H E N RY H ow l TT— P m s s r A N D B OOK L O V E R

D IO C E S E O F C A L IFO R N IA 1 8 8 7 - 1 9 2 2

Eh ? fim rg ifinmitt ifiih rarg

A S P RO V I D E D I N H IS W IL L

G IV E and bequeath to t h e Diocese of Cali for n ia t h e 3] b ook s specified in t h e catalog a ppended to th is Cod icil for t h e pu rpose of a Re ference and Len d in g Library for t h e sole and excl u si v e u se of clergy residen t ’ t h n t h e B h l e u in h e Diocese , oldi g is op s icense , and h h k g ag ed in pasto ral work . My desire is t at t ese boo s m a y form t h e n ucle u s of a perm anent Cl erical Library a m h t h h k and as eans to t a end t at t ey be ept intact , l f m h h entire y separate ro all ot er libraries , and t at ade — quate provision be m ade for safe - keepi n g for issu e u For h I ul u h and ret rn . t ese ends wo d s g g est t at tr u stees be appointed in wh om t h e property of t h e k h u b e t h e of h m t h e boo s s o ld vested and care t e , and m f u m b u fra in g o c sto ary li rary reg lations .

3111 gamm y , l iterature,

AN D

(Emma) fl are .

W IT H SOME R EMIN ISCEN C ES OF

P L K A N D ! T N ARSON , C E R , S E O ,

E IN T H E O LD E N TIM S.

V Y F D L OF THE UNI ERSIT O UB IN . ’

OMETIME V I C R OF s. K TH RINE NE R BRI TOL . S A A A S , A S L I K RE HER I N HE D I E E OF BATH A N E N OW PUB C P AC T OC S D W LLS . “ ” “ ’ AUTHOR OF TORIE A ND TE CH ING ON TH E L IT N Y THE P R ON PERPLE! ITY S S A A , A S S , “ ” AN D RIE AN D E HIN N H E M IN A N D EV EN N STO S T AC G O T ATT S SO G .

31 0 1111 0 11

SKEFFIN GTON SON 1 6 PI AD IL L , 3 , C C Y, W .

aarefaee .

T HE Prayer Book of the An glican Ch urch h a s too long been o regarded as a battlefield for contr versialists , and too littl e regarded as a rich casket Of devotion ; but in addition to its h h value in t is respect , it has now attained an historic c aracter , and h a s interwoven with its pages the m emories of th ree

u centuries and a half. It is like a b ilding which h a s passed

h h h a s t roug the period Of a raw and new a ppearance, and

- become weather stained and venerable in its aspect , and stands like a noble oak garlanded with t h e verdant ivy of many

associations .

h for m Laying aside , t en , a ti e , its position as a guide to public h services and an aid to private devotion , it seems to me t at an ix in te re stin g little volume m a y be put t oget h er which sh ould note th e peculiar customs and traditions which h av e gath ered round

our h h l e h C urc Services in the ast thre undred years , to trace t h e allusions to our Prayer Book wh ich are found in English

e u e literature , and lastly , to r cord any curio s local Church pra “ ” h h tices and survivals whic still exist , or ave existed till h m h h wit in recent days , and so e Of w ic are so quaint as to m arous e an innocent s ile . During the past fe w years many interesting circumstances and illustrations have reward e d my enquiries on this asp e ct Of

P h on m the rayer Book , and s ed light its history and eaning, so as to encoura ge me in the h Ope that my first series Of notes

may be found interesting, and may perchance be followed by a

desire on t h e part Of Churchmen for a second series .

W LL. D . J. . HARDMAN ,

C ontents.

INTROD UCTION

THE KALEN DA R

MATTINS A N D EVEN SON G

Y DEUM LI E &C . TAN , T ,

THE OR DER FOR THE AD MINISTRATION OF THE HOLY COMM U NION

T H E BAPTISMAL SERVIC ES

CAT ECH ISM AN D CON FIRMATION

HOLY MATRIMON Y

T H E VISITATION OF TH E SICK

N

THE BURIAL OF THE D EAD

THE C H U RC H IN G OF W OMEN

THE PRAYER BOOK IN LITERAT URE

Looking back to ascertain the origin of the English Prayer of Book , the germ it may be found i n that wise and charitable w m letter hich S . Gregory wrote fro Rome to Augustine “ “ You , my brother , he wrote , are acquainted with the ou h customs Of the Roman Church , in which y were broug t up . But it is my pleasure that if y ou have found anyth ing either in

or th e h the Roman , Gallican , or any ot er Church , which may

ou be more acceptable to Almighty God , y carefully make choice f of o the same , and sedulously teach the Church the English ,

n w which is o i n the Faith , whatsoever you can gather from the several Churches .

Of . The sacramentary S Gregory was , with some exceptions , used in England .

Some centuries passed away , and a famous Liturgiologist

' ’ Old a n on z became Bishop Of Sarum . H e was afterwards c z ea

1 6 as S . Osmon d i n 4 5 . H e was a nephew Of William the

Conqueror .

- The Old city stood on a strongly entrenched hill . It is now

- h t a grassy plain within the ancient earth works , but in very o and dry summers the yellowish lines mark out on the turf K lin t rutfn t tiuu. U

h Of T ese services were, course , in Latin , for Latin was once h d u n u u o t e most wi ely nderstood la g age in E r pe . For many years after th e Conquest the upper classes spoke

h th e o w on h Frenc , and law c urts proceedings ere carried in t at

u lang age . h Many directions were , however, issued to the paroc ial clergy

u t h e mm l t h e m to instr ct co on peop e in Creed , the Com and ’ W ments , and the Lord s Prayer . hen printing was introduced th e Sarum Missal and Breviary passed th rough more than a hundred editions .

th e of th e m For use unlearned , however , there were any

” o m of th e Prym e rs printed . These c ntained in English a nu ber

t h e m Of . Psalms , Canticles , and a large nu ber prayers and anthems

m h a Of 1 6 Lati er, in preac ing before the Convoc tion 5 3 , ex “ m e Of m : h clai ed (sp aking Baptis ) S all we evermore, in minister in h h h g it , speak Latin and not Englis , rat er t at the people may know what is said ? ” Th is was but the expression of a general

f u s feeling i n avo r Of a vernacular ervice . Th ere is a curious and interesting service m entioned as h in h aving been in use Salisbury Cathedral , w ich illustrates the gradual progress towards the worsh ip of God in the moth er

’ t u th e m n ong e . About nine O clock in or ing on Sundays there

” a s e rsio or of h was an p , sprinkling the people wit blessed or h h m holy water, w ilst an ant e was chanted in English in the followi n g words

R m m u rom s B a t sm e e ber yo r p y in p y ,

“ h r st s m fu - sh e d in And C y y ercy l blond y g . By t h e wych e m ost h oly sp ry n kly n g

n 0 3 all youre syns youe h ave ft c p e rd u .

m u on me e Have ercy p p , O God .

fi e r T h m A t y grat ercy .

m m u rom s m B a t sm Re e ber yo re p y ade in p y , and according

mult tud e of Th m do m w ck dn e ss. y y ercys , away y y y G t h e h th e t o t h e Goost lory be to Fat er , and to Son , and Holy

h t n t h e b e n n n ow n t h e As y was y gy y g , so and ever , and y world ff h " o tt . worlds , so be y

h e Whilst this ant em was b ing sung the Priest , with the holy water bearer and choir , in procession , went down the nave Of the Church , the people bei ng sprinkled .

a h Wh t a picturesque function t is must have been . The long

of t h e h of t h e drawn aisles Salisbury echoing with c ant choristers ,

T h e whil st th e people kneel in the nave . consecrated water seemed to the mediaeval mind only a reasonable sequence after the Baptismal practice— and water that had been blessed with prayer was a meet emblem of the H oly Spirit— and as they knelt and sang they seemed to feel as though n e w strength and heavenly help descended on their souls as the drops Of hallowed water fell upon their heads . The imagination was a powerful element in the r e ligion Of t oo th e Middle Ages , and , without doubt , we have gone far i n

n of the Opposite direction , i n strippi g our faith the wings which e nabled it to rise upward and the colours which attracted men ’s souls t o a pproach its radiance . The difference bet ween a Latin Service and on e in English

h our must ave been to mind very considerable , but i n reality iiutrut metiun . 7

th Epistle in their vulgar (tongue) . Then e Priest readeth softly the Gospel i n Latin . In the meantime the Deacon goeth into the pulpit and readeth aloud the Gospel in the Alma ign e

& c. c & . tongue, , A m h similar course see s to ave been followed in England .

th 1 We may trace e steps . In 5 40 the Psalter was printed in

ve 1 6 a n h Latin and English , but e n in 5 3 arc iepiscopal order in the province Of York had ordered t h e Epistle and Gospel to be

” out of th e h read i n Church Great Englis Bible .

A very decided crisis arrived wh en Convocation in 1 5 4 2- 1 5 4 3

on u Of th entered , by resolution , a co rse Liturgical revision , e

h o of 1 result of w ich was the Prayer Bo k 5 49. The Committee

h n b ut th entrusted wit the task conti ued for seven years , e only part of the work which was sanctioned and brough t into use

’ ’ h E n l s/z L t was t e g z z a ny . The Lessons were read in English

h a w h after t ey had been read in L tin , and so also it the Gospel and Epistle . h f h to O V . Of T is brings us the death Henry III , w om it m h has been said that if he had not known so uc theology, and

h w h e could have lived in a world where t ere ere no women , would have fig ured far better in th e pages of history . Amongst his few good deeds mu st be reckoned the foundation f h Of the Cathedrals Of Bristol , Carlisle , Ox ord , C ester, Gloucester,

th e h and Peterborough . When Francis Close, low c urch Vicar

' of Of C/zurc/z Times Cheltenham , was made Dean Carlisle , the

th e Of remarked , We believe that according to Latin statutes Carlisle the principal duty of the Dean is to pray for the soul Of King Henry VIII and we th ink th at h e could not be more fully and usefully employed It may very naturally surprise us th at the great religious changes Of the fifteenth century (wh eth er we call it the Reformation or the Deformation) did not produce more ex great severity . Again , the oscillati ons Of the king must have puzzled the popular mind, and left it uncertain what to

f — first a expect next . The dissolution o the monasteries dvo — cate d by Wolsey provi ded the king with ample funds in the way of land and property by which to bring over the

n ot nobility and landed gentry to condone , if approve , the

of h sacrilegious confiscation C urch property and Abbey lands .

- h Th e well known istorian Of the Reformation , Mr . Pocock, who

e is probably the most l arned critic of that period , declares that the more he studies the history Of t h e chief r e formers the worse Opinion he is forced to take Of their characters

of 1 of The Prayer B ook 5 49 was a conservative character ,

to h or and strange say, that thoug only i n use for about two three years , it has left a traditional relic which has survived to m of the present day , na ely , the custom si nging after the Gospel “ God is announced , Glory b e to Thee , O , and at its close ,

t o . Thanks be Thee , O Lord It is a remarkable fact that these words have survived in m ! traditional use , though not inserted i n the ore recent revisions The Prayer B ook Of 1 5 5 2 was much abbreviated and muti f o . lated , through the influence the foreign theologians B u er, for i nstance, hated every Old practice and b elief, from the ' iln trutlut ttun . 9

of h Evening Service praise and prayer, soug t for th eir mate

t h e m h h e f rials in onastic services , w ic , again , wer ounded — on th e Jewish system Of daily prayers at stated ti mes King ’ “ David s declaration : Seven times a day do I praise Th ee ,

e Of Th h becaus y rig teous judgments . Thus we re introduced into th e r ules of t h e Church th e Observance Of the seven hours .

Th ese were kept under the following titles : The Night

h L n a ds . e Watc es , Mattins and , and Prime Thes were united Th h . e m into a single service third , sixt , and ninth hours for ed

a n d m m a second service , Vespers and Co pline together for ed h w Evensong . It is easy to understand o the monks became

our f th e h h like sailors , able to all asleep moment t at t eir time is up at the end Of th eir watch es . Th ere is an i nteresting story told of a passenger steamer

a n d going between Italy France , which a few years ago was

n f h wrecked i n a dense fog o the coast o the Riviera . T ey ran upon a reef Of rocks with a heavy crash in th e darkness of the h night, and were quite in ignorance of t eir position . Suddenly

e there fell on their ears the sound Of Ch urch b lls close at hand .

h n ow h T ey knew t at they were near land, and close to some spot where Christians were praying to and praising God in th e h night t ime . T ey at once guessed it was a Monastic Church , and as soon as daylight came they were able to Obtain help .

on Le rrin s They were the coast of the little island of , and with

m on the dawn there came boats to land the the shore , and to place all on board in security on the beach I The pious Christians Of ancient days formed an association of ideas between the sufferings Of our Lord on the day of His

Crucifixion and the seven hours Of prayer . There is a passage

Dura n dus on m n in , the great writer Symbolis , which has bee thus translated At Ma ttin s bound at Prime reviled ; C ondem ned t o deat h at Tierce N ailed to t h e C ross at Sexts ; at N on es His blessed side t h ey pierce Th ey take H im down at Ve spe rtide In grave at Complin e lay ; W h o th enceforth bids His C h urch Observe f h ” His seven old o urs alway .

W e may in conclusio n quote t wo co n temporary accounts

E xtra ct f m h t h e 1 6 0 - 6 ro George Wit ers to Prince Palatine , 5 7

(Z urich Letters ; Second Series . ) He writes of t h e first Prayer Book h h of V I . t e of King Edward Altars , organs , t eatrical dresses

t h e h h Of t h e u Papist , and ot er t ings like kind , were retained nder

” t h e m Of m Of t h e C h u h Of t h e m h f na e orna ents rc , and inisters t ereo .

“ Of h h e — B ut t h e m h h Elizabet writes cere onies w ic , as was above

t h e C h u h t h e R f m of stated , were retained in rc at first e or ation Edward , f a re restored under t h e same name . Th ey i mmediately a terwards both discontin ued t h e ordinary bread h ereto fore used in t h e a d min is

’ t ra t ion of t h e u t h e u f f t h e Lord s S pper , and adopted ro nd wa er a ter

f h u t h e pattern o t at sed by Papists .

h h ’ u Of C . Acco nt Englis t ui Service at S George s , Windsor , in h f f h e m Of u . u o t ti e Q een Elizabet , by a oreigner By Frederick , D ke W urt e m be rg Th is castle stands upon a knoll or b ill ; in t h e outer

r u h u fu mm C h u h o first co rt t ere is a very bea ti l and i ensely large rc ,

h fl a t f h mm h wit a even roo , covered wit lead , as is co on wit all

m h h u h h is h f r C h urch es in th is kingdo . In t is C rc Hig ness listened o

m h h u t h e u fu m u t h e u u m ore t an an o r to bea ti l sic , s al cere onies , and

T h e m u t h e u t h e h m . Englis ser on sic , especially organ , was exq isitely

for m ou u h t h e u of fl u h played ; at ti es y co ld ear so nd cornets , tes , t en

( We i n t e rwa r.

Eccl e siastical Kalendar comprises a table Of the of days the year, and also a list of the Saints com

m r t th h h m e o a e d by e C urc . Its origin is to be

or Of found in the Diptychs , tablets wood and ivory , on t h e m Of th e which were written na es Martyrs and Saints , and which were read aloud when “ the memorial ” Of the departed

of h e o o was made during the celebration t H ly C mmunion . From th ese tablets it was an easy step to collect a list Of their m h of na es , whic naturally would be placed Opposite to the day

n h f m f the month o w ich they su fered martyrdo , or the day O h h h their deat , which by a beautiful t oug t was called their

' t/z a bir a y into a better world . It was a very natural consequence of the interest which we all tak e in events and personages connected with our own

h on country and own people t at , as time went , Kalendars

m h th e assu ed a somewhat local and provincial c aracter. In

of . . Gallic ritual , course , we find S Denis Of Paris

’

z rst . Jan . is S Agnes Day ; it was supposed that young h h h h . . 2 t t e maidens dreamed of t eir future usbands Jan 5 , f h of Festival O t e Conversion S . Paul , foretold by its weather ! what would be the character Of the whole year If a fair day , a pleasant year . The earliest Festival i n February is Candlemas . The Old “ writer lays down : A candell is made Of weke and waxe ; so

’ ! t s m a n h od e F r was soule hyd within th e , also the y e

” h o b e toke n e th the God e de . The pe ple bore candles to

n Church that day . There was a prayer o th e hallowing Of ca n dles on th is Festival Day “ O Lord Jesu Christ making the sign Of the

s Of th e Cro s) , bless Thou this creature a waxen taper , and by virtue of the Holy Cross poure Thou into it an heavenly bene

’ diction ; that as Thou hast gra n n te d it unt o man s use for the

re c e a ve expelling Of darkness , i t may such a strength and

or Divil blessing that in what places soever it be lighted set , the

out Of a n d may avoid those habitations , and tremble for feare ,

un uie te fly away discouraged , and presume no more to q them

” that serve Thee . Of of Cosin , afterwards Bishop Durham , was accused having 2 2 0 candles lighted on Candl e mas Eve i n Durham 8 1 6 2 . Cathedral ,

Each country in Europe had its patron Saint . O n the battle

“ ”

. ! field the cry was raised , S George for England an d the men - a t - arms from different cities would i nvoke the favourite

n Saint of their ative district . The names which follow give

f F r P o . o for the atrons several cities and countries instance,

A n sch a rius Denm ark SS . and Canute ; H olland , S . Mary ;

, . , . , . G France S Mary S Michael and S Denis ermany, C h e fi al e n h ar. 1 5 h angm en and m etalworkers ; artillery m e n are under th e care

for h z Of S . Barbe ; drapers have t eir Patrons SS . Blai e and h m e a r. u ut h Le od g Stranger still , dr nkards p t e selves under t e

h e car e Of SS . Martin and Urban ; and t ieves b took them

isma s h D . selves to S . (the penitent t ief)

ou e If, also , in the Middle Ages , y suffer d from any disease , th ere was the proper Saint to whom you ought to apply in your h prayers ; if you lost your ouse keys you invoked S . Osyth

h f r if you h a d the toot ache S . Appolonia ; o bad husbands you

il r . W e b o d & c . & c a . . ppealed to S g and S Uncumber, , We seem almost over wh el med by th e n umber of the departed Saints as we study their lives or trace their me mories by Ch urch h h h d e d ications . T ere is a brot er ood in Belgium called the

h e for a Bollandists , who ave been engag d two hundred ye rs

th e th e . in compiling Acta Sanctorum , deeds Of the Saints

h u m h h Already sixty ge volu es av e been put toget er, but it will m still be many years before their task is co pleted .

a h h th e Often medi eval Saints were rat er s ort in temper , like th e Saint in Brittany wh o turned t h e people wh om h e found dancing in t h e ch urch yard on Sunday i nto stones !

h t h e - h Over against this , owever , we must put tender earted

of . h f u m ness S Ant ony , who o nd a wo an weeping because a

h h a d h is stern usband cut her hair short, and went back to

h m h m n monks and with t e prayed t at it ight grow again , whe , of mm f h course, long tresses i ediately sprang ort But wh ilst certain Saints are only known in some little

h - h . valley or village, Ot ers ave a world wide reputation

to e m h h h It is , however, very curious r ark t at t oug the weather and weather proverbs are closely connected with th e

’ th e f Saints Days , yet particular Saints vary in the dif erent

Of countries Europe.

th e In England S . Swithin is credited with determining u il u u Q and ple t po r la S . Medard I l pleut quaran te jours pl us Tard .

Still more quaint is the local saying about S . Faustu s (June th th 9 ) , i n Belgium . Faustus (9 ) said to S . Medard Barnabas

r1 th a re ( ) and Vitus my neighbours , and together we will go and give the country folks a good wash

There is a strange variant Of the legend Of S . current

1 8 0 ( 9 ) i n Ireland . The Saint (we must suppose in his unconverted days) used to beat his wife every day for forty

days . She wept every day , and since then the rain has fallen

in sympathy with her tears for forty days . In the Tyrol the sainted Queen Margaret of Scotlan d is

assigned to this duty , and is called Wetter Frau . Some Saint Day distiches have become i ncorrect on account

u t h e Of the changes prod ced by Gregorian Kalendar, and the

” of our d a loss eleven days . Barnby bright equal y and night,

’ con is no longer true . The Saints Days i n Germany were so n e cte d with agricultural matters that they long remai ned in the

“ ’ f h l F r m o t e o d . o . m emory folks exa ple , O n S Gall s Day

” every apple ought to b e in the sack . Of the Festivals Of “ ” n 2 0 th SS . Fabian and Sebastia (Jan . ) it is said that they let th e sap rise The 2 5 th of March is generally known as Lady Day ; b ut there were no less than six Lady Days in the mediaeval Kalen are SRaIentrar. 1 7

h . 1 t h Virgin (Aug s ) , which the Eastern C urch more wisely “ th e denominates The falling asleep Of Virgin Mary . Th e imaginative Christia n cann ot b ut think with pleasure on the way in which in Old times th e aspects Of th e natural world

Of w s were associated with the truths religion . It a once the custom in that part of France near Embrun , in the spring Of time the year, when th e crops were beginning to shoot up

u green , to place little crosses , rudely made of a co ple of sticks,

th e t h e a in fields , as it were to plead against prim eval curse and to invoke the mercy of Heaven . With th is symbolism let us compare the custom which prevailed in the lands of the vine of (on the Feast Of the

6 th th e n e w Transfiguration , Aug . ) blessing grapes , and the

th e h h Deacon pressing their j uice into c alice on t at day . V An original proclamation of King Henry III . lays down On Ash Wednesday it shall be declared that ashes be gyve n to put every Ch ry ste n man in remembrance of pe n a un ce at the

be n n n e e rth e . gy y g Of Lent, and that he is but and ashes The form Of the hallowing of the ashes was translated as follows ( 1 5 5 4)

sa n ctifie Vouchsafe to blesse and these ashes, which because Of humility and of h oly religion for the cle n s n Of our t re s a ce s h h y g out p , T ou ast appointed us to ”

b . carry upon our eades , after the manner Of the Ninevites “ Then come directions to sprinkle the ash es with holy water . The Clergy made the sign of the Cross with the blackened “ h “ & c . water, saying, Memento, omo quod cinis, ( Remem

ma n ber, , that thou art ashes , and unto ashes shalt thou Some years ago considerable indignation was felt in Dublin against certain scoffi n g persons who put vitriol into the holy water receptacles on Ash Wednesday .

- Mid Lent Sunday , or Mothering Sunday , is still observed in

R on with cakes which are eaten the Sunday . The allusion is

’ supposed to be to th e miracle Of the day s Gospel , which is the m t feeding of the ultitude i n the wilderness . There used o be a quaint rhyme t o help the memory Of the order Of the Sundays i n Lent T id , Mid , Misere , m C u . rling , Pal , Paste Egg Day

The first words must have bee n made out Of the Opening of

“ ” ” th e . for Psalms Paste is a corruption Of Pascha, Easter . Curling Sunday was a Sunday on which in t h e North Of England — h grey peas were eaten ot erwise called Passion Sunday . The Christians of South Europe were able to supply themselves with

s palm branches , but th e people in the North had to be atisfied

Of r with sprigs yew o little sprigs Of the willow . Some writers think that the yew trees were planted in the churchyards to provide greenery for Church Festivals . The form Of benedic “ 1 tion Of the palms , as translated i n 5 5 4, runs thus When f the Gospel is ended , let there follow the hallowing o flowers

a rOb e d and branches by the Priest being with a redde cope,

e upon th e third st ppe Of the Altare, singing ,

u h h u u Of fl ch t h e m I conj re t ee , t o creat re owers and bran es , in na e

f God t h e h m h t h e m of u C h O Fat er Al ig ty , and in na e Jes s rist , Hys

our t h e u of t h e h f Sonne Lord , and in virt e Holy Gost ; t ere ore be th o u rooted out and displaced from th is c re t ure of flowers and

ch a l h u h of t h e a l h u h of t h e D iv il bran es , t o strengt Adversary , t o ost , th at th o u overtake not t h e foote steppes Of th em th at h aste unto t h e

o for re re se n ta tii ab bel w , and in which , a season , the p gure of the Lord was laid till the happy mom came at East e In some foreign churches a kind of bower Of green branch e

llt & c . tl paper, , is erected at the chancel steps , to represent

= lch r pu e Of Christ .

