A
Ablutions.--A term used to designate the ceremonial washing of the
sacred vessels after Holy Communion, with wine and water which are
reverently consumed by the Priest. These ablutions are in conformity
with the Rubric which directs, "And if any of the consecrated Bread
and Wine remain after the Communion, it shall not be carried out
of the Church; but the Minister and other communicants shall,
immediately after the Blessing, reverently eat and drink the same."
Absolution.--The forgiveness of sins on earth by the Son of Man
through His agents, the Bishops and Priests of the Church. Their
commission is embodied in the words of the Ordination Office,
"Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Priest in
the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the Imposition of
our hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and
whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained." This commission
contains our {6} Lord's own words to be found in St. John 20:22 and 23,
and they are His commission to His Ministers. Attempts have been
made to explain away these words; but it is unquestionably the
office of the Holy Ghost to invest those ordained with the power
of dispensing God's Word and Sacraments, and of performing what
is necessary "for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of
the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ."
(See KEYS, POWER OF).
Absolution, The.--The name given to the form of words by which a
penitent person is absolved. There are two forms in the Prayer
Book; the longer form being used at Morning and Evening Prayer,
the shorter one being usually confined to use in the Communion
Office.
Absolve.--To loose, to set free from the bondage of sin. (See
ABSOLUTION, also KEYS, POWER OF).
Abstinence.--The Church makes a distinction between _abstinence_ and
_fasting_. Abstinence is the reduction of food for the sake of
self-discipline, while fasting is going without food of any kind
as a more severe act of discipline. Abstinence is to be exercised
on "Other Days of Fasting" _i.e._, other than Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday which are absolute Fasts. (See FASTS, TABLE OF; also
FASTING).
Acolyte.--A word derived from the Greek, and used to designate one
who serves the Priest in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
His chief duties are to arrange the elements on the Credence, to
light the candles, receive the offerings and present them, and
also the Bread, Wine and water, to the Priest at the proper time
in the Celebration. {7}
Adult Baptism.--The rule of the Church is Infant Baptism. She
brings children even in their tenderest years within her Fold and
there trains them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
But when in England the Puritans and Anabaptists arose and prevailed,
then there grew up a generation that reached maturity without having
been baptized, and then it was that there arose the necessity for
"The Ministration of Baptism to such as are of Riper Years and able
to answer for themselves." To meet such cases the present service
in the Prayer Book for the Baptism of Adults was prepared and set
forth in A.D. 1661. That the Church of England had no form for
the Baptism of Adults previous to the year 1661 is not only an
interesting fact, but it is also one of those historic side-lights
which brings into bold relief what was the custom of the Church
from time immemorial.
Advent.--Derived from the Latin, and means _coming_. The word is
used of the first coming of Christ at His Birth, and of His Second
Coming to judge the world. These are commemorated in the first
Season of the Church Year, the _Season of Advent_, which begins
on the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day (Nov. 30) whether before
or after, and continues until Christmas Day. The Advent Season is
intended to be a preparation for the due observance of Christmas,
is penitential in character and a time of increased devotions both
public and private. The Benedicite is sung instead of the Te Deum;
the Benedictus is recited in full, and the Collect for the First
Sunday in Advent is used daily throughout the Season. The color
for Altar hangings, etc., is purple or violet.
Advent Sunday.--A name to be found in the Prayer Book for the First
Sunday in Advent. It is commonly regarded as the first day of the
Church Year, and as such the _Christian's New Year's Day_. From the
fact that the Church Year anticipates the Civil New Year by a whole
month it is thought that the Church thereby teaches that the Kingdom
of God should be first in our thoughts, (See ADVENT, also CHRISTIAN
YEAR).
Affusion.--The _pouring_ (which the word means) of water on the
recipient of Baptism, when the Baptism is not by immersion.
Questions have arisen from the very earliest ages as to the matter
and form with which this Sacrament is to be administered. The
original mode was undoubtedly by the descent of the person to be
baptized into a stream or pool of water. The practice of immersion
was not, however, regarded as an essential feature of Baptism. There
can be little doubt that affusion was practiced instead of immersion,
at the discretion of the Priest, in ancient as well as in modern
times. The Prayer Book provides for either mode. The method is a
matter of indifference, the essential point being that the candidate
for Baptism come into actual contact with water while the words, "I
baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost," are spoken.
Agape.--A Greek word meaning _love_. The name given to the "Love
Feast" or social meal which the ancient Christians were accustomed
to have when they came together and which was partaken of before
the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. But owing to abuses, which
St. Paul rebuked in writing to the {9} Corinthians, it was finally
abolished. There seems to be some confusion of ideas in regard to
this ancient custom as is seen in the wrong use that is made of the
term LORD'S SUPPER (which see).
Agnus Dei.--Meaning "The Lamb of God." This is the name given to
the prayer "O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us," to be found in the Litany and Gloria in
Excelsis. The Agnus Dei is often sung as an anthem after the Prayer
of Consecration in the Holy Communion. It is also the name given to
a representation of a lamb with banner as an emblem of Christ. (See
EMBLEMS).
