Chapter 17

Sponsors.--It would be difficult to say with any degree of certainty at what period the office of _Sponsors_ was established, but it appeared in the very earliest ages of the Christian Church. It is supposed that persecution and the presence of heresy led to its institution. During the time of those early persecutions it stands to reason that the heads of the Church must have been aware of the probability of some at least of those who had been baptized of receding from their vows and thus sinning away their Baptismal grace. It was but natural that they should adopt every precaution to ascertain the character of those whom, by Baptism, they admitted to the Christian covenant. They required, therefore, that some of their own body answer for the real conversion of the presumed neophyte, and should also be SURETIES for the fulfilment of the promises then made. Then there were the probabilities during persecution that the parents might not outlive the violence of the times and be enabled to watch over the moral and religious education of their baptized children. The Church was anxious not to lose these lambs of the Flock, and so it was a wise and godly provision that there should be some one who, in default of their parents, surviving or {244} in case of their apostasy, might see to it that their godchildren were "brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life." The advantages arising from this ancient institution of _Sponsors_ were so great that it has been continued throughout all ages of the Church. And even in this present time, if all Sponsors would fulfil their duties, many a child now lost to the Church, might have been saved to it and brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In the case of Baptism of Infants, the significance of _Sponsors_ is very great, in that Baptism is a covenant, in which God on the one hand is represented by His Minister, and the child is represented by his Sponsors, who answer for him and agree to see to it that this child shall be virtuously brought up and so trained that it shall lead the rest of his life according to this beginning. The Sponsors are called Godfathers and Godmothers because of the spiritual affinity created in Baptism, their responsibility for the training of the child being almost parental. (See BAPTISM, HOLY; INFANT BAPTISM; also NAME, THE CHRISTIAN.)

Stalls.--Seats in the choir (_i.e._, chancel) for Clergy and Choristers, commonly called Choir Stalls.

Standing Committee.--The general Canons of the American Church provide that in every Diocese there shall be a _Standing Committee_ (usually composed of not less than three Clergymen and two laymen who shall be communicants) to be appointed by the Convention thereof, whose duties, except so far as provided for by the Canons of the General Convention, may be prescribed by the Canons of the respective Dioceses. In every Diocese where there is a Bishop the {245} Standing Committee acts as his Council of Advice. It recommends to him persons to be admitted to Holy Orders or as Candidates for Holy Orders, etc. As the representative of the Diocese, it gives its consent to the consecration of a Bishop elected by any other Diocese. When there is no Bishop, the Standing Committee becomes the ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese for all purposes declared in the Canons.

State of Salvation.--By Holy Baptism we are admitted into Christ's Church, His Kingdom of grace, which in the Church Catechism is declared to be a "State of Salvation," _i.e._, a Christian condition in which it is quite certain the salvation of God is within our reach and in which as we are responsive to all its overtures of grace we may grow into the likeness of God's dear Son. Our final salvation is dependent on our continuance in this state of Salvation by God's grace unto our life's end.

Stephen, Festival of Saint.--A Holy Day of the Church observed on December 26, in memory of St. Stephen the Proto-martyr, _i.e._, the _first_ Christian martyr. The position of the three Holy Days after Christmas is remarkable. We have here brought into immediate nearness to the Birth of Christ the three kinds of members who are joined to Him by martyrdom, viz., those who are martyrs both in will and deed, as St. Stephen; those who are martyrs in will but not in deed, _i.e._, escaped with life as St. John; and lastly, those who are martyrs in deed, but had no wills of their own to sacrifice to God, as the Holy Innocents. The Festival of St. Stephen dates as far back as the Fourth Century. The reason for its institution is thus {246} given by an ancient writer, "Christ was born on earth that Stephen might be born in heaven." Nothing is known of St. Stephen before his selection for ordination as a Deacon, but in the 6th and 7th chapters of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles is given a very full account of his being made a Deacon; of his doing "great wonders and miracles among the people," because he was "full of faith and power"; of his accusation and eloquent defense, and finally of his martyrdom by stoning, in the midst of which, like his Divine Master, he prayed for his murderers. In ecclesiastical art, St. Stephen is represented as a Deacon holding stones in a napkin or in his robe or in his hand.

Stir Up Sunday.--A popular name given to the Sunday next before Advent, from the first two words with which the Collect for the Day begins, viz.: "Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy faithful people," etc. This Sunday is the end of the Christian Year, and consequently a time of review, gathering up the fragments that remain, that so with renewed strength and stronger purpose--_stirred up wills_, we may enter on the new year which begins on the following Sunday.

