All these traditions of the Universal Church are retained or
permitted by the American branch of the Church.
It is also to be noted that by _tradition_ is meant the uniform
teaching of the Church from the beginning, _i.e._, the witness
that the Church bears by the writings of the Fathers and the
enactments of her General Councils to the Truths of the Christian
Religion and the interpretation of Holy Scripture. This is in
accord with St. Peter's words, "No prophecy of the Scripture is of
any private interpretation." Inasmuch as the Church is the "Witness
and keeper of Holy Writ," and that it is upon her testimony that we
know what is the Bible, it is but reasonable to defer to her
interpretation, her universal customs and traditions as to its
meaning. (See UNDIVIDED CHURCH; also FATHERS, THE.)
Transepts.--When churches are built in the form of a cross they have
two wings, one on each side, projecting at right angles with the
nave and chancel. These projected wings, forming the arm of the
cross, are called the _transepts_, north and south.
Transfiguration, The.--A Feast of the Church observed on August 6,
in commemoration of our Lord's Transfiguration on the Mount in the
presence of His three disciples, St. Peter, St. James and St. John.
It is a restored Festival in our Calendar. The American Church
having thought good to order a revision of {258} the Prayer-book after
a hundred years use of it as set forth in the year 1789, completed
this revision in 1892 after fifteen years of labor spent upon it.
The first action taken on the subject was by the General Convention
in 1883, when among other changes and restorations the Feast of the
Transfiguration was restored to the Calendar and appointed to be
observed August 6. This date it is thought is the actual time of
the year at which the Transfiguration took place. As a day of
commemoration, this Festival has been observed in the Eastern Church
since A.D. 700, and in the Western Church since the year 450. It
was ordered to be universally observed in A.D. 1457. We cannot
doubt that its restoration to our Calendar is a decided gain to
our spiritual treasury of devotions and instructions, for it
commemorates an event in our Lord's Life which has deep significance
in relation to our Lord Himself and also to our own spiritual life.
Our Lord, before His last journey to Jerusalem, took the three chief
Apostles with Him into a high mountain and then as He prayed, He
was transfigured before them. His raiment became white as the light,
His face shone as the sun, and Moses and Elias appeared and talked
with Him. "And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is
My beloved Son, hear Him." It was thus that His Divine nature was
revealed and enabled the Apostle St. John to testify, "We beheld
His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father." Proper
Lessons and Proper Psalms for the services for this day as well as
Collect, Epistle and Gospel emphasize the importance of the Feast
of the Transfiguration and mark it as one of the {259} great days
of the Church. The ecclesiastical color is white.
Trefoil.--An ornament used in Gothic architecture, formed by
mouldings in the head of window lights, tracery, panelings, etc.,
so arranged as to resemble the _trefoil_, (_i.e._, three leaved)
clover, as an emblem of the Trinity.
Trine Immersion.--The name given to the practice in the Primitive
Church, of dipping a person, who was being baptized, three times
beneath the surface of the water, _i.e._, at each name of the
three Persons in the Blessed Trinity. When Baptism was by affusion
or pouring, as is usual at the present time, the affusion was also
trine. The Apostolic canons insisted so strongly on this mode of
Baptism that they enjoined that the Bishop or Priest who did not
thus administer it should be deposed. This threefold method of
Baptism still prevails in the Church and is the only proper method
of administering this sacrament.
Trinity, The Holy.--A name applied to the Godhead and signifying
Three in One and One in Three--the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Ghost--a doctrine which is held by all branches of the Catholic
Church, and by the greater number of the various Christian
denominations. The word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible and is
said to have been first used by Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch, in
the second century as a concise expression of the Christian Faith
concerning the Godhead, that "there is but one living and true God,
everlasting, without body, parts or passions; of infinite power,
wisdom and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all things both
visible and {260} invisible. And in the unity of this Godhead there
be three Persons, of one substance, power and eternity: the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost." (Art. I). The doctrine of the Trinity
deals with matter beyond reason but not contrary to reason; is the
subject of Revelation and as such is proposed to our faith faculty.
For this reason it is called a Mystery of the Gospel.
Trinity Season, The.--The long period between Trinity Sunday and the
First Sunday in Advent is so called. Its length is dependent on the
time Easter is kept and may include as many as twenty-seven Sundays.
The devotions and the Scriptural Lessons are intended to bring
before us the moralities of the Gospel and the practical duties of
the Christian life. Or as Bishop Coxe has finely expressed it, "The
first half of the year is devoted to Doctrine primarily, and to
Duty as seen in direct relation to Doctrine. So, the second half
is devoted to Duty primarily, and to Doctrine only as reduced to
practical Piety, Thus is the Christian Year divided between the
Creed and the Decalogue." The Last Sunday of the Season is observed
as the "Sunday next before Advent," but is popularly called "Stir
up Sunday" from the first two words of the Collect for the Day. The
Church color for the Trinity Season is green.
Trinity Sunday.--Trinity Sunday is a Festival of late institution,
as the day on which it is observed was originally kept as the Octave
of Whitsun Day. It was not until A.D. 1260 that it was first
directed by the Synod of Aries to be observed by the whole Church as
Trinity Sunday, although Thomas a Beckett is said to have instituted
this Festival in England in {261} A.D. 1162, and reference is
made to it as early as A.D. 834. The observance of this day is very
significant and rounds out or completes the former commemorations
of the year. As set forth in "Thoughts on the Services," "The
Church's services have culminated; to-day they mount up to the
Throne of the Godhead; for knowing the Son and the Holy Ghost, we
know the Father also, and that these Three are not three Gods, but
one God. The Church to-day celebrates the glory and majesty of God
in His essence and in His works. In the word _Trinity_, she simply
sums up what is revealed concerning Him,--that in Substance He is
One, but in Persons, Three. . . . The Collect enables us to worship
the _Unity_ which exists in the power of the Divine Majesty, even
while we acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity." Proper
Lessons, Proper Psalms and Proper Preface in the Communion Office
emphasize the importance of the Festival and mark it as one of the
great days of the Church. The ecclesiastical color is white.
Trisagion.--A Greek word meaning the same as _Ter Sanctus_, _i.e._,
"Thrice Holy," but it is not used in the Greek Church for the same
thing, but is the title of the respond used in the Reproaches and
other services, namely, "Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and
Immortal, have mercy upon us."
Triumphal Hymn.--The ancient name given to the Ter Sanctus, the hymn
in the Communion office beginning, "Holy, Holy, Holy."
Triumphant, The Church.--The Church in Heaven. (See CHURCH CATHOLIC.)
{262}
Tunicle.--A vestment worn by the Subdeacon or Epistoler at the
celebration of the Holy Communion; somewhat similar to the Dalmatic
worn by the Deacon or Gospeler, but shorter, narrower and not so
elaborately embroidered.