdom, is of great antiquity, certainly known
from the 4th century, and kept both in the East and West on this
day. The institution of the festival of the Conversion of St. Paul
has now transferred the commemoration of that Apostle to another
day, January 25th.
PEWS. Enclosed seats in churches. They did not come into use until
the middle of the 17th century, and almost belong to the past now.
But long before pews there were appropriated seats. The first
mention of a "reading pew," or desk, in the body of the church,
for the minister, is in 1596: previous to that time his place
was in the chancel.
PHILIP (St.) AND St. JAMES'S DAY. May 1. There seems to be no
adequate reason for the coupling together of these two Apostles.
In the Greek Church their festivals are observed separately. Of St.
Philip we have notices only in St. John, and early tradition speaks
of his preaching in Pamphylia. Of St. James the Apostle, the son of
Alphaeus, sometimes supposed to be the same as "James the Less," or
the Little, of Mark xv. 40, we know nothing except his name in the
Apostolic catalogue. In the Epistle for this day he is identified
with James, the brother of the Lord, surnamed the Just, and author
of the Epistle bearing his name. But this identification is very
uncertain.
PISCINA. A drain for water, usually accompanied with decorative
features, near the altar on the south side. It was formerly used
to pour away the water in which any sacred vessel had been washed.
In many churches the Piscina is the only remaining trace of where
an altar has been.
PLYMOUTH BRETHREN. The name is a misnomer. They call themselves
merely "Brethren," and instead of originating in Plymouth, their
principal source was near Dublin. They date from 1827, and their
existence is a protest against all sectarianism, they holding that
there should be a _visible_ unity among Christians. They decline
to be looked upon as one of the many sects into which Christianity
is divided, and refuse to be identified with any.
They hold in great esteem the primitive constitution of the Church,
and trust largely to the power of prayer for the supply of their
temporal necessities. They have no recognised ministry, but any
one believing himself to be inspired of the Spirit may address
their meetings.
POLITY, ECCLESIASTICAL. The constitution and government of the
Christian Church, considered as a society. The great book on this
subject is Hooker's immortal work.
POPE. From _Papa_, Father, a title anciently given to all Christian
Bishops; but at the end of the 11th century it was assumed
exclusively by Gregory VII., Bishop of Rome, whose successors'
peculiar title it has ever since continued. (See _Papists_.) There
are but few instances of the exercise of the papal power in England
before the Norman Conquest, nor has the Church of England ever
wholly submitted to papal rule. (See _Church of England_.)
POSITIVISM, _see_ Comtism.
PRAYER-BOOK, _see_ Liturgy.
PREACHING. Proclaiming the truths of religion. The term is not
necessarily to be limited to what are called sermons, as we see by
Acts xv. 21, "Moses of old time hath in every city them that
_preach_ him, being _read_ in the synagogues every Sabbath day."
Hooker, in his fifth book, cleverly argues against the exaltation
of sermons as being _the_ means of grace to the detriment of other
parts of public worship, a custom prevalent in his time among the
Puritans, and now among most of the dissenting sects.
PREBENDARY. A clergyman attached to a Cathedral Church, who
anciently enjoyed a _prebend_, or stipend, arising from some
part of the Cathedral property, in return for his officiating at
stated times in the Cathedral. The appointment is now often
honorary. (See _Canon_.)
PRECENTOR. The leader of a choir. In almost all Cathedrals of old
foundation in England, and very generally on the Continent, the
precentor was the first dignitary in the chapter, ranking next
to the dean. He superintended the choral service and the choristers.
In all new foundations the precentor is a minor canon, holding a
rank totally different from, and inferior to that of his namesake
of the older foundation. (See Minor Canon.)
PREDESTINATION, _see_ Election. The 17th Article treats of
Predestination, but in such a way as to make it very difficult
to comprehend what it teaches with regard to this most controverted
subject. It seems designedly drawn up, in guarded and general
terms, on purpose to embrace all persons of tolerably moderate
views. (See _Arminianism_, _Calvinism_, _Antinomianism_.)
PRELATE. Generally a Bishop, but strictly an ecclesiastic having
jurisdiction over other ecclesiastics.
PRESBYTER. A Greek word signifying an _Elder_. In the Christian
Church a _presbyter_ or _elder_ is one who is ordained to a certain
office, and authorized by his _quality_, not his _age_, to discharge
the several duties of that office and station in which he is placed.
In this large and extended sense, Bishops were sometimes called
_presbyters_ in the New Testament, for the apostles themselves
did not refuse the title. Priests are in an ordinary sense the
presbyters of the Church, and in the Scotch Liturgy, compiled in
the reign of Charles I, the word _presbyter_ is substituted for
that of _priest_. (See _Orders_.)
PRESBYTERIANS. A Protestant sect which maintains that there is no
order in the Church superior to presbyters, and on that account
has separated from the Catholic Church. This sect is established
by law in Scotland, where there nevertheless exists a national
branch of the Catholic Church, under canonical Bishops. Of course
the establishment or disestablishment of a sect in no way alters
its position as being, or not being, a branch of the Catholic
Church. From time to time considerable secessions have occurred
in Scotland from the Established Church, the principal being the
"_United Presbyterian Church_," and the "_Free Church of Scotland_."
English Presbyterians are not to be confounded with Scotch
Presbyterians, the former being the main supporters of Socinianism
and Rationalism in this country.
The "_Presbyterian Church of England_" has 10 presbyteries, 275
congregations, 56,099 communicants.
PRESENCE, REAL, _see_ Communion, Holy, part iv. The Homily on the
Sacrament asserts, "Thus much we must be sure to hold, that in
the Supper of the Lord there is no vain ceremony or bare sign,
_no untrue figure of a thing absent_; but the communion of the
body and blood of our Lord in a marvellous incorporation, which,
by the operation of the Holy Ghost, is, through faith, wrought in
the souls of the faithful."
PRESENTATION. The offering of a clerk to the Bishop by the patron
of a benefice, for institution.
PRIEST, _see_ Presbyter, & Orders, Holy.
PRIMATE. A "Primate" is the highest in rank in a National Church.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is Primate of all England, but is
without power in the province of York. The Archbishop of York is
Primate of England.
PROCESSION OF THE HOLY GHOST. The doctrine that the Holy Ghost
_proceeds_ from the Father and the Son. It is an incomprehensible
mystery, and in thinking of it we shall do well to remember the
words of Gregory Nazianzen to an objector; "Do you tell me how the
Father is unbegotten, and I will then attempt to tell you how
the Son is begotten, and the Spirit proceeds." The Eastern or
Greek Church (which see) split from the Western on this question
of the procession of the Holy Ghost, believing that the eternal
procession is from the Father alone, and not from the Son.
PROCTOR A name given to the clergy elected by their brethren to
represent them in convocation. The same name is given to those
officers of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge whose duty
it is to guard the morals, and preserve the quiet of the university.
PROFESSOR. A public teacher in a university.
PROTESTANT. The term is now used of all who _protest_ against
Popery. It was originally given to those who _protested_ against
a certain decree issued by the Diet of Spires in 1529.
PROVINCE. The limit of an Archbishop's jurisdiction, as a diocese
is the limit of the jurisdiction of a Bishop. (See _Archbishop_ and
_Diocese_.)
PSALTER. The word _Psalter_ is often used by ancient writers for
the book of the Psalms, considered as a separate book of Holy
Scripture; but the term is generally used now of the book in which
the Psalms are arranged for the public service of the Church. The
Roman Psalter, for instance, does not follow the course of the
Psalms as in the Bible, but arranges them for the different
services. The division of the Psalms into daily portions, as
given in our Prayer Books, has been done with a view to convenience.
The _Psalter_, properly speaking, is a separate book from that of
Common Prayer. The English Psalter does not follow the last
translation of the Bible (which is the authorized one), but that
of Coverdale's Bible, corrected, which had become familiar to
the people from constant use.
PUBLIC WORSHIP. The united Service of the Congregation. A Christian
duty very much neglected by the laity, notwithstanding the Apostolic
direction not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together."
(Heb. x. 25.) Formerly the law of the land compelled every
parishioner to attend public worship, unless excommunicate. There
is a special blessing promised to the assembly of believers for
common prayer and praise. "Where two or three are gathered together
there am I in the midst of them." (Matt, xviii. 20.) "The Lord
loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob"
(Ps. lxxxvii. 2.) Both in the Old Testament and New Testament this
duty holds a prominent place.
PUBLIC WORSHIP REGULATION ACT. An Act of Parliament, passed in
1874, for the better administration of the Laws respecting the
regulation of Public Worship. Under this Act any three aggrieved
Parishioners, calling themselves members of the Church of England,
though not necessarily Communicants, may report to the Bishop
anything their clergyman does which they believe to be unlawful.