Stole.--A long band or scarf of silk worn by the Priest around the neck and hanging down in front to about the knees. It is one of the Altar vestments and should be worn when administering any Sacrament. The stole should be of the proper color of the Church Season and may be white, green, red, violet or black. It is intended to symbolize the ropes or bands with which our Lord was bound to the pillar when He was {247} scourged. It also signifies the yoke of patience which the Minister of Christ must bear as the servant of God. When worn by a Deacon, it is placed on the left shoulder and fastened under the right arm. (See VESTMENTS; also KISSING THE STOLE.)

Subdeacon.--In former times the name given to him who assisted the Celebrant at the Holy Communion was Deacon, and the name _Subdeacon_ to one who waited on the Deacon as the Deacon waited on the Celebrant, and he was permitted to read the Epistle. In time, however, these attending clergy came to be called by names characteristic of the most conspicuous parts of their duties, viz.: the Gospeler and Epistoler.

Substance.--A word derived from the Latin, used in Theology as the equivalent of the Greek word _ousia_, meaning "essence," and used in the definition of the nature of the Godhead. Thus we say that God is one in substance (_i.e._, essence) but in Persons, Three. The word is found in the Creed in the article which speaks of the Son as "Being of one substance with the Father."

Suffrages.--The intercessory versicles and responses after the Creed in Morning and Evening Prayer and towards the end of the Litany, are so called.

Sunday.--(See LORD'S DAY.)

Sunday Letter.--(See DOMINICAL LETTER.)

Sunday-schools.--Sunday-schools were originated in the Church of England by one of its clergy, the Rev. Thomas Steck, who afterwards, in 1780, called in Mr. Robert Raikes, a layman, to assist him. Such schools gradually spread and increased, until to-day it {248} is said that the Sunday-schools of the world number three millions of teachers and over thirty millions of scholars. Of late years especially the Sunday-school has become a most important factor in our Church life, and yet notwithstanding its very manifest purpose it is ever presenting problems very difficult to solve. These perplexing problems no doubt arise from two main causes, (1) a practical, though oftentimes unconscious, ignoring of the Church's own order and method and (2) from the mixed conditions of the religious world of to-day "by reason of our unhappy divisions." As far as can be seen, all that has been written, published and preached on this subject seems to resolve itself into simply this--Try to do the best you can with the material you have, the short time allotted to this work, usually one hour a week, and the absolute voluntaryism of the whole undertaking. And yet in spite of this discouraging outlook, there can be no doubt that the Sunday-school offers one of the very best fields for genuine Church work and is "worth while," as has been fully demonstrated in many places of earnest toil for God. This work is far-reaching in its influence and no estimate can be given of the possible good it may do in moulding lives. The Rev. G. W. Shinn, D.D., speaking of the Sunday-school sets forth its object as follows: "It offers to aid parents, sponsors and pastors in developing the religious life of the young, in filling their minds with the Truths of our most holy Faith, and in training them to serve God faithfully in their day and generation. Whatever its defects of administration, this is its aim."

Super-Altar.--A small portable slab of stone used {249} to consecrate upon and placed on an unconsecrated Altar or a wooden Altar.

Super-Frontal.--A covering on the top of the Altar which hangs down eight or ten inches in front, varying in color according to the Church Season.

Sureties.--(See SPONSORS.)

Surplice.--The outer garment, made of linen, worn over the cassock by the officiating minister during the Church service. It is a loose flowing vestment, generally reaching to the knees, having broad, full, open sleeves. It is not specially a Priestly garment, as it is worn by Deacons and also by Lay-Readers, and in a modified form by choristers. The word is derived from the Latin, _superpelliceum_, meaning an over-garment. (See VESTMENTS.)

Surpliced Choir.--When the body of singers of the Church service is composed of boys and men they are vested in cassocks and surplices or cottas and given a place in the Chancel. This is a very ancient usage in the Church of God, reaching back to the Temple service at Jerusalem. In the description of that service given in 2 Chronicles 5:12 and 13 we read: "Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen . . . stood at the east end of the Altar . . . praising and thanking God." In this whole passage we see the original of those surpliced choirs by which the same Psalms of David have been sung in every age of the Christian Church.

