Recessional.--The name given to the retiring of choir and clergy in
due order after a church service. Some objection has been raised to
this use of the word, but as nothing better has been substituted
for it, the word continues in use. {226}
Rector.--The official title of the Priest who has charge of a Parish
and as such is its ruler, guide and director. The word means "one
who rules." Like other organizations, the Parish must have a head,
and by the canons of the Church, the Rector is head of the Parish.
As such he is _ex officio_ head of all its organizations. He is the
presiding officer at all Vestry meetings, superintendent of the
Sunday-school, and President of all Guilds, Brotherhoods and other
parochial societies. These offices he may delegate to others, but
_ex officio_ the Rector is head of all, and all that may be done in
the parish is to be done with reference to his consent and approval.
Rectory.--The house owned by the parish, intended for the use of the
Rector as his home.
Red Letter Days.--Those Festivals of the Church for which Collect,
Epistle and Gospel are provided in the Prayer-book. They are so
called from having been printed in the Calendar in red letters. The
words have passed into popular use to denote any notably auspicious
or favorable day; a day to be remembered.
Refreshment Sunday.--The Fourth Sunday in Lent is so called from the
Gospel for the day, which relates the feeding of the five thousand
by our Lord in the wilderness. As the late Bishop Coxe pointed out
in his "Thoughts on the Services," "having thus far (in the Lenten
services) considered the havoc of sin, we come now to consider its
repair; and because the sufficiency of Christ to refresh and satisfy
our hunger and thirst after righteousness is exhibited in the Gospel
for this day. It has little of the austere character of the other
Sundays in Lent; and its design is the {227} encouragement of
catechumens and penitents." (See FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT; also LENT,
SUNDAYS IN.)
Regeneration.--The inward and spiritual gift in Holy Baptism is
_regeneration_, that is being born anew. It is well to note that
Regeneration, or the "New Birth" is often confounded with
"Conversion," or they are regarded as synonymous terms. This is a
mistake and contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture. Regeneration
is a New Birth unto God whereby we become partakers of the nature of
Christ. As the natural birth, so the new and spiritual Birth can
take place only once, and that in Holy Baptism. A baptized
Christian may repeatedly fall from Grace, and by repentance, by
amendment of life and by forgiveness he may be again restored,
(this is _Conversion_), but he cannot be said to be again _regenerate_
without a grievous misapprehension of the language of the Bible and
a _total departure from the Doctrine of the Primitive Church_. By
_Regeneration_, therefore, is meant that gracious act of God whereby
for Christ's sake. He brings us into a new relationship with
Himself, adopts us as His own children, translates us into the
kingdom of His Son, incorporates us into His Church, and so brings
us under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Regeneration is the name
originated for Baptism by our Lord Himself in His discourse with
Nicodemus, as recorded in the third chapter of St. John's Gospel,
and it is for this reason that this passage is appointed to be read
in the service for the Baptism of Adults. (See BAPTISM, HOLY; also
INFANT BAPTISM.)