,this ,e text uses ,,utf-#h 7unicode7 file encoding4 ,if the apostrophes1 quotation marks and greek text ,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,alpha ,,with ,,psili,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,pi,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,omicron,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,lamda,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,upsilon ,,with ,,oxia,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,tau,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,rho,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,omega,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,sigma,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,iota,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,final ,,sigma in this paragraph appear as garbage1 you may have an incompatible browser or unavailable fonts4 ,first1 make sure that your browser's character set or file encoding is set to ,unicode 7,,utf-#h74 ,you may also need to change the default font4 ,,stones ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,r ,i ,v ,i ,n ,g ,t ,o ,n ,s ,london ,waterloo ,place ,oxford ,high ,street ,cambridge ,trinity ,street ,illustration3 ,,stones ,,of ,,the ,,temple ,,stones ,,of ,,the ,,temple or ,lessons from the fabric and furniture of the ,church ,by ,,walter ,,field1 ,m4,a41 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,rivingtons ,london1 ,oxford1 and ,cambridge #ahga ,when it pleased ,god to raise up kings and emperors favouring sincerely the ,christian truth1 that which the ,church before either could not or durst not do1 was with all alacrity performed4 ,temples were in all places erected1 no cost was spared3 nothing judged too dear which that way should be spent4 ,the whole world did seem to exult1 that it had occasion of pouring out gifts to so blessed a purpose4 ,that cheerful devotion which ,david did this way exceedingly delight to behold1 and wish that the same in the ,jewish people might be perpetual1 was then in ,christian people every where to be seen4 ,so far as our ,churches and their ,temple have one end1 what should let but that they may lawfully have one form8--,hooker's ,ecclesiastical ,polity4 ,,maltese ,,cross ,,contents ,,preface4 ,chap4 ,page ,i4 ,,the ,,lich-,,gate #a ,,ii4 ,,lich-,,stones #aa ,,iii4 ,,grave-,,stones #ai ,,iv4 ,,grave-,,stones #ca ,v4 ,,the ,,porch #dc ,,vi4 ,,the ,,porch #ea ,,vii4 ,,the ,,pavement #fc ,,viii4 ,,the ,,pavement #gc ,,ix4 ,,the ,,pavement #ha ,x4 ,,the ,,pavement #ia ,,xi4 ,,the ,,walls #ajc ,,xii4 ,,the ,,walls #aaa ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,windows #abc ,,xiv4 ,a ,,loose ,,stone ,,in ,,the ,,building #ade ,,xv4 ,,the ,,font #aee ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,pulpit #afg ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,pulpit #age ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,nave #ahg ,,xix4 ,,the ,,nave #aig ,,xx4 ,,the ,,aisles #bji ,,xxi4 ,,the ,,transepts #bag ,,xxii4 ,,the ,,chancel-,,screen #bbe ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,chancel #bce ,,xxiv4 ,,the ,,altar #bde ,,xxv4 ,,the ,,organ-,,chamber #bee ,,xxvi4 ,,the ,,vestry #bfe ,,xxvii4 ,,the ,,pillars #bge ,,xxviii4 ,,the ,,roof #bhe ,,xxix4 ,,the ,,tower #bie ,,xxx4 ,,the ,,house ,,not ,,made ,,with ,,hands #caa ,,index ,,of ,,engravings ,page ,st4 ,mildred's ,church and ,lich-,gate1 ,whippingham #c ,lich-,gate at ,yealmton #e ,lich-,gate at ,birstal #g ,heywood ,church1 ,manchester #ac ,lich-,stone1 ,great ,winnow1 ,cornwall #ae ,lich-,stone at ,lustleigh #ah ,church of ,st4 ,nicholas1 ,west ,pennard #ba ,grave-,stones in ,streatham ,churchyard #bc ,grave-,stones in ,high-,week ,churchyard #bd ,easter ,flowers #bh ,stinchcombe ,church #cc ,grave-,stones #ce1 #ci1 #da ,llanfechan ,church #db ,godmersham ,church #de ,porch of ,luebeck ,cathedral #ec ,porch and ,parvise of ,st4 ,mary's ,church1 ,finedon #ee ,parvise1 ,westbury-on-,trim #fj ,church of ,,ss4 ,philip and ,james1 ,oxford #fe ,brass of ,john ,bloxham and ,john ,whytton in ,merton ,college1 ,oxford #fg ,heywood ,church #ge ,brass of ,henry ,sever1 at ,merton ,college1 ,oxford #gg ,chancel of ,whippingham ,church #hc ,brass of ,sir ,roger de ,trumpington #he ,church of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 ,kidmore ,end #ic ,encaustic ,tiles1 ,brooke ,church #ie1 #ig ,st4 ,andrew's ,church1 ,halstead #aje ,ancient ,wall ,paintings in ,kimpton ,church #ajh1 #aji ,st4 ,michael's ,church1 ,gloucester #aac ,ancient ,wall ,painting in ,bedford ,church #aah ,wall ,painting #aba ,church of ,st4 ,john1 ,brandenburg #abe ,doorway1 ,st4 ,stephen's ,church1 ,tangermuende #abg ,crowmarsh ,church #aca ,stained ,glass ,windows in ,great ,malvern ,church #acg1 #aci1 #ada ,rose ,window1 ,cremona ,cathedral #adc ,amberley ,church1 in ruin1 and restored #adg ,ancient ,font in ,west ,rounton ,church #aeg ,stone ,pulpit in ,dartmouth ,church #afi ,church of ,st4 ,mary1 ,henley-on-,thames #agg ,stone ,pulpit in ,north ,kilworth ,church #agi ,st4 ,mary's ,church1 ,sherborne #ahi ,all ,saints' ,church1 ,bradford #aii ,castle ,cary ,church #baa ,church of ,,ss4 ,peter and ,paul1 ,ringwood #bai ,church of ,st4 ,john1 ,walworth #bbg ,sutton ,benger ,church #bcg ,llanfaenor ,church #bdc ,st4 ,alban's ,church1 ,holborn #bdg ,icklesham ,church #beg ,harpsden ,church #bfg ,church of ,st4 ,john1 ,highbridge #bgg ,keynsham ,church #bhg ,clerestory ,window #bid ,meopham ,church #big ,tower1 ,saragosa #cjc ,window1 ,church of ,st4 ,petronius1 ,bologna #cji ,who is able to build ,him an house1 seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain ,him8 who am ,i then1 that ,i should build ,him an house1 save only to burn sacrifice before ,him8 ,send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold1 and in silver1 and in brass1 and in iron1 and in purple1 and crimson1 and blue1 and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in ,judah and in ,jerusalem1 whom ,david my father did provide4 ,send me also cedar-trees1 fir-trees1 and algum-trees1 out of ,lebanon3 for ,i know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in ,lebanon2 and1 behold1 my servants shall be with thy servants1 even to prepare me timber in abundance3 for the house which ,i am about to build shall be great and wonderful4-- #b ,chron4 ii4 #f--i4 ,,maltese ,,cross ,,preface ,the following chapters are an attempt to explain in very simple language the history and use of those parts of the ,church's fabric with which most persons are familiar4 ,they are not written with a view to assist the student of ,ecclesiastical ,art and ,architecture--for which purpose the works of many learned writers are available--but simply to inform those who1 from having paid little attention to such pursuits1 or from early prejudice1 may have misconceived the origin and design of much that is beautiful and instructive in ,god's ,house4 ,the spiritual and the material fabric are placed side by side1 and the several offices and ceremonies of the ,church as they are specially connected with the different parts of the building are briefly noticed4 ,some of the subjects referred to may appear trifling and unimportant2 those1 however1 among them which seem to be the most trivial have in some parishes given rise to long and serious disputations4 ,the unpretending narrative1 which serves to embody the several subjects treated of1 has the single merit of being composed of little incidents taken from real life4 ,the first sixteen chapters were printed some years since in the ,church ,builder4 ,the writer is greatly indebted to the ,committee of the ,incorporated ,church ,building ,society for the use of most of the woodcuts which illustrate the volume4 ,w4 ,f4 ,,godmersham ,,vicarage1 ,michaelmas1 #ahga4 ,,chapter ,i ,,the ,,lich-,,gate ,these words which ,i command thee2 thou shalt write them on thy gates4 ,deut4 vi4 #f1 #i4 ,who says the ,widow's heart must break1 ,the ,childless ,mother sink8-- ,a kinder1 truer ,voice ,i hear1 ,which even beside that mournful bier ,whence ,parent's eyes would hopeless shrink1 ,bids weep no more--,o heart bereft1 ,how strange1 to thee1 that sound6 ,a ,widow o'er her only ,son1 ,feeling more bitterly alone ,for friends that press officious round4 ,yet is the ,voice of comfort heard1 ,for ,christ hath touch'd the bier-- ,the bearers wait with wondering eye1 ,the swelling bosom dares not sigh1 ,but all is still1 'twixt hope and fear4 ,even such an awful soothing calm ,we sometimes see alight ,on ,christian mourners1 while they wait ,in silence1 by some ,churchyard gate1 ,their summons to the holy rite4 ,christian ,year4 ,illustration3 ,st4 ,mildred's ,church and ,lich-,gate1 ,whippingham ,,the ,,lich-,,gate ,illustration3 ,lich-,gate at ,yealmton ,any port in a storm1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said old ,matthew ,hutchison1 as with tired feet1 and scant breath1 he hastened to share the shelter which ,mr4 ,ambrose1 the ,vicar of the ,parish1 had found under the ancient and time-worn ,lich-gate of ,st4 ,catherine's ,churchyard4 ,for a few big drops of rain that fell pattering on the leaves around1 had warned them both to seek protection from a coming shower4 ,ah1 yes1 my old friend1 the ,vicar replied1 and here we are pretty near the port to which we must all come1 when the storm of life itself is past4 ,i've known this place1--man and boy1--,mr4 ,ambrose1 for near eighty years2 and on yonder bit of a hill1 under that broken thorn1 ,i sit for hours every day watching my sheep2 but my eye often wanders across here1 and then the thought takes me just as you've said it1 sir4 ,ah6 it can't be long before ,old ,matthew will need some younger limbs than these to bring him through the churchyard gate2--that's what the old walls always seem to say to me2--but ,god's will be done4 ,and as the old ,shepherd reverently lifted his broad hat1 his few white hairs1 stirred by the rising gale1 seemed to confirm the truth of his words4 ,well1 ,matthew1 ,i am glad you have learnt1 what many are slow to learn1 that there are ',sermons in stones1' as well as in books4 ,every stone in ,god's ,house1 and in ,god's ,acre--as our ,churchyards used to be called1--may teach us some useful lesson1 if we will but stop to read it4 ,please1 sir1 ,i should like to know why they call the gate at the new churchyard over the hill1 a lich-gate2--these new names puzzle a poor man like me#a4 ,the name is better known in some parts of the country than it is here2 but it is no new name1 ,i assure you1 for in the time of the ,saxons1 more than thirteen hundred years ago1 it was in common use2 but ,i will tell you all about this1 and some other matters connected with the place where we now stand4 ,i shall take it very kind if you will1 sir1 for you know we poor people don't know much about these things4 ,very often quite as much as many who are richer1 ,matthew1--but here comes our young squire1 anxious like ourselves to keep a dry coat on his back2 so ,i shall now be telling my story to rich and poor together1 and ,i hope make it plain to both4 ,after a few words of friendly greeting between ,mr4 ,acres and himself1 the three sat down on the stone seats of the ,lich-,gate1 and he at once proceeded to answer the old ,shepherd's question4 ,the word ,lich#b1 he said1 means a ,corpse1 and so ,lich-,gate means a ,corpse-gate1 or gate through which the dead body is borne2 and that path up which you came just now1 ,matthew1 used formerly to be called the ,lich-path#c1 because all the funerals came along that way4 ,in some parts of ,scotland is still kept up the custom of ,lyke-wake 7,lich-wake71 or watching beside the dead body before its burial#d4 ,the pale sickly-looking moss1 which lives best where all else is dead or dying1 we call lichen4 ,then you know the ,lich-owl is so called because some people are silly enough to think that its screech foretells death4 ,and ,i must just say something about this word lich in the name of a certain city2 it is ,lichfield4 ,now lich-field plainly means the field of the dead3 and where that city now stands is said to have been the burial-place of many ,christian ,martyrs1 who were slain there about the year #bij4 ,you will remember1 ,mr4 ,acres1 that the ,arms of the ,city exhibit this field of the dead1 on which lie three slaughtered men1 each having on his head1 as is supposed1 a martyr's crown4 ,now1 ,matthew1 ,i think ,i have fully replied to your question2 but ,i should like to say something more about the use and the history of these ,lich-,gates4 ,illustration3 ,lich-,gate at ,birstal ,will you kindly tell us1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 how it is that there are so few remaining1 and that of these there are probably very few indeed so much as four centuries old#e4 ,i think the reason is1 that at first they were almost entirely made of wood1 and therefore were subject to early decay--certainly they must at one time have been far more general than at present4 ,the rubrical direction at the beginning of the ,burial ,office in our ,prayer ,book seems to imply some such provision at the churchyard entrance4 ,it is there said 'the ,priest and ,clerks' are to 'meet the ,corpse at the entrance of the ,churchyard4' ,but in this old ,prayer ,book of mine1 printed in the year #aedi1 you see the ,priest is directed to meet the corpse at the ',church-stile1' or ,lich-,gate4 ,now as in olden times the corpse