_Position of Font._--The usual and very significant position of the
font is near the church door. But there is one objection to this, viz.
that the benches being best arranged facing the chancel, the people
cannot without much confusion see the baptisms. This being so, perhaps
a better place {150} for the font is at the entrance of the chancel.
The holy rite, so edifying to the congregation, as well as profitable
to the recipient, can then be duly seen; and the position is tolerably
symbolical, expressing as it were "the way that is opened for us into the
holiest of all." I am curious to know if there are any ancient examples
of this position, and how far the canon sanctions it, which directs that
the font be set up in "the ancient usual _places_" [plural]? While on
the subject let me put another Query. The Rubric directs that the font
be "then," _i. e._ just before the baptism, filled with pure water. In
what vessel is the water brought, and who fills the font? What are the
precedents in this matter? Rules, I think, there are none.