Aisle.--This term is often wrongly applied to the alleys or
passageways between the pews of a church. Aisle, properly speaking,
is an architectural term given to the side or wing of a church or
cathedral separated from the nave by rows of pillars and arches.
The word is derived from the Latin _ala_, meaning a wing.
Alb.--A long white linen garment worn as one of the Eucharistic
Vestments. (See VESTMENTS).
Alleluia.--A Hebrew word meaning "Praise ye the Lord." Sometimes
written "Hallelujah." It is used on joyous occasions such as
Christmas and Easter.
All Saints' Day.--A Feast held on November 1, in commemoration
of all saints of the Church who are not commemorated on other
days. This Festival is very dear to the hearts of Christians.
It is a day full of touching memories, when in the Holy Eucharist
we memorialize before God the lives not only of Martyrs and
Confessors and the great army of valiant {10} and faithful souls
in every age and clime, but also of those dear to us by ties of
kindred and affection,--fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters,
little children and noble youth--who "having finished their
course in faith do now rest from their labors." It is thus we
have brought home to us, as in no other way, the meaning and
reality of "The Communion of Saints." Amid the solemnities of
worship "and memorial we thus learn that the living and the dead
are bound together by ties that are eternal, ties that no change
of time can break, because before God they are _one_ in the Mystical
Body of Christ. (See DIPTYCHS).
Almanac, Church.--An annual publication setting forth the dates
and times of the Holy Days and Seasons of the Church's year, with
the table of Lessons, directions concerning the Church colors and
other information about the Church, such as the organization of
the Dioceses, number of communicants; clergy list, the General
Convention and other organizations; also, the list of the American
Bishops, both living and departed. In fact a well-edited Church
Almanac is so full of information no intelligent communicant can
afford to be without one, as a guide and help to his devotions
throughout the year. (See CALENDAR).
Alms Bason.--A shallow dish or plate, usually made of some precious
metal, in which the offerings of the people are received and placed
on the Altar.
Alpha and Omega.--The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
They are used of our Lord to set forth His eternal and divine
Nature, as in Revelation I:II, "I am Alpha and Omega, the First
and the Last." In their Greek form these letters are used {11} in
the symbolism and decoration of the Church, either separately or
as a monogram.
Altar.--The Holy Table, of wood or stone, on which the Sacrament of
the Lord's Body and Blood is offered to God as a "Sacrifice of Praise
and Thanksgiving." "Altar" and "Table" are used interchangeably
in Holy Scripture, and both words are used in the Prayer Book for
the same thing. From the very earliest times the Altar has always
been the most prominent object in the Church, being placed at the
end of the chancel and elevated, being approached by three or more
steps. Architecturally as well as devotionally the Altar is the
distinctive feature, the objective point of the building to which
all else conforms. Properly speaking, the building is erected for
the Altar, and not the Altar for the building. (See LORD'S TABLE).
Altar Cross.--The cross surmounting the Altar, made usually of
polished brass or of some precious metal. The Altar Cross is handed
down to us from the Primitive Church, so that to-day wheresoever
the English or the American flag waves there "the Altar and the
Cross" are set up. The Cross is placed over the middle of the
Altar, in the most sacred and prominent part of the Church, "in
order that the holy symbol of our Faith may be constantly before
the eyes of all who worship therein, to shine through the gloom of
this world and point them to the skies."
Altar Lights.--Two candles in candlesticks placed on the retable of
the Altar and lighted at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist;
frequently called Eucharistic Lights. They are used to symbolize
our Lord as {12} the Light of the world in His two Natures, Human
and Divine. The symbolical use of lighted tapers in Divine Service
is of primitive antiquity and their use is being generally restored
in both the English and American branches of the Church. This is
evidenced by the table in the Tourist's Church Guide for 1898, in
which it appears that in 1882 there were 581 churches in which the
Altar Lights were used, while in 1898 the number had increased to
4,334. (See LIGHTS ON THE ALTAR).
Altar Linen.--The linen pieces used in decorating the Altar for
the celebration of the Holy Communion are so called. There is first
the "fair white linen cloth," the width of the top of the Altar,
and falling over the ends fifteen or twenty inches ending with a
fringe. It is usually embroidered with five crosses to represent
the five wounds of our Lord. Other pieces are the Corporal to cover
the middle part of the Altar and on which are placed the Paten and
Chalice during the Celebration; the "fair linen cloth," or thin
lawn veil required by the rubric to cover the elements after
consecration; the Purificators, and also the Pall,--each of which
is described under its proper title (which see).
Altar Rail.--The railing enclosing the Sanctuary in which the Altar
stands, and at which the communicants kneel in receiving the Holy
Communion, is called, in the Institution Office the _Altar Rail_.
Supposed to have been first introduced by Archbishop Laud as a
protection of the Altar against the lawlessness and irreverence of
the Puritans.