was always borne to its burial by the friends or neighbours of the deceased1 and they had often far to travel1 their time of reaching the ,churchyard must have been very uncertain1 and this uncertainty no doubt frequently caused delay when they had arrived1 therefore it was desirable both to have a place of shelter on a rainy day1 and of rest when the way was long4 ,hence ,i suppose it is1 that the older ,lich-,gates are to be found1 for the most part1 in widespread parishes and mountainous districts2 they are most common in the ,counties of ,devon and ,cornwall1 and in ,wales#f4 ,but even where the necessity of the case no longer exists1 the ,lich-,gate1 adorned1 as it ever should be1 with some holy text or pious precept1 is most appropriate as an ornament1 and expressive as a symbol4 ,its presence should always be associated in our minds with thoughts of death1 and life beyond it4 ,it should remind us that though we must ere long 'go to the gates of the grave1' yet that it is 'through the grave and gate of death' that we must 'pass to our joyful resurrection4' ,it is here the ,comforter of ,bethany so often speaks1 through the voice of ,his ,church1 to ,his sorrowing brethren in the world3--',i am the resurrection and the life3 he that believeth in ,me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live#g4 ,ah6 sir1 said the shepherd1 many's the poor heart-bowed mourner that's been comforted here with those words6 ,they always remind me of ,jesus saying to the widow of ,nain1 ',weep not1' when he stopped the bier on which was her only son1 and the bearers1 and all the mourners1 at the gate of the city4 ,yes6 and all this makes us look on the old ,lich-,gate as no gloomy object1 but rather as a ',beautiful ,gate of the ,temple' which is eternal1--a glorious arch of hope and triumph1 hung all round with trophies of ,christian victory4 ,but ,i see the rain is over1 and the sun is shining6 so good-bye1 ,mr4 ,acres1 we two shepherds must not stay longer from our respective flocks3--old ,matthew's is spread over the mountains1 mine is folded in the village below4 ,the old shepherd soon took his accustomed seat under the weather-beaten thorn1 the ,vicar was soon deep in the troubles of a poor parishioner1 and the young ,squire went to the village by another way4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,lich-,,stones ,man goeth to his long home1 and the mourners go about the streets4 ,eccles4 xii4 #e4 ,say1 was it to my spirit's gain or loss1 ,one bright and balmy morning1 as ,i went ,from ,liege's lovely environs to ,ghent1 ,if hard by the wayside ,i found a cross1 ,that made me breathe a prayer upon the spot-- ,while ,nature of herself1 as if to trace ,the emblem's use1 had trail'd around its base ,the blue significant ,forget-me-not8 ,methought1 the claims of ,charity to urge ,more forcibly1 along with ,faith and ,hope1 ,the pious choice had pitch'd upon the verge ,of a delicious slope1 ,giving the eye much variegated scope2-- ',look round1' it whisper'd1 'on that prospect rare1 ,those vales so verdant1 and those hills so blue2 ,enjoy the sunny world1 so fresh and fair1 ,but'--7how the simple legend pierced me thro'67 ',priez pour les ,malheureux4' ,t4 ,hood4 ,illustration3 ,heywood ,church1 ,manchester ,,lich-,,stones ,illustration3 ,lich-,stone1 ,great ,winnow1 ,cornwall ,good morning1 ,mr4 ,acres1 and a happy ,easter-,tide to you4 ,this is indeed a bright ,easter sun to shine on our beautiful ,lich-,gate at its re-opening4 ,i little thought on what good errand you were bent when last we parted at this spot4 ,hardly however had ,i reached my door when ,william ,hardy came with great glee to tell me you had engaged his services for the work4 ,may ,god reward you1 sir1 for the honour you have shown for ,his ,church4 ,and an old man's blessing be upon you1 sir1 if you will let ,old ,matthew say so2 for the ,church-gate is dearer to me than my own1 seeing it has closed upon my beloved partner1 and the dear child ,god gave us1 and my own poor wicket shuts on no one else but me now4 ,thank you heartily1 honest ,matthew1 and you too1 sir1 replied the squire1 giving to each the hand of friendship2 ,i am rejoiced that what has been done pleases you so well4 ,the restored ,gate is in every respect like the original one1 even to the simple little cross on the top of it4 ,i have added nothing but the sentence from our ,burial ,office1 ',blessed are the dead which die in the ,lord1' which you see over the arch1 