Chapter 19

Visitation of the Sick.--A requirement of the Church is that "When any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish." When the Minister visits such sick person, the Prayer-book provides a service which may be used, entitled "The Order for the Visitation of the Sick." This service was first set forth in 1549 but was added to in 1662, since which date it has remained practically unchanged. It is a very beautiful and affecting service, bringing great peace and comfort to the sick and is another fine illustration of the tender care our Mother Church shows for all her children in all conditions of their life. As there is so much misapprehension as to the meaning and purpose of the ministrations of Christ's Ministers at the bedside of the sick, we give the following excellent comment on this Office in Wheatley's Treatise on the Prayer-book: "Though private friends may pray for us and with us, yet we can by no means place such confidence in their prayers, as we may in those sent to Heaven in our behalf by such as are peculiarly commissioned to offer them. For this reason it is enjoined by St. James in his Epistle, that if any be sick, they shall call for the Elders of the Church. From this it may be observed, that the care of sending for the Minister {273} is left to the sick. For the Priest himself, it is very probable, may never have heard of his sickness; or, if he has, may not be so good a judge when his visit will be seasonable. For this reason it is ordered by the rubric that 'when any person is sick, notice shall be given thereof to the Minister of the Parish'; Not when the person is just expiring (as is too often done), but when the disease first discovers its approach. To put it off to the last scene of life, is to defer the Office till it can do no good. For when the sickness is grown past recovery, to pray for his restoration is only to mock the Almighty; and what spiritual advantage can be expected from the Minister's assistance to one who is unable to do anything for himself?"

Vow.--A promise made to God. Being brought into covenant with God in Holy Baptism, the vows or promises made unto God in that Sacrament are three in number:

1. RENUNCIATION, by which we renounce the three great powers of evil,--world, flesh and devil.

2. FAITH, by which we confess our belief in the Name into which we are baptized--Father, Son and Holy Ghost, around which the articles of the Christian Faith as contained in the Apostles' Creed are grouped.

3. OBEDIENCE, by which we promise to serve God truly all the days of our life.

These three vows of Baptism cover the whole period of life--past, present and future, and are the basis of all godly and righteous living.

Over and above these vows of their Baptism members of Religious Orders make special vows to God,--vows {274} of poverty, obedience and chastity for the more efficient prosecution of the work they have undertaken for the glory of God and the benefit of souls.

W

Wafer Bread.--(See UNLEAVENED BREAD.)

Wardens.--(See CHURCH WARDENS.)

Warnings.--The Exhortations in the Communion Office announcing a future celebration are called "Warnings," and are intended to be a sufficient notification to the Communicants so that they may make their preparation for the receiving of the Communion. Where there are frequent celebrations, as on every Sunday and Holy Day, "the rubric does not seem to enjoin their constant use, but to require this form of exhortation to be used at those times when the Minister thinks it necessary to 'give warning,' that is, to exhort his people, respecting the celebration of the Holy Communion. The tone of the rubric and of the exhortations is plainly fitted to a time of infrequent Communion."

Water.--In the Church Catechism it is declared that the outward visible sign or form in Baptism is, "Water; wherein the person is baptized. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." By the rubric in the Office for Holy Baptism it is directed that the Font is to be filled with "pure water." It is thus the Church fulfils our Lord's command, following literally His words, "baptizing them with water." Water, therefore, is the essential element of Holy Baptism, just as the bread and wine are the {275} elements in the Holy Communion. Water as used in Holy Baptism signifies "cleansing," The amount of water to be used the Church has always regarded as matter of indifference.

Wedding Ring.--(See RING.)

Wednesday.--In the earliest ages of the Christian Church its devotions were always characterized by both weekly and annual fasts. During the week the first Christians always kept two fasts; one on _Wednesday_, the day on which our Lord was betrayed, and the other on Friday, the day on which He was crucified. Both the English and American Churches have perpetuated this custom by appointing Wednesday and Friday of each week as Litany Days.