The Bishop may use his discretion whether proceedings are to
be taken against the clergyman on the representation of his
parishioners. If the litigious parties prefer it, the case may be
taken out of the Bishop's hands and brought before a Judge appointed
under this Act--at present Lord Penzance.
The workings of the Act have been far from satisfactory to any, and
in many cases have given rise to grave scandal.
PULPIT. A raised desk. Sermons were formerly delivered from the
steps of the Altar. By Canon 83, a raised desk, called a pulpit,
is ordered in every church, from which the preacher is to address
his flock.
PURGATORY. A place in which souls are, by the Romanists, supposed
to be purged from carnal impurities, before they are received into
heaven. The Council of Florence, 1439, first gave an authoritative
decree concerning Purgatory,--"If any who truly repent depart from
this life before that by worthy fruits of repentance they have
made satisfaction for their sins of commission and omission, their
souls are purified after death, and to relieving these pains, the
suffrages of the faithful who are alive, to wit, the sacrifice of
masses, prayers, alms, and other pious works, are profitable. But
whether purgatory is a fire, or a mist, or a whirlwind, or anything
else, we do not dispute."
The idea of Purgatory was very early broached by individuals. St.
Augustine, 398, speaks of it as a thing which "possibly may be
found so, and possibly never;" the Venerable Bede says it is "not
altogether incredible." Origen, in the 3rd century, is by some
thought to have been the first to teach distinctly the doctrine
of Purgatory, but his view differs altogether from the Roman.
Article xxii. gives the view of the Church of England on this
subject. "Purgatory... is a fond thing, vainly invented, and
grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to
the word of God." However, in the celebrated "Essays and Reviews"
case, the point arose in respect of a doctrine, scarcely discernible
from that of Purgatory, being taught by Mr. H. B. Wilson, and the
Privy Council decided that there is no condemnation of it in the
Anglican formularies. The teaching of Article xxii. is borne out
by the following: Luke xxiii, 43; Phil. i 23; 2 Cor. v. 8; Rev.
xiv. 13; and many other passages.
PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. February 2nd. The
alternative title (the "Presentation of Christ in the Temple,")
suggests the lesson to be drawn from all the services of the day.
The name "Candle-mas Day" is derived from the custom of a procession
with torches, superseding (it is thought) the heathen festival of
torches to Ceres in the early part of February, with a reference
to the true "light to lighten the Gentiles." Exodus xiii. 1-17 (the
proper lesson for the day) gives the Mosaic law of the dedication
of the first-born.
PURITANS. A name assumed by the ultra-Protestants in the reigns of
Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I. The following chapter of history
is often much misrepresented by the enemies of the Church:--In the
time of the great Rebellion seven thousand English clergymen,
having refused to take the covenant, were ejected from their
livings, their places being supplied by dissenting teachers. At
the Restoration it was required that all those persons who had
thus become possessed of the property of the English Church should
either conform to the regulations of the Church, or resign. Of all
the Puritan clergy then in possession only fifteen hundred refused
to conform. These fifteen hundred were ejected, and from what? From
their rights? No; from what they had usurped. More than five
thousand conformed and still retained possession of their benefices,
so that but few of the loyal English clergy who had been ejected
regained their rights even at the Restoration.
QUAKERS. A sect owing their origin to George Fox, a cattle-drover,
in 1624. They are also called the "Society of Friends." The first
assembly for public worship was held in Leicestershire in 1644. The
Society is diminishing in numbers in the United Kingdom. The body
is much more numerous in America. Three gradations of meetings or
synods--monthly, quarterly, and yearly--administer the affairs of
the Society. Fit persons are chosen by monthly meetings as _Elders_,
to watch over the religious duties of the members. They make
provision for their poor, none of whom are ever known to require
parochial relief. At the monthly meetings also marriages are
sanctioned. Monthly meetings being limited to a certain circuit,
several monthly meetings compose a quarterly meeting, at which
general reports are given and appeals heard. The yearly meeting has
the general superintendence of the Society. In case of disputes among
Friends the matter is submitted, not to law, but to arbitration.
Their solemn affirmations are accepted in lieu of oaths. The chief
rule of their faith is that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so
guides and teaches them that the Bible and all else is subordinate
to this inward monition of the Spirit. Their ministers may be either
male or female, the only qualification necessary being the immediate
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They decline to define in any way
the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. They deny the necessity of any
outward sign accompanying Baptism, it being a wholly spiritual
matter. Also they affirm that taking or receiving the Eucharist is
not of perpetual obligation. And they condemn all war, even in
self-defence, as unlawful for Christians.
The _Society of Friends_ consists of about 12,000 members, 254
recorded ministers, and about 400 unrecorded; and in England and
Wales they have 317 places of worship. As a rule their moral
character is excellent, and they are very valuable members of
society.
QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. The _fiftieth_ day before Easter, reckoning
in whole numbers.
QUESTMEN. The same as Synod's men, or Sidesmen. (See _Churchwardens_.)
RATIONALISM. There are two ways by which the human mind can attain
to a knowledge of the truth; first by receiving a divine revelation
of it, and secondly by means of observation and reasoning. The name
of _Rationalism_ is given to that school of thought which believes
that the latter of these two ways is of itself fully sufficient for
the attainment of all truth.
READING DESK, _see_ Desk.
READING IN. Every incumbent upon entering his living is obliged
to read the Thirty-nine Articles, and to give his assent thereto
publicly, in Church, on some Sunday nearly following his appointment.
He must also read the Morning and Evening Prayer, and declare his
assent to the Prayer Book. A certificate to that effect has to be
signed by the Churchwardens. The whole ceremony is known as that
of "_reading in_."
REAL PRESENCE, _see_ Presence, Real.
RECTOR. A clergyman who has charge of a parish, and who possesses
all the tithes. The distinction between a Rector and Vicar is that
the former has the whole right to all the ecclesiastical dues within
his parish, whereas the latter is entitled only to a certain portion
of those profits, the best part of which are often absorbed by the
impropriator.
REFORMATION. The great revolt in Europe in the 16th century against
the Papacy. The rescue of our Church from the usurped dominion of
the Pope, and its restoration from the corruptions of Popery to
primitive purity was then effected. (See _Church of England_.)
REFRESHMENT SUNDAY The fourth Sunday in Lent is so called probably
because the Gospel for the day relates the miracle of the feeding
of the five thousand. It is also frequently called Mid-Lent Sunday.
In several parts of England it is known by the name of _Mothering
Sunday_, from an ancient practice of making a pilgrimage to the
Mother Church, usually the Cathedral, of the neighbourhood on this
day. The comparatively modern and local custom of young men and
women going home to visit their parents on this day is probably a
survival of the older practice.
REGENERATION. A Latin word meaning _new birth_, or being born again.
The catechism teaches us that the grace of Baptism is "a death unto
sin, and a _new birth_ unto righteousness..." So, in perfect
consistency with the catechism, the minister, immediately after
the administration of Holy Baptism to a child, addresses the
congregation thus: "Seeing now, dearly beloved brethren, that this
child is _regenerate_;" and he returns thanks to God that it
hath pleased Him "to regenerate this infant with Thy Holy Spirit."
The same connexion between regeneration and baptism is expressed in
the Office for Private Baptism and in the Office for the Baptism of
Adults. There has been much confusion and misunderstanding caused
by using the word _regeneration_ as though it meant _conversion_.
Both the Bible--Tit. iii. 5; John iii. 3-5--and the Fathers use
_regeneration_ as the _new birth_ of baptism, but never as meaning
anything else, unless figuratively as Matt. xix. 28. (See
_Conversion, Baptism_.)
REGISTER. A parochial record of Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials.
The keeping of a church book for registering the age of those that
should be born and christened in the parish began in the thirtieth
year of Henry VIII. Canon 70 gives directions for the safe keeping
of parish registers wherein baptisms, weddings, and burials were
entered. Duplicate registers of weddings are now kept by order of
recent legislation, and also copies are made quarterly and given
to the registrar of the district. There is a small fee payable by
those who wish to search the parish registers; and for a copy of
an entry 2s. 6d. is the legal charge.
RENOVATION. This action of the Holy Spirit upon the heart of man
differs from Regeneration (which see) in that it is progressive,
and may often be repeated or totally lost. Whereas Regeneration
comes only once, in or through Baptism, and can never be repeated
nor ever totally lost.
REPENTANCE or CONTRITION, A sincere sorrow for all past sins, an
unfeigned disposition of mind to perform the will of God better
for the future, and an actual avoiding and resisting of those
temptations to sin under which we have before fallen.
REREDOS. A screen behind an altar, necessary in cathedrals, and
some large churches, because the altar is not against the East
wall. The name is commonly given to all carved or decorated work
immediately behind the altar.
RESIDENTIARY CANONS. These Cathedral officers have to _reside_ in
the Cathedral Close for three months in the year, in their
respective turns, and take their part in the services of the
Cathedral. (See Canon.)