and which ,i hope will bring comfort to some1 and hope to all who read it4 ,but the work would never have been done by me1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 had you not so interested ,matthew and myself in these ,lich-,gates when last we met4 ,and so1 as you see1 your good words have not been altogether lost1 ,i hope you will kindly to-day continue the subject of our last conversation4 ,most gladly will ,i do so2 and as ,i have already spoken of the general purpose and utility of these ,lich-,gates1 ,i will now say a little about their construction and arrangement4 ,their most common form1 as you know1 is a simple shed composed of a roof with two gable ends1 covered either with tiles or thatch1 and supported on strong timbers well braced together4 ,but they are frequently built of stone1 and in the manner of their construction they greatly vary4 ,at ,burnsall there is a curious arrangement for opening and closing the gate4 ,the stone pier on the north side has a well-hole1 in which the weight that closes the gate works up and down4 ,an upright swivel post or 'heart-tree1' 7as the people there call it17 stands in the centre1 and through this pass the three rails of the gate2 an iron bent lever is fixed to the top of this post1 which is connected by a chain and guide-pulley to the weight1 so that when any one passes through1 both ends of the gate open in opposite directions4 ,the ,gate at ,rostherne churchyard1 in ,cheshire1 is on a similar plan4 ,at ,berry-harbour is a ,lich-,gate in the form of a cross4 ,at only one place1 ,i believe1--,troutbeck1 in ,westmoreland1--are there to be found three stone ,lich-,gates in one churchyard4 ,some of these gates have chambers over them1 as at ,bray#h1 in ,berkshire1 and ,barking#i1 in ,essex4 ,at ,tawstock there is a small room on either side of the gate1 having seats on three sides and a table in the centre4 ,it seems that in this1 as in some other cases1 provision is made either for the distribution of alms1 or for the rest and refreshment of funeral attendants4 ,it was once a common custom at funerals in some parts1 especially in ,scotland#aj1 to hold a feast at the ,church-gate and these feasts sometimes led to great excesses3 happily they are now discontinued1 but the custom may help to point out the purpose for which these ,lich-,gate rooms were sometimes erected4 ,in ,cornwall it is not customary to bear the corpse on the shoulders1 but to carry the coffin1 under-handed1 by white cloths passed beneath and through the handles#aa and this partly explains the peculiar arrangement for resting the corpse at the entrance to the churchyard1 common1 even now1 in that county1 and which is called the ,lich-,stone4 ,the ,lich-,stone is often found without any building attached to it1 and frequently without even a gate4 ,the ,stone is either oblong with the ends of equal width1 or it is the shape of the ancient coffins1 narrower at one end than the other1 but without any bend at the shoulder4 ,it is placed in the centre1 having stone seats on either side1 on which the bearers rest whilst the coffin remains on the ,lich-,stone4 ,when there is no gate1 the churchyard is protected from the intrusion of cattle by this simple contrivance3--long pieces of moor-stone1 or granite1 are laid across1 with a space of about three inches between each1 and being rounded on the top any animal has the greatest difficulty in walking over them1 indeed a quadruped seldom attempts to cross them4 ,lich-,stones are1--though very rarely1--to be found at a distance from the churchyard2 in this case1 doubtless1 they are intended as rests for the coffin on its way to burial4 ,at ,lustleigh1 in ,devonshire1 is an octagonal ,lich-,stone called ,bishop's ,stone1 having engraved upon it the arms of ,bishop ,cotton#ab4 ,it seems not unlikely that the several beautiful crosses erected by ,king ,edward ,i4 at the different stages where the corpse of his queen1 ,eleanor#ac1 rested on its way from ,herdeby in ,lincolnshire to ,westminster1 were built over the ,lich-,stone on which her coffin was placed4 ,and now1 my kind listeners1 ,i think ,i have told you all ,i know about ,lich-,stones4 ,illustration3 ,lich-,stone at ,lustleigh ,these simple memorials of ,church architecture are very touching1 replied ,mr4 ,acres1 as he rose to depart2 and the ,lich-,stone deserves a record before modern habits and improvements sweep them away4 ,they have a direct meaning1 and surely might be more generally adopted in