B i Eastertide brought many signs Of rej oicing . I n the aste ‘ “ ” l hureh there is the glad greeting The Lord is risen , and t

= “ spouse , The Lord is risen indeed Th e third great Festival Of the Christian Year is Wh it sun tid

‘ his Sunday was Observed with great ceremonial .

’ in i . ro r I n S Paul s , at London , from an Opening in the g f the vaulted roof, was let down a splendid censer , full i ce n se to n Of ti , which swung and fro early the whole length ave ! In some continental Churches there was a grar

n a e w e re m o i l of a dove b ing let do n . The dove is made

‘ ! d om lorence , Of fireworks , and gliding down a wire from the

l n th wh c t e g reaches a vast mass Of fireworks , and ignites the tile u ti O tside the great west front Of the Cathedral , amidst

on - pplause Of thousands Whit Sunday morning .

Our remarks on the Church Kalendar might be lengthen : C h e Sfial e n h a r. 21 thread embroidery A screwy C h urch man of th e Old school was heard t h e oth er day denouncing with much energy “ th at

” continual bagging which went on in his parish Ch urch ! but those wh o knew best were Of Opinion th at h e did n ot make th e

“ ” - h h ! alms bag muc eavier I give notice , said a London “ wh o h Rector , from the pulpit, to those persons are in t e h abit

n m - h Of putting button s i to the al s bag , t at they are requested not

m t h e h h h m t o re ove s anks , as t ey are t us ade useless for their

h n ot th e m h original purpose , and t ey do deceive Al ig ty m h ’ 2 th Of . The 9 Septe ber , S Mic ael s Day , is popularly

Observed by eating a goose , said to have been Originated by t h e of z h sh e w h e r example Queen Eli abet , when revie ed forces at Tilb ury Fort in the Armada crisis ! m h There is an a using anecdote Of the late Bis op Wilberforce,

s l - h h that he was once the gue t Of a ow c urch Arc bishop . The orthodox prelate was distressed to find th at no on e at the Palace th ought it needful to attend Daily Service at the

or h h Cathedral in the Private C apel , but w en Michaelmas Day came his conscience was so uneasy that h e felt h e must intro “ duce the subj ect , so he said , by way Of commencement , This h h ’ is I t ink , S . Mic ael s Day

” ’ “ th e h Yes , my Lord , answered Archbis op s wife, and I have tried everywhere in vain t o get a goose for dinner 1 I n Lancash ire and other parts it was the custom to bake

- h h th e . Th e cakes at All Hallows time, w ich t ey gave to poor

“ ” “ oulin - children went about A S g, and singing, A soul cake,

” - - h e u . a soule cake, have mercy on all C ristian soul s for a so l cake “ In France , as is well known, it is usual on that day, All

’ ” t h e m — a e Souls Day, to visit to bs Of their friends b autiful

h e . Th e practice, w ich it were well to r store in England cold forgetfulness of the departed is on e of the most hateful features m Of popular Protestantis . 22 El be ift al enh ar.

is We need add nothing about Christmas , for everyone m acquainted with the records Of Christmas custo s , and the of revival carol singing has been a very happy thought , and a

Of pleasant addition to our Church Services . In spite Crom

’ t h e t h e u well s Parliament and edicts Of P ritans , we still , thank

od our m G , keep Christ as i matting ant QEh en son g .

i matting arm(Et en sun g .

A Y M ORN I N G PE E R .

EW persons realiz e h ow great is th e ch ange in our h f Churc Services i n the last forty years . O course

th ere are certain Old- fash ioned regions where an — aged Rector m akes no n e w changes wh ere the

” on h h black gown still is d e rigueur . In e Of t ese churc es th ey “ ' ” m t/zzs n h ou still sing Glory to Thee , y God, ig ab t four

’ t h e h O clock every Sunday afternoon . In same neig bourhood — was a little Old Norman Church which h a d no vestry t h e aged

Rector retiring t o a h igh - sided pew behind t h e pulpit to assume the black Geneva gow n . One Sunday the disap pearance was h h longer t an usual , and a voice was eard The

“ ’ sexton hurried in to see what was wrong . I can t get this ” h “ h on t e . d t e gown , said Rector No won er, said sexton ,

’ for th ey h ave brough t over my missis Old bombaz ine skirt by m istake for the gown h m The paris clerk has al ost disappeared, though he had a

- h legal status and long standing in t e Ch urch . His box was placed beneath th e reading pew in th e n ow traditional three

of h is th e Of decker, and the vulgarity accent and peculiarities ’ wh o - Of- th ere was a clerk had been a man war s man , and who , when he came to the verse in the Psalms about “ the great

” “ ” h u t e . leviathan , always rendered it there goeth first lie tenant

wa s f The clerk expected to lead the si nging, but a di ficulty sometimes arose on account Of t h e commo n custom Of the singers being put into a western gallery . SO he Often slipped out Of h is desk and went up to the gallery to assist in t h e m Opus agnum Of the anthem .

n Tradition says that at Lo g Ashton Church , whic h was a

Out on m ile Of town , Sunday afternoons i n summer the clerk t o “ of used lean over the gallery front and say , I f any you

musical chaps be here from Bristol , come up into the gallery wi’ ” and give us a hand tha Ha uthem .

The flute , the violin , and the bass viol were th e favourite

u instr ments in village choirs before organs were introduced .

n The anthem , Of course, came after the third collect . A sexto in a Sussex Church told a strange cleric th at had come to do

ou - the duty If y please , Sir, we always sings after candle light — collick his impression evidently being that the wording Of the collect was to hi nt to the sexton the duty Of lighting up the

candles On Sunday aft ernoon s .

on A very strange effect was produced i n a country Church ,

Of the mi nds strangers , by seeing a pretty young woman , the

’ e sextoness granddaught r , sole mnly ascending into the pulpit

with a large silver candlestick i n each hand , which she adj usted f on each side o the pulpit desk whilst the hymn was singing ,

and then retired to make room for the octogenarian rector .

u Stlll m ore la ghable was the performance Of a young curate ,

on of was Often a table , which the handsome Prayer B ooks large

on - size reposed cushions . Round this were ranged arm chairs , h ’ ’ lt and huge assocks to lessen the a zfi ru y Of kneeling . Of some Church “ i n the Midlands ” the story is told that t he Squire ’ s pew is i n a gallery entered by an outside staircase and door, and the space between the gallery front and the arch above filled i n with a sash window . Whilst the Rector was reading the

u to f prayers the footman went ro nd th e village post O fice , and

t h e & c on having Obtained letters , newspapers , . , brings them i n

s a silver salver . Then , when the Rector a cends the pulpit , the Squire sh uts do wn the wi ndow and betakes himself to his correspondence ! There is a tradition of the footman some where in full livery bri nging i n cake and wine to refresh the

’ bodies ex/za uszed by their devotions

Such family pews a lmost give credibility t o the well - known “ story Of th e strange clergyman beginning , When the wicked h “ ’ man , and being stopped by a loud w isper, H e ai n t come

in yet , Sir “ Speaking Of The Sentences , it may be remarked that the Am erican Prayer B ook has added several additional pass a ges to of th e introductory verses Of our Book . One these is that “ noble line , The Lord is i n H is H oly Temple ; let all the earth ma ttin g a n ti QBh en fiun g . 29 important parts Of th e service is generally utterly n u noticed— that place wh ere the Priest is bidden to pronounce the benediction ( tfie Lord ée wit! ; you Of the congregation ) ,

h u t o h is whic truly o ght not be mumbled in stall , but pro n oun ce d h with all dignity from the c ancel step, if not from that of the altar . “ Here followeth th e anth em has been h eld to indicate that the Prayer Book recogni z es (as do th e can on s) t wo kinds Of ritual arran gement that simpler form suited to th e small parish h Churc , and that more elaborate and ornate ritual suited to

” e h cathedral and collegiate Churches . Plac s w ere they sing ,

h for that is , where t ere is an endowment Vicars choral and

. h b e u choristers T us copes and vestments are directed to sed . A careful examination Of Church inventories proves that it was never intended that English Ch urch services were to “ e be r duced to utter poverty and bareness . The State w Prayers are like ise best kept for use in ornate services . In many co un try Churches t h e ambition Of rural choirs h a s come

t h e m h to grief over anthe . T ere was a little Devonshire village wh ere th e people were very proud Of their m usical

ff . h h e e orts A temporary curate, aving suffered muc for s veral

h th e e Sundays , determined t at he would stop gall ry perform “ out Tfiere will be n o ance , and so gave in a mild voice,

’ ” singi ng tlzzs af fe m oe n ! when a stentorian voice from t h e “ ” o out B ut t/zere will f t h singing gallery sh uted , and e — singers rose up in a body and proceeded to exec ute we h — h Of th oug t to say rather , to murder t eir anthem , in spite e mild curate ! The extraordinary pronunciation Of t h e rural clerk h a s been h f “ mentioned , but per aps some O the queer readings Of good

Old souls who do their best with the responses at week - day Ol prayers are very extraordinary . One curate tells us that an d m o “ “ eth d, Stand in awe , but as Standin a w e , whilst another clerical fri en d wa s startled to h e ar Of a n ovel character in th e — “ ” Acts Of the Apostles one Step Hen .

E VE N N R E J G P A Y R .

those apathetic days when the daily service became

neglected , the traditi on was still kept up . A person now alive rem embers his m other telling him that as a ch ild she was taken t o daily Morning Prayer i n Chester Cathedral at six O ’clock in summer and seven in winter

’ According to the statutes th e Canons kept their three months t o term Of residence . During this period they had attend a of certain nu mber services i n each m onth , morning and even — — i ng we may roughly say fifty and attendance was not counted t h m unl ess th e dignitary was i n his stall before e Psal s began . A ver y am using story is told Of the Old days at Ca n terbury

on Cathedral which turns this point . The Dean and the Canon

“ ” were bitter foes , and hated each other like poison . The Canon had been very careless i n keeping up his attendance at service , and he had run the matter so close that unless he

’ kept that evening s attendan ce he would lose his credit for all h e t times he had been to Church that month , and would have to comm ence the three months ’ residence over again ! H ow n a n ti ti e n u matti s ( E s n g . 3 1

’ th e disc omfiture th e h is exulted i n Canon s , and as latter passed

h e TOO ! You m seat exclaimed, late will have to co mence all th m h h over again The Canon heard e alicious w isper, and wit

on th e m h ready wit walked to inor Canon , who was c anting the m h h im “ first syllables Of the Psal , and w ispered to , The Dean

” Th e h says you must commence all over again . c anter looked

h e t surprised, but it was his part to Obey , so s opped short in

m e the chant , turned back the leaves, and co menced afr sh ,

” h c t e & . When wicked man , , and the cunning Canon took his place , having now the power to complete his legal number Of

t h e service attendances , and thus having turned tables on his foe , the Dean Th ough the religious feelings of th e Middle Ages were sincere m of and devout , there was someti es an outburst the extra

ordinary and the ludicrous . The desire to enjoy a good laugh

e n or a bit Of sarcasm was irresistible . The carv r working o a

Of a n d gargoyle yielded to the love the grotesque, produced a

m a fliict h or e d . monster gnawing a bone, a de on with toothac e At Wells Cath edral y ou fin d the wicked lad stealing apples

on on e of th e t h e m side a capital , and round corner far er, stick

oa k h in hand , prepared to execute justice . On an benc end at h fox ’ h Sout Brent you have the , in friar s gown , preac ing to the “ h congregation Of geese . At Great Malvern a Miserere s ows

us on h the rats busy in hanging the cat , whilst anot er, at

h n - h e r m in h Ludlow, a dis o est ale wife , with false easure and , is carried Off by on e dem on wh ilst anoth er joyfully plays an

- accompaniment on the bag pipes . “ Throughout the miracle - plays and mysteries the same

fun th desire for and jesting prevailed . At Coventry e theatre

- was a three storey stage fixed on wheels , so that it could be m oved from place to place . The lowest part represented “ ” Hell , with the demons going about making jokes, like our n the top storey was Heaven , with angels in abundance , and eve m ore sacred persons . The medi aeval public had not the least

o . SO too idea that anything c uld be profane , , theatrical per forma n c e s were allowed i n th e nave Of the Church down to the days Of Elizabeth , till by degrees the dram a shook itself free from all ecclesiastical associati ons . Even religious services sometimes were Of strange and eccentric character

on At Seville Cathedral , i n Spai n , there was , the Festival Of

Corpus Christi and at som e oth er occasions , a solemn and graceful dance , executed by ten choristers wh o were dressed as

-a n - royal pages , and danced for half hour before the high altar to the m usic of the castanets . They aid this proceeding with f the pealing Of the organ and the s winging o the bells . The custom is still kept up . Of Walcott tells us a practice i n France , i n the Middle Ages , Of the Priests t o dance with women after celebrating their first

of e Mass . The strict restraints cl rical life sometimes s eemed H ow to burst out by way Of a reaction . extraordinary and

’ “ . Bo profane was the appointing , on S Nicholas Day, Of a y

” on e h Bishop ; generally , i n Cathedrals , of the c oristers . The tom b Of on e w ho died during his brief term of Offi ce may be

a n d seen at Salisbury . He was arrayed i n episcopal dress , h gave a solemn benediction to the people . But t ere gathered of ff round the custom all kinds folly and bu oonery, so that many statutes an d rules were appointed for its suppression by

e the Cathedral authoriti s . “ “ The B oy Bishop also preached , and there is still extant TH E CHORISTE RS AN D C H ILD REN OF T H E S N G SCH O OO L.

Wh ich th en ? Th e q ue re st e rs and ch ilder Of t h e song scole ? Beware wh at y ou do for I h ave experience of th em more th an Of t h e

oth er. It is not so long sens I was one of th em myself b ut I kan m m h sh re wn e ss u m h m h h re e bre w at was sed a ong t e , w ic I will not speake of now ; b ut I kan not let t h is passe on t ouc h e d h ow b oy y sh ly th ei beh ave t h emselves in t h e Ch urch ; h ow rash ly th ei c um into t h e q uere with out any reverence never kn e le n or coun t e n a n n ce to say any

or b ut u u h f h h prayer paternoster , r dely sq at down on t er ayles , ! w ic lak

tw n n era sed M S u w t h h fe lows for y ggy g , in ] , and j stle y t er a place ;

t h m e of t h e u a a n e a a n e anon ei starts owt q ere g y , and in g y and owt

a a n e h u f h h ow oft n or wh e rfor g y , and t s one a ter an ot er , I kan not tell ,

b ut c um a a n e th e only to gadd and gas abtode , and so in g y and cross

D ‘ u fro h wit h owt wit h owt q ere one side to anot er and never rest , any rest ,

n or our h ma t t n s or h any order , and never serve God Lady wit y wit

e v n son m h h of t h e mm h h u y g , no ore t an t ei gra er scoles , w ose be avio r is

t h e t m h h m h in e ple as it were in t er scole , t er aster eying absent , and h h of not in t h e C urc God being present . I will no way wy sh y ou , " to folow such .

tti we eum e. fl i ng , fi , N

part of the Prayer Book is more dear to th e h eart h h h of Englis Churc men t an the Litany . Its words m h are so i pressive , its pat os so deep , and its very ex h h m pressions are a kind of r yt ical music . Its origin is derived

m u a n d h fro the fifth cent ry , t ere are two sources which claim

o h e the introducti n Of t is d votional service into the Church . One account tells us that a d istrict in France containing th e

h a d cities of Lyons and Vienne, which been a very early centre of Christianity under th e influence of Ire n aeus and other early h h f Bis ops and teac ers , was a flicted by earthquakes , probably

- 8 about the year 46 76 . In the language of Gregory of Tours “ we r e ad : The people had hoped for a cessation of th eir

but u of troubles at Easter time, d ring the very vigil that Feast, h o t e . and Divine Service being perf rmed , palace took fire The out of h people rushed the adj oining Church , and the Bis op ,

Ma me rtus f th e e , was le t alone before Altar , entreating the m rcy of o f h h G d . He ormed then a resolution w ic he carried out in the three days before the Ascension Festival , Of having a f m e o . special s rvice exceeding sole nity A fast was Observed, m and with prayers , psal s , and Scripture lessons , the people h ” of h went fort i n p rocession . The example the C ristians at — Vie nne was followed and imitated elsewhere afterwards various and special appeals to Heaven were introduced . Thus , i n “ of northern France they prayed , From the fury the North men , good Lord , deliver us . Again , i n a York Cathedral “ book we read , From the persecution Of the Pagans and all

” our enemies , good Lord , del iver us . The Ambrosian Litany “ us n ot of prayed , Deliver i nto the hand the heathen . Thou

, L , , art kind O ord have pity upon us compass Thou this city ,

” c . and let angels guard its walls , &

In these Rogation Days som e went bare - footed and arrayed

- n in sack cloth and riding o horseback was prohibited . of I n Rome , S . Gregory , during a tim e pestilence , arranged a Processional Service which Obtained the ti tle Of “ The Greater

” “ Litany , and it was also sometimes called the Sevenfold — L , itany wh en marched i n due order the clergy the lay folk ,

v fi n ish the m onks , the irgins , the married women , th e widows ,

for ing with the poor and the children . A good subj ect the

of Of of brush a painter , with a background the classic ruins

- u the great city and the newly repaired Ch rches , and all lit up m f o . by the glowing sunlight and the bright , clear at osphere Italy About the eighth century the Litanies had introduced into their petitions the i nvocation Of Saints , which occupied much time in the Recitation . However, time was Of little value i n h the medi aeval days . Som e Litanies invoked more t an a hundred Sai nts

h t h e n But at length t ere came , i n sixtee th century , a very startling clause From the Bishop of Rome and his detestable d enormities , good Lor , deliver us w On Rogation Days the clergy , ith cross and tapers , the choristers , and all good folks , took their way through the fields ,

n i mploring a blessing o the growing crops . of The Litany , as is remarked elsewhere, was the first part t h e Service translated into English . In allusion to the language fl ittin g , Qt e ilBe um, 8 m 39

“ h h n of of the prop et Joel , t at the mi isters the Lord should

” be iwe en h weep the Porch and the Altar, t ere was a small , low

- ut f o of desk introduced, called the Fald stool , and p just in r nt

fi th m t h e - v e Chancel steps . In so e Cathedrals Fald stool wa s f f

h n o h made large enoug for two priests to k eel t get er . Cosin ,

1 6 in his Visitation Questions in 3 7, asks if there be a little desk

r - e t h e m o Fald stool with some decent carpet ov r it , in iddle alley m of h h h th e a . the C urc , w ereat Litany y be read It is not generally known that a large part Of t h e Litany

l a h m m th e may be chanted by a y clerk , or ot er lay an , fro opening invocation of th e Holy Trinity to the short sentences i “ " l i i . l . r Often called The Lesser Litany v ‘ 4 l ‘ ' Tallis was t h e first Anglican musician who c ompoSe d music

h h s for t h e English Litany and ot er Services . He had for i assistan ce a pension of sevenpe nce a day Th e appearance of the E n glish Prayer Book was h eralded

“ ” ’ Pr m e rs t h e by The y . These contained Creed , Lord s Prayer , m h and the Co mandments also other prayers were added . T ey were , of course , printed in black letter , and contained as many

a n f Pr m r as sixty pages . The existence d use o these y e s explain — what long puzzled our ecclesiologists th at m any of our old Church seats were fitted up with book boards The most beautiful part of our Morning Service is the h ymn

Te Deum . Its legendary history is that it was composed (or rather

h z inspired) by S . Ambrose w en he bapti ed the great Augustine .

h h h for th e One would desire t at t is legen d mig t be true, noble

words seem worthy of such an occasion .

e t h e Of a It was admirably translat d , probably by pen Cr nmer, “ ” although the English does not convey its full meaning . Noble “ T ” wh ite d th e should be translated the robe , in allusion to “ ” victorious host of the martyrs ; and t h e sh arpness of death A n interesting chapter m ight be written about the great occa sions of which “ The Te Deum has been sung with all pom p

’ . on and splendour in S Paul s Cathedral , occasions Of national

e gratitude and r j oicing . Shakespeare all udes to this

VVh ic h f m t h e h per or ed , c oir ,

h t h e h m u Of t h e m Wit all c oicest sic kingdo . h T um Toget er sing e De .

T h e Te Deum sang after the battle of D e ttige n was com

posed by Handel . It was the last battle at which an English

king appeared i n person . Bishop Cosin wished to call it the f “ h hym n of S . Ambrose . The earliest mention o it is in T e

” f i r f . o Po ctie s Rule o S . Benedict It is ascribed to Hilary ,

A D . . 3 5 5 , by some writers ; but it has also been thought to

hav e b e en drawn from earlier sources . to With regard the verse , To be n um bered with Thy Saints , — “ there is a n otfie r read ing also To be rewarded with Thy Saints ! ” The Old rule was t o sing “ The Benedicite when any part

of Daniel was read . It i s usual also i n Lent and Advent . ” “ “ n There was a story current , says a clergyman , whe I of was first ordained , a very conceited young man who went

’ down to read prayers i n h is father s Church the Sunday after

com his Ordination . When he returned i nto the vestry he l itan y , QIZe ilBe unr, 41 which a good Old Rector gave a young friend wh en taking him

th e m into the vestry, before ser on . He suggested a prayer

t h e e n h h th e a n d whilst villag choir was getti g t roug hymn , “ prayed that the Gospel might be blessed , even when spoken by the most feeble instrumentality

ld h on e In O times , in country C urches , no saw anything

n Th h h ludicrous in strange ways a d doings . e C urc warden would calmly place a red bandana on th e top of his bald head during the sermon ; or to take anoth er example : In the fine h old Church at Brent , w en the Litany was over, the Vicar went up to the Chancel rails , preceded by the sexton , who

Of t h e Sacra re m reverentially opened the gate , and then (he

m a n m - e was a tall gaunt ) fetched forth a s all three l gged stool , on which he sat perched in the Chancel till the Commandments were read after which he solemnly unfastened the gate in th e

h on n h Altar rails and let the preac er forth the co gregation , wit the air of an Official at the Roman Colisse um loosing a lion on the Christian martyrs !

wh e carrier f or th e fi nmtntsteatton

of th e 39012 Qtumtn un ion .

HE H ol Commun ion y is, in its solemn aspect, so h Of m sacred, t at course we ust approach the subject

l h wit great reverence ; only , as it were , treading in “ th e n o the Court Of Priests , and t venturing too

near the Holy Pl ace .

