The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia

William James Miller

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• Publié par: nushog
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 12
• Langue: English

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The American
Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia, by William
James Miller
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Title: The American Church Dictionary and
Cyclopedia
Author: William James Miller
Release Date: January 7, 2010 [EBook #30888]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG
EBOOK AMERICAN CHURCH DICTIONARY ***
Produced by Elaine Laizure, from images
generously made available by The Internet
Archive/American Libraries.
The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia
BY THE REV. WILLIAM JAMES MILLER,
M.A., B.D.
"Of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."—
Acts 1:3.NEW YORK THOMAS WHITTAKER
2 AND 3 BIBLE HOUSE
COPYRIGHT, 1901,
By THOMAS WHITTAKER
Preface
The writer of the following pages has long been
convinced, from an experience of many years in
the Ministry, that a great desideratum among
Church people is a Church Dictionary, especially
one not so expensive as the more costly works,
and at the same time something more complete
and satisfactory than a mere glossary of terms.
What seems to be needed is an inexpensive,
handy volume, "short enough for busy people, plain
enough for common people, cheap enough for
poor people," yet complete enough to give the
information needed. The present work was
undertaken with this object in view. It was thought
"worth while"; for if words are things, then greater
familiarity with the phraseology of the Church will
lead to greater knowledge "of the things pertaining
to the Kingdom of God." What is here set forth is
really a HANDY BOOK OF READY REFERENCE
arranged in alphabetical order; and while some of
the articles may seem to be too brief, yet the
system of cross references adopted, it is believed,
will throw considerable light on subjects where it is
employed and thus enables the book to be kept
within the limits already specified.
The title, THE AMERICAN CHURCH DICTIONARY,
indicates the purpose as well as those for whom it
is written. In preparing it, the writer worked under
the {3} conviction that not only is it necessary to
set forth the historic facts, doctrines, terminology,customs and usages of the Church, but also to
indicate the spirit of the Church as well,—the spirit
that pervades all her life, her teachings and her
customs, and which when once possessed makes
us deeply conscious of her continuous life from the
beginning, as having a history and glorious
traditions.
Many sources of information have been drawn
from, the thoughts of many writers have been laid
under contribution, but not always was it possible
to make acknowledgment, as what is here
presented is the result of the writer's general
reading and study. As such the work is sent forth
with the hope that all who refer to its pages may
find it adequate to the purpose described and
realize the full meaning of St. Cyprian's word's, "He
cannot have God for his Father, who has not the
Church for his Mother."
W. J. M.
Dictionary and CyclopaediaA
Ablutions.—A term used to designate the
ceremonial washing of the sacred vessels after
Holy Communion, with wine and water which are
reverently consumed by the Priest. These ablutions
are in conformity with the Rubric which directs,
"And if any of the consecrated Bread and Wine
remain after the Communion, it shall not be carried
out of the Church; but the Minister and other
communicants shall, immediately after the
Blessing, reverently eat and drink the same."
Absolution.—The forgiveness of sins on earth by
the Son of Man through His agents, the Bishops
and Priests of the Church. Their commission is
embodied in the words of the Ordination Office,
"Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of
a Priest in the Church of God, now committed unto
thee by the Imposition of our hands. Whose sins
thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and whose
sins thou dost retain, they are retained." This
commission contains our {6} Lord's own words to
be found in St. John 20:22 and 23, and they are
His commission to His Ministers. Attempts have
been made to explain away these words; but it is
unquestionably the office of the Holy Ghost to
invest those ordained with the power of dispensing
God's Word and Sacraments, and of performing
what is necessary "for the perfecting of the Saints,
for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of
the Body of Christ." (See KEYS, POWER OF).
Absolution, The.—The name given to the form of
words by which a penitent person is absolved.
There are two forms in the Prayer Book; the longer
form being used at Morning and Evening Prayer,
the shorter one being usually confined to use in the
Communion Office.
Absolve.—To loose, to set free from the bondage
of sin. (See
ABSOLUTION, also KEYS, POWER OF).
Abstinence.—The Church makes a distinction
between abstinence and fasting. Abstinence is thereduction of food for the sake of self-discipline,
while fasting is going without food of any kind as a
more severe act of discipline. Abstinence is to be
exercised on "Other Days of Fasting" i.e., other
than Ash Wednesday and Good Friday which are
absolute Fasts. (See FASTS, TABLE OF; also
FASTING).
Acolyte.—A word derived from the Greek, and
used to designate one who serves the Priest in the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist. His chief duties
are to arrange the elements on the Credence, to
light the candles, receive the offerings and present
them, and also the Bread, Wine and water, to the
Priest at the proper time in the Celebration. {7}
Adult Baptism.—The rule of the Church is Infant
Baptism. She brings children even in their
tenderest years within her Fold and there trains
them up "in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord." But when in England the Puritans and
Anabaptists arose and prevailed, then there grew
up a generation that reached maturity without
having been baptized, and then it was that there
arose the necessity for "The Ministration of
Baptism to such as are of Riper Years and able to
answer for themselves." To meet such cases the
present service in the Prayer Book for the Baptism
of Adults was prepared and set forth in A.D. 1661.
That the Church of England had no form for the
Baptism of Adults previous to the year 1661 is not
only an interesting fact, but it is also one of those
historic side-lights which brings into bold relief what
was the custom of the Church from time
immemorial.
Advent.—Derived from the Latin, and means
coming. The word is used of the first coming of
Christ at His Birth, and of His Second Coming to
judge the world. These are commemorated in the
first Season of the Church Year, the Season of
Advent, which begins on the Sunday nearest to St.
Andrew's Day (Nov. 30) whether before or after,
and continues until Christmas Day. The Advent
Season is intended to be a preparation for the due
observance of Christmas, is penitential in character
and a time of increased devotions both public and
private. The Benedicite is sung instead of the Te
Deum; the Benedictus is recited in full, and theDeum; the Benedictus is recited in full, and the
Collect for the First Sunday in Advent is used daily
throughout the Season. The color for Altar
hangings, etc., is purple or violet.
Advent Sunday.—A name to be found in the
Prayer Book for the First Sunday in Advent. It is
commonly regarded as the first day of the Church
Year, and as such the Christian's New Year's Day.
From the fact that the Church Year anticipates the
Civil New Year by a whole month it is thought that
the Church thereby teaches that the Kingdom of
God should be first in our thoughts, (See ADVENT,
also CHRISTIAN YEAR).
Affusion.—The pouring (which the word means) of
water on the recipient of Baptism, when the
Baptism is not by immersion. Questions have
arisen from the very earliest ages as to the matter
and form with which this Sacrament is to be
administered. The original mode was undoubtedly
by the descent of the person to be baptized into a
stream or pool of water. The practice of immersion
was not, however, regarded as an essential feature
of Baptism. There can be little doubt that affusion
was practiced instead of immersion, at the
discretion of the Priest, in ancient as well as in
modern times. The Prayer Book provides for either
mode. The method is a matter of indifference, the
essential point being that the candidate for Baptism
come into actual contact with water while the
words, "I baptize thee in the Name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," are
spoken.
Agape.—A Greek word meaning love. The name
given to the "Love Feast" or social meal which the
ancient Christians were accustomed to have when
they came together and which was partaken of
before the