connexion with the ,lich-,gate1 now gradually re-appearing in many of our rural parishes1 as the fitting entrance to the churchyard4 ,,chapter ,,iii ,,grave-,,stones ,when ,i am dead1 then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of ,god is buried2 lay my bones beside his bones4 #a ,kings xiii4 #ca4 ,i've seen ,the labourer returning from his toil1 ,here stay his steps1 and call the children round1 ,and slowly spell the rudely sculptured rhymes1 ,and in his rustic manner1 moralize4 ,we mark'd with what a silent awe he'd spoken1 ,with head uncover'd1 his respectful manner1 ,and all the honours which he paid the grave4 ,h4 ,kirke ,white4 ,i like that ancient ,saxon phrase1 which calls ,the burial-ground ,god's acre6 ,it is just2 ,it consecrates each grave within its walls1 ,and breathes a benison o'er the sleeping dust4 ,into its furrows shall we all be cast1 ,in the sure faith that we shall rise again ,at the great harvest1 when the archangel's blast ,shall winnow1 like a fan1 the chaff and grain4 ,with thy rude ploughshare1 ,death1 turn up the sod1 ,and spread the furrow for the seed we sow2 ,this is the field and acre of our ,god3 ,this is the place where human harvests grow4 ,longfellow4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,st4 ,nicholas1 ,west ,pennard ,,grave-,,stones ,illustration3 ,grave-,stones in ,streatham ,churchyard ,and so1 ,matthew1 the old sexton's little daughter is to be buried to-day4 ,what a calm peaceful day it is for her funeral6 ,the day itself seems to have put on the same quiet happy smile that ,lizzie ,daniels always carried about with her1 before she had that painful lingering sickness1 which she bore with a meekness and patience ,i hardly ever saw equalled4 ,and then it is ,easter ,day too1 the very day one would choose for the burial of a good ,christian child4 ,all our services to-day will tell us that this little maid1 and all those who lie around us here so still beneath their green mounds1 are not dead but sleeping1 and as our ,saviour rose from the grave on ,easter ,day1 so will they all awake and rise up again when ,god shall call them4 ,i see the little grave is dug under the old yew-tree1 near to that of your own dear ones4 ,lizzie was a great favourite of yours1 was she not1 ,matthew8 ,ah1 she was the brightest little star in my sky1 ,i can tell you1 sir2 and ,i shall miss her sadly4 ,she brought me my dinner1 every day for near two years1 up to the old thorn there1 and then she would sit down on the grass before me1 and read from her ,prayer ,book some of the ,psalms for the day2 and when she had done1 and ,i had kissed and thanked her1 she used to go trotting home again1 with1 ,i believe1 the brightest little face and the lightest little heart in ,england4 ,well1 sir1 it's sorry work1 you know1 for a man to dig the grave for his own child1 and so ,i asked ,john ,daniels to let me dig ,lizzie's grave3 but it has been indeed hard work for me1 for ,i think ,i've shed more tears in that grave than ,i ever shed out of it4 ,but the grave is all ready now1 and little ,lizzie will soon be there2 and then1 sir1 ,i should like to put up a stone1 for ,i shall often come here to think about the dear child4 ,poor little ,lizzie6 she seemed like a sort of good angel to me1--children do seem like that sometimes1 don't they1 sir8 ,perhaps1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 you would be so good as to tell ,robert ,atkinson what sort of stone you would like him to put up4 ,certainly ,i will2 and ,i think nothing would be so suitable as a simple little stone cross1 with ,lizzie's name on the base of it4 ,and as she is to be buried on ,easter ,day1 ,i should like to add the words1 ',in ,christ shall all be made alive4' ,thank you1 sir2 that will do very nicely4 ,i'm only thinking1 may be1 that wicked boy of ,mr4 ,dole's1 at the shop1 will come some night and break the cross1 as he did the one ,mr4 ,hunter put up over his little boy4 ,but ,i think that was more the sin of the father than of the son1 for ,i'm told the old gentleman's very angry with you1 sir1 'cause he couldn't put what he call's a 'handsome monument' over his father's grave2 and he says1 too1 he's going to law about it4 ,illustration3 ,grave-,stones in ,high-,week ,churchyard ,ah1 he'll be wiser not to do that1 ,matthew4 ,the churchyard is the parson's freehold1 and he has the power to prevent the erection of any stone there of which he disapproves2 and ,i1 for one1 don't mean to give up