RESPONSE. In the Church Service an answer made by the people
speaking alternately with the minister. This has always been
a fundamental feature in every liturgy. The practice has been
handed down from the Jewish Church.
RESURRECTION. Both the resurrection of our Lord and our own future
resurrection are articles of the Christian faith. What the
resurrection body will be like we do not know, but we believe
that our mortal, corruptible body, which is laid in the grave,
will rise again immortal and incorruptible. The principal passages
of Scripture bearing on the resurrection are--1 Thess. iv. 14-16;
1 Cor. xv. 20-52; Rev. xx. 13; Phil. iii. 21; Rom. viii. 11.
RING. _see_ Matrimony, Solemnization of.
RITES. Religious observances prescribed by competent authority.
This "competent authority" is described to be the Church in that
portion of the preface of the Prayer Book which treats of
"Ceremonies;" and the claim of this right for the Church accords
with Art. xxxiv., which says: "Every particular or national Church
hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish ceremonies or rites
of the Church ordained only by man's authority, so that all things
be done to edifying."
RITUAL. The name given before the Reformation to that book or
_manual_ (sometimes it was so called) which comprised all those
occasional offices of the Church which a Presbyter could administer.
The word is now often used of the mode or manner in which Divine
Service is conducted.
RITUALIST. (1) A writer on the rites of Churches. (2) A name given
of late to the school which has revived disused ceremonial in the
Church of England. (See _Church Parties_.)
ROCHET, _see_ Vestments.
ROOD SCREEN. A screen separating the chancel from the nave, on
which the _rood_ (_i.e._, the figure of our Lord on the Cross)
was placed, and on either side the Blessed Virgin and St. John. The
place of the _rood_, where the screen was sufficiently substantial,
as in cathedrals, has been almost universally converted into an
organ loft.
RUBRICS. Rules for the ordering of Divine Service. They were
formerly written or printed in a _red_ character, and therefore
called _Rubrics_, from a Latin word signifying _red_.
The most controverted rubric in the Church of England is the
well-known "_Ornaments Rubric_" (which see.) The Rubrics dealing
with the position of the Priest at Holy Communion are examined in
the articles on _Communion_ and _Eastward Position_.
RURAL DEAN. As each Province is divided into Dioceses, and each
Diocese into Archdeaconries, so each Archdeaconry is divided into
Rural Deaneries, consisting of a certain number of Parishes. Over
this Rural Deanery some beneficed clergyman, usually appointed by
the Bishop, presides. In the Diocese of Exeter the clergy elect
their own Rural Deans. His duties are to call together the clergy
in his Deanery at certain times for the discussion of ecclesiastical
matters. These meetings are called Ruri-decanal Chapters. It is
also the duty of the Rural Dean to see that the churches in his
Deanery are in fit order for public worship, and supplied with
those things by law required. He is to report any immorality or
crime among the clergy of his Deanery.
The office of Rural Dean is an ancient office of the Church, and
is mentioned as early as the time of Edward the Confessor.
SABAOTH. A Hebrew word meaning _hosts_ or _armies_. _Jehovah
Sabaoth_ is the Lord of Hosts. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of
Sabaoth."
SABBATH. _Rest_. The seventh day of the week, commanded in the
Decalogue to be kept holy, and still observed by the Jews. The
Christian Sabbath is kept on the first day of the week. (See
_Sunday_ and _Lord's Day_.)
SACERDOTALISM. The spirit or character of the priestly class or
priesthood; devotion to priestly interests. From Latin _Sacerdos_,
one given to sacred things.
SACRAMENT. Latin, _sacramentum_, an _oath_ or _promise_ ratified
by a sacred or religious ceremony; thus the oath taken by soldiers
in classical times was called _sacramentum_. In the early Church
the word "sacrament" was used to express the promises made by
Christians in Holy Baptism. Then it came to be used of the
ceremony itself, and thence to signify any religious ordinance.
In this extended sense the Church of England acknowledges other
rites to be sacraments beside Baptism and the Eucharist; thus in
the Homily on Swearing we find, "By the like holy promise the
_sacrament of matrimony_ knitteth man and wife in perpetual love,"
&c. So the catechism does not limit the number of sacraments to
two, but says, "Two only, as _generally necessary to salvation_."
Thus in the Church of England we distinguish Baptism and the
Eucharist from all other ordinances, because they are, what the
others are not, necessary for salvation to all men, wherever they
can be had. Other ordinances may confer grace, but Baptism and the
Eucharist alone unite with Christ Himself. Thus we may say that in
the strict definition of the word there are only two sacraments.
Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. The Roman Catholic Church
teaches that there are _seven_ sacraments, but this can hardly
be borne out; for if the word be taken in the larger sense as
meaning any religious ordinance, then there are more than seven,
but if in a limited sense, there are only two. For the Roman view
of sacraments see Article xxv. The Church Catechism defines a
sacrament in the strict sense as follows:--It is "an outward and
visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us,
ordained by Christ Himself as a means whereby we receive the same,
and a pledge to assure us thereof."
SACRIFICE. An offering made to God. In strictness of speech there
has been but one great sacrifice--once offered, and never to be
repeated--the sacrifice of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. He
suffered "death upon the Cross for our redemption; Who made there
(by His one oblation of Himself once offered) a full, perfect, and
sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of
the whole world." But, figuratively speaking, all Divine worship
was anciently called a _sacrifice_, a sacrifice of praise and
thanksgiving; but more especially this term has been applied to
the Eucharist. Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, both Fathers of the
2nd century, speak of the Eucharist as a sacrifice. Tertullian,
of the 3rd century, does the same. (See _Altar_, and _Communion,
The Holy_.)
SACRILEGE. The desecration of objects sacred to God. Thus the
robbing of churches or of graves, the abuse of sacred vessels
and jars, by employing them for unhallowed purposes, the plundering
and misappropriation of alms and donations, &c., are acts of
sacrilege which, in the ancient Church, were punished very severely.
SACRISTAN. The person to whose charge the sacred vestments, &c., in
a Church are committed. The word is now corrupted to _sexton_ (which
see.)
SACRISTY. The place in which sacred vestments, &c., are kept,
answering to the modern vestry.
SAINT. _Holy_. The Apostles in their Epistles use this word
simply for baptized believers, that is, for all Christians. (See
_Communion of Saints_.)
SAINTS' DAYS. The Church of Rome commemorates an enormous number
of holy men and women who have lived and died following in the
footsteps of Christ. But at the Reformation it was decided to
celebrate in the Church of England only the festivals of the
principal saints mentioned in the New Testament. If the line was
not drawn there, it was difficult to say where it should be drawn.
When two Holy-Days occur (_i.e._, fall on the same day), the
service appointed for the superior day should be used, but in
certain cases the Collect for the inferior day should be used
after the Collect for the superior day. As a general rule, a Saint's
Day, or Holy-Day, takes precedence before an ordinary Sunday.
SALVATION ARMY, THE, was commenced as a Christian Mission in 1865,
by its present "General," then known as the "Rev." W. Booth,
formerly a minister of the Methodist New Connexion. In 1878 the
name "Salvation Army" was assumed. In 1880 the Army was established
in the United States and in France, and a weekly newspaper called
the "War Cry" was issued, which has now (1883) reached the sale of
400,000 copies. In 1882 the "Army" had in Great Britain 420
stations, or corps; 980 officers (as the missionaries, male and
female, entirely engaged in the work, are called); and held 7,500
services weekly in the streets, and in buildings bought, built,
or hired for the purpose.
"Every member or soldier of the Army is expected to wear an 'S,'
meaning Salvation, on the collar, and those who can, provide
themselves with a complete uniform of dark blue cloth thus marked."
The grotesqueness, not to say irreverence, of many of their
proceedings, and much of their language; the noise, excitement,
and display which always accompany their work; the silly affectation
of constantly using a quasi-military phraseology, and some other
features of the movement, do not commend it to sober-minded
Christians; while the unauthorised celebration of the (so-called)
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper condemns it in the eyes of the
Church.
SANCTIFICATION. _Holiness_; the effect of the Holy Spirit's work
upon the heart of man, (See _Justification_.)
SANCTUARY. The place within the Septum, or rails, where the altar
stands in the Christian church. The term is also used of the
privilege of criminals, who, having fled to a sacred place, are
free from arrest so long as they remain there. This custom of
"Sanctuary," which is now almost wholly done away with everywhere,
arose from Deut. xix. 11, 12, and Joshua xx.
SARUM, THE USE OF. In the early Church in England every Bishop was
allowed to ordain rites and ceremonies, and prayers for use in
his own diocese. The exercise of this power, in process of time,
caused a considerable variety in the manner of performing Divine
Service; and the custom of a diocese in its ceremonial, mode of
chanting, &c., became a distinct _Use_, and was known by the name
of that diocese. Thus gradually the _Uses_, or customs, of York,
Sarum (or Salisbury), Hereford, Exeter, Lincoln, Bangor, and
doubtless others of which the records have perished, were recognised
as defined and established varieties of the Ritual of the English
Church.