Western Church.--A term frequently met with in Church history and denoting the Churches which formerly made part of the western empire of Rome, _i.e._, the Church in western Europe,--Italy, Spain, France, etc. The Church of England is also included under this term as being a branch of the Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Whitsun Day.--A high Festival observed in the Church on the fiftieth day after Easter, in commemoration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost as "they were all with one accord in one place" in Jerusalem. Whitsun Day is the Birthday of the Christian Church, and as such it has been commemorated for nearly two thousand years by Christian people and observed by them with holy joy and deep thanksgiving for the fulfilment of our Lord's promise to send the Comforter to His comfortless people. {276}

By the devotions of Whitsun Day we have brought to our remembrance, in the most beautiful and striking manner, the operations of God by the Spirit's power. By Proper Psalms, Proper Lessons and Eucharistic Scriptures, and by Proper Preface in the Communion Service, we learn how that in the Holy Ghost and His Presence in the Church we have the great power and renewing grace of God made availing to us. The ecclesiastical color is red as symbolical of the "cloven tongues like as of fire," in which form the Holy Ghost lighted on the head of each of the Apostles. (See HOLY GHOST.)

As to the derivation of the word "Whitsun" there seems to be great uncertainty and difference of opinion. Some derive it from the word _white_, shortened to "whit," in reference to the diffusions of light and knowledge which on this day were shed upon the Apostles, in order to the enlightening of the world; also in reference to this being the time of Baptism in the ancient Church, each candidate being clothed with white garments. Others derive it from the old Saxon word _wit_, meaning wisdom which is the special gift of the Holy Ghost. Again others derive it from the word _Pentecost_, the original name of the Festival, through the German _Pfingsten_, hence Pingsten, changed in the Saxon to Wingsten, and this being corrupted into _Whitsun_, meaning, therefore the same as Pentecost, that is, the fiftieth day. (This last seems to be the most probable derivation as is seen in the use of the terms _Whitsun_ Monday, _Whitsun_ Tide, etc.)

This Festival is of especial interest to Churchmen {277} as it was on Whitsun Day, June 9th, 1549, that the Book of Common Prayer, in English, was first used. "That day was doubtless chosen," says a beautiful writer, "as a devout acknowledgment that the Holy Ghost was with the Church of England in the important work then taken. May He ever preserve these devotional offices from the attacks of enmity or _unwisdom_, and continue them in that line of Catholic unity wherein He has guided the Church hitherto to keep them."

Whitsun Monday; Whitsun Tuesday.--Two days observed with great solemnity as the continuation of the High Festival of Whitsun Day. For the origin and appointment of these days see EASTER MONDAY and TUESDAY.

Whitsun Tide.--The week beginning with Whitsun Day is so called. During this week the Whitsun Ember Days are observed, (Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday), as a preparation for Trinity Sunday, one of the stated times of Ordination.

Wine.--One of the elements used in the celebration of the Holy Communion as our Lord commanded. It is to be noticed that unfermented grape juice, raisin water, and the like do not constitute the proper element in the Holy Communion, and if these are used the Sacrament is not valid. In the General Convention which met in Chicago in 1886, the House of Bishops declared by resolution that "the use of unfermented wine was unwarranted by the example of our Lord, and contrary to the custom of the Catholic Church." This was still more strongly affirmed by the Lambeth Conference which met in 1888, in the {278} following resolution: "That the Bishops assembled in this conference declare that the use of unfermented juice of the grape or any other liquid other than true Wine diluted or undiluted, as the element in the Administration of the Cup in Holy Communion, is unwarranted by the example of our Lord and is an unauthorized departure from the custom of the Catholic Church." This declaration by both these bodies was called forth by the agitation of the "Temperance people."

Woman's Auxiliary, The.--This is a Society, as its name indicates, composed of the women of the Church which acts as an auxiliary to the DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY (which see), and by the labors and generous gifts of its members supplements the work of the general Society. There is also a Junior Department including the younger women of the Church who have become interested in missionary work. Besides systematic efforts to raise money for the work of missions, the members prepare boxes of clothing and household necessities for the families of missionaries. The Auxiliary is very helpful and has enlisted the faithful labors of Christian women in fifty-nine dioceses and twenty-one missionary districts. An idea of the work accomplished by this organization may be gained by considering the report made for the year ending September 1st, 1900, from which it is learned that the Woman's Auxiliary contributed that year the noble sum of $210,841.55, and prepared and sent out 4,680 boxes valued at $191,434.96, making a total for the year of $402,276.51. It may be interesting to note that the UNITED OFFERING placed {279} on the Altar by the Woman's Auxiliary at the Triennial meeting held in San Francisco during the General Convention of 1901, amounted to the handsome sum of $104,295.53. The Headquarters of the Society are in the Church Missions House, New York City.