this power4 ',tis true that every one of my parishioners has a right to be buried in this churchyard1 nor could ,i refuse this if ,i would2 but then1 if ,i am to protect this right of my parishioners1 as it is my duty to do1 and to preserve my churchyard from disfigurement and desecration1 ,i must take care that the ground is not occupied by such great ugly monuments as ,mr4 ,dole wishes to build#ad4 ,why ,i hear he bought that large urn#ae which was taken down from ,mr4 ,acres' park gates1 to put on the top of the tomb4 ,and then ,i suppose he would like to have the sides covered with skulls and crossbones1 and shovels and mattocks1 and fat crying cherubs1 besides the usual heathen devices1 such as inverted torches and spent hour-glasses2 all which fitly enough mark an infidel's burial-place1 but not a ,christian's4 ,for you see1 my friend1 that none of these things represent any ,christian truth2 the best are but emblems of mortality2 some are the symbols of oblivion and despair1 and others but mimic a heathen custom long gone by4 ,the stones of the churchyard ought themselves to tell the sanctity of the place1 and that it is a ,christian's rest#af4 ,the letters we carve on them will hardly be read by our children's children4 ,the lines on that stone there tell no more than is true of all the ,epitaphs around us3 ',the record some fond hand hath traced1 ,to mark thy burial spot1 ,the lichen will have soon effaced1 ,to write thy doom--,forgot4' ,but even then1 if the symbol of our redemption is there1 'the very stones will cry out1' and though time-worn and moss-grown1 will declare that it is a ,christian's burial-place4 ,if1 then1 as ,christian men and women 'we sorrow not as others without hope1' let us not cover our monuments with every symbol of despair1 or with heathen devices1 but as we are not ashamed of the doctrine1 so neither let us be ashamed of the symbol of the cross of ,christ4 ,besides1 if we wish to preserve our graves from desecration1 this form of stone is the most likely to do so2 for in spite of outrages like young ,dole's1 which have been sometimes committed1 we continually find that such memorials have been respected and preserved when others have been removed and employed for common uses4 ,why1 ,matthew1 ,i've seen hundreds of grave-stones converted into fire-hearths1 door-steps1 pavements1 and such like1 but ,i never saw a monument on which was graven the ,christian symbol so desecrated2 and ,i believe such a thing has hardly ever been seen by any one4 ,well1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 ,i should like there to be no doubt about little ,lizzie's being a ,christian's grave4 ,i was thinking1 too1 to have a neat iron railing round the stone1 sir4 ,i would advise you not to have it1 ,matthew2 for the grave will be prettier without it4 ,besides1 it gives an idea of separateness1 which one does not like in a place where all distinctions are done away with2 and1 moreover1 the iron would soon rust1 and then the railing would become very untidy4 ,yes1 to be sure it would2 ,i was forgetting that ,i shan't be here to keep it nicely painted3--but see1 sir1 here come the children from the village with their ,easter flowers4 ,i dare say little ,mary ,acres will give me some for ,lizzie's grave4 ,ah1 ,i like that good old custom of placing flowers and wreaths on ,christian graves at ,easter1 and other special seasons#ag4 ,it is the simple way in which these little ones both show their respect for departed friends1 and express their belief in the resurrection of the dead4 ,i would say of it1 as ,wordsworth wrote of the ,funeral ,chant3-- ',many precious rites ,and customs of our rural ancestry ,are gone1 or stealing from us2 this1 ,i hope1 ,will last for ever4' ,but you remember the time1 ,matthew1 when there were very different scenes from this1 at ,easter1 in ,st4 ,catherine's churchyard4 ,if ,i mistake not1 you will recollect when the ,easter fair used to be kept here4 ,illustration3 ,easter ,flowers ,that ,i do1 sir1 too well4 ,there was always a ,sunday fight in the churchyard1 and the people used to come from ,walesborough and for miles round to see it4 ,it's just forty years ago to-day poor ,bill ,thirlsby was killed in a fight1 as it might be1 just where ,i'm now standing#ah4 ,but1 thank ,god1 that day's gone by4 ,and1 ,i trust1 never to come back again4 ,but have you heard1 ,matthew1 that some great enemies of the ,church are trying to spoil the peace and sacredness of our churchyards