Parson.--The old name used in England for the {207} rector or
incumbent of a parish. Parson and person are the same word, being
derived from the Latin _Persona_. The Parson is so called, as
Blackstone tells us, "because by his person the Church which is
an invisible body, is represented."
Paschal.--Pertaining to Easter, from the fact that the original
name of the Festival was _Pascha_, _i.e._, the Passover.
Passion.--Meaning _suffering_, and is used almost exclusively of
our Lord's sufferings, as expressed in the article of the Creed,
"Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried."
Passion Sunday.--The Fifth Sunday in Lent is so called because on
this day our Lord began to make open prediction of His sufferings,
and in her round of worship the Church begins the solemn commemoration
of His Passion and Death. (See LENT, SUNDAYS IN.)
Passion Tide.--The name given to the last two weeks of Lent
beginning with the Fifth Sunday in Lent, during which our Lord's
Passion and Death are commemorated.
Passion Week.--The week before Holy Week. This name should not be
applied to the last week of Lent, which is properly called Holy
Week, or as called by the primitive Christians, the "Great Week."
Pastor.--A Latin word meaning Shepherd. Christ having called
Himself the Good Shepherd, or Good Pastor, the name has been
assumed for His Ministers. They bear the same relation to the
Flock over which they are placed. A Pastor is a Teacher, Guide,
Exemplar, Friend, Administrator. He deals with {208} individuals.
His intercourse is personal. His offices are for all and for each.
Pastorship includes many and varied offices,--Minister, Rector,
Preacher, Priest, but all offices and all labors have reference
to men's spiritual interests. He who is a Pastor has the cure, _i_.
_e_., care, charge of men's souls. Pastorship, therefore, is a very
sacred as well as a very responsible office. It is well to note
that a minister is not a Pastor simply because he is ordained;
besides the Divine call and Divine appointment in ordination, there
is also the call from the people to define that number of souls
over which the charge is to be exercised. This is brought out in
the "Office of Institution of Ministers into Parishes or Churches,"
to be found in the Prayer-book.
Pastoral Letter.--A letter issued by the Rector of a Parish, or by
the Bishop of the Diocese on some subject affecting the welfare of
the Church in its devotions or work. Perhaps the most important of
such Pastoral Letters is that which is issued by the House of
Bishops at the close of each General Convention, touching on grave
questions of the day or on the prospects of the Church throughout
the nation, and which is required by canon to be read in all the
churches.
Pastoral Staff.--A staff used by a Bishop, as an ensign of his
office, at all public Episcopal Ministrations. It is generally borne
by his chaplain. The Pastoral Staff is made in the shape of a
shepherd's crook and is frequently given to the Bishop at his
consecration, to denote that he is then constituted a shepherd over
the Flock of Christ. This use of the {209} Pastoral Staff comes down
to us from the most ancient times.
Paten.--The plate, made of precious metal, on which the Bread is
consecrated at the Holy Communion and from which it is administered
to the communicants. When properly made, the lower part of the
Paten will fit into or over the edge of the chalice. The word is
derived from the Latin, _Patena_ or the Greek, _Patane_, meaning a
flat, open dish. (See VESSELS, SACRED.)
Paul, Conversion of Saint.--A feast of the Church observed on
January 25th, in memory of the Conversion of St. Paul, through
whose preaching God caused the Light of the Gospel to shine
throughout the world. St. Paul is not commemorated as the other
Apostles are, by his death or martyrdom, but as stated above, by
his Conversion because it was so wonderful in itself and was so
important and beneficial to the Church. He labored more abundantly
than they all. While the other Apostles had their particular fields
of labor, St. Paul had the care of all the churches and by his
labors contributed very much to the propagation of the Gospel
throughout the world. There are good reasons for believing that he
extended his Apostolical labors even to the remote island of
Britain. We find him described by two names, _Saul_ and _Paul_, the
first being Hebrew, relating to his Jewish origin and the other
Latin, assumed by him, as some think, at his conversion, as an act
of humility, styling himself less than the least of all saints. St.