The most remarkable of these was the _Use of Sarum_. It was drawn
up about 1085 by Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor of
England. He re-built his cathedral, collected together clergy
distinguished for learning, and skill in chanting, and took much
pains to regulate the ecclesiastical offices; so that his church
became a model for others, and his "Custom-book" was wholly or
partially followed in various parts of the kingdom, more especially
in the South of England.
We may look upon this _Use_ as being the foundation of our present
Prayer Book.
SATAN. _An adversary_, _an enemy_, _an accuser_. Sometimes the word
Satan is put for the Devil, as in Job i. 6, 7; Ps. cix. 6.; Zech.
iii. 1, 2. In the New Testament it almost always means the Devil,
but in Matt. xvi. 23, it simply means an _adversary_. "Be gone, O
mine adversary, you that withstand what I most desire," &c.
The word Devil is from the Greek for an accuser, or calumniator.
The Devil, or Satan, is a wicked spirit, who with many others, his
angels or under-agents, is fighting against God. He has a limited
dominion over all the sons of Adam, except the regenerate, in his
kingdom of this world.
SCARF or STOLE, _see_ Vestments.
SCEPTICS. From a Greek word meaning _to look about_, _to deliberate_.
Anciently the term was applied to a sect of philosophers founded
by Pyrrho. In modern times the word has been applied to Deists,
or those who doubt of the truth and authenticity of the sacred
Scriptures.
SCHISM. Greek, a _fissure_, or _rent_. In an ecclesiastical sense
it means a breaking off from communion with the Church, on account
of some disagreement in matters of faith or discipline. Those who
do so are called _Schismatics_. To separate wilfully from the Church
of God is a sin; (1 Cor. i. 10; iii. 3; xi. 18;) and we are directed
to avoid those who cause divisions. (Rom. xvi. 17.) In the Litany
we pray, "From heresy and _schism_, good Lord deliver us."
History brings before our notice many considerable _schisms_, in
which whole bodies of men separated from the communion of the
Catholic Church. Such were, in the fourth century, the schisms of
the Donatists, and of the numerous heretics which sprung up in the
Church, as the Arians, Photinians, Apollinarians, &c., the schism
in the Church of Antioch; in the fifth century, the schism in the
Church of Rome, between Laurentius and Symmachus; the schism of the
rival popes at Rome and Avignon, in the fourteenth century.
In England the chief schisms have been by the Romanists, the
Independents, and the Wesleyans.
SCHOOLMEN. The title given to a class of learned theologians who
flourished in the middle ages. They derive their name from the
schools attached to the cathedrals or universities in which they
lectured. The chief Schoolmen were, Albertus Magnus, a Dominican
friar, died 1280, Bonaventure, surnamed the _Seraphic_ Doctor,
born 1221, and died a cardinal. Thomas Aquinas, surnamed the
_Angelical_ Doctor, born 1224, was a pupil of Albertus Magnus. John
Duns Scotus, surnamed the _Subtle_ Doctor, was a Scotchman by birth,
but educated in Paris. William Ocham, surnamed the _Singular_
Doctor, was born in Surrey, in England. He, too, like Scotus, was
educated at the University of Paris, about the year 1300. Raymond
Lully, born in Majorca, 1236. Durandus, surnamed the _Most resolving_
Doctor, Bishop of Meaux, 1318.
SCREEN. Any separation of one part of a church from another. The
screens separating side chapels from the chancel, nave, or transept,
are usually called _parcloses_. (See _Rood Screen_, &c.)
SCRIPTURE, HOLY, _see_ Bible.
SEALED BOOKS. By an Act of Charles II. it was ordered that the
Dean and Chapter of every Cathedral and Collegiate Church should
obtain under the _great seal of England_ a true and perfect printed
copy of the Prayer Book, as revised in his reign (1662), to be kept
by them in safety for ever, and to be produced in any Court of
Record when required. These copies are called "Sealed Books."
SEATS, _see_ Pew.
SEDILIA. Seats near an altar almost always on the south side, for
the ministers officiating at the Holy Eucharist.
SEE. Latin, _sedes_, a seat. The scat of episcopal dignity and
jurisdiction, where the Bishop has his throne, or _cathedra_.
SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY. The Sunday which is, in round numbers,
_seventy days_ before Easter.
SEPTUAGINT. The Greek Version of the Old Testament which was in
general use in the time of our Lord. The word _Septuagint_ means
_seventy_, and this name was given this Version from the tradition
that it was the work of _seventy_ translators. According to the
common account, Ptolemy Philadelphus procured seventy-two learned
Jews (six from each tribe) to translate their sacred books into
the Greek language. The translators, it is said, were placed in
houses on the island of Pharos, at the mouth of the Nile, where
they completed their work in seventy-two days. The whole Greek
Version of the Hebrew Scriptures was completed before B.C. 130. The
Gospels quote from this version.
SEPTUM. The enclosure of the holy table, made by the altar rails.
SEPULCHRE or TOMB. A niche figuring our Lord's tomb, generally at
the north side of the altar, and used in the scenic representations
of our Saviour's burial and resurrection. Before the Reformation
these sacred plays were common on Good Friday and at Easter. Perhaps
the most beautiful Sepulchre now in England is in Lincoln Cathedral.
SEQUESTRATION. "The process by which the creditor of a clergyman of
the Church of England in possession of a living, sues out execution
on his judgment, and obtains payment of the debt." "The Bishop puts
in force the law, and appoints sequestrators to take possession of
the benefice and draw the emoluments, and pay them over to the
creditor, first making due provision for the proper celebration of
Divine Worship."
SERAPHIM, _see_ ANGELS.
SERMONS. Orations or discourses, delivered by the clergy of the
Christian Church in their religious assemblies. In the ancient
Church it was one of the chief offices of a Bishop to preach, and
it was only in the lesser churches of the city and country that
the office of preaching devolved upon presbyters. Deacons were
never allowed to preach, and they are only permitted to do so now
by special licence of the Bishop (see _Ordination Service_.) St.
Augustine has laid down excellent rules for the practice of
Christian eloquence. The subject is to be weighty, the style
answering to the subject. It was no part of the ancient oratory to
raise the affections of the congregation, either by gesticulations,
or the use of external shows. Scarcely any of their sermons would
last an hour, and many not half the time. Many of St. Augustine's
might be preached in eight minutes. They always concluded their
sermons, as we do now, with a doxology to the Holy Trinity. The
preacher usually sat, and the people stood.
The sermon in the Church of England is enjoined after the Nicene
Creed, according to ancient custom; but nowhere else. (See
_Preaching_.)
SERVICE. In technical language those stated parts of the Liturgy
which are set to music; but the term is also used of the whole of
Public Worship.
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY. That Sunday which is, in round numbers, _sixty_
days before Easter.
SEXTON. From _Sacristan_. The name is now generally given to the
person who digs the graves, &c.
SHAKERS. A party of enthusiasts who left England for America in
1774. They affected to consider themselves as forming the only
true Church, and their preachers as possessed of the Apostolic
gift. They disowned Baptism and the Eucharist.
Their leader was Anna Lees, whom they believed to be the woman
mentioned in the Apocalypse (Rev. xii. 1, 2).
SHROVE TUESDAY. The day before Ash Wednesday, so called in the
Church of England from the old Saxon word _shrive_, _shrif_,
_shrove_, which means to _confess_; it being our duty to confess
our sins to God on that day in order to receive the Holy Communion,
and thereby qualify ourselves for a more holy observance of Lent.
Before the Reformation Auricular Confession was compulsorily made
to a priest, and Absolution was sought.
SICK, COMMUNION OF, _see_ Communion of Sick.
SICK, VISITATION OF. A duty entailed upon the Christian minister
by Canon 76, and by the rubric before the Office for the Visitation
of the Sick. This Office, with the exception of the Exhortations,
is chiefly taken from the Sarum Use (which see). The Service has
little changed since 1549, except by the addition in 1662 of the
final Commendation, and of the four beautiful collects appended to
the service. The Salutation is in obedience to our Lord's command
(Luke x. 5). The Versicles are the same as those in the Marriage
Service, except the prayer for deliverance from the enemy, which
is taken from Ps. lxxxix. 22, 23. After two Collects come two very
beautiful and practical exhortations, which are followed by an
examination in the faith of the sick person. Next comes the
provision for Confession and Absolution, which is similar to that
in the first exhortation at Holy Communion, as to private confession
and special Absolution. Till 1662 the initiative was left wholly
to the sick person, "Then shall the sick man," &c., but now the
minister is to "move him" to confession. The Absolution is only
to be given if the sick person "humbly and heartily desire it." The
latter part of the Absolution is taken from the ancient Office, and
is declaratory, the first clause being precatory. The phrase, "_I
absolve thee_," has been much discussed; this form has been used
ever since the 12th century. A rubric in 1549 provided this
Absolution for use in all cases of private confession, and thus
it is probably the Absolution referred to in the Exhortation at
Holy Communion. (See _Absolution_.) The next Collect is the
original Absolution, or reconciliation of a dying penitent, in
the Sacramentary of Gelasius, a 5th century compilation. After
the Psalm comes a beautiful specimen of the ancient antiphon. The
Benediction was composed in 1549, and the Commendation was added
in 1662. (Num. vi. 24-26.) The four beautiful final prayers were
added in 1662.