Word, The.--The name given to our Blessed Lord by St. John in the beginning of his Gospel, to set forth the preexistence and Divinity of the Son of God and the creation of the world by Him. Pearson on the Creed makes the following comment: "The Jews were constantly taught that the Word of God was the same with God, and that by that Word all things were made. And therefore, St. John delivered so great a mystery so briefly, as speaking to those who at once understood him. Only what they knew not was that this Word was made Flesh, and that this Word made Flesh was Jesus Christ." The Greek for "The Word" is _Logos_.

Words on the Cross, The Seven.--Our Blessed Lord was nailed to the Cross at nine o'clock in the morning and hanged thereon until three o'clock, when He died. During these six hours of His Crucifixion He uttered seven sayings, called the _Seven Words from the Cross_; they are as follows:

1. "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

2. "To-day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."

3. "Woman, behold thy Son." "Behold thy Mother."

4. "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

5. "I thirst." {280}

6. "It is finished."

7. "Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit." (See THREE HOURS' SERVICE.)

Worship.--Our word _worship_ is the modern form of the early English word _worthship_. And while the word was originally used to denote honor or respect paid to any one worthy of it, it came in time to be used exclusively of the giving of honor to God, of which He above all others is worthy. Thus we have the word applied almost exclusively to what we now call Public Worship. By this is meant the united homage of the members of the Church rendered to God as their Almighty King. And it is to be noted that whilst God accepts the worship of each individual or family, yet He loves more the Public Worship of His Church, for we read in the Book of Psalms, "The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." While this is very manifest to any careful student of the Bible, yet in these our days there is nothing so misunderstood as the nature and obligation of _Public Worship_. So much so is this the case it has been declared that Worship is a "Lost Art." This has come to pass, no doubt, from the misapprehension of the purpose of this "assembling of ourselves together." The common idea is that we go to Church to "hear preaching." But preaching is not worship, nor is it the chief purpose of our coming together in the House of God each Lord's Day. We come together _to worship_, and the true idea of worship is to give, to render homage. Worship is an unselfish offering. It is giving God the praise. It is the grateful homage of grateful creatures to Him who {281} has blessed them and preserved them. Preaching is but an incident of such an assembly gathered for such a purpose, and oftentimes is not really necessary. It is also to be noticed that the Church's true worship is the Holy Communion; all other services are but adjuncts to the one service appointed by our Lord Himself. In the Primitive Church an ordinary Christian would not have considered that he had kept the Lord's Day as a day of worship if he had not attended a celebration of the Holy Communion. When, therefore, our people grasp these Scriptural ideas, then no longer can it be said that worship is a "Lost Art" among the American people. (See HOLY COMMUNION; also RESPONSIVE SERVICE.)

X

X.--The letter X resembles the shape of the Cross of St. Andrew, which has come into quite prominent notice as being the badge of the BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW (which see).

X P.--These letters belong under this head only in appearance as they are in reality the first two letters of the Greek word _Christos_, meaning "Christ." The X is the Greek letter _Chi_ and is equivalent to the English letters "ch"; the P is called _Rho_ and is the same as the letter "r;" they thus represent the first three letters of the word _Christ_. These two Greek letters are used in Church decorations either separately or as a monogram, as a symbol or emblem of our Lord. {282}

Y

Y Cross.--By reason of its shape, the Cross embroidered on the CHASUBLE (which see) is called the Y Cross, and is intended to represent the outstretched arms of our Blessed Lord on the Cross, and symbolizes the Sacrifice which He there offered for the sins of the whole world, of which the Holy Eucharist is the perpetual Memorial.

Year.--(See CHRISTIAN YEAR.)

Yule.--The old English name for CHRISTMAS (which see). A word of doubtful origin.

Yule Tide.--The season or time of Christmas.

Z

Zealot.--One of a fanatical Jewish sect, which prevailed in the time of our Lord. In the New Testament, this name is given to one of our Lord's Apostles, namely, ST. SIMON (which see).

Zuchetto.--The name give to a skull cap worn by the clergy instead of the biretta; when worn by a Priest the color is black, but that worn by a Bishop is purple. {283}

INDEX.

