Funerals.--The solemn BURIAL OF THE DEAD (which see). In the Church
there is no such thing as "Preaching a Funeral," as it is called,
but the reverent and devout committal of the "body to the ground,"
"looking for the General Resurrection in the last day and the life
of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ." Plainness and
simplicity should mark so holy a function.
G
Gehenna.--In the original Greek of the New Testament Scriptures
there are two words unfortunately translated by our one English
word "Hell." The first of these is _Gehenna_, meaning the "place
of torment." The second is _Hades_, which also occurs in the
original Greek of the Creed, and means the _hidden_, covered,
intermediate world where the soul rests between death and the
general Resurrection. When, therefore, we confess in the Creed
that our Lord "descended into Hell," we do not mean that He entered
the "place of torment," but the "place of departed spirits" or
_Hades_. This difference of meaning of the word "Hell" as used in
our English translation of the Bible and the Creed should be borne
in mind.
General Clergy Relief Fund.--This is the abbreviated title of a
Society organized by the General Convention under the corporate
name, "The Trustees of the Fund for the Relief of the Widows and
Orphans {118} of Deceased Clergymen, and of Aged, Infirm and
Disabled Clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States of America, a corporation created in the year 1855 by chapter
459 of the laws of the State of New York." This is one of the most
important Funds in the Church and commands the generous support of
all earnest and devoted Church people. As its name implies, it is a
Fund established for the purpose of taking care of Aged and Infirm
clergy who through age or sickness have become disabled and can no
longer fulfil their ministry. The conscience of the Church makes her
feel obligated, like the national government, to take care of her
faithful servants in their old age and disability, and also to
provide for the care of the widows and orphans of deceased
clergymen. The Church, however, cannot do this blessed work of
Relief, unless all her people contribute largely to this Fund.
General Confession, The.--The form of words used by both Minister
and People in humbly acknowledging their sins before God in
preparation for the true worship of His Name about to follow. The
General Confession was placed in the Morning Prayer in 1552 and in
the Evening Prayer in 1661. Such beginning of our Public Worship is
in accordance with the practice of the Primitive Christians, who,
as St. Basil, writing in the Fourth Century, tells us, "in all
churches, immediately upon their entering into the House of Prayer,
made confession of their sins unto God, with much sorrow, concern
and tears, every man pronouncing his own confession with his own
mouth." A similar General Confession, but more heart searching,
{119} is also to be found in the Communion Office, to be said in
preparation for the due reception of the Sacrament. A third
Confession is also set forth in the Penitential Office and commonly
called the "Ash Wednesday Confession."
General Convention, The.--The legislative body of the American
Church which meets triennially and is composed of the Bishops and
Representatives from all the Dioceses and Missionary Jurisdictions.
The Convention is composed of two houses, (1) the House of Bishops
and (2) the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies consisting of four
Clerical and four Lay representatives from each Diocese, and one
delegate of each Order from every Missionary Jurisdiction. Both
Houses together constitute the _General Convention_. All the laws of
the Church in the United States are made by this Convention, but it
can make no alteration in the Constitution or in the Liturgy and
Offices unless the same has been adopted in one Convention, and
submitted to all the Dioceses, and afterwards adopted in another
Convention. For any measure to become a law it must be adopted by
the concurrent action of both Houses. The General Convention
provides also for the admission of New Dioceses; for Church
extension, and for the erection of Missionary Jurisdictions both
in the United States and in foreign lands, electing the Bishops for
them. The Presiding Officer is the Senior Bishop by consecration,
who presides in the House of Bishops and when both Houses meet as
one body. When the Convention is not in session he acts as the
Primate of the American Church. (See PRESIDING BISHOP.) The House
of {120} Clerical and Lay Deputies also has its President or
Presiding Officer who is chosen from among the Clerical Deputies
at each meeting of the Convention.