SIDESMEN or SYNODSMEN, _see_ Churchwardens.
SIMON (St.) AND JUDE'S (St.) DAY. October 28th. These two Apostles
are found together in all the Apostolic catalogues immediately
after "James the son of Alphaeus," and in the list of the "brethren
of our Lord" we have "James, Judas, and Simon;" thus it has been
usual to identify the two lists. However, the weight of evidence
seems against this identification.
St. Simon is surnamed the _Canaanite_ (it ought to be _Cananite_)
and _Zelotes_, which two names are really the same; the one being
Hebrew and the other Greek. The "Zealots" were an enthusiastic
sect in Judaea about the time of our Lord.
St. Jude had two surnames, viz., Thaddeus and Lebbeus.
Of neither Apostle have we any special notice in Scripture, or
trustworthy tradition.
SIMONY. The conferring of Holy Orders, or the presentation of any
one to an ecclesiastical benefice for money, gift, or reward. Canon
40 calls it "the detestable sin of simony," and every person on
being instituted to a benefice has to swear that he is not guilty
of it. It is so called from the sin of _Simon_ Magus (Acts viii.
19), though Paley states that the resemblance is an _imaginary_ one.
SIN. The subject _Sin_ may be considered under various heads;
1. _Original Sin_; 2. _Actual Sin_; 3. _Deadly Sin_; 4. _Sin against
the Holy Ghost_.
(1.) _Original Sin_. This is "the fault and corruption of our
nature, which infects all men." (See Article ix.) We inherit it
from Adam, our first parent. It is the dread consequence of the
Fall. Scripture proofs: Gen. viii. 21; Job xiv. 4; Ps. li. 5; Rom.
viii. 18; Ep. iv. 22; Ep. ii. 3; Gal. iii. 22; 1 Cor. xv. 22; Rom.
v. 12, 15, 17, 18, 19. The Church of England teaches that although
all _taint_ of original sin is not done away in baptism, yet it
holds that its _condemnation_ is remitted.
(2.) _Actual Sin_. Sin which we ourselves commit.
(3.) _Deadly Sin_. (See Article xvi.) The Church of Rome divides
sin into two classes: _mortal_ sin, that sin which is in its nature
gross, and is committed knowingly, wilfully, deliberately; and
_venial sin_, sins of ignorance, and negligence, and the like. We
also make a distinction between sins of greater or less enormity;
we admit that there is a difference of degree, but the Romanists
make a difference in their nature and kind, a distinction we cannot
admit. According to the Romans, no amount of venial sins would
ever make a mortal sin. We consider every sin to be in its nature
mortal or deadly, and deserving of God's wrath and condemnation
(James ii. 10, 11), and only hope to be saved through the
intercession of our "Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins."
(4.) _Sin against the Holy Ghost_. (See Article xvi.) What is the
nature of this terrible sin which "shall not be forgiven, neither
in this world nor in the world to come?" (Matt. xii. 31, 32.)
The Church clearly teaches in Article xvi. that wilful sin after
baptism is not, as some have taught, _the_ unforgivable sin, but
it seems rather to be "obstinate, resolute, and wilful impenitence,
after all the means of grace and with all the strivings of the
Spirit, under the Christian dispensation as distinguished from
the Jewish, and amid all the blessings and privileges of the Church
of Christ." (Harold Browne on the Thirty-nine Articles.) This, in
effect, is the teaching of St. Augustine, that the sin against the
Holy Ghost is a final and obdurate continuance in wickedness,
despite the calls of God to repentance, joined with a desperation
of the mercy of God. In Matt. xii. 31, 32, it would seem that the
unpardonable sin was committed by those who ascribed our Lord's
miracles to the power of Beelzebub.
SOCIETIES, CHURCH. It will be possible to mention a few only of
the _chief_ societies, &c., connected with the Church, in a work
like the present. They will be described under the headings (1)
Charitable, (2) Educational, (3) Missionary, (4) Building, (5)
General.
1. _Charitable_. Each diocese has charities of its own in addition
to those which are not of limited area,--
_The Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy_. Founded 1655. Registrar,
W. P. Bowman, Esq. Office, 2, Bloomsbury Place, London. Objects,
assistance to necessitous clergymen, their widows and maiden
daughters; education of children of poor clergymen, and the starting
of them in life.
_The Friend of the Clergy Corporation_, 1849. Secretary, Rev. H.
Jona, 4, St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square, London. Objects much
the same as above.
_The Poor Clergy Relief Corporation_, 1856. Secretary, Dr. Robert
Turtle Pigott, 36, Southampton Street, Strand. Objects, immediate
relief, both in money and clothing, to poor clergymen, their widows
and orphans, in sickness and other temporary distress.
_The Cholmondeley Charities_. Treasurer, John Hanby, Esq., 1, Middle
Scotland Yard, Whitehall, S.W. Class I., Augmentation of certain
stipends. Class II., Much the same as above Societies. Class III.,
Exhibitions to sons of clergymen to the Universities. Class IV.,
Allowance for starting the children of clergymen in life.
2. _Educational Societies_. Each diocese has societies of its own
in addition to the following:--
_Church of England Sunday School Institute_. Founded 1843. Sec., J.
Palmer, Esq., Serjeant's Inn, Fleet Street, E.C. Objects, to provide
educational appliances (Books, Lessons, &c.) both for teachers and
scholars, and to assist teachers in the work of teaching by means
of lectures, &c.
_Incorporated National Society_. Secretary, Rev. J. Duncan, National
Society Office, Sanctuary, Westminster. Object, to help forward the
education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church
by making grants to Church Schools and the like, and by training
teachers.
_Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge_ (see Part V. of this
article).
3. _Missionary Societies_, (_a_) Home, (_b_) Foreign.
(_a_) _The Missions to Seamen Society_. Office, 11, Buckingham
Street, Strand, W.C. Object, to make provision for the spiritual
needs of British Merchant Sailors when afloat.
_The Navvy Mission Society_. Office, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street,
Westminster, S.W. Object, to promote the spiritual welfare of
navvies working on railways, docks, &c.
_Church Pastoral Aid Society_, 1836. Office, Falcon Court, 32, Fleet
Street, London, E.C. Object, to give grants to "Evangelical"
Clergyman towards the incomes of additional curates and lay helpers
in populous parishes. The Committee interferes in the appointments.
_Additional Curates' Society_, 1837. Office, 7, Whitehall, London,
S.W. Object, to assist in the payment of additional Curates,
irrespective of party views. This Society does not interfere in
the appointments, but very properly leaves them to the Bishop and
the Incumbent.
(_b_) _Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts_.
Incorporated 1701. 19, Delahay Street, Westminster, S.W. Object,
the spiritual care of our Colonists and the evangelizing of the
heathen in British Dominions abroad on thorough Church of England
principles.
_Church Missionary Society_, 1799. Salisbury Square, London, E.C.
Object, the preaching of the Gospel of Christ among the heathen, in
strict accordance with the doctrines and discipline of the Church
of England.
_Colonial Bishoprics Fund_, 19, Delahay Street, Westminster, S.W.
Object, to help endow Colonial Sees.
There is also a Mission to the Jews, 16, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
London.
4. _Building Societies_. There are many Diocesan, as well as General
Church Building Societies.
_Queen Anne's Bounty_. (See _Bounty, Queen Anne's_.) Dean's Yard,
Westminster, S.W. Object, the building of Parsonage Houses, &c.
_Incorporated Church Building Society_. 7, Whitehall, London.
Object, the Enlargement, Building and Repairing of Churches and
Chapels in England and Wales.
5. _General Societies_. These all have local branches.
_Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge_. Address, The Secretaries,
S.P.C.K., Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C. Objects, to provide
good and cheap Bibles and Prayer Books in various languages; to
circulate general literature of a high character in thorough keeping
with the principles of the Church of England, and suitable to all
classes; to help forward Church Education, Home Mission Work, The
Building of Churches and Chapels abroad, and the Training of a
Native Ministry abroad.
_The Religious Tract Society_, 6, Paternoster Row, London. Object,
the production and circulation of religious books, treatises, tracts
and pure literature, in various languages, throughout the British
Dominions, and in Foreign Countries, of a Protestant and Evangelical
description.