From many sources some illustrative matter h a s been here

e on gathered togeth r bearing the Holy Rite, and also on our

Anglican Service . It is interesting to know that John Wesley was a great

“ ” admirer Of the commencing collect , The Collect for Purity , “ as It 15 sometimes called . He declared it was the summary — of the primitive religion of love th e s ummary of the religion h of the Ch urc of England . Few people would ever suppose that our Communion Office had been used by on e of the Roman Clergy ; but there is a curious anecdote in the autobiography of Rich ard Cumber

- H a . e land, well known dramatist of the last century was living for some time in Spain , and there was attacked by a

se rIous of h very fit illness , which all t ought would prove fatal A kindly Old Priest of the Roman Ch urch took the deepest n ot own on wish to obtrude his forms Mr . Cumberland , but he

ff h is t o h came to O er services according the Englis form , and was ready, if h e was furnished with the Anglican Prayer B ook , and to to m to allowed secure the door, administer the Sacra ent him

our on l exactly as it was ordai ned by Church , requesting y that

o n h e would reach the chalice with his w hand . All this he of f fulfilled , omitting none the prayers appointed , and o ficiating in the m ost devout and impressive manner , to his very great “ f of ” comfort . Had the O fice the Inquisition , says Mr . Cumber

‘ “ land, whose terrible mansion stood within a few paces Of my gates , had report of what passed i n my heretical chamber my poor friend would have breathed out the rem nant of his days i n prison Th e last occasion on which the Roman Liturgy was celebrated i n an English Parish Church was when Charles Edward Stuart

I . on his march from Manchester reached Derby . This was in 745 It is said that th is proceeding was contrary to th e wish of the

Prince , who had attended the Anglican Service i n Manchester f Cathedral the Sunday previous , when the O ficiating clergyman

for prayed the king as usual , but j udiciously omitted naming h either George or Charles . This Romis s ervice in Derby is said of of of to have been one the causes the failure the expedition , and Of the retreat from Derby .

for With regard to the hour the Communion Service , a curious f of set o rules were drawn up for the town Northampton , under

1 1 the approval Of the Bishop Of Peterborough , in 5 7 . “ on e of Every Communion day , runs these rules , each

on e for f Parish hath two Communions the , servants and o ficers , of to begin at five the clock i n the morning, with a sermon of th e 19n ( Dummun iun . 47

d & c . ames , , to begin at nine the same day, with like sermon , and to end at twelve . Th e rule would seem to point to the Holy Communion being treated as a separate Service .

u on There is a very curio s point, bearing the union of the

— a m th e — h Services M ttins , Litany, and Co munion O e w ich has

’ usually been attributed to Arch bish op Grin da ll s arrangements

th e h of h o for wide paris es his Yorks ire Archdi cese . It is that

th e in the complaint Of Cornish rebels in the rising Of the West,

. on e of th e in the time of King Edward VI , Articles in their written declaration ran as follows

-W e n ot Item . will receive the new Service Book , because

we it is like a Christmas game , but will have our Old Service of M Mattins , ass , Evensong, and Procession in Latin , not in English and th e close Of the protest sou n ds very strange to “ h of modern ears , We Cornishmen (w ereof certain us unde r h ” stand no English) utterly refuse t is new English . The hours of Service in former days seem to have been very

H orrox m f early . , the celebrated astrono er, who was one o the

th e of first observers of Transit Venus , expressed his thankful ness th at he could finish the afternoon duty at his Church before h ’ t e Transit began at two O clock . It is rather difficult to Obtain from aged persons any distinct h account of t e ritual used in their early days . Between the

- high pews and the enormous three decker, the congregation

’ had no uninterrupted view Of the clergyman s proceedings at the Altar . But at an earlier period it seems th at the Communicants went

& c . up into the Chancel at the words , Draw nigh ,

h m on In some few places t is custo lingered for instance , at

Old . Wimborne Minster, a fine Church in Dorset Until about

1 th e 85 2 there were ten benches placed in chancel, covered step was a rail ; on the seven steps were six benches with

n ot kneeling m ats , but covered with linen . At the celebration “ t h e th e clerk went to lectern and announced, All who are

” prepared to receive the Holy Communion draw near, and all

on e wh o wished to attend went into th e chancel at time , taking

on their places the benches and i n the stalls , and the H oly

Eucharist was taken to each . (At this Church , it must be under stood that the Sacrarium is approached by a broad fligh t Of many steps . ) Now only three benches are retained covered w ith “ the ” h — ’ . S. houseling clothes I n a country C urch Bride s , in South — Wales by old custom the rails were hung with a short white

e . on e t wo cloth , ev n i n recent years What used to see was old respectable clericals i n huge bunchy surplices , comfortably

on resting their elbows the fat cushions , and their heads nearly

- meeting over the short square looking altars then so common . “ ” “ - I cannot , says a middle aged clergyman , remember ever

‘ ’ seeing the service begun i n the eastward position , though I

” have read that it survived in some places . It was rather uncommon to find any flagon i n country

or Churches thirty forty years ago , and the usual practice was ' e of th $9q «Bunt mun tun . 49

Selwyn had neither bread nor wine nor vessels with him but , under the necessity of th e case felt himself j ustified in a dmin is m h tering a fragment of biscuit, ixed wit salt water from the

for h e adjacent sea , and using a shell a c alice . P rhaps in h is f later days he would have acted di ferently. In the days of t h e early Church t h e ch alices were Often made ,

— in of from poverty, of wood later days silver and gold which ,

h e being remarked to a certain Po pe , sarcastically replied . When the C h urch had only wooden c ups h e r priests were like

e ” true gold now she has golden chalic s and wooden ecclesiastics .

h h a s m u O , o ne c ange taken place al ost nn ticed , in cele — bratin g t h e Communion Offi c e th e n ow com mo n custom of o h h h mitting the long ex ortation . T is long ex ortation was dis liked by many on account of its apparently harsh wording , “ ” own m on m Eating and drinking our da nati , and any clergy

in th e m men , reading passage, substituted the ilder sounding ” h - . T e h h f word, Condemnation story is told t at in a c apel O

th e f h h ease at Torquay O ficiating minister made t is change, w en — the whole congregation were startled by the Bish op Old Harry

— wh o out of Exeter happened to be present, shouting in sten m ! ” torian tones, Da nation damnation Some of the Bishop ’s enemies i mmediately suggested that he should be summoned for brawling and profane language, but the truth was t h at he considered it the h eigh t of conceit to

m of t h e o alter the ipsi ssi a verba Prayer B ok .

It is still usual in many pl aces for the n on - communicants to withdraw after the end Of the Church Militant prayer . Such

In m e a conduct would have been thought suspicious di eval times,

of on e ul ue for there is a legend a certain Count Of Anjou , F q

or h by name, who lived in the tenth elevent century . He had f h married a lady suspected o witchcraft . The Witc Countess always attended Church, but made it a point to withdraw just

D before the consecration . This gave rise to m uch remark , and

m n the Count, a violent man , deter i ed to put a stop to it . He

com ordered four Of his retainers to seize the Countess , and to f to t o o . pel her remai n the end the Service They did so, but as soon as the consecration took place the Countess shrieked, m h burst fro t ei r hands, flew through a Church wi ndow, and never m ore was seen Of course we cannot wonder that the mediae val mind took a of somewhat m aterialistic view spiritual things . The remark able fact is , that such an amount Of good advice and sensible

e Scriptural i n struction was giv n in those days , as is shown by “ ’ of t h e of e - some books the Middl Ages, like The Lay Folks

” “ ” Pr m e rs 81 0 Mass B ook , The y , . There i s some diversity of custom as to which end of the raili ng should be the point for commencing to administer to “ Soul/z the people . It is said the end is right , for that the North ” is always symbolic of the region of darkness and h eathendom he nce the Gospel is read on the North side .

When Queen Anne was attending at the Holy Communion , h of m t e Dean Wi ndsor ad inistered to her first , but she was much displeased at this , and sent for him after Service , when h she told him he could not know the rubric , w ich ordered that the assistant clergy should take precedence .

I n France , however, under the Old regime, the aristocrats expected to b e treated in an especial manner when th e y approached the Altar . The pride of these Old families was so metimes amusingly absurd . There is a story told that her confessor was anxious

5 2 Gt li e earn e r fur th e g nmnrtstrat tun

z s bron e , and twisted i n shape . A imilar canopy was designed

’ by Sir Christopher Wren for S . Paul s , London . The Altar was so meti mes in m edi aeval d ays screened Off by

n of - m side curtai s, often richly e broidered fabrics . I n som e ancient Cath edrals the officiating Priest stood on t h e eastern side and faced westward the people i n the nave . But i n the

Of i dark day s Puritan sm and neglect, the H oly Table was left bare and uncovered

o It is rec rded that King Charles I I . , riding i n the neighbour

Of o of h ood Wi nds r, was caught i n a heavy storm rain , and

h s f m t h e of dismounting from his or e , took re uge fro violence

H e z the weather i n a little Church . was scandali ed to see the

u u Holy Table q ite bare, and taking Off his rich p rple velvet

out cloak , h e reverentl y spread it over th e Altar. to It was , i n the first half of this century , usual everywhere

- or m fi nd Altar coverings of red cloth cri son velvet . In the front th e letters were usually embr oidered in gold

bi ott e d thread . Strange to say , som e Of the most g Protestants i n Ireland look on these letters as Romi s h ! An Altar- cloth

a of thus dorned was obj ected to and complained , and then w stolen away altogether, a paper being left ith the information th at if the was removed t h e stolen cloth would be restored ! A rather fi n e specimen of the Hibern ian art Of

” perpetrating bulls . f The origin o the use Of the I . H . S . as a sacred symbol was d i n Florence . There was a poor artist who ma e his livelihood f h by drawing and colouring a kind o valentine wit love verses .

This met with the disapproval Of S . Bernardino , and when the artist pleaded that he could n ot afford to discontinue the of th e 322t C ommun ion . 5 3

m f h e z e the idea beco ing ashionable, was largely patroni d, and the three letters became a kind of sacred m on ogram over th e h h d h h w ole C ristian worl . T ey were first carved over on e of t e

West doors of S . Croce, at Florence . Yet in some rural parish es the meaning Of these letters is n ot h h yet clear to t e rural intellect . A friend visiting a C urch in the Midlands wa s told much of the goodness and kindness of a

d h m wh o h h e r h d th e La y Sout a pton , had wit own an s worked “ - h m a m h e Altar clot , As you y see, and arked it wit the lett rs

of m e H e S u h m n her na e , Van nrietta o t a pto The canons lay down th at the Holy Tabl e be covered with

N o h m Old a decent carpet . doubt t at any copes and chasubles were cut up in th e days of Eli z abeth to make Altar

m of e s a t h cloths , and so e thes are still to be een Ot ery and

h h c h Yatton and ot er C ur es in Somerset . Th e Office for Holy Commun ion h a s placed in th e front of

e T h e fi h it c rtain important rubrics . rst directs t at intending

h t h e communicants s ould give notice day before , the second rubric forbids th e approach of evil livers and n otorious

’ t h h h h sinners to e Lord s Table . The t ird pro ibits t ose mm wh o m h being co unicants , live in en ity wit their h neig bours . The second of th e se rules is ill ustrated by the h istory of the

m h th e h h th e of Duke of Mon out , un appy ero of field Sedge

m h o m t o e w oor . W en c nde ned death two pr lates ere sent to m administer consolation to the unfortunate noble an . One of

th e h h u . the Bishops was Ken , ot er Bis op T rner He desired to

receive t h e Holy Communi on before h is execution .

h e h im th e Com The Bishops owever, r fused to give Holy , munion because he declined to acknowledge his living in

adultery with Lady Henrietta Wentworth was any sin . He defended his conduct by saying that he had been married to We can easily imagine h ow deeply a sensitive soul like that of Bishop Ken must have felt these interviews with the un f happy D uke o Monmouth .

The second rubric, which requires those who partake of the

“ ” on e Holy Communion to be in love and charity with another ,

of of our is a very useful discipli ne , and a test the reality f religion . A country parson tells us an anecdote o his parochial experience which shows us how hard a weed (to be eradicated)

h a s f is the feeling of enmity and bitterness . It O ten been remarked that no quarrels are so difficult to heal up as those

. two between relatives In this case brothers , farmers , had a

- e . bitt r and long standing quarrel The elder took very ill , and being in his own way a religious man , desired to receive

th e . Holy Communion The Clergyman , whilst declining to of administer it to him , took the opportunity trying to make

b e n up the differences twee n the brothers . After co siderable trouble , and going to and fro many times , he arranged a recon ciliation . They were to shake hands , and then receive the

Holy Communion at the same tim e . This was done , but

t h e of when Service was concluded , to the disappointment the

on a rm Clergyman , the sick brother raised himself his and Now said to the younger brother, , John , remember that h if I get well again , all this is to go for noug t “ The last of these prefatory rubrics enjoi n s th e use of a fair

” w e hite linen cloth over the Holy Table , also that the Tabl “ of ” was to stand in the body the Church , and that th e Priest t of was o stand at the North side th e Table . f These directions have given great trouble . One o the

fiercest controversies in the reign of Ki ng Charles I . raged — ab out the position of the Holy Table whether it should be Church party denouncing the P uritan Holy Table as a mere

- th e th h oyster board , and latter reviling e C urch party as introducing a Popish Altar . But t h e Church party h a d a force

on . h of h their side They made t eir Altar Table eavy oak,

f of th e with huge, thick , carved legs , and O ten a slab marble for

a u z u mens , and grad ally la y sextons fo nd it much easier to drop the practice of m oving th e Table d own into th e Nave and bringing it back again . As a rule, sextons have a conscientious h m dislike to trouble, but t eir great j oy is to discover so e spot in a C h urc h which can be converted into a rubbish h ole Wh en

old d u h m candle ends , brushes , blackene d sters , and worn y n books can be stuffed into an ancient piscina or in t h e arch ed h ’ h f o e . recess of a knig t s sepulc re , they eel c nt nted In P uritan ti m e s t h e great e ffort was to m ake th e Holy Com

of o f e h munion into a kind l ve east . At De rhurst Churc , in

h th e of th e Gloucesters ire , old arrangement seats as in the seven h Th t n t . e e e century, remains Holy Table is surrounded by

— h a th e seats some with t eir backs ag inst East wall , and with

a a n d u h mm u others f cing North So t , so that the Co nicants

1 6 1 h for might sit round as at a feast . In 4 C ancel rails were — bidden by Act of Parliam ent th ey h a d been enjoined by — Archbishop Laud it being said th at at som e Ch urch a dog rushed up to the East end and carried away th e bread prepared h m for th e Holy Communion . It will be observed t at in exa ples l h h of O d railing the uprig t balusters are very close toget er . No doubt in those day s dogs Ofte n in rural parish es followed

” h h of th e h on e their masters to C urc . We read Dog W ipper as

Th e h of the regular parish Officials . putting up t ese Altar rails

n m was fiercely opposed by the Purita party , and one clergy an The rubric orders that at the time of Communion th e Holy

Table b e covered with a fair white cloth . This is done by way of m - symbolis , and supposed to represent the grave clothes which

t h e Of our surrounded body Lord i n the tomb . At Easter, in

a the medi eval Church , this symbolism was fully carried out , and the crucifix was laid i n a sepulchre on Easter Eve and carefully watched . In many Churches a tomb under an arch

was used ; it was generally placed near the East end of the

t h e Church , and tomb , with its canopy , was called the Easter sepulchre . There is a beautiful example at Lincoln Cathedral ,

u of with gracef l figures sleepi ng soldiers carved outside .

is

’ d f e Th e Lor s Prayer commences the Communion O fic , said

t h e t h e by Priest alone , and very probably recited i n Vestry

n e before begi ning the Servic . Then comes the Collect fOr

u P rity, which , as has been Observed , was so much admired by Wesley . The next feature i n the Office for Holy Communion is the of “ ” recitation the Ten Commandments . This is peculiar to d the Anglican Prayer Book . Many islike this peculiarity , look

n ing o it as a novelty , but it has been well argued that the high m orality and sense of duty i n the English character has been developed and formed by the constant rehearsal of the Ten

Com mandments . “ The rubric which directs , Then shall follow the sermon , m f pleased they made a hum ing sound . Now the cry is or

t h e h a s short sermons , and word sermonette been invented .

n e A witty judge , the other day , bei g ask d what length a sermon “ h e m n h m e should , replied , Twenty i utes , wit a reco m ndation

” to mercy . In t h e ancient Roman basilicas we find two marble bemas or m on e h s pulpits, fro of whic the Epi tle was read , and from

h Of the ot er the Gospel . In the Gothic Cathedrals Belgium m h m we find speci ens of noble pulpits enric ed with uch carving . At Brussels there is on e representing the tree of the knowledge of h th e of t h e good and evil entwined wit coils serpent , Adam

- z u t h e and Eve carved as life si ed fig res , pulpit proper arranged

t h e h th e amidst branc es and foliage , and canopy of the pulpit

th e Of is surmounted with Angels . During palmy days Italian

u r or art many large p lpits were erected , some suppo ted by five

um th e s t h e m t h e of six col ns, base of colu ns standing on backs

u e lions, with bal strad s of open work , and rich and elaborate carving round the cornice . h Suc splendid pulpits are found i n the Baptistery of Pisa, t h h of o and in e great C urches Fl rence . A frequent arrange — ment was th at each angle of th e lofty pulpit someti mes an

m e — hexagon , someti s an octagon in shape was adorned by a

h - z sculptured statue . I n ot er examples large life si ed figures of s Apo tles or symbolic characters , such as Wisdom or Charity, of the emblems the four Evangelists , s ometimes an Angel with a trumpet in hand , and scroll that declared he was preachi ng ‘ to ’ the everlasting Gospel all the world (at S . Thomas Church , f Portsmouth) . An e figy of Jesus victorious , and with a banner

d w z in His han , often crowns the canopy in S it erland . Strasburg

- Cathedral has a most richly carved stone pulpit , with staircase

- f f . o tracery work , and finishing with a kind o open work spire

e ffi ie s of t On the side of the pulpit steps are the g the archi ect ,

a n d Me a mil do wh o his wife, his son , his daughter , f y g , appears of to have been very well fed and made a great pet .

‘ I n England many pulpits are dated , and enriched with a text .

At Wells Cathedral the nave pulpi t is Of classical architecture , “ w : t h e with the ords of S . Paul Preach word i n season and ” h w “ u of & c . o of o t season , The text Ezra made a pulpit wood and set i t up , is a great favourite, and many Jacobean

1 6 0 pulpits are carved with the date 9, at which time the canon was passed by convocation for their erection i n all Churches .

Of late years many pulpits have been set up as memorials .

’ That marble one which stands under the dome of S . Paul s was put up by a sorrowing mother to commemorate a young officer wh o fell i n the Crimean War . The oldest pulpit in this country

oa k on e h . is the i n Mellor Church , Derbys ire (c ’ b of . The pulpit S Mary s , Oxford , from which pro ably have of been delivered the most memorable discourses this century , f f f o . o o i s erected against a pillar the nave It is oak , but poor “ ” 1 8 2 . Churchwarden Gothic , and 3 is the date Here New

e man preached before he retir d to Littlewood , where a small

of “ mercilessly lashed by Cowper, the poet the Evangelical

” party , then rising to influence The dandy pr e acher used to wear lavender gloves when

f t h e of O ficiating , but poor parson often appeared i n a pair seedy of black kid gloves , which showed signs wear , when n o funeral had supplied a fresh pair . The undertakers had a stock ready f of ’ at every genteel uneral , an d a pair gloves was the parson s perquisite , to which , i n the case Of a wealthy parishioner, was

d l - adde a b ack silk scarf and also a hat band .

i The general accusation aga nst sermons is their dryness .

e of The story is w ll known the Old Scotchwoman who , seeing the minister arrivi n g at the Kirk door dripping from an un

’ expected shower , remarked Eugh you ll be dry enough when yo gets into the pulpit .

The m odern pulpit is no longer furnished as of yore, with a sounding - board above and a ponderous cushion in front of the

” For preacher . hence came the sobriquet , a cushion thumper . Old Bishop Gregg was reported t o have said that he knew whether or no the Gospel was preached by Observing if any dust arose W from the pulpit when struck by the episcopal fist . hen first

stone pulpits became fashionable , i t was amusing to watch some preacher , forgetting that the comfortable cushion n o longer

on of e existed , bri nging down his hand the edge the ston f cornice , and thereat wi ncing with pain . One great di ficulty — has always existed that whilst pulpits are fixed i n their dime n

sions , preachers vary greatly i n height . A Dissenting Chapel of in the South England has an ingenious arrangement , by which that if Sunday be seculariz ed and given up wh olly or i n great p art

wh m u h u to pleasure, ether any other ti e wo ld be found w ich wo ld w of be devoted to religion , or if the orship God would not

m th e almost cease to be reme bered , as we are told is case i n m Protestant parts of Ger any .

h m m th Of m T e e . experi ent was ade, in days King Ja es I and m Th m “ I . e his son Charles , of a iddle course . fa ous Book of

m u Sports , or proclamation of King Ja es , was iss ed after a

h h h o n Royal progress t rough Lancas ire, whic c unty contai s the

m Of m h wa s largest nu ber hereditary Ro an Cat olics . Here it

f t h e o of t h e f allowed, by Royal authority , that a ter cl se a ternoon Church Service the people might enjoy their games and sports — “ dancing and arch ery and t h e women to h ave leave to carry rush es to t h e Ch urch for the decorating of it according to old

m th e of h m custo , and were not to have privilege t is per ission “ h h ” unless they had first come to C urc and served God .

t h e In the reign of Henry VIII . parishioners were directed ,

u v t h e th e after S nday Ser ice, to shoot at butts erected near

Churchyard . It is well known th at John Calvin played bowls on Sunday

n in flu afternoo s at Geneva , but as the Puritanical party gained of h h ence, their Observance Sunday as the Jewis Sabbat became i str cter . Some writers think th at the reh earsal of the Commandments

th e was due to e influenc Of foreign reformers , but it very likely arose from a habit of t h e Priest instructing and preparing th e when there was no sermon , that the Priest should recite the Ten Commandments together with the Creed and Lord ’s

e — Prayer . They w re first inserted i n 1 5 5 2 . The Kyries as

“ ” on the petitions , Lord , have mercy us , are technically called , and which are taken from the imploring words of Blind — Bartim ae us are the survivals of a Lita ny which once was sung of at the beginning the Com munion Office . With regard to the lit e ral meaning of the Ten Command ments , they are to b e understood as enlarged and explained by the New Testament Scriptures .

We must , for instance, i n regard to the question of images “ remember that , as Dr . Arnold has s o well said , The Incarna tion has abrogated the Second Commandment . God has, in

our mercy to human weakness , permitted man to behold his God of veiled i n Flesh , and thus , when the Son God prese nted of Himself to the eyes men , H e sanctioned reverent hands to paint the semblance of His Human Form and carve the re p re

n t a ti n se o Of the Divi ne Manhood . O n the rood beam of a Church at Ma e st re ch t is painted the following inscription , immediately u nder the crucifix

E ffi ie m C h d um ron us h g risti transis p onora ,

” At non e fflgie m sed q uem designat adora . Which may be rendered

“ Low bending as y ou pass revere t h e effigy of C h rist ; h f h m B ut t e m b ut . not or adore , He W o it represents

H ow the heart of the traveller i n Bavaria or Southern Germany i s cheered as he sees amongst the fields or at the

- or cross roads the crucifix exalted , and preaching i n wood stone the everlasting Gospel . a t th e 39q Qt unn n un tun . 6 3

h a s i h out fiercely the Sabbatar an question been foug t , but per haps some clue to the difficulty may be found if we constantly bear in mind that there are counsels of perfection as well as m of command ents Obligation . Th e Sabbatarian dwells strongly on th e clear expressions of h the Fourt Commandment in all th eir dogmatic character . On h h h the ot er side , t ere are the arguments whic are drawn from the language and the attitude assumed by our blessed Saviour

t . on the subjec It is asserted by Dr. Hessey that no example exists in early Church history of a n y Christian being punished

’ on s th e for refusing to work the Lord Day . Yet still spirit of the Commandment seems to ask for the consecration Of a

fixed part of our time . There are in existence various forms of prayers and arrange h ments for celebrating the Holy Communion . T ese are very h h h ancient , and though they differ in t eir details t ey ave a

m on e great rese blance to another, pointing to a common h ow m original . We can easily understand anuscripts got

t h e of h ow u varied in process copying , and nat rally small differences would arise between th e practices of one Diocese h and another . T ese ancient forms are by Liturgiologists divided “ th e u i nto families . But most famo s of these ancient liturgies h h h are t ose w ic go by the names Of S . James , S . Mark , S . Peter, h . f t h o of . o e and S Jo n The first was that Jerusalem, sec nd

th e t h e Of Alexandria, third of Rome, and fourth S . John . “ “ — th e or — first The familiar name Missa, Mass occurs and merit is sent up to Heaven by the ministry of angels . “ ” or The earliest Services did not contai n Collects , Gospel s ,

Epistles . The Service was often , through persecuting days , n o doubt abbreviated and brief, but additional prayers and ceremonies were gradually added as time went on .