The surpliced choir has always been a feature of the Anglican Church, peculiar to it as a national custom. {250} And as the American Church is the daughter of the English Church, having derived from her all her great treasures of devotion and beauty in worship, so she, too, employs the vested choir and encourages its use. In this connection, it is interesting to note that the first mention of a surpliced choir in America is in connection with old St. Michael's Church, Charleston, S. C. In the history of this parish may be found the following interesting reference to the vested choir: "In 1798 there was a bill for 'washing the surplaces (sic) of clergy and children.' A little earlier the Vestry requested the Rector to entertain, at their expense, six of the boys on Sunday as 'an incitement for their better performance of the service'; and in 1807 the organist was requested to have at least twelve choir boys."

Thus as early as the end of the Eighteenth Century the music of the Church was rendered by a surpliced choir in a Southern parish. For some reason vested choirs were given up in the American Church and for many years little or nothing was heard of them. But after a while when the Church here got more thoroughly established and began to put on strength we find that its growing devotion demanded _the restoration_ of the vested choir. This demand became so general that to-day there are very few parishes in which the music is not thus rendered. This is not to be wondered at, for it is found by actual experience that the surpliced choir of men and boys, numbering from twenty to sixty voices according to the size of the parish, is better suited to render the Church's music, more in keeping with the Church's devotions and {251} more inspiring and helpful to the congregation. Many a parish has thus been lifted up, strengthened, the services made more attractive and the attendance at them increased, because the music rendered in this manner becomes thoroughly congregational, such as the people themselves can join in and make it their own.

Sursum Corda.--The Latin title of that portion of the Communion Office which begins, "Lift up your hearts," which the Latin words mean. This is found almost word for word in every known Liturgy from the earliest times, and without doubt has come down to us from the Apostolic Age. Even at so early a date as A.D. 252 we find St. Cyprian giving an explanation of the meaning and purpose of the _Sursum Corda_ as follows: "It is for this cause that the Priest before worship uses words of introduction and puts the minds of his brethren in preparation by saying, 'Lift up your hearts'; that while the people answer, 'We lift them up unto the Lord,' they may be reminded that there is nothing for them to think of except the Lord."

Symbol.--The ancient name for "Creed," which in the Greek language was called _Symbolon_, _i.e._, watchword, by which as the sentinel recognizes a friend, so the Christian soldier is distinguished from the open enemies or false friends of the Religion of Christ.

Synod.--The word used in the Eastern Church for what is called in the Western Church a _Council_. It is from a Greek word meaning coming together. (See COUNCIL.) {252}

T

Table.--(See Lord's Table.)

Te Deum.--The Latin title of the hymn beginning "We praise Thee, O God," sung after the First Lesson at Morning Prayer. It is one of the oldest of Christian hymns. The old tradition that it was first sung impromptu and antiphonally by St. Ambrose and St. Augustine at the Baptism of the latter in A.D. 386, is not now accepted, as there is evidence to show that the Te Deum is much older than the time of St. Ambrose. So early as A.D. 252, we find St. Cyprian using almost the same words as occur in the Te Deum. It is now generally believed that this noble canticle in its present form, is a composition of the Fourth or Fifth Century and that it represents a still more ancient hymn. The Te Deum is sung in the Church service every day except during Advent and Lent when the _Benedicite_ is sung instead.

Ten Commandments.--(See DECALOGUE.)

Temperance.--(See CHURCH TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.)

Ter Sanctus.--Meaning _Thrice Holy_. The Latin title of the hymn in the Communion Office beginning "Holy, Holy, Holy." This hymn is of the most ancient origin and forms part of all the oldest Liturgies. In the Liturgies of St. Basil and St. Chrysostom, it is called the "Triumphal Hymn."

Testimonials.--The general Canons of the Church prescribe that when the Standing Committee of a Diocese recommends to the Bishop a candidate for Holy Orders for ordination to the Diaconate or {253} Priesthood, that it shall present to the Bishop a certificate or testimonial to the effect that the candidate "hath lived piously, soberly and honestly, and hath not since his admission as a candidate for Orders, written, taught or held anything contrary to the doctrine and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church." The action of the Committee in recommending such person to be admitted a candidate for Holy Orders was based on testimonials made by the Clergy and laymen who knew the candidate personally. So, also, when a Bishop is elected, testimonials of his election by the Convention which elected him, and from the House of Deputies of the General Convention, or from the Standing Committees of the various Dioceses, of their approbation of his election and also of his fitness for the office of a Bishop, must be presented to the House of Bishops before order can be taken for his consecration.

Thanksgiving.--(See GENERAL THANKSGIVING, THE.)