_The British and Foreign Bible Society_, 146, Queen Victoria St.,
London, E.C. Object, the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in
various languages without note or comment, both at home and abroad.
_Church Penitentiary Association_, 14, York Buildings, Adelphi,
London. Object, the establishment and maintenance of Penitentiaries
and Houses of Refuge throughout the country for the lessening of
vice, and furthering efforts for the recovery of the fallen.
_Church of England Temperance Society_. Object, the Promotion of the
Habits of Temperance; the Reformation of the Intemperate; and the
removal of the Causes which lead to Intemperance.
_The Church Defence Association_. St. Stephen's Palace Chambers, 9,
Bridge Street, Westminster. Object, to resist all attempts to
destroy or weaken the union between Church and State, or to injure
the temporal interests of the Church.
_English Church Union_, 35, Wellington Street, Strand, London, W.C.
Object, to unite Clergy and Laity in loyal Defence of the Doctrine
and Discipline of the Church of England and the Rights and Liberties
of her faithful children.
_The Church Association_, 14, Buckingham Street, Strand. Object, to
uphold the doctrines of the Evangelical Party in the Church of
England. This Society is notorious as the prosecutor of Mr.
Mackonochie and other clergy of the same school. The Free and
Open Church Association, 33, Southampton Street, Strand. Objects,
(1) The throwing open of our Churches for the free and equal use
of all classes; (2) The adoption of the Weekly Offertory instead
of Pew Rents; (3) The opening of Churches throughout the day for
private prayer.
_Tithe Redemption Trust_. (See _Tithes_.)
SOCINIANISM. The doctrine of Faustus Socinus, an Italian, born
1539. He taught that the eternal Father was the one only God, and
that Jesus was God no otherwise than by His superiority over all
creatures. That Jesus Christ was not a mediator between God and man,
but only a pattern to men. That the punishment of Hell will last
only for a time, after which both body and soul will be destroyed.
That it is not lawful for princes to make war. Many of the Anabaptists
are Socinian in doctrine. (See _Unitarianism_.)
SON OF GOD, _see_ Trinity, the Holy.
SPIKE. The high pyramidical capping or roof of a tower. This is
sometimes confounded with the word _Steeple_, which latter really
means the tower, with all its appendages.
SPONSORS. In the administration of Baptism, Sponsors have from time
immemorial held an important place. They are called _Sponsors_,
because they _respond_ or answer for the baptized. They are also
called _Sureties_, in virtue of the _security_ given by them to the
Church, that the baptized shall be "virtuously brought up to lead
a Godly and a Christian life." They are also called _Godparents_
because of the spiritual affinity created in Baptism when they
undertake a responsibility almost _parental_ in the future training
of the baptized. In the Church of Rome Godparents may not intermarry.
Anciently only one Sponsor was required. Their action at the font
may be likened to that of those who brought the man sick of the
palsy to our Lord. (Mark ii.)
Although it is not necessary to have Sponsors for the validity of
Baptism, still the rule of the Church of England requires that
"There shall be for every male child to be baptized two Godfathers
and one Godmother; and for every female, one Godfather and two
Godmothers." (Rubric.) And Canon 29, "No person shall be urged to
be present, nor be admitted to answer as Godfather for his own
child; nor any Godfather or Godmother shall be suffered to make
any other answer or speech, than by the Book of Common Prayer is
prescribed in that behalf. Neither shall any person be admitted
Godfather or Godmother to any child at Christening or Confirmation,
before the said person so undertaking hath received the Holy
Communion." Parents are now allowed to act as sponsors for their
children.
STALLS. Seats in the choir, or chancel.
STEEPLE, _see_ Spire.
STEPHEN'S (St.) DAY. Dec. 26th. A festival in honour of the
proto- (first) martyr, St. Stephen. He was one of the seven
deacons, and all we know of him is told us in Acts vii. and viii.
STOLE, _see_ Vestments.
SUCCENTOR. The precentor's deputy in Cathedral Churches. At York
he is a dignitary, and is called _Succentor Canonicorum_ to
distinguish him from the other subchanter, who is a vicar-choral.
SUCCESSION, APOSTOLICAL. _see_ Apostolical Succession and Orders,
Holy.
SUFFRAGANS. Properly all provincial Bishops who are under a Primate
or Metropolitan; but the word now is applied especially to assistant
Bishops, such as the Bishop of Bedford, the Bishop of Nottingham, &c.
SUNDAY. The first day of the week, so called by the Saxons, because
it was dedicated to the worship of the Sun.
Among Christians it is kept "holy" instead of the Jewish Sabbath,
because on that day our Lord rose from the dead, and for that reason
it is called by St. John "the Lord's Day." (Rev. i. 10.) _When_ the
Sunday began to be kept instead of the Sabbath we are not quite
sure, but we find that the Apostles kept the first day of the week
as a festival. Our Lord Himself sanctioned it by His repeated
appearance among His disciples on that day. The Holy Spirit, too,
poured down His miraculous gifts on that day. The early Christians
observed the Sunday.
By many it is believed that it is one of the things in which our
Lord instructed His Apostles before His Ascension, while "speaking
of things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (Acts 1,3.) The phrase
"kingdom of God" is always used of the Church. In keeping the Sunday
"holy," Christians comply with the _spirit_ of the fourth Commandment,
which orders a seventh part of our time to be consecrated to God.
SUPER-ALTAR, or RE-TABLE. A shelf or step behind the altar, on which
the vases, candlesticks, and cross are placed. Properly the
_Super-Altar_ is a small portable slab of stone which is placed on
wooden altars.
SUPEREROGATION. The 14th Article gives the teaching of the Church
of England. Romanists teach that there are certain good deeds which
have been performed by saints over and above those necessary for
their own salvation. From this fund of good works, technically known
as the _Treasury of Merits_, the Pope claims to have the power to
draw and apply the good deeds of others to the benefit of those who
are deficient in them themselves.
SUPREMACY. The Church of England regards the Sovereign as being over
all persons, and all causes, ecclesiastical as well as civil,
supreme in this realm. (See Article xxxvii.) This does not teach
in any way that the Clergy derive their authority and mission from
the State, as some misunderstand. (See _Apostolical Succession_.)
SURPLICE, _see_ Vestments.
SURROGATE. One appointed in place of another. Thus to avoid the
necessity of journeying to the Bishop, he grants to other clergymen
living in the principal towns, the power of giving licenses for
marriage instead of publishing banns, of granting probates of wills,
&c. These clergymen acting in place of the Bishop are called
_Surrogates_.
SWEDENBORGIANS. The followers of Emanuel, Baron Swedenborg, who was
born in Stockholm in 1688, and died in London, 1772. He believed
himself to be the subject of inspiration, and taught that the
Scriptures have two senses, natural and spiritual. The natural
sense is that held by the Christian Church, but the spiritual is
that which is concealed within the natural sense of the same
words. He taught that the second advent had been realized in
the establishment of his New Church, the "New Jerusalem" of the
Apocalypse.
They do not receive the usual doctrine of the Trinity, and reject
the doctrine of justification by faith alone. They administer the
Sacraments. They still profess to believe themselves visited by
super-natural beings, by the Apostles and other saints. It is not
generally known that the heaven of the Swedenborgian bears a close
resemblance to the Mahometan's idea of heaven,--a place of sensual
delights; and one of their books which is as hard to obtain as the
others are easy, named "Conjugal Love," is not particularly moral
in its teaching!
The _Swedenborgians_ number 64 Societies, with 4,987 registered
members.
SYNOD. A meeting duly summoned and constituted of ecclesiastical
persons for the discussion of religious matters. Synods are of
less authority than general or OEcumenical Councils.
TE DEUM LAUDAMUS. A canticle of Morning Prayer, which has been sung
for 1,500 years throughout the Western Church. Its origin is not
known. The tradition which ascribes it to St. Ambrose, or to St.
Ambrose and St. Augustine, conjointly, rests on very slight
foundation. An able article in the _Church Quarterly Review_
(April, 1884), comes to the conclusion that the Te Deum very
probably originated from the monastery of St. Honoratus, at Lerins,
about the middle of the 5th century. It is the great triumphant
hymn of praise of the Western Church as the Gloria in Excelsis is
of the Eastern. Verses 1 to 13, are _praise_; vv. 14-19 are a
_Creed_ in our Lord Jesus Christ; vv. 20-29 are _prayer_ to our
Lord broken by another burst of praise. There is a musical setting
of the _Te Deum_, called the Ambrosian, dating from the 5th century.
TESTAMENT, OLD AND NEW, _see_ Bible.
TESTIMONIAL LETTERS, _see_ Orders, Qualifications for,
THANKSGIVING, THE GENERAL. Composed by Bishop Reynolds, and inserted
in 1662. The custom obtaining in some churches of the congregation
repeating this Thanksgiving after the minister, was certainly not
originally intended, and perhaps has been based on a mistaken
idea of the meaning of the word "general," as applied to this
Thanksgiving: we understand it to mean that the _terms_ and
_subjects_ of the prayer are _general_.