The Collect is so called , it is sai d by some writers , because its expressions and words were drawn and collected from the

Bible . Another derivation was because used when the congre

n ga tio was called out or collected together for Divine Worship . Everyone has heard of the critical day when the Dean of

’ Edinburgh read the Prayer B ook Service in S . Giles Cathedral , and the Service had reached the poi nt where the Collect for the

Seventh Sunday after Trinity was given out . It was then the old wrathful woman , Jeannie Gedde s , ignorantly thinking that there was some connection between Collect (a Prayer) and “ ’ ’ e colic (a pain) , exclaimed , I ll gie a colic i n thy wame

’ hurled her low stool at the Clergym an s head , and a riot out burst , since which day the Scottish Prayer Book has not been used in the sacred building ! One of the varieties Of Liturgical Offices is that called the ’ M Sera bic of —in O . It formerly was used in the South Spain that

wa s district which once under Moorish occupation . The authorities, m during the Middle Ages , at Rome, strove to introduce unifor ity , but those who valued their accustomed Mose ra bic ritual st re n u

ousl . d y opposed the change A Council was hel , but could n ot

of h a e decide, and , in curious accordance with the views t at g , it was settled that the question should be finally decided by two of th e $9q C ummun tun . 65

m m sung and Observed . It see s to have in so e degree influenced Cranmer and his coadjutors in the alteration of the English

Services .

If our painters want a new subject for a picture , the conflict between th e ch ampion of the pro - Roman party and th e warrior

of th e m who defended the cause local Span ish ritual , the glea ing f u w armour O the Spanish chivalry, mixed p ith copes, and mitres ,

u h t h e and cowls , would supply colo r and brig tness to whole scene .

” h m u h e m T ere is another fa o s ritual , t at call d the A brosian , and which is still in use at Milan . It is traditionally ascribed of to the great Saint and his rules . One its peculiarities is that

n it allows only a si gle Altar . There is also a curious trace of early custom—the Bread and Wine for the Communion are presented at the commencement of th e Service by a band of old

h - h w o t e . lay people, are now alms folk belonging to Cathedral Few of the ancient Liturgies allude to the Fraction of the of Consecrated Bread , but this has ever been a part our Service .

There is a very curious Observance in th e Mose ra bic Rite

h t h e or of wit regard to Fraction Breaking the Bread . The

th e h Priest broke wafer into seven small fragments, whic were arranged into a cruciform figure, and to each morsel was assigned ” ” m si n ifi ca tion — h a na e and g t us , Incarnation , Death , “ ” ” & c . & c . Birth , Resurrection , , The English Office is thought by many Liturgiologists to be defective in not having th e in vo

of h on e th cation the Holy Spirit , and t is was of e alterations introduced by Archbishop La n d in the Prayer Book wh ich he

drew up for the Scottish Church , where a prayer for the blessing of the Divine Spirit is introduced before th e Consecration of

the Elements .

The Eucharistic Sacrament is i n its importance so great , and of h in its devotional aspect so hig and solemn a nature, that in of this book it must be regarded as the Holy Holies, into which

E we may not enter but we tarry, as it were, in the outer court , and speak only about the blessed Communion i n its historical aspect , noticing only the customs and practices which have through many centuries crystalli z ed as it were around the central h to rite Of Christianity . T ose who wish study the subj ect should

’ Burbid e s avail of Prebendary g very useful book . There is no true Christian who will n ot lament that the Sacrament of love a n d union should have been turned into the

b - barren and itter field of controversy . Truth is many si ded , and our differences often arise from our only looking at on e side

r of a thing o a question .

If in holy things the Ritualist errs , he errs on t he right side . too It is scarcely possible to be too reverent , full Of devotion , for anything which our blessed Lord has spoken Of as so closely connected with H imself as the Divine institution of

c rificia l His Mem orial and Sa Feast . There is a great deal of wisdom i n the lines which are p Opu la rly said to have b e en composed by Queen Elizabeth as the

of c f statement her views . They are arved under the pulpit o

— - the Church of Walton ou Thames

Ch rist t h e s oke was Word and p it , He took t h e Bread and brake it

h th e h m And w at Word dot ake it , h " T at I believe , and take it .

3k

In th e Greek Church the Priest places a fragment of bread in a silver spoon , and dipping it i n the chalice , thus adm inisters f the wine to the people . In the Church o Rome , as is well known , the chalice is , contrary to ancient rules , withheld from the lay people . In som e Eastern Churches the communicants received the consecrated wine through a tube . The bread in t h e Oriental Christian communities is leavened . In the We st

6 8 Eli e ( Et h er f a r th e g h miirtstra tfun

h a ssure n ce of sa l ua t ion T ey grow to deare ,

T h e spirit of truth doth th em direct and lead . Th ey fe e le t h e power of Ch ristes death and passion

h m t h e t u h of Working in t e , r e deat all sinne ,

An d t h e of u u power His glorio s res rrection ,

a sin l fe R y g th em v p a new y to beginne . To th em it is a true and ce rt a y n e token h h f m h h f T at t ey ro C rist s all never o be broken . u f h Having tr e ait working by sincere lone ,

r h Th eir names a e written in eaven abo ue .

H RD A L IU N A B . 1 6 1 0 . I C A L . of O R xxii . ctober ,

of . By the direction S Cyprian , the communicants p laced

n e an h o h d above the other , t at the palm Of the right should

form , as it were , a throne to receiv e the King . At a later period th e Priest placed the wafer in the month of the kneeling m com unicant . In mediaeval times it was usual for women to receive the consecrated wafer in a cloth , whic h they hel d between their

e ] hands , and which was call d a Dom inica . ff The elements were anciently O ered by the people , and

n of after some centuries , during which the expe ses Divine

out worship were paid Of the Churc h rate, agai n we have in most Churches returned to the Aposto lic custom of an offertory

’ on our every Sunday . The money in grand fathers times was

f to or often collected i n wooden boxes a fix ed long handles , sometimes a kind of metal receptacle was used , i n shape like

- a m iniature warming pan . In France they use bags fixed “ of rod to the end a kind of , with which in his hand the

” or Swiss , beadle, goes about fishing amon gst the chairs for an alms !

- When alms bags were introduced , some foolish and profan e

t o five - persons used put in buttons , and French centime pieces , in the habit of putting brass buttons into th e alms - bags are

n ot un fit s for requested to remove the shanks , as it the buttons

n ot d th e their original use, and does eceive Almighty

h m th e In t e Missionary reports sent ho e , we read Of natives i t h f o of Africa bringing palm o l as a contribution to e o fert ry . In rural parts of India th e Ch ristian converts th row in daily of h a handful rice into a certain jar, and t is jar on Sunday is h h f taken to the Mission C urc , and its contents are o fered at t h e Altar . Th ere was in ancient days employed i n the Ch urch Service — an i mplement which would look strange to our eyes the m t h h or . e Ecclesiastical Fan , Flabellu In Sout ern countries of u Europe a large fan is most usef l in driving away the flies .

’ m e f I n Ro it was made o peacocks feathers . They are some

Of m times constructed etal and ivory , an d are borne before h o t h very hig ecclesiastical pers nages . In e Eastern Church a flab e llum is handed over to the D ea con as the insignia of his Office There is still in existence a prayer for the con secration of a h fan , in whic the flies are compared to evil spirits which are to be driven from the soul . In hot countries th ere is great difficulty in keeping the insects f h m out o the c alice at the Com union . No doubt a similar ffi f Th o . e di culty led to the use the fan Pope, when he

h a s m Of h h appears in state, agnificent fans ostric feat ers , borne on w each side Of his chair. And liturgic fans ere used in early cession thus we have lost i n England the impressive spectacle of the Priest preceded by a chorister ringing a bell , and “ h is arrayed i n his vestments , taking way to give the last

” rites of the Church to some dying person . There is in German history an interesting account of the holy w a afer, enclosed i n a case or monstr nce , as it was called , being carried from a neighb ouring village Church and held up before

of th e the eyes Emperor Maximillian , when he had , whilst

Z th e hunting near irl in Tyrol , descended i nto a most dangerous

n h position o t e side of a mountain . He had climbed down to a ledge so narrow that he could hardly stand , and from which

n o f he could get arther onward , and neither upwards nor down

for fift - ff wards . There he clung more than y two hours all e orts seeming useless for his rescue The Emperor wrote a messa ge on on e Of of his tablets , tied it to a stone by the cord his hunting horn , and hurling forth the stone down the precipice, it was found and read by his people , who were anxiously watching at the foot Of the mountain . He asked pardon of his subj ects

th e f Z he entreated their prayers , and asked that Priest o irl might bring the monstrance and raise it before his eyes , though — afar off i n the valley below that so he migh t find comfort i n

of . the hour death However , when all hope seemed lost, he was helped out Of his perilous and desperate position by a stranger, who disappeared unnoticed amidst the excitement . of ’ In contrast with this story the Kaiser s faith and piety , let us remember that it is credibly stated that on e or more of the Popes was poisoned with a consecrated wafer during the Middle Ages !

u of t h e u t h e C h t h e close An interesting pict re rit al at Royal apel , at ut th e $em ( Bummun iun . 71

f t h e of h e r h h m years be ore end reign , a point w ic it is i portant to keep m in ind . " Th e m u f t h e Gos e ll in t h e ost sacred Q een , a ter Holy p was redd

h f m m h e r Ma e ste s t ra v e ss C o 8. apple Ja es , ca e down into j (a traverse

f f h e r m t h e o h u . was a kind screen , wit c rtains) Be ore Hyness ca e

t m Pe n cion e rs h t h e — t h e B issh O s gen le en , t en Barons pp , London and

Lla n da ffe t h e h e oun ce ll h u of t . C , Earls and Hon in t eir colo rs State t h e of m —t h e r b e a rin e t h e h im Harolds Ar s Lord Keepe g Great Seal ,

h e r s selfe and t h e Erle of Hereford bearing t h e Sword before Maj e t ie .

h h e r R m m h fu h u T en oyal person ca e ost c eer lly , aving noble s pporters , t h e of th e h h t h e Ad m ra l t h e f Earl Essex on rig t and and Lord y on le te , h t e h m . r u a t t h e Lord C a berlain attendant all t h e wh ile D . B ll was

O la in e t h e ffe r r H r M e st ie h e r t ra ve ss m rgan p y g O t o y e . e aj entered ost

u h kn e lin e f m sh e m f t h e devo tly t en y g a ter so e prayers ca e be ore table ,

h h umb le kn ie lin e ff t h e Ob sa n t t h e and t en y g did o er Gold y (obeisance) , Bish op and t h e Honorable Fath er of Worcester h old e in g t h e Golden — th e Sub - t h e h c oa e s t Bason dean and Epistler , in ric e p , assis ante to t h e sa y d e Bish op ; wh ich done h e r Majesty ret urned to h e r princely t ra v e ss un t l t h e Of t h e C mm u c on t n ua ll y present action Holy o nion , y y e xe rc se d h t h e m t y in ernest prayer , and t en Blessed Sacra en , first

of t h e sa d e B ush o a dmin isste re d t h e Sub - received y p p , and to dean t h e r for h t o t h e r h e r Gospelle t at day and Epistle , sacred person

’ h f f t h e R f presented ersel be ore Lord s table , oyally attended as be ore ,

h t uissin s for h e r Ma e stie w ere was sett a sta ely stool and q j , and so h umb le y kn ie lin ge with most singular devotion and h oly e reverence dy d most c omfort a b ly e re ce y ve t h e most Blessed Sacramente Of C h ristes body e and Blood in t h e kinds Of bread and wine a ccordin ge to t h e laws

h h e r s i m T h e establis ed by Maj e t e and godly laws in Parlia ent . bread beinge wa ffe r bread of som e th icker substance wh ich h e r Maj e st ie in a most reverend manner toke of t h e Lord B ush op in h e r naked righ t h h e r sa t isf e d h fi xin e h e r m m u n and , y ert g se blant eyes ost entirely pp o t h e wort h e m u t h e B ush o h h y words sacra ental , prono nced by p , t at wit such a h oly e aspecte as it dy d m igh t e ly e adde comforts to t h e godly e beh olders (wh ereof th is writer was one very meare) and likewise h e r

Ma e st ie re ce a ve d t h e cu e h a v in e m l n n e d j p p , g a ost princely y cloth e la y d on h e r cush ion p a llowe s and borne at t h e foure ends by t h e foure

T r M noble Erles . h e side of t h e cloth e h e aj e stie toke up in h e r h and drinke of t h e same most devo utly (all th is ti me kn ie lin ge on h e r knees) t o t h e m t of h e r f h u c om fort e h e r u confir a ion ait e , and absol te in p rged c onscience by t h e H oly e Spirit of God in th e e xe rcy se of th is H oly e

C mm u re t e rn in e h e r h u o nion , and so g to sayd traviss t ere devo tly stayed h f ” t e end o prayers .

a of m a n English char cter, which set forth the duty to their

e neighbours , in road making and bridg building But chief of the efforts of Christians it holds up the Baptism of poor and helpless infants

Of all we rky s in th is world e t h at ever were wro ugh t — ’ Holy C h urch e is ch efe th ese ch ildren been c h e r se d (ch erish ed)

’ For by Baptism th ese barnes (bairns) to bliss been i brough t

” h u h t h e f f f h o . T ro g grace God , and ayre re res ed

f The di ficulty is greatly caused by the clergy having , accord

ing to present rules , to ask for sponsors . Tradition says that in

on a m anufacturing town i n Lancashire , Sunday afternoons a of to crowd young men used stand outside in the churchyard ,

s on sors of waiting to be hired as p , a certain quantity beer being considered the necessary honorarium— the child and the hire ling sponsors never meeting again perhaps It was once a custom i n the early Church to give the Holy

m 1 0 Com union to infants , and so late as 5 7 there was a rule of in th e diocese Constance , that when the chalice was cleansed

th e a n d the Priest with ablution moistened the lips Of the child ,

using an appropriate collect , prayed that the infant might , by

of of or the reception the ablution wine wine and water, be to of blessed the benefit m in d and body . Connected with the subj ect of Baptism is a passage i n the

on of f writings of S . Paul which is e the most di ficult verses in the New Testament . It occurs i n the argument on the resur of of rection the dead , in the fifteenth chapter the First Epistle

“ ’ n do w/zo a re oa l iz ea or to the Corinthia s , What shall they p f

Me Of t hese words n o fewer than fairly - se ve n inter p re ta tion s have b een proposed by commentators ancient and m odern An effort was made at on e period to explain the passage as

of t o a s referring to a custom the early Christians b ptize proxie , e u h m would have don e v ry well , only no s c custo could be found

h m t h e to have at any time existed . S . C rysosto explains passage m m h m m to ean that at Baptis the catec u en is co manded to say, “ ” t h e z I believe in resurrection of the body, and he is bapti ed h “ h f t h . o e in that fait If then t ere is no resurrection body,

ou z t h e h t h e why are y bapti ed for dead , t at is to say , in pro fe ssion of a faith that they will arise again I

u - a - The belief of all co ntry sextons half century ago, and h later, was t at fonts were a providential arrangement for

for supplying a rubbish hole candle ends and dusters . The Gothic revival gav e us back octagon stone fonts instead of h m h t e arble basin and thin pedestal of classical Ch urc es .

n h f r th of S . Ambrose assig ed t is reason o e octagonal form the Baptistery

“ Oct a ch orum sa n ct os m um surre xit u u oc t a on us f te pl in s s g ons est ,

i n m un e re d g us e o.

um d e c uit B a t ism a t is u m u uo o ulis Hoc n ero sacri p a te s rgere , q p p

u re iit sua sal s d .

u re sur e n t is C h ui u re solv it m e t t umulis L ce g risti , q cla stra ortis , a

susc it e t m exa ines .

f m h T h r h t e f of . T ese lines were or erly inscribed on ont S ecla . T ei meaning is as follows

m h h h a s for u t h e A te ple wit eig t sides arisen sacred p rposes , and

m fo t h e Of for h h w f r . a s ont is octagonal , eet fice w ic it is designed It

h t h e h u w h h um fit t at Baptistery s o ld be erected it t is n ber , since by

m u ur t h e h t h e h of Holy Baptis tr e salvation ret ned to people , wit lig t

C h f m t h e W h o h a s t h e of h a n d rist rising ro dead , loosed bands deat , Eve standing close by . B ut even when a thi n and attenuated

n h n sto e font , with Got ic ornam ents , had been supplied , a ki d h of compromise was i ntroduced . That a sexton s ould have to m t oo fill a font with water , and afterwards to e pty it , seemed

e Of Herculean a labour, for the simpl expedient a drain and f O plug did not occur to th e architects o that era . S inside the stone font was placed a neat little white earthenware basin , of designed in Gothic , with a cover to match , about the size of a vegetable dish , and this b eing introduced into the cavity the font , was filled with water as a happy expedient .

Now , i n some Churches in South Wales marble Baptisteries have b een introduced with m uch effect i n meeting the p re j u

’

of . . dices the Dissenters At S John s , Torquay , there is a

' similar Bath or Baptistery , at the west end , into which you can h descend by five steps , and which is lined wit rare specimens m Of the most beautiful Devonshire arbles .

There was in Yorkshire 3. superstition that the first child christened in a n ew font would die, and the story is told that

o under such circumstances a new f nt) , the sturdy black “ h ’ smith said to the Parson , Please , Sir, folks say t at t first

’ n e w child as is baptized i a Church is bound to dee . The

’ ’

Un . Old (the Devil) claims it Now, Sir, I ve s even little lasses

’ ’ n e w l n o . t ou d t and but lad I f this were a lass again a mattered , but as it ’s a lad I won ’ t risk it There is also amo n gst some people a strong feeling that it is unlucky to name a child the same nam e as that of an elder

or brother sister who have died , but amongst the poor this is of a frequent practice . Two children the same name having m died , the parents proposed to call a third by the sa e name . w The clergyman suggested a change , but the m other ans ered ,

i h e v for , ; f L Nay Sir the ord a fancy John Henries , He

’ n of mun hev em a stra ge mixture resignation and fatalism . ’ Eh e h aptismal é e rfi fees. 79

In the good old times it of course followed that there must be eating and drinking—the tradition of a christening cake has

old own still survived . An gentleman writes about his Baptism , “ from nea rsay we suppose : My uncle was Godfather . The f ’ Parson drank a glass o wine to my mother s health , and the ‘ ’ of Clerk said Amen , and papers sweetmeats were distributed

” to those present and sent to absent friends . Many volumes have been written on the baptismal con t r ve rs on e of o y , but the most amusing passages occurred in a

for sermon which a young Curate wrote . He had applied a of Curacy to the Bishop B . The Bishop was busily engaged , and asked him to wait a couple of hours till he should have

to . complete leisure to attend his application Meanwhile, the Bishop suggested that he should fill t h e time by writing a “ n sermon . The Curate asked on what subject . Somethi g ” on for plain and practical the arguments infant Baptism , was SO suggested by the Bishop . the young man took pen and

MS. paper and sat down , and in due course produced his , which “ contained this remarkable passage , In ancient times , when

e people bathed their whole bodi s , Baptism by immersion was usual ; but i n the present day, when people only wash their

s r hands and faces, Baptism by prinkling o effusion is considered f su ficient . Many strange examples of Christian names may be found

our by those who search old Baptismal Registers . There was an opinion amongst our ancestors that it was illegal to have

on e more than name, hence double Christian names are very

1 0 0 rare before the year 7 . Such names as our grandparents

- - c were familiar with , like Sarah Ann , William Henry , & . , were united with a hyphen , and so supposed to conform to the law.

b n fi A country Parson , who a few years ago held a small e e ce , was driving home on a Sunday evening i n his pony carriage 80 Ch e Eap tifimal é e rbire s.

’ of when he descried a gipsy s van on the edge his parish , of with several ragged children round it . Full zeal at the sight , he stopped , and asked if the little ones were baptized

r n ot . n ot o They were , but the parents expressed a wish that they should be . Fearing that they would hardly appear at

t h e to Church on next Sunday , or be able find sponsors , he decided t o christen them at once with the shorter form of the

Private Baptism Service , but was somewhat perplexed when , asking the name to be given to the eldest girl , the father “ ” expressed a wish that she should b e called Trinity Augusta . t o of However, it occurred his mind that he had heard Spanish

Sh l S h p called after most sacred persons , and supposed t at som e recollection of such foreign custom had traditionally li n gered

t h e of amongst gipsies . So in the twilight a summer evening , in the lonely dell where they were encamped , the three littl e ones of the wandering race were baptized into the Catholic “ ” n wh . o Church Another strange gipsy ame is Merrily , was said to be a queen amongst her people , and whose epitaph is shown i n Yatton Churchyard , Somerset

l u Here lies Merri y Jo les , ut h A bea y brig t ,

W h o f u le t Isaak Jo les . h ’ h ” His eart s delig t .

n Amongst some stra ge Christian names , the following may ’ — be culled from an antiquary s not e book A ccep ted Frewer

of Tna n k n l R ve r (who becam e Archbishop York) , also f and i

’ ’ oroa n Sile n ce j (a lady s name) , with which may be added

x r e e r D efi a n ce an d also E p e i n c . The Service fo the aspersion of for sprinkling with holy water had , as is quoted elsewhere , an anthem in the Sarum use these words , which were used i n the procession m m u rom s m n B a t srn e Re e ber yo r p y ade y p y ,

h r st s m fu n - sh e d n A C y y erci l blo d y g , By t h e wh y ch e most Holy Sp ry n kly n g

h ire Of all youre sinne youe ave pardon .

of m h f In tracing the history Baptis , let us ere quote rom Tertullian the followi n g account of the administration Of Baptism in the primitive Church We do i n the Ch urch testify under th e han d of a ch ief Minister that we renounce th e

h i h e s . Devil , pomps , and his angels , t en are we thric dipped After this coming forth from the bath we are anointed with a blessed unction , next to this the hand is laid upon us , calling upon and inviting the Holy Spirit through the blessing— some

th e h Of of undertaking c arge us , we first taste a mixture honey m ” and ilk .

t h e th e th e f In latter half Of fourth century , from lectures o

C ril S. y , of Jerusalem , we may gather in some detail the m “ baptis al ceremonies of that period First , ye entered

t h e w h Of h into out ard all the Baptistery, and t en facing towards m f h d the west , ye heard the co mand to stretch orth your an , of and, as if in the presence Satan , ye renounced him , with h im arm outstretched , to say to , as though actually present , ‘ th I renounce thee, Satan , and all y works , and all thy pomp , h ’ h h and all t y service . T en t ou wert told to say : oelie z/e in l /ze Fa iner a n d in Me Son a n d in i/ze H ol Gnosi a n d , , y ,

’ in on e B a tism o re e n ta n ce e p f p , and thes things were done h in the outer c amber . As soon as ye entered into the inner h off h c amber ye put your garment, and t is was an image of

off . h putting the Old man with his deeds T en , when ye were Cross to the Sepulchre , which is before your eyes , and each of you was asked whether ye b elieved in the name of the

h of of th e e Fat er, and the Son , and Holy Ghost , and ye mad that saving confession and descended three times into the water and ascended again , here also pointing by a figure to the three

’ f h - days burial o C rist . At the self same moment ye died and were born ! After ye had come up from the pool of the

sacred stream the unction was given . This holy Ointme n t to was symb olically appl ied thy forehead and to other senses , and while t h y body is anointed with visible ointment thy soul

” - is sanctified by the holy and life giving Spirit . To th ese early customs Of the Church was added the practice

r of wearing white garments for eight days o more . Th e earliest Baptismal Office is that found i n the Sacra

i of a l siu 8 of m n ta r e s G a s . e and Gregory, a brief summary which gives us the following particulars “ At the eighth hour

m . n (two p ) the Clergy assembled, an d two tapers having bee

lighted , were held by two readers , whilst a third reader, pro

c e e din t o or g the ambo or desk , read eight lessons appropriate of passages Scripture , each followed by a Collect . Then came

a procession with lights to the font, a Priest bearing the h ampulla of anoi nting oil . T en were said the prayers for the of benediction the water by th e Bishop, who divided the water of h with his hand in the form a Cross , next held a taper i n t e

h on water, t en breathed the water thrice , lastly pouring i n Oil i n the form of the Cross ! Then came the questions and

. m answers Lastly , after the i mersion , came the anoi nting

” with the chrism .