Ablutions 5 Absolution 5 Absolution, Declaration of 6 Absolve 6 Abstinence 6 Acolyte, his duties 6 Adult Baptism 7 Advent, Season of 7 Advent Sunday 8 Affusion 8 Agape 8 Age for Confirmation 84 Agnus Dei 9 Aisle 9 Alb 9 Alleluia 9 All Saints' Day 9 Almanac, Church 10 Alms Bason 10 Alpha and Omega 10 Altar 11 Altar Cross 11 Altar Lights 11 Altar Linen 12 Altar Rail 12 Altar Vessels. See Vessels, Sacred 267 Ambulatory 13 American Church 13 American Church, meaning of the term 13 Amice 18 Anaphora 18 Andrew, Saint 18 Angel, one of N. T. names for Bishop 19 Angels. See Holy Angels 133 Anglican Church 19 Anglican Communion 20 Anglo Catholic 21 Annual Address, The Bishop's, 37 Annunciation, The 22 Anointing the Sick 22 Antependium 23 Anthem 23 Antiphon. See Anthem 23 Antiphonal 23 Apocalypse, The 24 Apocrypha 24 Apostle 24 Apostles' Creed 25 Doctrine 25 Apostolate 25 Apostolic Fathers. See Fathers, 109 Apostolic Succession 25 Apse 26 Apsidal 36 Archbishop 26 Archdeacon 26 {284} Articles of Religion, XXXIX, 26 Articles of Religion not a Creed, 27 Ascension Day 27 Ascription 27 Ash Wednesday 28 Assistant Minister 28

Banners 28 Banns of Marriage 29 Baptism, Adult. See Adult Baptism 7 Baptism, Holy 29 Baptism, Conditional 30 Baptism, Infant. See Infant Baptism 145 Baptism, Private 30 Baptism Should be administered in Church 30 Baptismal Regeneration. See Regeneration 227 Baptismal Shell 31 Baptistry 31 Barnabas, Saint 31 Bartholomew, Saint 32 Bason. See Alms Bason 10 Belfry 33 Benedic, Anima mea 33 Benedicite 33 Benediction 34 Benedictus 35 Betrothal 35 Bible, The English 35 Bible Reading Church 166, 238 Bidding Prayer 36 Biretta 36 Birthday of the Church 275 Bishop 36 Bishop's Charge 37 Bishop Coadjutor 38 Bishop consecrated by not less than three Bishops 16 Bishop, Derivation of the Word 36 Bishop, Election of 38 Bishop, Missionary 39 Bishop, The Presiding. See Presiding Bishop 218 Bishop's Resignation. See Jurisdiction, Resignation of, 158 Bishop's Visitation 39 Bishopric 40 Black 40 Blessed Virgin Mary 40 Blessing Church Furniture 34 Blessing of Peace 41 Board of Managers 41 Board of Missions 41 Bounden Duty 41 Bowing 41 Bowing at the Name of Jesus 41, 136 Breaking of the Bread 42 Brotherhood of St Andrew 42 Burial 43 Burial Office when not to be used 43 Burse 43

Calendar 44 Origin of 83 Candidate 44 Candlemas 44 Canon 45 Law 45 of Scripture 45 of the Liturgy 45 {285} Canonical 45 Canonical Hours 45 Canonical Residence 46 Canticle 46 Cantoris 46 Cardinal Virtues. See Virtues, Cardinal 271 Cassock 46 Catechism 47 Divisions of 47 an Unfinished Fragment 47 Catechumen 48 Cathedral 48 Catholic 48 Celebrant 49 Ceremonies. See Rites and Ceremonies 232 Chalice 50 Chalice Veil 50 Chancel 50 Chancellor 50 Change of Church name 14 Chantry 50 Chasuble 51 Childermas 51 Chimere 51 Choir 51 Choir, The Vested. See Surpliced Choir 249 Choral Service. See Even Song 103 Choral Service not "Romish" 103 Christen, To 52 Christian 51 Christian Name. See Name, Christian 194 Christian Unity. See Unity, Church 263 Christian Year, Divisions of, 52, 53 Christian's New Year's Day 8 Christmas Day 54 Church 55 an Institution .... 161 Introduced into Britain, 19 Building Fund ... 56 Catholic 56 Chronology 57 Club 58 Colors 58 Congress 59 Militant. See Church Catholic 56 Missions House 60 of England not founded by Henry the Eighth 20, 179, 233 Temperance Society 61 Wardens 62 Year, See Christian Year 53 Year preaches the Gospel 53 Churching 62 Circumcision, The 63 Clergy 63 Clerical 64 Cloister 64 Coadjutor. See Bishop Coadjutor 38 Collect 64 Comfortable Words 65 Commendatory Prayer 65 Commandments. See Decalogue 77 Common Prayer, Meaning of 64 Communion, Holy. See Holy Communion 133 {286} Communion of Saints 66 Compline. See Canonical Hours 45 Confirmation 66 Confirmation not joining the Church 156 Consecrate 68 Consecration, Prayer of 68 of Church Buildings 69 of first Bishop on American Soil 17 Convention 69 Convocation 69 Cope 70 Corporal 70 Cotta 70 Council 70 Credence 71 Creed 71 Cross, The 72 Crucifier 73 Cruets 73 Crypt 73 Curate 73