THEISM. The recognition of a principle apart from nature,
independent of nature, yet moulding, regulating, and sustaining
nature. The idea of _Personality_ is essential to Theism.
_A-theism_, literally, is the denial of _Theism_.
THEOLOGY. The science which treats of the Deity. It is too often
forgotten that theology is a science as much as medicine or
mathematics, or we should not find the laity so confident of
their knowledge, and so ready to give the law on questions of
systematic Divinity.
THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES. Colleges specially established for the
training of candidates for Holy Orders, in theology. They seem
to answer to the assemblies of "sons of the prophets," spoken of
in 2 Kings ii. 3, 5, 7, &c. These colleges have not the power of
conferring degrees.
THOMAS'S (St.) DAY. Dec. 21st. The name Thomas (Hebrew), and
Didymus (Greek), means a "twin brother." Some think St. Matthew
to have been his brother. The only incidents of his life with
which we are acquainted, are told us by St. John, (xi. 16; xiv. 5;
xx. 28.) Tradition says that he laboured in Persia, and finally
suffered martyrdom in India.
THRONE. The Bishop's seat in his Cathedral. Anciently it stood
behind the altar in churches which terminated in an apse.
TIPPET, _see_ Hood.
TITHES. A certain portion, or allotment, for the maintenance of
the priesthood, being the tenth part of the produce of land, cattle,
or other branches of wealth. It is an income, or revenue, common
both to the Jewish and Christian priesthood. (Gen. xiv. 20; Lev.
xxvii. 30-33; &c.) The origin of _tithes_, in the Christian Church,
was something of this kind: When a benefactor was not able or not
willing to part with an estate out and out, he settled on the Church
which he was endowing a certain portion of the income arising out
of the estate. The ratio which this portion bore to the whole amount
varied enormously, and so one man gave a tithe of corn only, another
a tithe of wood, another a tithe of meadow land, another a tithe
of stock, another tithes of all these together. There is a very
common mistake made that tithes are a kind of tax, levied on the
whole country by Act of Parliament. They are nothing of the kind,
being simply a certain portion of the income arising out of lands
settled by the former owners of those lands for the maintenance of
the parson of the parish. They date back to the 4th century.
Although the Church is disestablished in Ireland, tithes are still
paid, not to the clergy, but to the Government. Disestablishment,
therefore, is small gain to the farmer.
_Tithe Redemption Trust_. In the year 1846 a very excellent Society
was formed, called "The Tithe Redemption Trust," the object of
which is the very opposite of that at which the Liberation Society
aims. It has been quietly at work for some years, endeavouring, with
some success, to get back, either by redemption or by voluntary
donation, the tithes which have been alienated by appropriation or
impropriation. What portion of Church property has been long enjoyed
by private families, or by Corporations, has, of course, become
inalienable; but it would be a reasonable and a righteous thing
(and all the more blessed for being voluntary) that every person
who receives tithes, or possesses glebe land in a parish, for which
no spiritual service is rendered, should give in some way or other
to the Church a very liberal percentage of what was never meant to
be raised for the purpose of private emolument, but for the fitting
discharge of ecclesiastical duties. (Webb's "England's Inheritance
in her Church.")
TITLE, _see_ Orders, Qualifications for.
TRACTARIANISM. The Anglican movement which began with the publication
of the celebrated "_Tracts for the Times_" in 1833. The principal
results of this movement are (1) the complete reintegration of the
original theory of the Church of England; of that "ancient religion
which, in 1830, had well-nigh faded out of the land;" (2) the
improvement which has taken place in the lives of the clergy, in
the performance of the Services, and in the condition of our
churches; and the marked revival in the Corporate life of the Church
herself.
The great names of this movement are Pusey, Newman, Marriott,
Oakley, Manning, Robert Wilberforce, Keble, and Palmer. For some
few the movement led to disastrous issues; and they fell at last
into Roman errors, and joined that erring Church.
TRANSUBSTANTIATION. The name given to the philosophical theory
whereby the Church of Rome has endeavoured to explain and define
the doctrine of the Real Presence. In it they allege that the bread
and wine in the Eucharist is miraculously converted or changed into
the very body and blood of our Lord, by the consecration of the
priest. This false doctrine is condemned in Article xxviii.
TRENT, COUNCIL OF. An important Council of the Roman Church which
met in 1545, and was dissolved in 1563. The city of Trent is in
the Tyrol. It was at this Council that the Creed of the Roman
Church was last defined, and all who differed from it were
anathematised. Neither the Greek Church nor the English Church
was represented there, so it has no claim to the title of
oecumenical, or general, as asserted by Romanists.
TRINITY, THE HOLY. The Athanasian Creed and Article i. give the
teaching of our Church on the Holy Trinity. There we learn that
in the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons; that is, though
there be but one living and true God, yet there be three Persons,
who are that one living and true God. Though the true God be but
one in substance, yet He is three in subsistence, so as still to
be but one substance. And these three Persons, every one of which
is God, and yet all three but one God, are really related to one
another; as they are termed in Scripture, one is the Father, the
other the Son, the other the Holy Ghost.
The Father is the first Person in the Deity; not begotten, nor
proceeding, but begetting; the Son, the second, not begetting nor
proceeding, but begotten; the Holy Ghost, the third, not begotten,
nor begetting, but proceeding. The first is called the Father,
because He begot the second; the second is called the Son, because
He is begotten of the Father; the third is called the Holy Ghost,
because breathed both from the Father and the Son.
This is a great mystery to us, which, however, we are not called
upon to _understand_, but only to _believe_ on the plain statement
of Scripture.
The Father is God, John vi, 27; Gal. i. 1; 1 Thess. i. 1, &c.
The Son is God, John i. 1; xx. 28; Rom. ix. 5, &c.
The Holy Ghost is God. This, however, has to be proved by
implication and analogy, as with Luke i. 35 compare Matt. i. 18;
Acts v. 3, 4, with John iii. 6 compare 1 John v. 4; with 1 Cor.
iii. 16 compare vi. 19, &c.
The unity of the Godhead is declared in many such passages as
Deut. vi. 4; Gal. iii. 20; John x. 30, &c.
The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, "took man's nature in the
womb of the blessed Virgin, of her substance; so that the two whole
and perfect natures, that is to say the Godhead and Manhood, were
joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one
Christ very God and very Man." (Art. ii. and Luke i.)
TRINITY SUNDAY. This is a festival of Western origin, and of
comparatively recent date; the earliest formal notice of the
festival is in England, under Becket, in 1162; though the collect
dates from the 5th century.
TRIUMPHANT, The CHURCH. Those who have departed this life in God's
faith and fear; the Church in Heaven. The Church on earth is called
the Church Militant.
TUNICLE, _see_ Vestments.
TYPE. An impression, image, or representation of some model which is
termed the _anti-type_; thus the brazen serpent and the paschal lamb
were types, of which our Lord was the _anti-type_.
UNITARIANS. Heretics who deny the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the separate personality of the Holy Ghost. The name includes
all Deists, whether the Arians of old, or the Socinians (which see)
of later years.
The Arians were heretics named after Arius, whose doctrine was
condemned at the Council of Nice, A.D. 325. He taught that there was
a time when the Son of God was not, and that He was created by the
Father. He called Him by the name of God, but denied that He was
_homoousios_, "_of one Substance_" with the Father. The Arians seem
to have held that the Holy Ghost also was a created Being. The
Athanasian Creed, vv. 4-19 opposes the Arian heresy.
The Unitarians have in England 325 ministers, 355 chapels, and about
13 mission stations.
UNIVERSITY. (Lat., _universitas_, corporation.) A corporation of
teachers and students instituted for the promotion of the higher
education, and empowered to grant degrees in the various faculties
of Divinity, Arts, Law. Medicine, &c.
England has five Universities, two ancient--Oxford and Cambridge;
and three modern, viz., Durham, London, and the Victoria University,
Manchester.
USE, _see_ Sarum, Use of.
UTILITARIANISM. The name of the peculiar theory of Ethics, or of the
ground of moral obligation, that adopts, as the criterion of right,
the happiness of mankind; or, as Jeremy Bentham defined it, "the
greatest happiness of the greatest number." It is opposed to the
view that founds moral distinctions on the mere arbitrary will of
God. The most eminent modern advocates of Utilitarianism are Hume,
Bentham, Paley, James Mill, John Stuart Mill, Sir James Mackintosh,
John Austin, Samuel Bailey, Herbert Spencer, and Bain.
VENIAL SIN, _see_ Sin.
VENI CREATOR. An old Latin hymn ascribed by common tradition to St.
Ambrose, but with no sufficient authority. It has been used with
special reference to the gifts of Ordination since the 11th century.