Thus the form of Baptism was made up i n the m ediae val of — period three constituent portions the vow of renunciation , of of the vow belief, and the vow Obedience . Sometimes there are peculiarities in performing the Baptismal

of eor e of a child by th e nam e G g , that the then reigning

Hanoverian Monarch . “ 1 281 Archbishop Peckham , in his canons in , enj oi ns , Let Priests take care th at names which carry a lascivious sou nd h e n ot of given to children at their Baptism , es pecially to those the female sex ; if they be , let them be altered by the Bishops at

Confirmation . The eves of Easter and Pentecost were fixed for general f m Baptisms , but in ants were to be christened in good ti e withi n n w ine nights , and heavy penalties ere laid by several Councils f r or o delay neglect in Baptism . But a strange custom is alluded to in some early cano n s

’ that B a ptism should n ot b e performed with wine ! I n case of

or h necessity th e sacred rite was to be done by father mot er, and a strange medi aeval craz e m ade some persons imagi ne that this destroyed the marriage of the parents ! Sponsors were

on e n h n forbidden to marry another, havi g t us e tered into a spiritual relation with each other . I n the Roman Catholic m of register books , for this reason , the na es the sponsors are inserted . of There is a record Of a certai n burgess Maidstone , i n Kent , who was publicly whipp e d round the town for the crime of marrying his c o- sponsor

’ s 1 2 6 In Archbishop Edmunds constitution , as establi hed in 3 , it was commanded that i n every Church should b e a Baptistery of stone, handsomely covered and reverently kept , and in cases of private Baptism the water used was either to be cast i nto the h fire or carried to the C urch to be poured into the font , and the vessel used was to be burnt or handed over for the use of the Church .

n There is a quaint story bearing on this poi t, which was ’ ismal s C h e Bap t Q e rh t t e . 83 youth ful Curate of the new Oxford views was called to a

’ m s h ouse t o respectable far er christen an ailing infant . To

th e h e old h h do honour to event, a very andsom c ina punc

b out - bowl was rought , which had belonged to a much respected

h h h u Th e t h e of t e . e grandfat r, and whic was pride ho se service

th e m h h concluded , Curate sole nly carried fort the c ina bowl ,

h on t h e reverently poured fort the sanctified water ground, and

h a m h Old b t h e t en deliber tely s as ed the china asin on doorstep,

h u d f w n m n lest it s o l be a ter ards profa ed by ea er uses , and in

h i r Th o . e utter Oblivion of its value as c na , as a family relic h storm w ich followed may easily be imagined . The visitor t o the Jewel Ch amber at t h e Tower of London is

h u shown a ge silver basin , of great value , but unecclesiastical h h h m h s ape , w ic is e ployed at Royal C risteni ngs . More magnificent th an any font of stone are th ose Baptisteries i n Italy which surprise t h e English traveller with th eir si z e and

h h s f or h a . O . splendour, suc as t o e Pisa , Florence, S Jo n L teran

h u f n z or o o . T ese are ro nd octag nal buildings , co siderable si e

u of h h e That of Pisa is b ilt marble , and muc enric d by carvings

um on h and col ns , and c tains an elaborate pulpit , adorned wit

e th e suitable sculptured scen es executed in low r lief. In centre

m of z u m is a arble basin large si e , s itable for adult Baptis s , while at th e side s are small circular basins suited for the

h h Th e c ristening of c ildren . Baptistery at Florence has the

- m z h s a n d h world fa ed bron e doors in its eig t side , t at at the h h Lateran basilica has a uge marble sarcop agus in its midst, traditionally said to have been used by Constantine th e Great when he became a Christian . On Easter Eve it is annually used for the Baptism of those Jews wh o h ave been converted

t h e m during previous year . So e sceptical Protestants imagine “ ” that there is much re semblance about t h e converts who appear from year to year Switzerland there seems a peculiarity of covering the font with

oak a carved cupboard , several feet high , a small door is unlocked

n n f o o e o the sides when the Priest uses the water . In som e foreign Churches an elaborate “ pulley ” apparatus of wrough t h ironwork is used with a cord to raise t e cover from the font. of One the most decorated fonts in England is found at Trunch , a rural parish i n Norfolk , which is not only itself richly carved ,

of on but has erected over it a groined canopy stone , supported

on eight pillars . At Dereham the font stands elevated a series of many octagonal steps . A solitary example of a font made out of a block of wood is

Erm e c h l d found at y , i n Denbighshire , but there are a few of of examples fonts of early character made lead, and fine

f n specimens o bronze are foun d o the Continent . I n some places a spoon was employed to pour on the water ; more comm only a scallop shell is used . A story is told , which must of h surely be fabulous , a Low Church Curate watc ing a B aptism conducted by a High Churchman i n the next parish , and

on remarking , So you put water it

A mysterious canon , passed at an English Council , lays down that not more than three persons should draw the infant out of of h th e font . What the meaning this can be i s ard to conceive , for how should any child require m ore persons than three to extricate it from a font ?

I n reference to Baptism being the enteri ng into the Church , the Old and almost universal custom is to place th e font near the west door . I n the unreformed service the evil spirit was exorcised and the child anointed with chrism and consecrated

of 1 Oil . The rubric 5 49 Prayer Book ordered the water to be changed every month . Napkins are sometimes used to dry the of f brow the child , an d the Priest , who begins the O fice with a

infant to a neighbouring parish “ and have it christened over again

w on A whole chapter might be ritten about i nscriptions fonts . Som e octagonal ones have on each panel an Angel carved “ , O holding a scroll respectively i nscribed One God , ne ” “ ” “ ” “ ” “ Hope, One Faith , One Father, One Spirit, One ” “ ” “ — Lord , One Baptism , One Church , thus impressing the h ’ unity Of the C urch s doctrine . Another favourite legend is

e or f written i n Greek l tters , and can be read backwards or “ n ot wards , signifying , Wash my face only , but cleanse away f . o my sins also Another inscription is brief, but full thought , “ h Th y n k and t ank . On very Old Norman fonts are some f times carved the signs o the Z odiac . There is a celebrated story of a missi onary of the Faith who to had persuaded a fierce Frankish Chi eftain to come the font, b ut a s h e was about to step in he paused and asked wh at was the state of his forefathers who had died u nbaptized ? The clerical reply was stern and uncompromising— they were w “ “ suffering down belo . Then , said the patriotic chief, I would rather perish with my forefathers than enjoy Heaven

” with strangers like you ! Sometimes i n those early days all the

e z on followers of the king w re bapti ed the same day . Thus, whe n Clovis became a Christian S . Remi at the same time of u bapti z ed a couple tho sand of his chief warriors . Some river was probably employed . NO doubt the situation of so many Church es near wells and streams is owing to the c on ve n ie n ce of havi n g wat e r at hand when the Baptism of adult C h e h ap ttsmal g e rh iees. 89

The Anabaptists of Trowbridge separated from the Church

on m because of their insisting i mersion , but a short time after they separated again on th e question whether the body should

a rtia ll or wli oll be p y y dipped in the water, and had a meeting house for e ach section . An American lady described a Baptismal Service in a large

h Th e and fashionable C apel . ceremony took place in the evening . The preaching platform was arranged with a kind of Th tank or bath . e first candidate was a graceful young girl arrayed i n white, and with her luxuriant hair falling in wavy

on h e r wh o e of th e masses shoulders , advanced to the edg

m th e e Baptistery , and, amidst the excite ent Of congr gation , dis of appeared beneath the water . There was a moment excite ment amongst the ladies present— would “ the minister h ave strength e nough to pull h e r up again ? But soon she re

— h e r h appeared romantic aspect muc lessened , her garments

h e r e damp and dripping , and tresses having lost th ir luxuriance and gloss . The next applicant was a stout man with a cork

m m e on . leg , who li ped up to the raised platfor He was car

wn th e fully assisted do steps , and placed in a recumbent f position to be entirely i mmersed , when an unexpected di ficulty — occurred the cork leg would not sink, but floated buoyantly on ! the surface It was at last held down , amongst the titters of the spectators . if out h However, we in England had pointed t at Baptism by of h immersion was the rule the Churc , many ignorant persons m might have b een kept back fro becoming schismatics . The careless way in which a few drops of water were sligh tly sprinkled

’ on the child s head gave no illustration to such passages in the

B uried wit/z ! Jim in B a tism Scripture as p . Often i n Italy an ancient sarcophagus Of granite or marble was made into a Christian font . The Romish clergy in Ireland on re - e insist baptizing converts , b cause , they say, the Anglicans are so careless i n their way of performi ng the sacred rite ! but our j unior clergy certainly do not n ow grudge the sanctified l ’ m e ement . In a neighbouring village to the wri ter s ho e , a child was supposed to have got sore eyes and other illnesses from —’ ’ being ooe r a osea with water by a fervent High C hurch Curate

on of - In writing the various items folk lore , tradition , and ’ m superstition which have gathered round the Church s cere onial ,

n like ivy twini g about an aged oak , it may suit the order of our arrangement to take up i n this chapter the subj ect of Holy f o . Baptism , and afterwards the other rites the Church Both in Scotland and i n the midland counti es there is a stro n g feeling against a girl being christened before a boy if it w to is done , the girl ill be sure have beard and whiskers , and the boy deprived of these adornments . In the North of Ireland there is a superstitious anxiety t o get “ the first of the water (perhaps ther e is some mental confusion with the account of

of on the Pool Siloam) , and each mother presses her infant the clergyman to be the first to be christened . There is another

’ th e of oa t - custom , to sew into infant s robe a piece cake, which is afterwards divided amongst the friends and guests . “ Of course in very ancient times immersion was the rule, hence the large size of many old fonts ; but amongst the wild

Giraldin a mb re n e n sis Irish , it is said by C , the right arm of the boys was left undipped , i n order that when they became warriors they might strike their foes with full heathenish vigour, unsoftened by any Christian feeli ngs It is difficult to find out when the custom of baptizing by

Sir Joh n Falstaff

A m I t h a d ch r som ch . ade a fine end and went away , an been any y ild

Much might be written on the subj ect of the extraordinary “ m ” answers given to the invitation , Na e this child . There is old an canon which forbids indecent and pagan names , and I presume on e might refuse to christen a girl Venus or a boy f Hercules , though I happen to know a Dean who is a flicted with this heathenish appellation . We a re all familiar with the extraordinary names chosen by t h e Puritans , the crowning absurdity being the Christian nam e “ of on e a h If- - B rebones , w ose Godparents had prefixed Christ had

” - - - h - - not died thou adst been damned , whilst Faith , Truth , Virtue, ut & c . n o . Charity, , were very commo , as has b een pointed

our own of of Even withi n days a father the name Pipe ,

t e m t a having a little son born unto him , could not resist the p f “ o . tion calling him Tobacco The poor babe died , and his “ ” n of tombsto e was sacred to the memory Tobacco Pipe , but the Rector of the parish i nsisted on the inscri ption being to “ shortened the initial letter only , T .

n ow m of Sponsors seldom exceed the nu ber three , b ut there

is , I believe , no limit , and Spanish grandees have numerous

ones . In medi ae val times cities and corporations stood sponsors of God for Princes , and it is recorded that the city Ghent was f father to John o Gaunt .

to . Sponsors were expected give presents If rich enough ,

of n ot on e the Godfather gave a set silver spoons ; i f wealthy , ffi of ’ spoon , and these bore on them the e gy the child s patron

“ ” of . Th e Saint . H ence came the name Apostle Spoons Th m pale in colour if any danger was near . e custo of using — — two stoles on e of violet hue and on e of wh ite during th e

e re fin e Baptismal S rvice, is now getting very usual , but such ments of ritual are n ot always practicable . There is a st ory of a Highlan d Minister being sent for to h bapti z e an ailing child up amongst t e hills . He followed the messenger, but during his absence a heavy storm had swelled

h h th e t e brooks and burns , so that when t ey came close to lonely mountain farm a little burn had risen into a roaring

e torrent Of som width , which the Minister could not cross .

m h im e x e However , it see ed a pity for to go back , so an p Th h o dient was found out . e child was broug t down close t th e of t h e or th e edge torrent , and a scoop , iron bowl , fixed at

of h w . end a long handle, was t ro n over to the Minister With this implement th e good man did his b est to throw a little water

’ th e h out across rus ing stream on to the child s brow, shouting , Hae t h e bairn got On y P until the eff usion was completed ! We must h ope the e xposure did the infant n o harm !

e of Ther is an amusing story the late Dean Burgon , which ought not to be left out in this chapter . Whilst he was ’ — of - th e - h h th e Vicar S . Mary Virgin s C urc , Oxford from pulpit of which Cardinal Newm an delivered h is famous sermons a o h parishi ner broug t a male child to be christened . Upon h h Mr . Burgon asking t e sponsors w at name they desired “ “ ” u ! to give the baby , they replied , Ven s . Venus he ex ‘ ? ’ “ Venus Well , no , Sir , he coughed and stam mered I ‘S l ’ ‘ was christened y vanus , but folks always call m e Venus . Perhaps there may be a little that is interesting i n an extract giving an account of a royal christening in the time Of Ki n g

f n f l I . O o e o James , his chi dren

h h Th e m 1 6 0 Ma t . of t h e ( 5 , y s , at Greenwic ) order and anner Service performed in and by t h e C h appell at t h e C h rist n in ge of Marye t h e

f h e Mi h t ie m h f f e f u h e o t &c . t e t o 1 6 . da g t r g Kinge , Ja es , , y Maye , Anno 0 5

“ At t h e t y m e wh en th e Royall In fant sh ould be brough t to t h e

C h t h e m of t h f m m oin e appell , gentle en at place (a ter any co panies g g before) went out of t h e C h appell two and two in th er surple sse s unto t h e n urce rie t h f t h m t h e of t h e C h doore , ere ollowing e Deane appell ,

f m t h e h h of C u h h of next a ter ca e Arc Bis op anterb ry , bot e in ric copes

llworke Th re t urn in e m t h e wh N e e de . o en all g , ca e noble Babe , was

u ca n n a e e of h of t h e m carried nder a p clot goold , and all waye as it ca e t owa rde s t h e C h h scile n ce h v o c e n or appell t er was a generall , neit er y

h t h e h t h e f h instrument was eard in waye . W en Royall In ant was t us

u h u t h e C h t h t h e h h bro g t nto lower appell doore , ere did Arc bis op and t h e Deane Of t h e C h appell re c e a v e t h e Babe and came next before it

t h e m h e n into th e h igh er C h appell . At sa e instant did t Orga e st begine and c on t in e w p l a y in ge aloude untill t h e C h ild was placed in t h e

T t h e G osi s t h e h h u t h e u raverse , and pp one rig t side wit o t cell , pon

h ] h st oole s t h e of t h e h h u t ree several ric , and rest onorable trayne , as t s

h is Ma e st ie h t h e h is c losse t t t h a re ll s th e j (wit Prince) in above , and (

h t h e t h e Earls) Bis ops and Lords Barons on one side , and great Ladies h t h e h of t h e C h . h b e a n e on ot er side appell W en all were placed , t en g

h m sh e win e th e of t h e f u Al mi h t ie an Ant e e , g dedication Royall In ant nto g God by baptisme (t h e Ch orus wh ereof was filled with t h e h elp of musica ll instrumentes) t h e wh ich Anth eme beinge e n d id t h e ch ild was

u h f m t h e T ra v e rce t h e wh om e t h e h h bro g t ro to Font , Arc Bis op bap

t ise d h h is h wh o a ssistid wit great reverence (beinge still in ric cope) , was

C atet h iem anti C onfirmation

1 00 C a te t h ifim a n ti C on firma tion .

e ’ “ for His glory . B ett r the Church s personal question , What is thy name ? which lays as th e foundation of religion our

o individuality . S me catechists begin by asking that trap ques “ ” of n Wh o ou ? tion poor children , i quiring gave y that name

n w and when the a s er is given i n the plural case , reminding

t h e s on e God boy that he had not Godmother , but only mother

e There is a charming passage i n Sir Roger de Coverl y , where

Addison describes the cou ntry lads catechi z ed : The Chaplai n

u z has often told me that pon a catechi ing day , when Sir Roger bo h w has been pleased with a y t at ans ers well , he has ordered a Bible to be given to him the next day for his encouragement , and sometimes accompanies it with a flit c h of bacon to his mother . Sir Roger has also added five pounds a year t o the

’ clerk s place , and , that he may encourage the young fellows to make themselves perfect i n the Church Service , has promised ,

of e old upon the death the pr sent incumbent , who is very , to bestow it accordi n g to merit “ on George Herbert , in his Country Parson , is very strong

“ ” “ u of z the d ty catechi ing . This , saith he , is an admirable of of way teaching , the secret whose good consists i n this , that at prayers and sermons m e n may sleep or wander ; but when

” on e is asked a question he must discover what he is .

’ h e Again , lays down , in describing the Parson s Sunday , Having read Divine Service twice fully and preached in the

z & c . & c . morning and catechi ed in the afternoon , ,

We fi nd Bishop Jeremy Taylor , i n his advice to his clergy,

’ m on laying down that every inister is bou nd , every Lord s Day

’ before Evening Prayer, to instruct all young people in the Lord s

c Prayer, & . , as they are set down and explicated in the Church “ Catechism . Furthermore he orders , Let a bell be tolled f h e t h e n h was a ki nd o Iris Evang list in eightee t century . He held a parish i n a wild part of th e North West of Ireland . In

’ his journeys th rough t h e parish h e took down the ch ildren s h h names , desiring t em to be sent to C urch to be instructed . During t h e summer he explained t h e Catech ism in Ch urch h e a n d Old . befor all the people , young At t ese lectures he

h a n h h a d spent an our d a alf every Sunday . When he reason

’ to h h m d h e on e Sun a a suppose t at t ey had a e some progress , on y

L CKED i/ze door th e C/zurc/z u th e O 4 , and q estioned whole

o ! h 1 0 - 6 0 th e h congregati n T is was in 75 , so eig teenth century

z was not so wanting in eal as it is painted .

I n t h f t h f e o e . O li fe Rev M . Bold, Rector Stoney Stratford ,

th e f of th e h in first hal eighteent century , we find an account of Church Catech i z ing at th at tim e “ h n th e of I ave ofte , said an Old man , at ringing the bell

h for h on Saturday afternoon , left my ploug half an our in the

th e h for field whilst I went up to C urch instruction , and then

” went back again to my plough 1 Young m e n and wo men u a h were also expected to stand p and nswer, w ilst masters and employers were called on as part of their d uty to see that the

young folk attended . Th e old ballad tells us h ow

’ Dame D urbin kept five l a b rin g m e n

use t h e fl u h To ail and plo g , ' h Twas Jo n , and Dick , and Joe , and Jack , m ” And H u ph rey with t h e fl ail . 1 02 C at e rh ism a nti C on firma tion .

It is a trying time, however, when some absurd answer tickles the fancy Of the young and sets them all giggling . B ishop

’ of o e s Short , S Asaph s , was once questioning s m young folk . “ ? ” Tell me, said his Lordship , who am I intending to

of . explain the doctrine Episcopacy , with himself as example ’ ” old There was silence . Don t be afraid , said the good man , ff e out . o sp ak boldly The children , thus exhorted , shook

s of their shynes , and , full the recollection of a recent lesson on

out on e the depravity of human nature , shouted with accord , You are a m iserable si nner ! Th is was n o doubt theologically

ut . true , b not quite the answer w a nted

n e Another dig itary , who was a very pompous p rson , said to a of large number Of children , in the presence a fashionable “ — ’ — J audience , Speak out , children don t be afraid will answer

AN Y YOU me question ask There was a pause , and then a “ somewhat small girl with a childish voice enquired , Please ,

ou ? f l aw ma n s/ze s Sir, will y answer this question y fi were there in the miraculous draught of fis h es Our dignitary searched f his brains , but in vain , no ef ort could bring back to his memory m the nu ber which is mentioned i n the Gospel of S . John (xxi . and which is curious as being exactly the nu m ber Of boys settled on h e to form his school at S . Pans by Dean Colet , and was at last compelled to confess his ignorance . It is dangerous for teachers to build t oo much on the know of h ledge and memory a c ild . A clergyman at a school fete f took an in ant on his knee to exhibit her theol ogical proficiency . state of life unto which it shall please God to call me the “ words being Often misquoted that state to which it lea f/zp le a sed

” ” us n ot fl a t/l God to call , but the right rendering says , , but

—s h m shall o that no rig t and honest a bition is quenched , but children are rather encouraged to think that their Father in

Heaven is calling them on to higher and nobler positions in life . One of th e rubrics at th e end of the Catechism describes it

“ ” s sm o as thi short Catechi , referri ng to the l ng Catechism drawn up by Dean Nowell , and which i n Latin was used i n l & c . c n ot & . grammar schools , Cathedral schoo s , , , but it has been found th at young people have ever complained of the “ - o f t h e over sh rtness o e Pray r Book form . The shorter Cate

o ma n chism of the Presbyterians ccupies y pages , and what the length of l /ze long e r Ca l ec/zism may be is t oo terrible to reflect on . What ki ndly heart does not feel for t he little child who anxiously inquired i f there was n ot a kitten - chism for the very little o n e s “ The old Irish canons j udiciously lai d down , We ordai n h of th e eads the Catechism , being divided into so many parts as

t h e h t o there are Sundays in year, s all be explained the peopl e

” “ in every Parish Church . They were also to root out all

a n d of ungodly , superstitious barbarous customs , as using charms , h ” e n or & c . c sorcery , ncha tments , witc craft , soothsaying , , & . The use of th e Cat e chism was to lead up to the Ordinance of h t e . Confirmation , which is complement of Baptism . S Ambrose

“ ” calls it a spiritual seal . It went Often i n the Middle Ages

“ Si n a culum by the title , the g , as though it were the signing or sealing of th e Christian child . 1 05 C a te rh ism a n ti C on fi rma tion . or touch of the h and on t h e ch eek was t h e form employed by h h h t e . mediaeval Bis ops , together wit anointing

m of th e There is an a using anecdote in the life great S . Hugh h Of Lincoln . He a d been confirming t h e wh ole of a long day f in the villages , doing the service reverently and care ully, though many Bishops of his time confirmed the young folks without even

m r h h is descending from their ules o orses . Just as work was

h e h a d for done , and mounted home , an aged peasant appeared u m h h im and req ested to be confir ed . The Bis op told he should

m m a n rudel h h e h a d have co e earlier . The old y replied t at

’ h th e h im c on fi rma come , and t at it was Bishop s duty to give

h m h is m tion So S . Hug descended fro saddle , and ad inistered

b e m b ox on the holy rite , after which ad inistered a sound the ear to correct h is insolent way of speaki n g to a Bish op !