Paul suffered martyrdom, having been beheaded, in the sixty-eighth
year of his age, at Rome, under Nero, in the general {210} persecution
of Christians upon the pretense that they set fire to the city. It
was from the instrument of his execution that the custom arose of
representing him in ecclesiastical art with a sword in his hand.
Penance.--In the early ages of the Church the commission of grievous
error in life or doctrine was, punished by exclusion from the
Communion of the Church; and in order to obtain readmission,
offenders were obliged to submit to a prescribed course of penitence.
The regulations as to the length and manner of this discipline
varied in different times and in the several branches of the Church;
the administration of it was chiefly in the hands of the Bishops.
It is this "godly discipline" to which reference is had in the
Commination Office in the Prayer-book of the Church of England, and
which is used "until the said discipline may be restored again,
which is much to be wished." Penance is also regarded as one of
the lesser Sacraments.
Penitential Office.--An office of deep devotion and contrition to
be used on Ash Wednesday, which was added to the Prayer-book at its
last revision in 1892. Its place in the service is during the latter
part of the Litany. It may be used on other days at the discretion
of the minister. (See ASH WEDNESDAY.)
Penitential Psalms.--Being the 6th, 32d, 38th, 51st, 102d, 130th
and 143d Psalms of David, all of which are read during the services
on ASH WEDNESDAY (which see). There are no prayers more fitted for
penitent sinners than the Seven Penitential Psalms, if we enter
into the feelings of compunction, {211} love, devotedness and
confidence with which the Royal Psalmist was penetrated. The purport
of each psalm may be briefly stated as follows:
Psalm 6 exhibits a sinner in earnest and hearty prayer after having
sinned, with assured hope and confidence in the mercy of God.
Psalm 32 shows how a sinner is brought to understand his sins, to
confess and bewail them and obtain remission.
Psalm 38, in which the penitent earnestly prays to God to pardon
his sins and mitigate his punishment.
Psalm 51 shows the great sorrow of a sinner for his sins.
Psalm 102 shows how a sinner in affliction of mind prays to God
and derives comfort from His help and goodness.
Psalm 130 shows how a sinner in tribulation cries to God for
deliverance; while
Psalm 143 may be used in any spiritual or temporal tribulation.
Pentecost.--The Greek name for the "Feast of Weeks" in the Jewish
Church. The word means _fiftieth_, the Feast being fifty days after
the Feast of the Passover. Whitsun Day is so called, being observed
fifty days after Easter, the Christian Passover, and because it
was on the Day of Pentecost that the Holy Ghost was given. (See
WHITSUN DAY.)
Peter, festival of Saint.--A Holy Day of the Church observed on
June 29th in honor of the Apostle Saint Peter, and is one of the
oldest of Christian Festivals, having been traced back to the Second
Century. St. Peter was one of the first two disciples {212} whom our
Lord called. His original name was Simon or Simeon, which was changed
into Cephas, which in the Syrian language, signifies a _stone_ or
_rock_; from this it was derived into the Greek _Petros_, and so
termed by us Peter. This new name was to denote the firmness and
constancy which St. Peter should manifest in preaching the Gospel
and in establishing the Church. He has left two Epistles which
appear in the New Testament as the "First and Second Epistles
General of St. Peter." It is said that his later years were spent
at Rome where he was crucified with his head downwards, on the hill
where the Vatican now stands, on the same day, June 29th (as is
generally believed) that St. Paul was beheaded A.D. 63. In
ecclesiastical art St. Peter is variously represented, with a key
in his hand; with a key and church; with keys and cross; in chains
and in prison, etc.
Philip (St.) and St. James' Day.--A Festival observed on May 1st in
memory of two Apostles of our Lord, St. Philip and St. James. The
reason for coupling together the names of these two Apostles is not
quite clear, but it may be taken as an illustration of the manner in
which our Lord sent forth His Apostles, two and two. St. Philip was
a native of Bethsaida, a town bordering on the Sea of Tiberias and
was one of the first of our Lord's disciples and was His constant
companion and follower. He brought Nathanael, a person of great note
and eminence, to the knowledge of the Messiah; and it was to St.