The first version in the Ordination Service was inserted in 1662,
previous to that the second and longer form had been used.
VENITE, EXULTEMUS DOMINO. Ps. xcv. has been sung as the "Invitatory
Psalm," opening the Service of Praise, from time immemorial. It is
found in the Sarum Use. In the Eastern Church a condensed form of
it is used.
VERGER. From the Latin _Virga_, a _Rod_. One who carries the
mace before the Dean or Canons in a Cathedral, or conducts the
congregation to their seats in church.
VERSICLES. The short ejaculatory prayers of our Service, generally
taken from Holy Scripture.
VERSION, The AUTHORISED. The version of the Bible now in use in
England. It was published in 1611, and authorised by King James I.
It retains in many places the original translation of Tyndale, very
little altered. A company of Divines and Scholars of the present
day have been engaged in revising this version of the Old Testament.
The result of their labours will probably be given to the public in
1885. (See _Bible_.)
VERSION, THE REVISED. The version of the New Testament put forth in
1881. It is a revision of that of 1611, made by a company of
Scholars and Divines, and aims at being a more exact reproduction
of the original. Although at present it has not been authorised for
public use, yet it will be found by all to be a very useful
commentary on the Authorised Version.
VESPERS, or EVENSONG. The Evening Service of the Church. For
arrangement, &c., see _Morning Prayer_, but the various parts of
the Service are given each under its own heading.
VESTMENTS. Generally, the garments worn by the clergy in the public
services of the Church, but more particularly the special robes worn
by some clergymen during the celebration of the Holy Communion.
_Alb_. A linen vestment longer than the surplice, and with tight
sleeves. It is confined at the waist by a girdle, and, when employed
in the Eucharist, it is often, though not necessarily, ornamented
with patches of embroidery called _apparels_.
_Amice_. A kind of broad linen collar, fastened with strings.
_Biretta_. A square cap of black silk worn at processions and other
out-door functions. It is simply the ordinary cap (beret) of civil
life, and, like the cassock, is not strictly an ecclesiastical
vesture at all. It is worn also in church during certain parts of
the service by extreme Ritualists.
_Cassock_. A long coat buttoning over the breast and reaching to the
feet, confined at the waist by a wide sash, called the cincture. It
is worn immediately over the ordinary clothes of the minister, and
is usually of black, though violet and scarlet are sometimes used.
_Chasuble_. An oval garment without sleeves, open at the sides, and
having an aperture at the neck through which the priest passes his
head. It is embroidered with a Y-Cross behind, and is considered the
principal vestment of the priest. It varies in colour with the
season.
_Cope_. A large semicircular cloak of silk or other material,
fastening in front by a clasp or morse. At the back is a piece of
embroidery in the shape of a shield, called the hood. It varies in
colour with the season.
_Cotta_. A vestment of linen, shorter than the surplice, and not
quite so full. It has short sleeves, and is frequently edged with
lace.
_Dalmatic and Tunicle_. These differ very slightly in form, but the
former is generally the more richly embroidered. It is the special
dress of the Deacon at Holy Communion, and varies in colour with the
season.
_Girdle_. A white cord, used to confine the Alb at the waist.
_Hood_. (See article, _Hood_.)
_Maniple_. A smaller Stole worn over the left arm.
_Stole_. A narrow strip of silk passed round the neck and hanging in
front to about the knees. It varies in colour with the season.
_Surplice_. A linen vestment of various degrees of fulness, and
with long wide sleeves. It is the garment usually worn by the clergy
of the Church of England, although many of the above are ordered in
the first Prayer Book of Edward VI.
The Eucharistic Vestments are the Amice, Alb, Girdle, Stole,
Maniple, Tunicle, Dalmatic and Chasuble.
Besides these we have the Episcopal Vestments, called the _chimere_
and the _rochet_.
_Chimere_. The upper robe worn by a Bishop, to which the lawn
sleeves are generally attached. Until Queen Elizabeth's time it
was of scarlet, but in her reign it was changed into black satin.
_Rochet_. A linen garment worn by Bishops under the chimere. The
lawn sleeves now sewn on the chimere properly are part of the
rochet, and formerly were much less full than now worn. (See
_Ornaments_.)
VESTRY. A room attached to a church for the keeping of the vestments
and sacred vessels. Meetings of parishioners, for the despatch of
the official business of the parish are held in this room, whence
they are called _Vestries_, or _Vestry Meetings_. It is not however
essential to the validity of the meeting that it should be held in
the Vestry of the church, indeed, by making application under an Act
passed in 1850, meetings in the Vestry can be made illegal. Notice
of the meeting must be affixed on or near the door of the Church
three days previously. The Incumbent is _ex-officio_ chairman of the
meeting, and all persons rated to the relief of the poor are
entitled to attend and vote.
VIA MEDIA. The middle road. This position is occupied in the
Christian world by the Anglican Church. On the one side there is
the Church of Rome; on the other, the ultra-Protestant Sects. The
phrase is also used of any middle way between two extremes.
VIATICUM. A provision made for a journey. In the ancient Church both
baptism and the Eucharist were called _Viatica_, because they are
equally necessary for the safe passage of a man through this world
to eternal life. More particularly, however, the term is used of the
Eucharist given to persons in immediate danger of death. The 13th
Canon of the Council of Nice ordains that none "be deprived of his
perfect and most necessary _viaticum_ when he departs out of this
life."
VICAR, _see_ Rector.
VICARS CHORAL. The assistants or deputies of the canons or
prebendaries of cathedrals and collegiate churches, in the
discharges of their duties. They are not necessarily all in Holy
Orders; those who are so are now generally called "Minor Canons,"
(which see) and the others are "Lay-clerks."
VICAR GENERAL. An officer whose duties are much the same as those of
the Chancellor of a Diocese (which see.)
VIGIL. The night or evening before certain holy-days of the Church.
The word means a _watching_, and is derived from the custom of the
primitive Christians, who used to spend the whole night previous to
any great festival in watching and fasting. The Collect for those
holy-days which have vigils is read at the Evening Service of the
day before. Festivals occurring in seasons of joy as a rule have
no vigil preceding them.
VIRGIN MARY, _see_ Mary.
VISITATION. Once in three years a Bishop goes through his diocese,
calling together the Clergy at different centres, and delivering to
them a _charge_, (which see.) An Archdeacon does the same for his
Archdeaconry once a year. It is at this latter visitation that
Church-wardens are admitted to their office.
VISITATION OF THE SICK, _see_ Sick.
VOLUNTARY. A piece of Music played on the organ at the beginning and
close of Divine Service. Formerly a Voluntary was played after the
Psalms, sometimes after the Second Lesson. The name implies that its
performance is optional. Lord Bacon approved of Voluntaries as giving
time for meditation.
VULGAR TONGUE. The native language of a country. The phrase in the
Baptismal Office stood formerly, "in the English tongue," but it was
altered to embrace the case of foreigners.
VULGATE. The Latin translation of the Bible in common use. The first
Vulgate of the Old Testament was translated, not from the original
Hebrew, but from the Septuagint (which see), the author being
unknown. The second Vulgate was by St. Jerome, and was made from
the Hebrew. A mixture of these two was authorised for use by the
Council of Trent. Other translations have since been made. It is
the official and standard text in the Roman Church.
WAFERS. The bread used by the Romanists, by Lutheran Protestants,
and by some Ritualists in our own Church, in the Eucharist.
WESLEYANS, _see_ Methodists.
WHITSUN-DAY, or WHITSUNDAY. The derivation of the name is doubtful;
some taking it from Whitsun, a corruption of Pentecosten, the old
Anglo-Saxon name for the day; and some from White Sunday, because
those who had been baptized on its eve wore white robes. This
festival is the birthday of the Church, and has been observed, like
Easter, from the first days of Christianity. (See _Pentecost_.)
WILL, FREE, _see_ Free Will.
WORD, THE. A name given to our Lord in the opening of St. John's
Gospel. The term was familiar to the Jews. (See _Logos_.)
WORSHIP. Besides meaning the supreme homage and devotion due to
Almighty God, it is also used in the Bible and Prayer Book, to
denote honour, respect, and reverence given to men. Thus it is
used in Ps. lxxxiv.12; Luke xiv.10; and in 1 Chron. xxix.20, it
seems to be used in both senses.
In the marriage service the husband promises to _worship_ his wife,
that is, to render her all due respect and honour. In like manner
we call a Mayor or a Chancellor "Worshipful."
WORSHIP, PUBLIC, _see_ Public Worship.
YEAR, THE ECCLESIASTICAL. The different seasons of the Church Year
have each a separate notice. The Church begins her year with Advent,
because, as Bishop Cosin says, "she does not number her days, or
measure her seasons, so much by the motion of the sun, as by the
course of our Saviour; beginning and counting her year with Him
who, being the true Sun of Righteousness, began now to rise upon
the world."
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