Guild.--An organization or society. A name given to a society in
the Church, having for its object the welfare of the Parish to
which it belongs, or the promotion of some special church work.
Usually the purpose of a Church Guild is to bring the members
together in devotion of spirit and in cooperative work under the
direction of the Rector; and in every way to bring the full Church
system to bear on the hearts and lives of all.
H
Habit.--The name given to the garb worn by the clergy, _e_. _g_.,
the robes worn by a Bishop are frequently called the "Episcopal
habit"; also, the garb worn by members of a religious order, such
as the Sisters of Charity, etc.
Hades.--The Greek word for the place of departed spirits, translated
in the English Bible and, also, in the Creed by the word "Hell,"
not, however, the place of torment. (See DESCENT INTO HELL, also
INTERMEDIATE STATE.)
Hallelujah.--A Hebrew word, meaning "Praise the Lord"; same as
ALLELUIA (which see). {132}
Heaven.--The final abode of the righteous, where after the general
Resurrection they find their perfect consummation and bliss, both
in body and soul, in God's eternal and everlasting glory.
Hell.--The final abode of the wicked and impenitent. Justin Martyr,
an ancient Father of the Church, who lived A.D. 150, describes
Hell as "a place where those are to be punished who have lived
wickedly, and who do not believe that those things which God hath
taught us by Christ will come to pass." The original Greek word
for "Hell," as the place of torment, is GEHENNA (which see).
Heresy. Heretic.--The word "heresy" is derived from a Greek word,
meaning "a choice," and is applied to doctrines or beliefs that
are contrary to Divine Revelation as witnessed to by the Holy
Catholic Church. A "Heretic" is one who prefers such false teaching
to "the Faith once delivered to the Saints." Concerning such St.
Paul says, "A man that is an heretic, after the first and second
admonition, reject" (St. Titus 3:10). The Church regards the true
Faith as of such vital importance to her life and to the life of
each individual soul, she bids us to pray in the Litany, "From all
false doctrine, _heresy_, and schism, Good Lord, deliver us."
High Celebration.--A term commonly employed to describe the solemn
midday service of the Holy Eucharist with the full adjuncts of
ritual and music. There is always a Gospeller and Epistoler in
addition to the Celebrant. The music is often of an elaborate
character and the ceremonial more imposing. It is generally reserved
for the greater Festivals. {133}
Historic Episcopate.--This is a term that came into prominence when
at the General Convention of 1886, which met in Chicago, the House
of Bishops set forth the terms which it deemed a sufficient basis
for the Reunion of Christendom. By it is meant the Ministry
preserved and perpetuated by APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION (which see, also
EPISCOPACY).
Historiographer.--An official custodian and compiler of historical
records pertaining to the Church, appointed by the General
Convention. Several of the Dioceses have also their appointed
Historiographers.
Holy Angels.--The service and Ministry of the Holy Angels and their
guardianship over the sons of men is a doctrine set forth by the
Church in her beautiful service for ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS DAY,
(which see). Elsewhere in the Liturgy she brings out the same great
truth. When we gather around the Altar of God in the Holy Eucharist
we do so "with angels and archangels and with all the company of
Heaven." It has always been a tradition of Christianity that "angels
attend at the ministration of Holy Baptism and at the celebration of
the Holy Communion; and that as Lazarus was the object of their
tender care, so in sickness and death they are about the bed of the
faithful and carry their souls to the Presence of Christ in
Paradise."
Holy Communion.--One of the two great Sacraments ordained by Christ
and generally (_i.e._, always) necessary to salvation; this being
the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood. The following explanation
has been given by the Rev. Morgan Dix, D.D.: "Three names are given
to this Sacrament according {134} to the way in which it is regarded.