Philip that certain Greeks went with the request, "Sir, we would
see Jesus." St. Philip is said to have carried the Gospel to
Northern Asia, where by his {213} preaching and miracles he made
many converts; his name has also been connected with the Church in
Russia. He suffered martyrdom at Hieropolis, a city of Phrygia,
where he was crucified and stoned on the cross. In ecclesiastical
art St. Philip is variously represented; with a basket in his hand;
with two loaves and a cross; with a tall cross and book, etc. For
notice of St. James see article on James (St.) the Less.
Piscina.--A stone basin with a drain pipe to carry off water used in
the ablutions of the sacred vessels at the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist.
Plain Song.--The name given to the ancient music with which
the Church service was rendered. Thus Blunt in the Annotated
Prayer-book, speaking of Church music says, "In the remodeling of
our English services, the great aim was not to discard, but to
utilize the ancient plain song, to adapt it to the translated
offices, to restore it to something more of its primitive
'plainness,' to rid it of its modern corruptions, its wearisome
ornaments and flourishes so that the Priest's part, on the one hand,
might be intelligible and distinct, not veiled in a dense cloud
of unmeaning notes, and the people's part made so easy and
straightforward as to render their restored participation in the
public worship of the Sanctuary at once practicable and pleasurable."
Post Communion.--The name given to that portion of the Communion
Office which is read after all have communicated, and is the giving
of thanks for the grace received.
Postulant.--The canonical name for one who {214} desires to become a
Candidate for Holy Orders and whose name is entered by the Bishop
upon the list of Postulants, as required by Canon 2, Title I of the
Digest. A Postulant having been duly received may afterwards be
recommended by the Standing Committee of the Diocese, to the Bishop
for admission as a Candidate for Holy Orders.
Postures in Public Worship.--The principles involved in the postures
to be taken in Public Worship are set forth in the article on
KNEELING (which see). While to the stranger in the Church the
various postures taken in the services seem complicated, yet the
rule for them is very simple, which is this: We stand in praise,
kneel in prayer and are seated during the hearing of the Word.
Prayer.--Prayer has been defined as the soul's converse with God,
or communion with God in devotional exercises, and may be said to
be a universally recognized necessity in the life of man. But prayer
involves much more than simply asking for certain things, which
seems to be the common conception of this duty. Properly speaking,
prayer consists of five parts, as follows:
1. Adoration \
2. Thanksgiving / which concern Gods glory.
3. Confession \
4. Petition / which concern our individual needs.
5. Intercession, which concerns the needs of others.
The efficacy of prayer rests on the Mediation of Christ, and its
warrant is to be found in the words, "Ask and it shall be given you;
seek and ye shall {215} find; knock and it shall be opened unto you."
God our Father has promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in
His Son's Name, and who faithfully call upon Him and we know that
His promise cannot fail. There are many remarkable instances of the
power of prayer to be found both in the Old and the New Testaments,
as well, also, in the lives of many earnest and faithful men who, in
this present time, continue "instant in prayer."
Prayer Book, The.--The title of our manual of devotions is "The Book
of Common Prayer." It is called _Common Prayer_, because it is
to be used by the Congregation in Public Worship, and is thus
distinguished from prayer in private. As such it comprehends the
needs, feelings and devotions common to all. The efficacy of Common
Prayer consists in its being a united service and to this end arises
the necessity of a prescribed form. Such prescribed form had its
origin in the Christian Church from the very earliest ages, and so
early were Liturgies introduced that four of them are mentioned
under the names of St. Peter, St. Mark, St. James and St. John. (See
LITURGIES.) Liturgies thus became an inherent feature of the
Christian Church, and wherever it was planted its worship was
according to such prescribed form. Thus when Christianity was
introduced into Britain we find a Liturgy in use there from the
beginning. This Liturgy continued in use, although varying in many
details in different dioceses, until it was superseded by the Book
of Offices set forth by Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, in A.D. 1078,
known as the _Sarum Use_. This was adopted with little variation by
{216} most of the Churches of the Kingdom. But gradually the Public
Offices became defaced by the innovations and corruptions of Rome;
these, however, were expunged at the time of the Reformation and the
Book of Common Prayer was set forth. The Prayer-book as we now have
it is the result of a long period of study and legislation. It is to
be noticed that it was not the object of the English Reformers to
create something new, to introduce innovations, but simply to
exclude errors and corruptions. To this end, they retained those
portions of the ancient Formularies which were sanctioned by the
Holy Scriptures and by primitive usage. The first practical result
of this movement is seen in the First Prayer-book of Edward VI set
forth in English, and which was publicly used on Whitsun Day, June
9th, 1549. Afterwards many other revisions took place, until the
English Prayer-book, as it practically is now, was set forth in
1662; since which time only a few and unimportant changes have been
made. The American Prayer-book, adapted from the English Book was
set forth and ratified October 16th, 1789, and afterwards revised
in 1883-1892, as it now stands. (See RESPONSIVE SERVICE, FORMS, also
SCRIPTURES IN PRAYERBOOK.)
Prayers for the Dead.--Prayers for the departed are in accordance
with the devout instinct and loving heart of man, and are sanctioned
by all the Liturgies of the Primitive Church. In these we find
that the commemorations of the departed were not only general
commemorations, but that names of persons who were to be prayed
for were read out from the DIPTYCHS {217} (which see). The devout
mind does not argue about "Prayers for the Dead," he prays them.
"How can I cease to pray for thee? Somewhere
In God's great universe thou art to-day.
Can He not reach thee with His tender care?
Can He not hear me when for thee I pray?"
Precentor.--The name given to the choirmaster; one who is director
of the music in a choir.
Pre-Lenten Season.--The name commonly given to the weeks preceding
Lent covered by the three Sundays entitled, _Septuagesima_,
_Sexagesima_ and _Quinquagesima_. The Season is so called because
the services on these Sundays are intended to prepare us for the due
observance of Lent. (See SEPTUAGESIMA.)
Presbyter.--The original word for "Elder" in the New Testament
is _Presbuteros_, shortened in English to _Presbyter_; further
shortened to _Prester_, and finally to PRIEST (which see, also
ELDER).
Presentation of Christ.--A Festival of the Church observed on
February 2. It is a double Festival as we learn from its title
which reads, "The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, commonly
called the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin." "This connection,"
says Blunt, "of the two events is, doubtless, to show the close
relation which the acts of the Blessed Virgin bore to the Incarnation
of our Lord; and that she is most honored by associating her with
her divine Son." The Festival is popularly called CANDLEMAS (which
see). It is the fortieth day after Christmas, that being the period
at which the rites of Purification and Presentation were enjoined by
the Law. {218}
Presiding Bishop.--The name given to the Senior Bishop by
consecration of the American Church, who presides in the House of
Bishops and in the General Convention when both Houses meet as one
body. When the Convention is not in session he acts as Primate of
the American Church. Following is the list of those Bishops who have
acted as
Presiding Bishops:
1--Bishop Seabury from Nov. 14, 1784, to Feb. 25, 1796.
2--Bishop White from Feb. 25, 1796 to July 17, 1836.
3--Bishop Griswold from July 17, 1836, to Feb. 16, 1842.
4--Bishop Chase from Feb. 16, 1842, to Sept. 20, 1852.
5--Bishop Brownell from Sept. 20, 1852, to Jan. 13, 1865.
6--Bishop Hopkins from Jan. 13, 1865, to Jan. 9, 1868.
7--Bishop Smith from Jan. 9, 1868, to May 31, 1884.
8--Bishop Lee from May 31, 1884 to April 12, 1887.
9--Bishop Williams from April 12, 1887 to Feb. 7, 1899.
10--Bishop Clark from Feb. 7, 1899.
Priest.--The shortened form for Presbyter. The title of the
second Order of the Ministry. His chief duties are to offer the
Holy Sacrifice in the Eucharist, to administer Baptism, to give
absolution, to give the Priestly Blessing at Marriages, Churchings,
and at other services of the Church: in fact, to exercise every
sacred function which is not properly or exclusively Episcopal,
that is, belonging to the Bishop. (See PRESBYTER, also ELDER.)
Primate.--The name given to a Metropolitan or Archbishop who is the
presiding Bishop of a National Church.