Eucharistic Vestments.--The special vestments worn in celebrating
the Holy Eucharist to mark the dignity of the service and as
symbolical of the Passion of our Lord which is therein commemorated.
They are as follows: the Amice, Alb, Girdle, Stole, Maniple and
Chasuble worn by the celebrant, and the Dalmatic {102} and Tunicle,
worn by the Deacon and sub-Deacon; each of which is described under
the heading, VESTMENTS (which see). From ancient sources we learn
that it was the universal custom of the Church to wear distinctive
vestments at the celebration of the Holy Communion to mark it as
the only service ordained by Christ Himself, and also as the highest
act of Christian Worship. This is evidenced by the fact that the
seven historical churches which have possessed a continuous life
since the Nicene era, viz.: the Latin, Greek, Syrian, Coptic,
Armenian, Nestorian and the Georgian--all use the Eucharistic
Vestments. When we consider that these historic churches have not
been in communion with one another for over a thousand years, we
cannot but conclude that any point on which they are agreed must
go back to the middle of the Fifth Century and must be part of their
united traditions from a still earlier date. From the fact that
these historic churches, having no communion with one another, do
agree in the use of distinctive vestments for the Holy Eucharist,
we learn that their use is not, as is sometimes supposed, an
imitation of Rome but is a Catholic and Primitive custom. The
Eucharistic Vestments are now used in more than two thousand
churches in England and America, thus showing how they recognize
and are reasserting their Catholic heritage.
Evangelical.--Belonging to, or consistent with, the Holy Gospels,
derived from the Greek word for Gospel.
Evangelical Canticles.--The name given to the canticles sung in
the Church service which are taken {103} from the Gospels, viz.:
Benedictus, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis.
Evangelists.--The name given to the writers of the four Gospels.
Eve, or Even.--The day before a Festival, as Christmas Eve, Easter
Even, and designed to be a preparation for the due observance of
the Festival it precedes. By rubric it is provided that the Collect
appointed for any Sunday or other Feast may be used at the Evening
Service of the day before.
Even Song.--The name given in the Calendar of the English Prayer
Book to the Order for Daily Evening Prayer and is frequently used
in the American Church. It is a very old term and a very significant
one, indicating that the Evening Oblation chorally rendered is
evidently the mind of the Church and its ancient usage. Our beautiful
Evening Prayer thus rendered is certainly much more in keeping with
Scripture and much more elevating than the "Song Services," or
"Vesper Services" of the various denominations. These latter are
not regarded as "Romish" and are very popular. Yet in some places
if a choral Even Song is attempted, at once the cry of "Romanism"
is raised, and yet from Holy Scripture we learn that music is a
divinely ordained element in the public worship of God and the
service thus rendered is an approach to the worship of Heaven. (See
INTONE; PLAIN SONG also PSALTER.)
Examination for Holy Orders.--Title I, canon 6 of the Digest
provides that "There shall be assigned to every Candidate for
Priest's Orders three separate examinations." These examinations
are made by the {104} Bishop in the presence of two or more Priests.
The three examinations are on the following subjects: