Gown, The Black.--An Academical gown; an official or distinctive
dress worn by students and officers of a College or University,
and also by officials of a {128} Court of Justice. It is not an
ecclesiastical garment, although it was customary during a time
of great spiritual decadence in the Church for the gown with bands
to be worn during the preaching of the sermon in the service. This,
however, has long since been given up; the surplice is more properly
worn.
Grace.--The word "grace" means a _special favor_, and is applied to
the whole obedience, merit, Passion and Death of our Lord and the
benefits that flow from them,--justification, wisdom, sanctification,
Redemption. The Church, which is the Body of Christ, is called the
_Kingdom of Grace_, for in it we become members of Christ and
partakers of His grace and heavenly benediction. The Sacraments, as
well as other ordinances, are called "means of grace," because they
are the appointed instrumentalities whereby God gives grace to His
faithful people, to help them in living faithfully and in obtaining
Salvation.
Gradine.--A name sometimes given to the shelf at the back of the
Altar and attached to the wall or reredos, upon which are placed
the candlesticks, flowers and other ornaments. There may be two or
more such shelves.
Gradual.--A portion of Scripture formerly sung after the Epistle
for the Day, from the steps of the Pulpit or Altar, and hence called
_Gradual_, from the Latin _gradus_, meaning a step.
Greek Church.--A name often used for the EASTERN CHURCH (which see).
Green.--One of the Church colors, and used during the Epiphany and
Trinity Seasons. (See CHURCH COLORS.) {129}
Gregorian Music.--The Gregorian tones are certain chants of peculiar
beauty and solemnity handed down to us from remote antiquity. They
are said to have been set forth in their present form by Gregory
the Great in the Sixth Century, from whom they are named. They are
numbered from _one_ to _eight_, with a few added supplementary tones
of great dignity and beauty. Each tone has various endings. Where
the Psalter is sung, the Gregorian chants are usually employed,
being sung antiphonally, but the _Glorias_ in full, that is by both
sides of the choir together.
Growth of the Church.--The course of the Episcopal Church in the
United States has been characterized by a very remarkable growth--a
growth that has attracted the attention of the Public Press, both
religious and secular. Thus the Roman Catholic _News_ said recently,
"The gains of the Episcopalians in this country, steady, onward,
undeniable, and that at the expense of the denominations called
evangelical, is one of the remarkable characteristics of our times."
The following statement appeared in _Public Opinion_: "A good
showing is made by the so-called Protestant Episcopal Church in the
United States. The general growth of the Church far exceeds,
proportionately, that of the population at large, or of any other
religious section of it in particular. It looks like the 'Church of
the future.'" This statement may be illustrated by the returns of
the last census. In the decade ending 1900 the population increased
21 per cent., while the increase of the Episcopal Church was 41 per
cent. During the preceding decade (1880-1890) the increase of
population was 24 per cent., but that of {130} the Church was 46
per cent. Before the Civil War, (in 1850) this Church had one
communicant for about every 300 of the population; in 1880 it had
one for every 148; in 1890, one for every 125, and in 1900 it had
one communicant for every 107 of the population. The comparison of
growth of this Church with other religious bodies was set forth in
a statement by the New York _Independent_, from which it appears that
the rate of increase during the period examined was for the Episcopal
Church 44 per cent.; for the Lutherans, 14; Baptists, 12; Methodists,
11; and Presbyterians, 8 per cent. In the census returns in 1850
the population of the United States was 23,847,884 and the Episcopal
Church had then only 79,987 communicants. To-day (1901) the State
of New York alone with a population of only 7,268,012 has 163,379
communicants, being about one-fourth of the population in that
State. The _Missionary Monthly_, a Presbyterian publication,
speaking of the Church in New York City, said: "The Episcopalians
far outnumber any other denomination in their membership. Their
relative growth also surpasses all others. In 1878 the Presbyterian
membership in this city was 18,704, while the Episcopalians numbered
20,984. Now the Episcopalians almost double the Presbyterians in the
matter of Church membership." These last two items refer only to
New York, but it is a well established fact that the Church is
growing rapidly in all parts of our land. To-day there is not a
State or Territory where the Episcopal Church has not its Bishop or
Bishops and body of Clergy and faithful people; even in far away
Alaska the Altar and the Cross have been set up, and the rate {131}
of increase throughout the United States is larger than that of any
other religious body in this land. Moreover, it is a striking fact
that the Episcopal Church is the only religious body in the United
States (except the Roman Catholic) which covers the entire country.