’ th e m t oo In present Bishop s confir ation circuit he , , met with on h h e of t ese outspoken Lincolns ire men . His grey head was f h conspicuous amongst the crowd o yout s and maidens , and

o f n the Archdeac n , in trying to arrange the candidates , ou d the

m a n Old blocking up t h e entrance to the Chancel . Thinking “ h e h a d th e h e that already passed before Bishop , said, Pray

” h fi t h e stand aside , as you ave been con rmed , but sturdy old

’ ’ ’ a udiol — I man y replied , It s a loy ha n t The Chapel Royal books contain a graphic notice of the m f m o e . confir ation Prince H nry, son Of Ja es I

' h h e n fi ri n a n t h e (Aprill 3 rd . ) T e Order of t Prince s C o co in

C h t h e t h of ] 1 6 0 t h rida e h h appell , ird April , 7, beinge en Good F y , on w ic

of B rit t a in e son d rie daye Henrie , Prince Greate , was attended on by h t h e Kin e s C h h h t h e onorable persons into g appell at W ite all , and in t me of sin in e of t h e h m f t h e m h a t y g g first Ant e be ore Ser on began , w et, t h e t h e u h c a r e t t u h re lower step in Q iet t ere , a p and c s ions beinge p

h e h kn e e lin e m h is f h C h t h e pared , t ere g was confir ed in ait e in riste , by Reverend Fath er t h e Arch bish op of C anterbury (t h e Deane of t h e

C h a ssist in e h im h h h h C on fi r appell g , and bot e in ric e copes) . At w ic (t h e Kin ge s Maj e st ie re m a y n in ge t h at wh ile in h is greate c lose tt ) : th e

h h a c cordin e t h e of C m w ic beinge don g to booke o on Prayer , and an

h m t h e u a a in e h h is h Ant e songe , Prince ret rned g wit onorable traine u t h e wh e r t h e Kin e s c re m a n e d h nto great closet , g Majesti still y , and t en

t h e m & c . began Ser on ,

T h e f h of ] h f fi t April t en next ollowing (beinge Eater Daye ,

of r i f h is C on fi rm a c on H , B it t a n e enrie Prince Great , did a ter

t i e p ub licque ly re ce a v e t h e Holy C o m union wit h t h e Kin ge s M a j : h is h t h e C h h h u h Fat er , in appell at W ite all , a c s ion beinge prepared wh e ron h e t h e l e a ft e h of t h e h is f h kneeled , on and Kinge at er , a

b e lowe t h e f h M r h a d m t h e little Kinge . And a ter t at . Deane inistered

C mu u h imse lfe h is of o nion nto and Assistante , in one sorte bread and c u h e h m t h e C m u u t h e Kin e s Ma e st ie p , t en inistered Holy o nion nto g j

u for h im se l fe u t h e in bread and c pp prepared alone , and lastly nto

u for h is h t h e Prince , in bread and c pp prepared only Grace ; w en Kinge h a d re c e a v e d t h e h t h e h a d t h e m bred , t en Prince bread ad inistered u h im t h u h C m u e . nto , and in lyke sorte c pp T is Holy o nion was re ce a v e d t h e Kin e s M a e st ie t h e t h e by g j , Prince , and rest , all reverently

” kn e e lin m e h ] f t h e C u . g in t eir several places , be ore o nion Table

t t mo h M a rimony .

has been said that a woman ’s Prayer Book opens

own of its accord at the Wedding Service , but this may be as much a fable as the statement which was in circulation some years ago of fashionable devotees wh o had th eir Prayer Book constructed with a small mirror h h inside the cover, so t at w ilst glancing at the Prayer Book its fair owner might catch a reflection of herself and the state of h of her hair . S . C rysostom complained the grand ladies of Constantinople having the representations of Scripture inciden ts embroidered on th eir robes rather than being meditated on in

th e on h their hearts . But preachers are rather hard t e women of h n ot their congregations , whic is fair, considering how often h t ey are indebted to them for a congregation . In the Jewish h Synagogue, and afterwards in the early C ristian Churches , the women were placed in galleries dedicated to their use , and pro t e cte d th e z by screens from public ga e . h But thoug this Oriental plan was in use, and all wandering glances were supposed to be guarded against , yet from a very f the priestly blessing an essential part o Lawful Matrimony . It is r emarkable to observe with what conservative force th e l o d . th e forms , and prayers , and ceremonies have survived In “ Diocese of Arles there was a form of Benediction of th e

” A D 0 0 c Marriage Chamber, dating from about . . 4 . The rubri

con stitude n e m a laid down , Secundum , Sacerdos cum acqu

” ut t h alamum be n e dice n dum dicat h os benedicta, , ; that is, m according to custo , let the Priest with blessed water sprinkl e the wedding chamber, that it may be blessed , and use these words , “ tuos Respice, domine servos , cum gloria beati qui habitant tuo d i n dom o Regard , O Lor , Thy servants with the glory

‘ ” of the blessed ones who dwell in Thy House . About the year

f n n n A D . 6 0 0 o o . the practice putti g a wedding ri g was introduced .

’ It was put on the first finger of the bride s right hand with “ ” “ on Et the words , i n nomine Patris , then the second with

” i on e t Fil i , and next the third finger with Spiritus Sancti , but afterwards the ring was transferred to the left hand , to make dis

on tinction from the Episcopal ring , which was worn the right . In the Diocese Of Amiens it was usual with the ring to place on the book thirteen pennies , Of which ten fell to the share of

the Priest , and the remaining three were given to the bride as of symbolic her husband sharing with her his worldly goods . I n the Diocese of Limoges the stole was placed over the

“ ” bride and bridegroom i n the manner Of a cross . Another to old custom was spread above the pair a purple veil . In the Eastern Church crowns and chaplets were placed on the heads of bride and bridegroom as emblems of chastity victorious over evil passions , and appropriate prayers were recited . f f Also , in the Oriental O fice, the Priest took two rings rom

on e the Altar , a gold for the bridegroom , and a silver on e for the bride .

s ke n e ss recher, for poorer : i n y and in hele to be boners and

h orde d e a rth of buxom in bedde and at ye , tyl dethe us p Holy

” h rch e C y and thereto I plight the my troth .

H ere we may observe the word boners , which is equivalent “ “ ” — d e a rth e with th e French bonair and p , which is Old English t o for part asunder . According some auth orities the Priest should wrap his stole around the married perso ns ’ hands it is also said to be the custom at som e places to strike a solemn n ote on the

of . church bell , when the sundering power death is mentioned As merry as a marriage bell ” in the Old proverb of course has f reference to the j oy bells rung at the close O the Service . Our presen t English Marriage Service is made up of “ the betrothal and the Marriage Service originally used separately , with a

of m e lapse several weeks between the . The mon y which the

e of P , brid groom put on the book , though n ow the fee the riest is supposed to b e a s urvival Of the far distant time wh en a wife of was bought for a sum money , and it is also even now to be regarded as an allusion to the bridegroom sharing his worldly

goods with his wife .

A celebrated law lord , who had started in life with a very

of on e on small amount worldly goods , was day remarki ng that w his wedding day he had nothing wherewith to endo his wife . m “ B ut , y love , sai d the lady , i n a flattering tone , you had

”

of . T/za i the splendid endowment your noble i ntellect ,

h is n n ot ou replied lordship , I certai ly did share with y

“ ” or I n the sixteenth century inscriptions , posies as they

on of were called , were engraved rings , many them being

very quaint . f of Sometimes di ficulties obstruct the wishes ardent lovers , m but their ingenuity has overco e those obstacles . The island of Tory is about three mile s from the north - wes t coast of

Ireland ; but though the distance is so short from the m a in - u surges hurl themselves on an iron bo nd coast, and sometimes th ere is no communication possible for th ree or four weeks

th e between the mainland and isle , and the Priest cannot cross by a boat to gi ve his benediction to lovers who are waiting to

th e h be married . In such circumstances Islanders lig t a large

on on h h t h fire a point t eir shore , which is a signal t at e s ervices h h of the Priest are required . The intelligence is broug t to t e h h m ff Reverend Fat er, and he betakes i self to the cli , where an

o ro answering fire is lighted, and opening his service bo k he p ce e ds to read in due course the Marriage Service . When he has finished prayers and benedictions his reverence ’s fire is

u exting ished, thus announcing that his service is finished to

h on the watc ers the island and the young lovers , understanding

’ that they have been duly united by t h e Church s ministra tions , betake themselves to a wedding feast, and to their n e w home m m It is a very com on and a very co monplace remark , that a marriage knot is soon tied , but it is a very long and diffi cult of task to dissolve the knot . How this matter unmarrying can be carried out the following story may explain . A young couple who had married in haste , and had likewise quarrelled

m th e frequently before the first year was out, ca e to Parson

h ! f m h e and asked him to unmarry t em A ter uch entreaty , told

h is them that he feared that it was beyond powers , but he would m do his best to help them . He led the to the west end of the h h C urc , into the tower below the belfry, and made them each of mount an oak stool , and then selecting a couple the strongest became plain to the foolish pair ; they extricated themselves from th e ropes , and went home i mpressed by much good advice to try and live more peacefully . P In an Old document connected with Bermondsey arish , near

m of London , we have an exa ple how our forefathers dealt with

“ ” what m a y be called Enoch Arden cases .

T h e f u u t h e 1 ollowing very sing lar entry occ rs in year 6 0 4 .

T h e f m of a m v owe m m a n h is f or sole ne ade betwixt a and wi e , h h u h h h t h e m aving been long absent , t ro g w ic occasion wo an being

h m a n h e r f h married to anot er , tooke again as ollowet

’ ‘ T h e m h : h m f a m h an s speac Elizabet y beloved wi e , I rig t sorie

‘h m se a lfe f m h h t h u t h at I ave so long absented y ro t ee , w ereby o sh ould

t h m a n t h h u Th f est be occasioned to ake anot er to be y sband . ere ore I

v owe m t h e fi h t e of h m do now and pro ise , in g God and t is co panie , to

h m own e on lie f h b ut take t ee again as y ; and will not orgive t ee , also

h h h u u h m ou dwell wit t ee , and do all ot er d ties nto t ee , as I pro ised at r

’ m arriage .

’ ‘ T h e m S h : h m h u I a m h wo an s peac Rap e , y beloved sband , rig t sorrie t h at I h ave in t h y absence taken anoth er m a n to be m y h usband

b ut h f h is m u f h im ere , be ore God and co panie , I do reno nce and orsake ,

m m se a lfe on lie u t h d urin e f and do pro ise to kepe y nto ee g li e , and to

’ f m u h h m u h our m r per or e all d ties w ic I first pro ised nto t ee in a riage .

h f h t h e T en ollows a s ort occasional prayer , and entry concl udes

h u T h e of u u 1 6 0 h h Of t h e t s first day A g st 4 , Rap e Goodc ild , parish

f B a rkin e h m - h h is f o g in T a es Streat , and Elizabet wi e , were agreed to

h h u h h h m a kin e live toget er , and t ere pon gave t eir ands one to anot er , g h ff ’ eith er of t h em a solem n engagement to t at e ect .

Something ought to have been said on the custom of p ro “ ” . of 1 2 0 0 claiming the banns The Synod Westminster, in , laid down that “ no marriage shall be contracted without the banns

” having been thrice proclaimed . There was a case where , a

’ sailor s ship sailing before it was expected s o to do, the benevolent Parson read for the second time the banns i n the

A Worcestersh ire woman was asked t h e oth er day wh y sh e did not attend C h urch on t h e t h ree S undays on wh ich h e r banns of marriage

Sh e h were proclaimed . replied t at sh e sh o uld never dre a m of doing so u u h u t h e of - u h nl cky a t ing , and on being q estioned as to kind ill l ck t at wo uld h ave been expected to h ave followed upon h e r attendance at

Ch u h sh e h t h e Off of u h m u rc , said t at all spring s c a arriage wo ld be

f um h sh e u m wh o u born dea and d b , and t at knew a yo ng wo an wo ld

’ C h u h h h e r out h persist in going to rc to ear banns asked , and w ose six ch ildren were in consequence all deaf and d umb

The law used t o be that a man became liabl e on marrying

’ for his bride s debts ; but there was a popular belief that if a woman be married in her shift t h is responsibility was evaded ! c I n a cordance with this idea , during the last century several marriages took place in which the bride was thus lightly attired . It must have been unpleasan t for a shy Curate on these occasions old h There used to be an custom i n Hope C urch , i n Derby

out shire, for the clerk to respond after the banns were given ,

” God speed you well .

As we have already mentioned , the Church had i n former

” days a service for espousals , which is now mixed up with the

e of Wedding Service . Yet even i n the tim King Charles I . “ there is evidence Of the espousals being a separate service . f o 1 6 0 . In the registers Boughton , i n Kent , i n 3 , Wm Maddox and Elizabeth Grimstone were betrothed , but they were not

- married till two years and three quarters after . The following was the form Of oath

You God b swear by and the Holy Saints herein , and y all ou the Saints i n Paradise, that y will take this woman , whose

N . nam e is , to wife withi n forty days , i f Holy Church will

” permit . Sometimes the happy pair were so poor that they obtained gifts from their richer neighbours to start i n life, and the following iaolh fi a trimon p . 1 1 7

of h extract from the parish books Hackney , near London, s ews that they had a collection at t h e Ch urch gate for pauper weddings ! The present idea would be to recommend delay and the Post Office Savings Bank

Th e Parish of Hackney h a s been governed by a select vestry ever

t h e 1 6 1 fr m h h t h m u h re since year 3 , o w ic period eir in tes ave been p I . t t 1 6 h u m t o served appears by an en ry , anno 3 3 , t at it was c sto ary m t h e C h u h t u t h e m of u ake collections at rc ga e pon arriage pa pers , and

h m t o h d for h h t ey see ave been very consi erable , it was t en resolved t at t h e collectors sh o uld give sec urity t h at t h e couple for wh om such

m h u m u m t o t h e h collections were ade s o ld not beco e b rdenso e paris . Th e next year it was resolved th at none sh o uld h ave an Offering at th eir h h ” marriage b ut such as h a d been born in t e paris .

There are a few minor points of interest which may be h h remarked . At t at passage w ere the final benediction is said , “ and th e Priest prays that God would pour upon you the

” of e riches His grace , the sign of the Cross was mad by the

on th e 1 Priest , and a cross marked the margin of 5 49 book .

The use of old - fashioned clergy bidding t h e bridegroom kiss the bride a t the end of the Service is a survival of the m e dimva l custom wh en the Priest Offered the Fax to be kissed by the

x r scul torium wa s of r . Fa o a o people The , O , a tablet wood

” or ivory , covered with gold silver, and having an Agnus Dei ,

“ ” or on w Crucifixion , engraved it , and hich was handed round

(it having a handle at the back) , and those present pressed — their lips reverently on it this b e ing th e remnant of the Apos

of . tolic practice , the kiss peace , as practised in primitive days

f or The Holy Communion O fice, Mass , used to conclude the

wa s m S ervice, and it enjoined that the Holy Com union be received that day . The present book allows the reception of the Communion to be postponed to “ the first opportunity ” f m a . o after their arri ge The new fashion afternoon weddings, 1 1 8 ! h oly M a trimon y .

recently i ntroduced , is a m ost irreligious novelty , which should have been withstood by our ecclesiastical leaders ; but as that of of brave champion the Church , the Archdeacon Taunton , says , “ the men of this generation have n o backbones . The religiou s ceremony was in old days followed by many

h a d quaint customs . Hardly the altar service ended , when the

’ on young m en i nsisted having the bride s garters , which , being of made bright coloured ribands , were cut in pieces and placed i n their hats or i n some neighbourhoods she gave the garters

’ to some favoured or popular member of the groomsman s company .

I n Ireland , during the last century , the chief groomsman took up the bride on the pillion behind him and galloped home, pursued by the other young men , firing guns , as a substitute for the bell - ringing of Churches provided with a f ring o bells . It ought to have been mentioned before that there was a of of form benediction the marriage ring , which was as follows i n English

H alow Th ou , Lord , this ring which we bless i n Thy holy name , that what woman soever shall weare it may stand W l fast in Thy peace, and continu e i n Thy y , and live and grow

waxe m and Old i n Thy love , and may b e ultiplied into that

” of our & c . length days , through Lord ,

Th en let h oly water h e spri nkled h " Upon t e ring .

of Mary , Queen Scots , was married with three rings , the m iddle on e a diamond . “ of According to th e use Sarum , a fair linen cloth , called

m . a on e . band A m an y have many ships , but only wife A ship is too big to b e housed or used ; but so may not the of vertuous wife bee , for it is a note the unchaste wife that her

” feet cannot abide i n her house . (Prov . vii . A ship is carried hither and thither by the winds ; but it i s only of a bad

’ “ m n ot w . wife s ways that Solo on says , Thou canst kno them

on e of The wife , b eing like a ship , must b e like species ship

“ ’ — e h h fi sh n only the m rc ant s ip . She must not be a e rma s

’ f r n ot . o boat , she must be like S Peter s ship , Christ did call no ” — “ - f o o . sh e ap stles , nor must the wife be like a man war He

n for b a tta ile that made woman ever built her , sure . She was

for n ot we e e built peace , and for warre, for merchants p to h th in ke of warre . T erefore she must not for every angrie word

of h e rse lfe her husband , betake into the gunne room straight ,

and th ere to thunder , to charge , and dis charge upon him with

” or broad words , as mariners say at sea to turn broadside . The of of sermon contains a defence the wearing silver, silkes , and “ for for t h e gold , as created not only the necessity, but als o

” ornament of the saints . I t closes with five applications . The “ ” “ first is to the king ; the second to the ladies and gentle women the third “ to all married persons the next to the

“ ” h on e ra ble bridegroom and the last to the bride , this ship .

m on e of of There is a quaint custo i n the valleys the Tyrol ,

’ h e r for j ust b e fore the bride leaves parents h ome the Church ,

her moth er gives her a new linen han dkerchief. This she holds of d i n her hand all day for the purpose rying her tears . When “ th e wedding is over the tear kerchief is carefully put awa y , 1 21 390 19 matrimon y .

of In the Ritual Rheims in France, three pieces of money were presented by the bridegroom to the bride , as he “ ” & c said, with all my worldly goods , . Elsewhere thirteen h f t e n were broug t to the Church , but the O ficiating Priest had given him . A curious fact is th at at on e time in German y special

for n ow money was coined this purpose, as even in England small silver coins are minted for the Maundy Alms for the Queen . These remarks on Marriage Services ma y be ended by an e xtract gi ving a detailed account from the Ch apel Royal books of th e 1 6 1 0 of th e z h wedding in , celebrated Eli abet , Queen of

Bohemia .

a of h au h t of m I . M rriage Elizabet , d g er King Ja es , and Prince

- G u A . D . 1 6 1 0 . Frederick Elector o nte Palatine , Th e Order and Manner of t h e solemn c e le b ra c on of t h e marriage of th e G u of two great Princes , Frederick Prince Elector o nte Palatine

Rh t h e h t h e u h of t h e h b h eine , and Ladie Elizabet , only da g ter rig t ig e

mi h t ie t h e of B rit t a in e h is Ma e st e s C h and g Prince King Great , in j appell

VVh it h a le u Son da ie t h e 1 th of u 1 6 1 2 th e roth at , pon 4 daie Febr arie , in i e a re of h is . ra n e t h e 1 t h e a re of t h e of t h e y Maj g , and in 7 y age two yonge Princes .

t h e C h t h e u e n d of First appell was in royal sorte adorned , pper it was h unge with very rich e h a n gin ge s c on t e y n in ge a part of t h e Storie of t h e of th e A oste ll s t h e C mm u fu h h Actes p p , and o nion table rnis ed wit h ric e plate . Th en a stately t h rone or seate was ra y se d in t h e middest of t h e

C h m f h h m f le n th e appell , so e five oote in eig t and so e twenty oote in g , h a ve in e a sse n d or c h h h g stayers to descend at ac e end , spred wit ric e

u f h t h e carpettes nder oote , and rayled one bot sydes , rayles covered

h h of u b ut O h t h e h a sse m lie m h wit clot e tiss e , pen at topp t at w ole b ig t

t h e m h see all cere ony t e better . Uppon t h e sides of th e C h appell from t h e stayers up t o t h e C ommu nion table weare a d n ble rowe of sc ates made for t h e Gentlemen of t h e h C h t a st e r m . Th e h appell , arayed wit e p y very co ely place being t us 1 22 39o M a trimon y .

fu h t h e h a roch in e h h b e t we e n e 1 1 1 2 h is rnis ed , ower p p g , w ic was and ,

Ma e st ie m h is com in e t h e C h m m j , to ake g to appell ore sole ne and stately , proceeded from h is Priv ie C h amber t h rough e t h e presence and garde

h m t h rou h e b a n ke t t in e h u Of u for c a bre , and g a new g o se erected p rpose t o sole m n e n iz e h f of t h e u t is east in , and so donne a paire stayers at pper

h f h t h e C u u on end t ereo ard by o rte gate , wente alonge p p a stately

ff t h e h m t t h rou h e t h e e C h m sca old to great c a ber s ayers , and g gr ate a ber

t h e c losse t t t h e t h e C h h h and lobby to , donne stalers to appell , into w ic t h e ] u m h h m t h e b rid e room e royal tro pe arc ed in t is order . First ca e g ,

h of h im b ro d e re d h h t h e arrayed in clot e silver ric ly y wit silver , wit all yo unge gallants and noble men of t h e C o urte ; b ut th er e n t re d t h e

C h 1 6 u m e n B a ch l e rs m h e appell only noble yo nge y , so any as was

e a rs old e t h e of t h e m m h is M a e st e s y , rest noble en and gentle en by j ' T h e b rid e room e h u expresse command e n t re d not t h e C h appell . g t s

f h e r t h e h is m t h e . being placed in seate , next ca e Bride Be ore went

h e u or l e dd t h e C h Lord Harrington . S was s pported by Prince arles on t h e ri h te h t h e of N h m Privie g and , and Earle ort a pton , Lord Seale on t h e f h h 1 6 u m of le t and , attended wit yo nge Ladies and Gentlewo en h b e a rin e h e r wh h of h of h e r own e onor g traine , ic was clot silver as g

h e r h h a n in e h w h of was , ayre g g donne at lengt dressed it ropes pearle ,

T h e and a C oron e t t upp on h e r h ead rich ly dect with precio us stones . gown e s of all th e younge Ladies th at followed h e r weare a cloth of silver .

mm f t h e f t h e I ediatly a ter yonge Ladies ollowed Lady Harrington , wiff e of t h e wh o h a d G ove rn e sse t h e Lord Harrington , bin to Lady

Elizabeth for t h e space of tenne y e a re s .