Thanksgiving Day.--The day appointed by the Civil Authority for the rendering of thanks to God for the blessings bestowed on this land and nation during the year. It usually partakes of the nature of a Harvest Home Festival, prompted no doubt by the character of the service set forth in the Prayer-book to be used on this day, entitled, "A Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the Fruits of the earth and all other Blessings of His Merciful Providence." It is interesting to note that the first Thanksgiving Day in America was appointed, not by the Pilgrims, as many persons mistakenly believe, but by members of the Church of England. It was {254} celebrated at Monhegan, off the Maine coast, near the mouth of the Kennebec river, as far back as 1607--thirteen years prior to the arrival of the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor--and Chaplain Seymore preached a sermon "gyving God thankes for our happy metynge and saffe aryvall into ye countrie." The earliest Thanksgiving Day of the Plymouth colonists was in 1621.

Theological Virtues.--The three virtues, _Faith_, _Hope_ and _Charity_ or _Love_, as enumerated by St. Paul in the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, are called Theological Virtues because they are the gift of God and have God for their object. They may be explained as follows:

FAITH is a gift of God, infused into our souls, whereby we firmly believe all these things which God has revealed.

HOPE is a gift of God, which helps us to expect with confidence that God will give us all things necessary to salvation, if we only do what He requires of us.

CHARITY is a gift of God, whereby we love Almighty God above all things for His sake and our neighbors as ourselves.

Thirty-nine Articles.--(See ARTICLES OF RELIGION.)

Thomas (St.) the Apostle.--The Twenty-first Day of December is observed in memory of St. Thomas, who was called by our Lord to be an Apostle. We find very little in Holy Scripture concerning St. Thomas, but there are four sayings of his recorded which are indicative of his character. They are as follows:

1. "Lord we know not whither Thou goest, and how can we know the way?"--St. John 14:5. {255}

2. "Let us also go, that we may die with Him."--St. John 11:16.

3. "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails and put my fingers in the print of the nails and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe."--St. John 20:25.

4. "My Lord and my God."--St. John 20:28.

From these sayings we see in St. Thomas, (1) the spirit of inquiry, (2) bravery in the face of danger, (3) his doubt and unbelief, and (4) strong conviction and the triumph of faith. An ancient writer declared that "by this doubting of St. Thomas we are more confirmed in our belief than by the faith of the other Apostles." It is upon this fact that the Collect for the Day is founded. St. Thomas is said to have carried the Gospel to the Parthians, Medes, Persians and Chaldeans, among whom he founded the Church. It is believed, also, that he preached the Gospel in India. He suffered martyrdom, having been put to death by the Brahmins at Taprobane, now called Sumatra. In ecclesiastical art, St. Thomas is represented as handling our Lord's wounds; or in reference to his martyrdom, with a lance or spear; also, holding a carpenter's square.

Three Hours' Service.--A solemn service quite generally held in our Churches on Good Friday, from 12 M. to 3 P. M. in commemoration of our Lord's Agony on the Cross. It usually consists of meditations, or short addresses, on the Seven Words on the Cross, or on kindred topics, interspersed with hymns on the Passion, special prayers, and spaces of silence for private intercession. If well conducted it is a {256} most impressive and helpful service and serves to bring out the awful events of that momentous day when the Saviour of men was cruelly put to death by those whom He came to save.

Thurifer.--The name given to one who bears the censer in services where incense is used.

Thursday, Holy.--(See ASCENSION DAY.)

Thursday in Holy Week.--(See MAUNDY THURSDAY.)

Tierce.--The third hour or 9 A. M. One of the SEVEN CANONICAL HOURS (which see).

Tradition.--A term used in the Thirty-fourth Article of Religion to denote customs, rites, forms and ceremonies of the Church which have been transmitted by oral communications or long established usage, and which though not commanded in so many words in Holy Scripture, yet have always been used and kept in the Holy Catholic Church. For this reason they are revered, practiced and retained in its various branches at the present time. Such traditions are the following:

1. The observance of the first day of the week instead of the seventh.

2. The observance of the Christian Year, or the system of Feasts and Fasts and Holy Seasons according to the events in our Lord's Life.

3. The Baptism of Infants.

4. The use of Liturgical worship.

5. The use of vestments by the ministers in divine service.

6. The arrangement of our churches after the model of the Temple. {257}

7. The observance of the seven hours of prayer.

8. The sign of the Cross in Baptism and at other times.

9. The choral service.

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.