It is called the _Holy Communion_, because it is the means of keeping
that union with Almighty God through the Incarnation which was
commenced in our Baptism, and because thereby all the faithful are
spiritually one with each other. It is called the _Lord's Supper_
with historical reference to the time and circumstance of its
institution. It is called the _Holy Eucharist_, as being the
great act of praise and thanksgiving rendered by the Church in
acknowledgment of the blessings of Redemption. It is also called
preeminently the _Divine Liturgy_, as including and comprehending
all acts of worship and religion, and as being the first and chief
of all rites and functions; and it is both a Sacrifice and a
Sacrament. It is the great Commemorative Sacrifice of the Church,
unbloody, mystical and spiritual; accompanying the Perpetual
Oblation of Himself which our great High Priest, Jesus Christ,
makes in Heaven, where He ever liveth and intercedes for us. In
it the Passion of Christ is perpetually shown forth to the Almighty
Father, and His Priests on earth unite in the Oblation which He
makes at the Mercy Seat. It is the _Sacrament_ in which the
faithful feed upon His most Blessed Body and Blood, in a divine
mystery and after a spiritual manner, which is to be believed though
it cannot be explained. Our Lord is really present throughout the
whole of this solemn and august action, though in no carnal,
corporal or material manner." (See REAL PRESENCE.)
The Prayer Book provides that this Blessed Sacrament shall be
celebrated at least every Sunday and Holy Day for which Collect,
Epistle and Gospel are {135} provided; the only exception to this
rule being Good Friday. (See EARLY COMMUNION; FREQUENT COMMUNION,
also WORSHIP.)
Holy Days and Seasons.--(See CHRISTIAN YEAR, also articles on
FEASTS, FASTS and GOSPEL.)
Holy Ghost, The.--The Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. It is of
faith to believe that God the Holy Ghost is a Person, not simply
an influence as the vagueness of modern religionism seems to imply,
but a Person so real that sin can be committed against Him, as in
the case of Ananias who was accused of lying to the Holy Ghost
(Acts 5:3); a Person so real that He is represented as engaged in
such personal acts as teaching, testifying, guiding into all Truth,
and as interceding. The Holy Ghost is to be believed in as very and
eternal God, of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father
and the Son. He, the Comforter, having been given we are now living
under the Dispensation of the Holy Ghost. The third paragraph of the
Creed (each article of which is to be attributed to or affirmed of,
the Holy Ghost) brings out this truth and sets forth His Presence
and work in the Church. This is illustrated by the following
statement: "By being born again of water and the _Holy Ghost_ we
are made members of 'the Holy Catholic Church'; by keeping the unity
of the _Spirit_ in the bond of peace, we enjoy the 'Communion of
Saints'; through the _Holy Ghost_ we receive the 'Remission of
Sins,' first in our Baptism and afterwards in the Holy Communion
and other ordinances; it is through the _Holy Ghost_ that the Lord
shall quicken our mortal bodies in the 'Resurrection,' and by His
grace we {136} shall be enabled to give a good answer at the Judgment
Seat of Christ and so attain to the 'Life Everlasting.'" (See
PROCESSION OF THE HOLY GHOST.)
Holy Innocents' Day.--A Festival of the Church observed on the third
day after Christmas, December 28th, in memory of the children of
Bethlehem, whose death Herod caused, and who have always been
regarded as the Infant Martyrs of the Christian Church, for that
"not in speaking, but in dying, have they confessed Christ." This
Feast is one of the very oldest of Holy Days, having always been
associated with the observance of Christmas.
Holy Name, The.--The name of JESUS (which see). Bishop Jeremy Taylor
says, "This is the Name which we should engrave in our hearts, and
write upon our foreheads, and pronounce with our most harmonious
accents, and rest our faith upon, and place our hopes in, and love
with the overflowings of charity and joy and adoration." An old
custom that has come down to us from the most ancient times is that
of bowing at the Holy Name of Jesus, especially in reciting the
Creed. The 18th Canon of the English Church (1604) gives the meaning
of this custom as follows: "When in time of Divine Service the Lord
Jesus shall be mentioned, _due_ and _lowly reverence_ shall be done
by all persons present, as it hath been accustomed, testifying by
these outward ceremonies and gestures their inward humility,
Christian resolution, and due acknowledgment that the Lord JESUS
CHRIST, the true and Eternal Son of God, is the only Saviour of the
world, in whom alone all mercies, graces and promises {137} of God to
mankind, for this life and the life to come, are fully and wholly
comprised."
Holy Orders.--A term used to designate the Sacred Ministry, and is
expressive of the position and authority of the Ministry of the
Church. Holy Scripture as well as ancient authors and the universal
practice of the Church bear witness to the fact that Almighty God
of His Divine Providence hath appointed "divers orders" in His
Church and that these orders have always and in all places been
_three_ in number, viz., Bishops, Priests and Deacons. (See BISHOP,
EPISCOPACY, DEACON, MINISTER, PRIEST.)