“ Th en came all t h e g reate Ladies of t h e C o urte : with t h is traine

h r mm f t h e sh e ascended t h e th rone and tooke e place . I ediatly ollowed

u Ma e st e s h h ffi of h Kinge and Q eens j , attended wit t eir o cers onor , and t h e . Lords of h is Ma j e st e s Priv ie C o unsell and divers Ladies . " Th e Kinge and Q ueene e n t e rin ge t h e C h appell and a sse n din ge t h e

T h h t h e h h t h e h . rone , t ei sate in t is order First , on rig t and sate Kinge

T h ia m on e s in a ch a y e r most royally and rich ly arrayed . e d d and jewells upp on h im weare not lesse worth by good e st ima c on th en sixe

Th e a of u b e a rin e h undred th o usand p oun de s in valewe . E rle Ar ndell g up t h e sword e stood close by t h e ch a y e r ; next t h e sword sate t h e

ri e roome st oole f h im C h u on B d g on a , and a ter Prince arles sate pp a

1 24 $9o M atrimon y .

h h m t h e h B issh o t h e D t h e t is Ant e ended , Arc p p and eane descended

Th t h e B rid roome followin e h m f rone , and g and Bride g t e kneeled be ore

th e C mmu t wh t h e v e rsickle s a n d u o nion able , ere prayers weare s nge by

t h e h Arc B issh opp and answered by t h e Q uiet .

Th e h h m h Mr prayers beinge ended , began an ot er Ant e ; t at don , .

G ] m u h t h e of t h e c arter , Principal Kinge at Ar es , p blis ed stile Prin e and

c h ff h h h a in e s a n d h t h e h i h e Prin ess to t is e ect . All ealt , pp onor be to g

mi h t ie t h e F u h t h e of C u and g Princes Frederick o rt , by grace God , o nt

of t h e Rh in e Arch c E lle c t or of t h e m Palatine , Sewer and Prin e Holy E pire ,

u of B a v ie r a n d El iz a b e th h is wiffe on l u h t h e h i h e mi h tie D ke , , y da g terto g , g

h m t h e of of and Rig t Excellent Ja es , by grace God Kinge Greate

B i h h h u h u f h e s e r r tt a in e . W o t o t ve t ic beinge ended . t er was bro g t y by

of t h e f h h h h h a d divers Lordes , wine and wa ers , w ic w en t ey eaten ,

t h e f t h e m m h m in b e in e f m ey d parted a ter sa e anner as t ey ca e , g led back ro

t h e C h t h e u of t h e of N h m appell by D ke Lennox and Earle otting a , m ] Lord Ad iral . Th e Kinge and Q ueene le a v in ge t h e Bride and B ridgroome in th e

G C h m h riv ie lod in e s f t h e reat a ber , went to t eir p g g , and le t Bride and B ridgroom to dine in state in t h e new b a n q ue t t in ge h ouse with t h e

t h e E mb a ssa dours of u V t h e C u Prince , Pra nce , enice , and States , o nt

ff . t h e h of . Henry , and w ole Lordes and Ladies ( 77, C h e v isitation ot th e i tch .

death , showing that in its original significance it referred to ! physical health By a similar natural transition , the Holy

Com munion , from being admi nistered to the dying for conso

r lation , became in popular estimation a passport o Viaticum

son ] on n for the its way to the unsee world . It has been fairly said that many ignorant people critici z e and

h a n d of ae blame the thoug ts , sentiments , philosophy medi val

Europe who can hardly spell that adjective themselves . The

ae medi val i ntellect was dominated by the imagination , its faith H ow and piety were glowing and unrestrained . charming is the simple faith which gave to the Priest ’ s benediction its value and m its i portance . If we glance over the Old forms , how the of ’ realization God s presence seemed to be ever amongst them , even as the pillar of cloud abode over the tabernacle of the

’ chosen people in the wilderness . There was a desire that God s blessing should rest on all things : The Priest i n his sonorous Lati n blessed the sword of the young knight and the beehive of

S of the imple peasant . The cheese and the butter the farmer To were blessed as well as the banner of the nobleman . holy water was attributed , from baptismal association , a power to hallow, and it was placed i n the Church porch , and used also i n many rites . When religion thus entered i nto all the concerns of da ily life it was n ot to be wondered at that to the veneration and rever ence rightly due to the elements in the Holy Communion there was added a m aterialistic awe and a tendency to look upon the reception of the Communion as a sure recommendation to “ ” “ h owse lle d Heaven . The sick man was said to be by th e Priest ; he was also anointed with holy oil he rece ive d

n absolutio , and was exhorted to make his will and , i n the f language o the day , he departed fortified with all the rites of th e Church . m n h and dying a in his paris , which is taken from an old book , f and which describes the end o a certain Giles Scoggin . It runs as follows “ ’ il s m G e s illness increased ore and more , so he sent for the

h h r Priest to be shriven and osted receive the ost o wafer) . h im of The Priest , coming to with the Sacrament the Altar, ‘ our said , Master Giles , here I have brought unto you Blessed

on for Lord God in forme of bread, that dyed the Cross all ’ ‘ ’ ‘ . on ? or sinners Doe you believe Him Yea , said Giles , w ! else ould I were burnt at the stake Then said the Priest,

e of ff Ere you doe receive this , you must be contrit your o ences ,

’ h z n and be s riven , and recogni e yourself a si ner . That will I

’ gladly , said Giles . He being very penitent and shriven , received ” h h f th e . t e o Sacrament devoutly T is was in time Henry VII .

It is very interesting to find that in those old times , when many would persuade us that religion was amongst our ancestors

m m h th e a mere atter of form and e pty superstition , t at , on of contrary , there are traces deep and earnest piety to be d o of foun . C mpare the simple and devout character the

following form , which was drawn up as a dialogue to guide the Priest in his parochial labours

t o t h e ma n t h la dde h h Priest says sick , Bro er , be ye g t at ye s all dye in C h ry st e n believe ?

Ye a S r. , y Know ye well t h at ye h ave not so well ly ve d as ye sh oulde ?

Ye a S r. , y

h our C h Godd s of of Believe ye t at Lord ryst , y son Heaven , was born

t h e b le ss d V r n e our Sa n t ? y y gy , ladie y Mary 3 1 0 C h e C isita tion of th e e ar.

Th a n ke ye H im e n t ie rl y th ereof ?

Ye S r , y .

B e lie v h ma b ut u de a th e P ye t at ye y not be saved , by His precio s

Ye S r , y .

Th h t h e —Th f h h u u en s all Priest say ere ore , Brot er , w ile yo r so le is in

u b od e th a n ke of de a t h e h h u t yo r y , ye God His , and ave ye ole tr s e to be

h u h re c ouse de a t h e t h n cke h worlde l saved t ro g His p y , and y ye on no ot er y

’ b ut C h h e su s d e a t h e t e full a ss on goods , onley on ryste J and on His p y p y ,

f m e h h r . C h e su ut T e c ous and saye a ter My swete Lorde ryst J , I p y p y

a ss on b e t we e n e h m ] b e twe e n e m e Th p y T ee and y evil werke , and and y

wra t h e .

t h e m a n h C h h e su T h And let sick say t ene Lorde ryst J , into y bandes

m u h u b ou h t e st me b od e u I betake y so le and as T o g , y and so le , I betake to Th ee .

One great characteristic of the English Prayer Book is its practical usefulness , and this is shown when the dying man is taught , not m erely to rest on the devotional feelings for comfort , but t o do his duty wh ilst life remains by attending to the m of aking restitution to any whom h e hath i nj ured , and also of w to th e fair and j ust disposal his orldly goods , not forgetting

of the needs the poor .

A whole volume m ight be easily written about wills . Old ones always commenced i n a pious strain . The testator to bequeathing his soul his Maker, an d the language i s some of times not only religious , but pathetic and full beauty .

Medi ae val testators had wonderful mem ories , and seem to have been able to recollect all their cloth e s and bestow a doublet on

n o on e friend and a cloak o another . There is a h mely kind d ness in the way in which istant kinsfolk were remembered , and a silver cup given to one and a silver spoon to another . m m of On the other hand , any a will is an exa ple obstinacy and

malice . There was , for instance, an Old man i n Cornwall whose

t a n wife had threatened o d nce o his grave , but he gave careful

C h e asurial of th e mean.

1 36 C h e isti riat of th e Mean.

tumulus or barrow . What a curious coincidence that the circular barrows shoul d mark the sepulchres of men whose

- - skulls were round shaped , whilst the long shaped heads are found to repose i n tumuli of Oblong shape How pathetic it is to find buried with the dead the things w — hich in life they valued most the spear, the sword , the flin t

- or arrow h ead , the celt , the bronze j avelin mould with wom en

fib ulae or th e whorl , the , the pins which fastened her robes Then it is yet more pathetic to visit the sepulchres of the

to - Old Etruscans , examine the sarcophagi with their terra cotta

a n d of figures their sculptured designs feast , and dance, and

a n d of hunt , all the j oys an d excitements life ; probably i ntended

’ t o intimate the survivor s hope and confidence of another life

and a future world . The Romans often had for importa nt persons heavy coffins

of stone ; these as time went on were made more of a wedge

e sh ape , and gradually it becam usual in Christian times to carve

fl ria t d on them a o e cross , and engrave inscriptions and prayers

on the lid or round the edge . It can be easily understood that the weight and size of stone coffins rendered them t oo unwieldy ; wood and lead took their

place with rich people , but as for the poor, they were taken to

s f or the churchyard in the pari h co fin bier, and then whilst “ th e clerks chanted , and the body was made ready to be laid

” e out of i nto the arth , it is implied that it was lifted the coffin

and put into its last resting place .

i val h I n me d m days , when the dead person was ric and noble,

e th e coffin was surrounded with tall tapers , and cover d by a rich

] - embroidered pal . This was supported by a semi circula r

th e fram ework named a herse, a word strangely derived from Latin n am e of a hedgehog It was so call e d n o doubt because

there projected from its framework small standards and en signs , a knigh tly funeral in the Old tim e wa s whe n th e sword and sh ield of th u o e warrior were carried p to the altar and laid there n , as though to confess th at h e had rendered up all e arthly glory and

n of Him human defences i to the hands God , and trusted in

h is only for aid against spiritual foes . It has often been m f re arked in praise of the Anglican Burial O fice , that it is free

n s from any respect of perso s , an d upplies the same words for th e n th f pri ce and for e pauper . But alas ! we have to con ess with sh ame that at many of our town cemeteries an extra charge is made if the coffin is taken i n to the chapel and the full service r e ad ! It were w e ll th at true and devout C h ristians made it part of their duty to attend and conduct th e funerals of th eir poor

h h e m - bret ren . T er is in Ro e a guild Of the most high born gentlemen and nobles of Rome who take up th is work in

’ To God s service , and carry the poor man to his grave . prevent any ostentation and pride they are clad in a long robe Of sack

h h s h e f cloth , w ich envelops t eir heads and conceal t ir aces .

It is not generally known that th ere is a service in Latin! authorized by Queen Eli z abeth for Holy Communion at a m ] funeral . The introit is Psal x ii . ; the Epistle is taken from

- 1 . . 1 1 8 m of Thess iv 3 ; and the Gospel is fro the Gospel S .

- John vi . 3 740 . to his skull his theatre to be used i n this scene) . The popular opinion was that such sh ould be buried at the cross - roads with a stake driven through them . Some have seen i n this practice a s uperstitious i dea that this would keep their ghosts from

h s wandering . Another writer a suggested that there was a charitable thought that the interment wh ere the i ntersection of the roads m ade the form of a cross placed the unhappy

h e f m t o . suicide , as it were , under sign rede ption In many country parishes the north end of the ch urchyard is

a wh o ne rly empty , having been reserved for those died under

or for . Church censure , strangers

’ T - o return to Shakespeare s allusion . One grave digger asks “ the other , Is she t o be buried i n Christian burial , that

” “ own ? h wilfully seeks her salvation The ot er re p lies , I tell

Me is m . thee , therefore ak e her grave straight The crowner

” for r hath sat on her , and finds it a case Ch istian burial . When Hamlet appears on the scene he remarks that th e

“ ” funeral is being carri ed out with maimed rites . For an

f A D 6 o . early Council (that Braga , in Spain , . 5 3 ) had enj oined “ that those wh o kill themselves shall n ot have a memorial made of them i n the oblation (of the Holy Communion ) and t o their bodies shall not be carried with psalms their burial .

A D 0 This canon was adopted i n England . . 74 . In answer to Hamlet ’s question Shakespeare makes the Priest answer H e r death was

’ u fu b ut t h mm o e rswa s t h e Do bt l , and at great co and y order

n i Sh e sh o uld in ground un sa ct fi e d h ave lodged .

’ sh e a llow d h e r a Ye t now is virgin cr nts ,

H e r m m t h e h m aiden strew ents , and bringing o e

Of bell and burial .

“ ” Th e crants were garlands which it was usual to make

on of white paper, and to hang up in the Church the occasion

1 40 C h e Burial ot th e mean.

’ for th e m inister to go to the altar and say the Lord s Prayer and on e of the burial collects after which the congregation offered on or on the altars , a little board fixe d to the altar rails for that ff of purpose , their O erings to the minister , a friend the deceased standing near to Observe wh o gives , and how much . H e counts th e money afterwards with the minister, and announcing the

” - amount thanks those present for their good will . I n som e places it was customary for the friends to attend on to the next Sunday , and kneel at the grave of their recently

’ deceased frien d and to recite the Lord s Prayer , also to dress the grassy mound with flowers . I n some churchyards curious “ knee ling stones remain . f ’ o . B ishop Barrow , S Asaph s , directed i n his will that he “ should be buried in the porch of the cathedral , because he had Observed poor people praying there . His pathetic epitaph was

O u D om um m m u ora t ion is ro vos transe ntes in Do ini , do s , orate p m m " c v e stro ut in v in ia t m . onservo , isericordia in Die Do ini

of d O ye wh o are passing into the house the Lor , into the

of - house prayer , pray ye for your fellow servant, that he may find f h ” mercy i n the day o t e Lord . Many mediae val epitaphs might be quoted th ey are usually f f f brief, and breathing orth their confidence in the e ficacy o prayer, and appealing to those left behind not to forget the

- departed . In very strong contrast are the pompous long winded

on eulogies which the eighteenth century inscribed marble slabs , and decorated with fat cherubs , classic urns , and extinguished torches . The Burial Office bids the first solem n sentence be recited at the lych gates . This is in some places a very picturesque structure , with carved oak beams and dark tiled roof gabled above .

f so Sometimes a stone , co fin shape, is arranged that the bearers on H ow h h may lay their sad burden it . touc ing a sig t when a fine old avenue of trees leads from t h e gate to th e Church of porch . Perhaps the funeral is that an infant ; and , as is the

e f custom in some parts , the littl co fin is borne by four young girls dressed in white . Something may here be allowed the writer by way of digre s

th e - wh o sion concerning sexton and grave digger, are generally t he same person .

Th e writer was on e day pointed out a passer - by as a man who h a d dug his own grave ! The explanation was that when th e n e w cemetery was established he had undertaken a contract

s a ll to dig everal hundred graves, and in probability his own would be one of the number he had prepared to supply the anticipated demand !

’

of . of The sexton S Mary s , Cambridge , who in the course his duty has to be present at all the University Sermons , was of asked by a Student what was his impression them , and replied he was thankful to say he was still a Christian h A student i n craniology , passing through a c urchyard, carefully examined a skull which the sexton had j ust th rown

” on out the churchyard as he was excavating a grave This , “ “ of . he remarked , is the cranium a philosopher Most ” d “ ! likely, the sexton ryly replied , for it is cracked With Parson and Clerk there used to be joined th e Sexton of “ ” as making up a kind ecclesiastical trio, but the clerk has

th e h nearly disappeared with Church rates , whic used to pay his salary ! The sexton has also now often sunk down to the m - or - ere grave digger church cleaner, and the latter is now often 1 42 t l e ti C h e Burial of h e iB a .

There was a famous Old man at Bristol who was verger and of of sexton th e Cathedral at the time the great riots . He h armed imself with an iron bar , and threatened to strike dead the first of the m ob who should attempt to force his way i nto of the doorway the Cathedral . The crowd was daunted at his

’ t o to resolute mien , and betook themselves the Bishop s palace

h out taste the episcopal port an d s erry , which they sold at a ! old penny a bottle The brave man had , however , saved the s acred building . I n th e course of years he had accumulated a considerable of m sum m oney . On hearing this mentioned , Sidney S ith , th e n ‘on e of of th e Canons Bristol , remarked , Ah this explains

‘ of P d in that verse the salms , I would rather b e a oorkeeper f ’ th e House of the Lord than to dwell i n the tents o ungodliness .

n Yet o e m ore story concerning a somewhat gloomy weaver, who acted as clerk and sexton to a small country Church .

There had been seve ral Incumbents i n quick succession , and “ r - ou low spirited frien d announced , This will be the fifth mi nister a s I have had to conte n d with It has been mentioned that i n ancient times a parish coffin out of was parochial property , and the corpse was removed the coffin when the procession reach e d the grave . This is alluded of “ to in the rubric , which speaks the corpse being made ready

” f e to be laid into the earth . Lead and stone co fins must hav

ffi of been very expensive . Some ancient Roman co ns huge size and weight have been found at Bath and elsewhere . Strange how seldom their occupants seem to retain th e use of them ! Often in som e shady courtyard i n Rome we see the carved marble sarcophagus of some forgotten patrician turned into a watering trough !

1 44 C h e B urial of th e flBrah .

N otke r was w a tching som e workmen engaged in some very perilous task ; some suggest that it was the erection Of a bridge across a m ountain torrent ; and as with a beating heart and of prayerful thoughts he gazed at their danger, the words his

n m s noble seque ce rushed into his soul al o t by inspiration . Two persons skilled i n music cam e from Rom e to assist

N otke r f . and the Monks o S . Gall in their musical studies In Media Vita became in Germany during the Middle Ages of a kind battl e song , to which a solemn awe was attached ;

1 1 6 of t o and i n the year 3 , was by the Synod Koln forbidden be sung unless by Episcopal sanction . By the first Prayer Book of King Edward the casting on of the earth was to be done by the Priest . Our present Office

- allows it t o be performed by on e Of the by standers . “ f on of of The burial o the dead is e the seven works mercy ,

ur and well deserves o care and sympathy . It is a remarkable fact that the Earl of Shaftesbury (the philanthropist) had his att e ntion first drawn to the condition of ” the masses by seeing , as a youth at Harrow , the funeral

Of a pauper , when the bearers were men Of th e same class , all

f on i ntoxicated , and the co fin was let fall the ground amidst horribl e oaths and imprecations ! H ow pitiful it is to see the efforts made by loving friends to

of rel ion t o strive to call in the aid ig benefit the departed , ! ! when , alas it is a matter so much neglected in life There have often been found i n ancient graves a small cross made of

or on of w ood metal , having engraved their surface a form of absolution . These had been placed over the hearts the

“ ” dead persons . They were called Absolution Crosses . Much of the force of mediae val religion lay in the close con n e c tion which was believed to exist between this world a n d th e

firm e dispensation beyond the present life . It was the convi Ch e 33m in! of th e ! Beam 1 45 tion of all religious persons that the souls of the departed might be very greatly benefited by th e prayers and efforts of their friends in this world . The whole subject is a very solemn one , of and cannot, course, be discussed in this volume . We may be content to believe h umbly th at the power of prayer is a

n . lever whose dynamic i fluence we have no right to limit So,

ffi i of our too , the e cacy of the propitiatory sacr fice Blessed

n ot Redeemer is to be calculated by us . The chantries, and the repetition of masses for the souls of the dead was in

of h we in accordance with the theology t at period, and if are clin e d to class these things as superstitious and unprimitive, we ought not to forget what beautiful th ings Love and Remem brance are ! No doubt many a good man was cheered on his death - bed to think that his name should long be kept in memory with the prayers of priests and choristers . In the records of Chich ester Cathedral we read in the will of Bishop Sherborne the arrangements b e devised for the

of of h is f observation the anniversaries death . He le t large

of e h sums money for this purpos , and with a touc ing simplicity h e planned a skilful method of making the day and date to be

recollected . He arranged a little feast to be given to the

a choristers , and with a knowledge of human nature m de sure that the singing boys would worry the authorities to keep up

the observance .

’ Thus we read in his will that on the Bishop s anniversary th e Dean and Ch a pter were t o provide for the eight chorister

of e of boys eight small cups the pur st glass, each these cups t o ff was be filled with milk , coloured with sa ron , sweetened

with sugar, and thickened with eggs , each boy was to hold his

n e cup in o hand and in the other a little loaf and a silver spoon .

’ Thus they were to take their way to the Bishop s tomb , and “ on of when e them had finished his mess he was to say, May

K ' 1 46 C h e 33n t tal of th e B ean .

our the soul of Bishop Robert , benefactor, and the souls of all

” the faithful dead , by the mercy of God , rest i n peace , to which “ the others shall respond Amen . The reason why the Parish Church es i n our Old cities are

gen erally such poor l ivings is beca use in pre - Reformation times they were chiefly dependent for the support of the clergy on the of fees paid for Obits and commemorations the dead citizens ,

’ for e m n ds and the payments fun rals , month s y , and dirges , together with t h e Offerings for baptism s an d weddings connected

with th e wealthy burghers . f O ur Funeral O fice has been frequently attacked , as though it authoritatively pronounced the salvation of every on e over

whose body it is read . But any careful reader will observe “ ” that its words , i n sure an d certai n hope, refer, not to the — of person , but to the great event the General Resurrection the of Quick and Dead at the end the world .