Daily Prayer, The 73 Dalmatic 74 Daughters of the King 75 Days in Holy Week, their significance 138 Days of Obligation, List of 75 Deacon 75 Deaconess 76 Dean 77 Decalogue 77 Translation of 78 Decalogue When added to Communion Office 77 Decani 78 Dedication, Feast of 78 Deposition 79 Deprecations 79 Descent into Hell 79 Diaconate 80 Dies Irae 80 Digest of Canons 80 List of Titles 80 Dimissory Letter 81 Diocesan 82 Diocesan Convention 82 Diocesan Missions 82 Diocese 81 Diptychs 83 Discretion, Years of 84 Dispensation 84 Divine Liturgy. See Holy Communion 133 Divine Service 84 Divisions among Christians not Sanctioned by the Bible 264 Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society 85 Domestic Missions. See D. and F. Society 85 Domenical Letter 87 Dossal 88 Doxology 88 Duly, its ecclesiastical meaning 88

Eagle 89 Early Communion 80 {287} East, Turning to, Origin of Custom 90 Easter Day 90 Easter Even 92 Easter Monday and Tuesday 93 Easter Tide 93 Eastern Church 93 Eastward Position. See East, Turning to 90 Ecclesiastical Year. See Christian Year 52 Ecumenical 94 Elder 94 Elements 94 Ember Days 94 Emblems 95 Emmanuel 96 Epact, The 97 Epiphany, Feast of 97 Commemoration Threefold 98 Sundays after 98 Episcopacy 98 Episcopal Ring 231 Episcopate 100 Epistle of St. Barnabas 32 Epistle, The 100 Epistle Side 100 Epistoler 101 Eschatology 101 Espousal 101 Essentials of Christian Truth and Order 19 Eucharist 101 Eucharistic Lights. See Altar Lights 11 Eucharistic Vestments 101 Evangelical 102 Evangelical Canticles 102 Evangelists 103 Eve or Even 103 Even Song 103 Examination for Holy Orders, List of 103 Excommunication 104 Exhortation 104 Expectation Sunday 105 Expectation Week 105 Extension of the Incarnation 144

Fair Linen Cloth 106 Fair White Linen Cloth 106 Faith 106 Faithful, The 107 Faldstool 107 Fasting 107 Fasting Communion 108 Fasts, Table of 108 Fathers, The 108 Feasts or Festivals 110 Feria 110 Filioque 111 First American Bishop 16 First Principle of English Reformation 262 Fish 111 Flagon 111 Font 111 Foreign Missions. See D. and F. Society 85 Forms 112 Forty Days, The Great 113 Fourth Sunday in Lent 114 Fraction 114 Free and Open Churches 115 Frequent Communion 115 {288} Friday 116 as Obligatory as Sunday, 116 Frontal 116 Fruits of the Spirit. See Spirit, Fruits of 242 Funerals 117

Gehenna 117 General Clergy Relief Fund 117 General Confession, The 118 General Convention 119 General Councils, List of 70, 71 General Thanksgiving 120 General Theological Seminary 120 Generally Necessary 120 Genuflexion 121 Ghost 121 Ghostly 121 Ghost, The Holy. See Holy Ghost 135 Gifts (Sevenfold) of the Holy Ghost 121 Girdle 121 Girls' Friendly Society 122 Gloria in Excelsis 122 Gloria Patri 123 not a vain repetition 123 Gloria Tibi 123 God Fathers and Mothers. See Sponsors 243 Golden Number 123 Good Friday 124 Good Shepherd, Sunday of 125 Gospel--meaning of the word 126 Gospel Hymns 179 Gospels, The Four 126 Gospel, The Holy 127 Gospel Side 127 Gospeller 127 Government, Church. See Episcopacy 98 Gown, The Black 127 Grace 128 Grace of Baptism Threefold 29 Gradine 128 Gradual 128 Greek Church. See Eastern Church 93 Green 128 Gregorian Music 129 Growth of the Church 17, 129 Guardian Angels. See Holy Angels 133 Guild 131