’ ‘ ’ ma : A passage from Boswell s Diary y here be quoted Sir, ‘ we t o e of said Dr . Johnson , are not j udge d term inedly the

m a n state i n which a leaves this life , he may have in a moment f repented e fectually , and it is p ossible, may have been accepted

’ by God . There is i n Camden s Remai ns an epitaph upon a very wicked man who was killed by a fall from his horse , i n

which he is supposed to say ,

Between t h e stirrup and t h e gro und

”

m m f u . I ercy asked , I ercy o nd

Do Boswell replied , not the expressions i n the Burial “ & c . Service, In sure and certain hope, , seem too strong to

be used indiscriminately , and indeed sometimes profane when used over the bodies of those who have been notoriously wicked

n ot f. Dr . Johnson It is sure and certain hope , belie

of - As matters interesting examples of Old time funerals , there

1 48 C h e B ur ial of th e ilBe atl .

rst t h e e t h e r t h e 2 h h Fy crosse , and on y side w yte branc es borne by

2 c h 2 c la rk s 8 r st e s h Me rl on h is lerks , t en 4 y and p y ; t en Edward y , b e h is h h is st a n d e rde f b m Sr h e ood on eade , bearing ; a ter y Ric ard

W h a tle Sr h C h a la n e s h own e s y y and Ric ard Harrys , p y , in t eir g and t e t t s t h Th m U h t h e “ of m f b m y pp ; en o as dall , wit ban ar es ; a ter y

u h t h e h m a n d h R c h e m on d e h t h e R dge Dragon , wit el crest ; t en y , wit

t of m f h im h th e f 6 co e ar s , and a ter Garter , t en corpse as a ore borne by of h is me n h Fra un c e s Sa wn de rs h t h e and on t one syde went , wit

r b a n n of t h e T r n tie h h T r a m or m h h . y y , and on t ot er syde y S yt wit St

h of h m h h h oode s t h b George , bot t e aving t eyre on eyre eades ; and

h 1 8 ff t orch s 1 8 m e n along on bot sydes were sta e y , carried by poore in black gown e s ; th en next after t h e corps as ch ie fe morner went (h ere f m h h h t h e ollowseveral na es) , in w ic order t ey proceeded to bridge at t h e B la ckfre e rs h a h , w et was two gr te barges covered wit black ,

a rn sh h e d h sch ooc h e on s t h for t h e m orn e rs m g y wit , one and gentle en and t h h e h h m h h h h for t e b od u . ot er y , q ere , atc ents , and ot er W ere alt ings

h u ] h c a m C h a lwa ie s h h t h e placed , t ey rowed ppe tyl t ey to elsey ( t at wit b od e f h h h h roce a d e d f ] y a ore t ot er) , w ere t ey landed , and p as a ore tyl

h c a m t h e C h u h h t h e t h e re ce f d t ey to rc , w ere at dore body was y , and

h c on v e ie d t h e u h t h e m d d e st wa s u t en into q ere , w ere in y it set pon t re ssle s h dowb le b a n e rs u ssh e on s for t h e , wit and y , stoles and q y morn e rs h a rn sh e d h sch osc h e on s covered wit blacke , g y wit and in lyke m t h e c h a un ce l u h a n d h anner was and q ere gy and garnis ed , and at every

of t h e b a n e rs h i h e c a n dle st cke lt e corner inner y stode a g standing y gy ,

h m t a re h h sc h ooch e on s of h s wit a great ayne p t ereon , and on ec e two y armes . Th en th e b ody e placed with t h e h a t ch e m e n t s sett th ereon and all

h h n h m h th e f h ot er t i gs in ordre , Ric e ond erald bade prayer as ollowet

For t h e u of t h e h h h S' h Kn h t so le Rig t ona le Jo n Braye , y g , late Lorde

of u c h a rit ie f n f h h h e Bray , yo r say a p (pater noster) w ic bade at

' h m a c cost om d h ‘ d rid e h h ot er ty es y , and t en y g began , w ic ended , m of u m d ur n e h h t me t h e a wlt re asse req ie began , y g w ic y at side were

m ma n ifi ca t : u : a ft re t h e ] diverse asses said , and at g benedict s gospel ,

‘ h t h e and at Libera m e t h e person (parson) c e n sy d t h e corps . T en at

ffe r n e Mr R h e mon - roce a de d u o . c d , Ru D y g Garter, y and dge ragon p ppe

f t h e ch ie fe m h h r 6 m u followin e b m h be ore orner , t ot e o rners g y , w ere

h e offe r d t h e m e n n e c of re t urn d h s all onely , y asse p y , a pee e golde , y to y t h e of h r. r t h e f h de l v e re d c . M o pla e T en Garte , at end t ese , y cote

h m h m wh o h R ch e mon d m Mr. C a Mr V ar es to T o as ob , and . erney , wit y ' f h m offe r d t h e m h h Roud e t h e r st s be ore t e , y sa e , w ic g Dragon at p y h t h e a wlt re t h re t urn d oin e ands received and placed on , and so ey y g g

h Mr. u th e n orth e re t urn n e t h e sout h e . ppe ile . and y g downe ile T en

h m Mr. d . d . h h C t e t t o Mr. Garter presented) argett Jo n ob a , and

L e f lde wh o h R u - f h m ofl e r d y y , wit o ge Dragon be ore t e in lyke ordre , y h th e m h h R h m t h e a wlt re re t urn d . sa e , w ic ic e ond placed on and y T en

w r r h wh o i h Mr d . h e s e e M M . B d . t d r . Garter to . Braye and ols e , w t

R ch e mon d f h m otf e r d t h e m t h e h f y be ore t e likewise y sa e , ylte orward ,

h h Roud e - t h wl re h t h e 2 m u w ic g Dragon placed on e a t . T en first o rners a a n e u h Roud e - f h m g y proceeded ppe wit g Dragon be ore t e , in all points

f offe r d t h e lme h h R ch e mon d as a ore , and y and creste , w ic y placed on th e a wlt re h u t h t h e h r m ur , and so t ey ret rned to eir places ! ot e o ners m offe rin s — h h offe r n f n sh e d t h e m h r ade g j w ic y g y y , ser on began by Fat e

Pe r n e f h h m u re sur a t in y , a black reer , w ose Ant e was Scio q ia g

’ re surre ct ion e m h n h e e cla r d h in novissi o del . W ere up p o d y owe

C h L a z n rus f m d e a t h e se in h h e m ryste raised ro , y g owe was a gentle an geven to ch y va lrie for t h e we lt h e of h y s coun t re y and so h e said th at n ma n h h t h h c omm e n da cion a mon e oble w ic en laye deade was , in w ose g m h t h h e f n sh e d h is m h h m ro anye ot er ings , y y ser onde , w ic don, asse p

’ h h r ce a de d t 8. ] t h e b a n n st a n da rd e off e r d ill Jo n s gospel , t at and were y

’ a ft re t h e b ur e d h h m t me ‘ E t me th e and body y , in w ic ean y libera , morn e rs h r t o h s h u departed to t ei botts , and so London to y said o se t o d n n r y y . And th e morrowe t h e h a t h me n t s and banners were set uppe in t h e

h a un e ll f h C c o C elsey accordingly .

The following is a curious example of th e exaggerated pomp of a funeral in the early part of the last century h h f h h m h h . t e a d adorned wit lig ts , eat ers , and trop ies All co pany rings , ’ h h h Ch 20 t h wh o h a d wit deat s eads set in rystal near clergy ere , all

c & h e m f wh o u h im c . T o rings , s arves , gloves , inister Hackney , b ried , m T h e 1 h u . f m t h e u 0 o rning procession ro Hall began abo t at nig t .

u 6 0 h m h is m u m First rode abo t orse en , tenants , in o rning cloaks , a ong

’ h m f u of t h e um u fu w o were ranged o r king s tr pets , so nding a dole l strain t wo h r h h h f h m m t h e toget e , attended wit branc lig ts . A ter t e ca e h h h h trop ies , wit a led orse covered wit velvet , attended by six pages in m u h m t h e h h u h f h o rning ; t en ca e erse , bedecked wit sc tc eons , eat ers ,

m h or h h a n and strea ers ; t en five six and t irty coac es and six , led by m h of f t h e u r h T h is e pty coac state , ollowed by exec to , Jo n yssen ( next

h t h e m u t h e u of t h e ] t h e brot er) , and all o rners s pporters pal , clergy and h ’ oth ers . All t e streets and balconies crowded as on a Lord Mayor s

’ n h h C h u h h th e day ; ear one o clock w en t ey got to Hackney rc , w ere all h orsemen lined both sides of t h e road up to t h e Ch urch t h e tr umpets

m t h e so unded upon every coach stopping to set down comp a ny . Fro

C h u h t h e C h u h t h e h u rc door to rc yard gate was railed in , sides ng and t h e ground covered with black C h urch and ch ance] h ung round with

h u m cu h u h u black , filled wit b ckra s tc eons ; p lpit and reading desk ng with cloth and silk sc utch eons com munion table covered with black

h u h t h e c mm u h h is clot ; corps b ried wit in o nion rails , w ere lie grand f h m h f h h f f at er , grand ot er , at er , and two sons ; trop ies a terwards astened

h h is h m h e u 20 0 . N ov to t nort wall against grave c arge co p ted at g 0 .

1 h is of h . 4 , widow delivered a son and eir

of By a curious example of the irony circumstances , this pompous funeral seems to have called forth the scorn and censure of thos e in authority .

Th e r umour of t h is pompo us funeral occasioned t h e following ‘ ’ f h m t h e N ov . 2 O t e of advertise ent in Gazette 3 , by order Earl uff u h S olk , dep ty Earl Mars al

- Th e of t h e 1 t h N ov . c u h Post boy 4 instant , giving an ac o nt t at

t h e of a T E s re t e on Monday preceding , corps Fr ncis yssen , q , lay in sta

' in Goldsmith s Hall in so grand and comple t e a ma n n e r as h a d not been

f t h t h e f h seen be ore ; and at on Monday ollowing , lying in state all t at

C h e C h urt h in g of W omen .

1 5 6 C h e C h ttrt h ing of W ome n .

on m which it was sarcastically remarked , No doubt to ake it a pplicable to men as well as m others During th e d iscussions on the Revising of the Prayer Book in s ecia l m e Dublin , a layman proposed a p prayer to be ad

“ ” for . th e occasion I t is unnecessary , replied a witty Dean ; “ there are already Prayers for those at sea

There is a quaint story t old , that a gentleman applied to Archbishop La n d for advice as t o what form of prayer he should use after escaping with his life from the attack of a savage bull , and that the Archbishop suggested the Churching

n Service as the only thing suitable in the Prayer Book , as th e existing ! It seems also that sometimes a sermon was preached on the occasion ; our ancestors seem to have had an inexhaustible

f r o . appetite sermons It was also usual to wind up with a feast .

“ ’ on We read Of half a stag for his wife s Churching , and , the f of ff of two occasion o the Countess Cli ord being Churched , hogsheads of wine being provided .

The poet Herrick (himself a Devonshire Rector) , i n the time

I . of King Charles , describes a Churching in verse , from which it would appear that ince nse was burned an d a white stole worn by the clergyman .

Put t h Fillitin s on y Holy g , and so

T t h e m h t h e m f o Te ple wit sober idwi e go , h m Attended t us (in a ost solemn wise) .

T

' h h t h ou B urn first t ine incense , next w en as see st

’ h h h o e r t h e u T e c andid ! w ite] stole t rown pio s Priest ,

h cu m h im Wit reverend rtsies co e , and to bring

Th y free (and not d e curt e d) offering .

of e s s e th e s Service was , cours , ugge t d by regulation a fit thing that special blessings should be balanced by special thanksgivings . The employment of this Churching ceremony is mentioned

in as being Observed in very primitive times , and is mentioned h h . t e letter whic S Augustine , the Apostle of England , received from Pope Gregory as to t h e regulati ons of the Church amongst

- th e the early converts . In pre Reformation times Service was of held before the door the Church , but it was afterwards altered

“ ” “ ” to the Quire door nigh to th e table and

1 6 6 2 then , in , to some convenient place where the minister

” Th e u should appoint . r bric also directed the woman to be

n tl a a rell ed dece y pp . “ old 1 6 0 In an London Church inventory ( 5 ) we read , A

” Churching cloth fringed with white damask , from which it would seem th at such was kept in Church es and lent to the

“ ” h a d woman . Of course the Puritans scruples on the subj ect . I n t h e Chapel Royal records there is an interesting account of of of I the Churching Queen Anne, wife James . , which we here quote

’ 1 6 0 Th e O of t h e u H i h n e s C h urch in e ( 5 , May rder Q een s g g ,

h h i n h h t h e C u on W t so da e 1 6 0 . w ic was in appell , pp y , 5

th e Kin e s m h is C lose t t h t h e m h First at g co ing to to ere Ser on , t ere

fu h m f t h e m h was a ll Ant e songe , and a ter Ser on was ended t en was

Imme i t l e f songe an Anth em for a C h ilde . d a y a ter th at began an

Offe rtor e h h t h e Kin e s Matie m y to be played , in w ic g ca e downe and 1 5 8 n W e n C h e C h ur ch i g of om .

h t h e u e. t h t h e ff W en Kinge and Q eene wear so seated , en ended o ertory , and a full Anth em (b e gin n in ge Blessed a rt th o u th at fearest God) was

t h e h f t h e h of C u songe , at end w ereo Bis op anterb ry , beinge assisted by f t h h h h Mr. o e C t h e Deane , appell (and bot in ric copes) , did read

of C h urch in e of woome n t h e h e r ordinary service g appointed by booke , h i h n e s kn e e l n h h h T h e h ur h in e g i ge t e w ile in e r Travase . C c g being

t h e u u c a m f h ff t h e H ol e ended , Q eene rose p and ort and o ered at y

h n e in t e Ki e s M a e st ie h a d f m M r. re c a v e Table , as g j or erly done , Deane g

h t h Offe rin e s h is C t h e O la in e h bot eir g in ope , and rganes p y g at eac

h f t h e h d fl e re d h e h r e lf t me . u a O s e s e y T en a ter Q eene , retired in to h e r re se n t l e h m of t h a n ks e v in e Travase , and p y began an Ant e g g prepared of u for t h e C h urc h in e : h t h e C for t h e p rpose g t at ended , ollectes , one

t h e h for t h e u h h t h e Kinge , ot er Q eene , weare read , and t erewit ended

h h e r n st l a a in e h t h e Kin h e . t O a e a d e s w ol service T en g p y g , w ilst g

Ma e st ie t h e u t h e h out of t h e j , Q eene , and w ole trayne departed

f . C h appell . (

There is on e more story which may be added as a warning of to clergymen who are apt to fall i nt o fits meditation . In a London Church a man and a woman appeared at the altar

- e on . rails aft r service a week day morning The Curate , doubtless thinking about his Sunday sermon , thought it a

‘ u u n ot zwo l littl e unus al that it sho ld be women , as he genera ly b ut saw , nevertheless read the Churching Service , received the l ffe . O ring, and dismissed the couple The c erk meeting them d at the Church door, it was iscovered that the man being a foreigner, and the woman deaf and dumb , they were departing under the full impression that they had been married ! Thi s reminds on e of the old saw that on e should “ ” take nothi n g for granted . TO I n m e dimva l tim es the mother carried lighted tapers . this practice a curious anecdote of William th e Co n queror of makes refe rence . When at war with the King France

e th e stern Old Norman fell ill , and was forced to ke p his

on bed for several weeks , which circumstance the French

C h e ih ray er C ook in fi tterature .

The prolific writi n gs of sna ke sp ea re do n ot throw much light on of the use the Prayer Book i n his days . Probably he did mix m not uch with Ecclesiastics , as the Puritan party was

n of growing i n power duri g the later years his life , and had

a n l m maintained an attitude of rigid hostility gai st a l amuse ents . There are on e or t wo q uotations wh ich may be used as u of of of ill strations the practice his times . One his characters

“ ’ ‘ ’ ou sackrin says , I ll startl e y worse than the g bell . This is

a - c ot the little bell which hangs in the S nctus bell at Lymington ,

c ot n ot in Somerset , and also the (if the bell) remains at Long

Ashton and Backwell in th e s ame county , and elsewhere . This

' h ell was ru n g t/zrice at t he Consecration i n the H oly C om

n u munio , and this seems still to have been occasionally sed in

’ n ow Shakespeare s times , and is revived in som e London

Churches . “ W ou Shakespeare alludes to Baptism , hat y speak is in your

’ ” conscience wa sh d as pure as si n with Baptism .

But stran gely enough there is on e passage i n on e of his plays which touches on a Church controversy which has only

ut . died o recently H e writes , Though honesty is n o Puritan ,

r of yet it will do no hurt . It will wea the surplice humility

” over the black gown of a big heart . h ow Few Of those who live nowadays realize bitter, forty f a o e . o years g , was this miserable controv rsy A funny exam ple this dispute occurred in a small town i n Ireland , when the surplice i n th e pulpit was then regarded as a rag of Popery . The Low Church Vicar asked th e High Church Rector of the

- neighbouri ng parish to preach for him on e week day evening .

The Rector, as was usual , sat withi n the Altar rails i n his

surplice . When the hymn before the sermon commenced , the e C h e iBray r B ook in it ite ra ture .

’ t h e n h im th e h o Vicar would t let enter pulpit wit ut it . Full of

n h h n th e - obsti ate aut ority , he rus ed dow to West end vestry , off h h cast his surplice , and hastened ome (a half mile) , where e

u m m h is u ca ght up a ser on fro st dy table, and hurried back

th e m e th e ff breathless to vestry , assu d black gown , and scu led

. h h a d into the pulpit Meanw ile , the congregation sat staring

e h is h th at the R ctor sitting in surplice wit in e rails . !After

me n a tura l ma n h wards he confessed to a friend, would ave

out Of h walked of Worst all , w en panting and

th e - h e breathless Vicar opened his sermon case, found that the serm on he h a d picked up in h is h aste was th e very on e h e had preach ed the Sunday be fore In th e re ign Of King Ch arles I we h ave many things

our h connected with C urch Services , illustrated by quaint and — th oughtful poems by the h oly Rector of B e merton George

“ ” r . t h e 1 6 Th e h Herbe t In year 3 3 , Temple was publis ed , “ 1 6 0 Th e n . h and in 4 , Sy agogue In t ese poems we find “ ” “ ” “ on Th e h h Th e C h h h Th e verses C urc Floor, urc Porc ,

” “ ” “ ” n Th e & c h Font, The Readi g Pew , Pulpit , . , T at on the Common Prayer Book begins th us

Wh at prayer by t h e book ? and common

Ye s wh , y not

Th e Of spirit grace , And supplication Is not left free alone For tim e and place

r B ut manner too . To read o speak by rote Is all alike to h im th at prays

’ h h h h h is m on th h e Wit s eart , t at wit says and concludes

I f t h e r t h e mm t h e r. p ayer be good , co oner bette

’ t h e C h u h Prayer in rc s words, as well

of t h e As sense, all prayers bears bell 1 66 Ch e iBray e r 33q in l it e ra ture .

Milton ’ s sympathies were so connected with the Puritan of school thought , that we can hardly expect much appreciation of the Prayer B ook from on e who wrote and argued i n the of camp its Opponents . Still , surely , there is a reflection on the ’ of poet s mind the impression produced , perhaps involuntarily ,

’ n o him , by th e solemnity and beauty of the Church s Service when h e wrote

B n t let my dere feet never fail

T t h e u u clo ste rs o walk st dio s y pale ,

t h e h h m f And love ig e bowed roo , h m f Wit antick pillars assy proo , h h And storied windows ric ly dig t ,

d im u h C asting a religio s lig t . Th en let t h e pealing organ blow

’ TO t h e full - v oic d q uire below

In c h h h m servi e ig , and ant e s clear ,

m a h h u h m e a r As y wit sweetness , t ro g ine ,

m e Dissolve into extasies , And bring all Heaven before m ine eyes It would be easy to make many quotations from the Spectator ” and other writings of Queen Anne ’ s time about f the Church Services o those days . Who does not recollect of th e charming description Sir Roger d e Coverley at Church , m and his purchase of the volu e of sermons for his Chaplain, the Vicar ? of Hogarth , in his picture series the good and the bad apprentices , gives us a capital idea of a London Parish Church in early Georgian days . Lord Bulwer Lytton has sketched a village sermon in his well

” known book , My Novel .

on e of A popular novelist , Miss Broughton , has made her

on heroines , the very verge Of ruin , hold back by the solemn

of & c . words the Collect, King of kings , Lord of lords , , which

6 8 e 1 C h iBray e r B ook in lt it e ra t ure .

Shakespeare has various allusions to C h urch bells

’ If h h kn oll d C h u h ever been w ere bells ave to rc , and again

h Bid t h e merry bells ring to t ine e a r.

“ ” There is a beautiful line i n on e of his sonnets in which there seems to be an allusion to the many abbeys which still

’ stood dismantled and decayed i n Shakespeare s youth . It is where he describes the trees in winter as

Bare ruined q uires in wh ich t h e sweet birds sang .

e our own of N ar to days we have the hymns Keble, the

of on musical lines Williams the Cathedral , the Transatlantic of of poems Cleveland Cox , and the prophetic verses

Dr . Neale . fi ermon s, etc ,

B t h e RE V . D R . H A R M N y D A .

T H P AC H P P E RE E R RE A RE D .

A compl e te set of Sh ort Plain Sermon s for t h e Ch ristian

u e t c Year, full Of anecdote , ill stration , .

r l t/z r 6 C . c o ice , p /

T H ’ PL ! ITY E PA RS ON S PE R E .

h m e of Wh at to Preac about . A co plet set Sixty Short

m s t h e h - a n d u u suggestive Ser on for ard working h rried , incl ding

t h u h of t h e h n all e S ndays and c ief Holyday s C ristia Year .

h u l s a n d These Sermons are t oro gh y intere ting , varied , full of

o a c j udicious illustrati n and n e dote .

d E dition r econ C . S . 5

We know fe w vol umes m ore calculated to deliver t h e parson ” i - L f h s iterar Ch urch ma n . rom weekly perplexity . y "

Gua rdia n . Is likely t o h e found h elpful sh ort and practical .

Mr. A RD MA h s h is a f . H N a done work c re ully and wel—l Clcurck Times.

"

Th e u c a re h f . s bje ts well c osen , and o ten strikingly treated - n of Twenty Three Short Sermo s . Full valuable teaching ,

m . u w i nfor ation , etc , and ill strated ith numerous anecdotes ;

e um for h e a m ost valuabl vol e C urch D fence , etc . , purposes .

e o E d tion r S c n d i . C . 4/

u - u u L ite ra r Ch urch ma n . A val ableaddition toed cational literat re . y

S T OR IE S A N D T EAC H IN G ON T H E

L ITAN Y .

m old A book to ake that Service plain to the , and interesting t o the young . Th is m ost com prehensive and useful volum e will be fou n d a perfect storehouse for t h e Preacher and th e m m of Teacher . It contains an im ense nu ber m ost interesting

on of th e m stories and illustrations , the clauses Litany , fro

e e anci nt an d mod rn sources , an d it is specially arranged i n

- r of t h e Fifty Two Chapte s for the Sundays Year, besides the chief H olydays . Each chapter is followed by Catechetical ’ Questions for use at a Children s Afternoon Service . It will also furnish a m ine of illustration and S ermon material for the Preacher throughout the Year ; and it will be most valuable for

’ e h z n h s School t ac ing, Catechi i g , C ildren s Service , etc .

n E dil ion 0 711 5Z€f€ in on e oi r e o d . C 7/ c . S c . 1 , 5

Th e book will be found very useful for C atech ising and for — t l h C . Ch ur0k ua r e r S unday Sc ool lasses Q y . “ fu of u fu u u t Is ll se l instr ction and ill stra ive anecdote , excellent ’ — G uom for a teach er to use in preparing a lesson . ia n . f u u fu m for h u Will be o nd se l by clergy en t eir instr ction classes , m m T h e h u h of t h e and indeed for th eir own ser on aterials . C rc tone m u h h m u f f m u h vol u e is so nd and ealt y , being war , and yet q ite ree ro g s

- h urch ime s. and senti m entality . C

u . m Skilfully and earnestly exec ted It eets a decided want .

M Y R E C T O R S

W - By a Quondam Curate . anted a Curacy . Advertisements ,

— M Mr Agents , etc . y Rectors , . D e La Strange , Mr . Lordling, — — — . u A M Mr T fter . I become a GUIN EAPI G l Dictator s y

a Ide l Rector , a Dream Every Rector and every Curate should

a m usm r . read this m ost g, instructive , and successful brochu e

t e n te e t/t E di ion Cr. 1 Sev n . /

MY C U RAT E S

. m h By a Rector . (Rev Sampson Sli mer , Low C urch ; Rev .

Ra sh le i h h m e Roger g , Broad C urch ; Rev . Mar aduk Maypole ,

z . . High Church ; Rev. Peter Parchment , Romani er, etc , etc )

N in m E dition .

MY C H URC H W A RD E N S

By a Vicar . (The Typical Warden . A Vestry Meeting (Town) .

- h u . A Vestry Meeting (Country) . A High Ch rc Warden A

- Low Church Warden , etc . , etc . )

Price 1 Se ven tli E dition . /

N 1 PI CADILL Y W . LOND ON : SKEFFIN GTON é! SO , 6 3 . C ,