in another way8 ,they want to bring in all kinds of preachers to perform all sorts of funeral services in them2 and if they gain their ends1 our long-hallowed churchyards1 where as yet there has only been heard the solemn beautiful ,burial ,service of our own ,church1 may be desecrated by the clamour of ignorant fanaticism1 the continual janglings of religious discord1 or perhaps1 the open blasphemy of godless men4 ,what6 then ,i suppose we should have first a service from ,master ,scoff1 the bill-sticker and ,mormon preacher1 and next from ,master ,scole1 the ,baptist preacher1 then from ,father ,la ,trappe1 the ,roman ,catholic minister1 and then1 perhaps1 sir1 it might be your turn4 ,why1 sir1 'twould be almost like going back to the ,easter fair4 ,well1 my friend1 in one respect it would be worse2 for it would be discord all the year round4 ,but ,i trust ,god will frustrate these wicked designs of our ,church's foes4 ,long1 long may it be ere the sanctity of our churchyards is thus invaded4 ,amen1 say ,i to that1 sir1 with all my heart4 ,and1 thanks be to ,god1 ,matthew1 that ,amen of yours is now re-echoing loudly throughout the length and breadth of ,england4 ,,chapter ,,iv ,,grave-,,stones ,and he said1 ,what title is that that ,i see8 and the men of the city told him1 ,it is the sepulchre of the man of ,god4 #b ,kings xiii4 #ag4 ,i never can see a ,churchyard old1 ,with its mossy stones and mounds1 ,and green trees weeping the unforgot ,that rest in its hallow'd bounds2 ,i never can see the old churchyard1 ,but ,i breathe to ,god a prayer1 ,that1 sleep as ,i may in this fever'd life1 ,i may rest1 when ,i slumber1 there4 ,our ,mother the ,church hath never a child ,to honour before the rest1 ,but she singeth the same for mighty kings1 ,and the veriest babe on her breast2 ,and the bishop goes down to his narrow bed ,as the ploughman's child is laid1 ,and alike she blesseth the dark brow'd serf1 ,and the chief in his robe array'd4 ,and ever the bells in the green churchyard ,are tolling to tell you this3-- ,go pray in the church1 while pray ye can1 ,that so ye may sleep in bliss4 ,christian ,ballads4 ,it is an awful thing to stand ,with either world on either hand1 ,upon the intermediate ground ,which doth the sense and spirit bound4 ,woe worth the man who doth not fear ,when spirits of the dead are near4 ,the ,baptistery4 ,illustration3 ,stinchcombe ,church ,,grave-,,stones ,a golden haze in the eastern sky told that the sun which had set in all his glory an hour before was now giving a bright ,easter ,day to ,christians in other lands4 ,the evening service was ended1 and a joyful peal had just rung out from the tower of ,st4 ,catherine's1--for such was the custom there on all the great festivals of the ,church1--the low hum of voices which lately rose from a group of villagers gathered near the churchyard gate was hushed2 there was a pause of perfect stillness2 and then the old tenor began its deep1 solemn tolling for the burial of a little child4 ,the ,vicar and his friend ,mr4 ,acres1 who had been walking slowly to and fro on the churchyard path1 stopped suddenly on hearing the first single beat of the burial knell1 and at the same instant they saw1 far down the village lane1 the flickering light of the two torches borne by those who headed the little procession of ,lizzie's funeral4 ,they1 too1 seemed to have caught the spell1 and stood mutely contemplating the scene before them4 ,at length ,mr4 ,acres broke silence by saying1 ,i know of but few ,parishes where1 like our own1 the funerals of the poor take place by torch-light2 it is1 to say the least1 a very picturesque custom4 ,illustration3 ,grave ,stones ,it is1 indeed1 replied ,mr4 ,ambrose1 ,i believe1 however1 the poor in this place first adopted it from no such sentiment1 but simply as being more convenient both to themselves and to their employers4 ,their employers often cannot spare them earlier in the day1 and they themselves can but ill afford to lose a day's wages4 ,but these evening funerals have other advantages4 ,they enable many more of the friends of the departed to show this last tribute of respect to their memory than could otherwise do so2 and were this practice more general1 we should have fewer of those melancholy funerals where the hired bearers are the sole attendants4 ,then1 if properly conducted1 they save the poor much expense at a time when they are little able to afford it4 ,i find that their poor neighbours will1 at evening1 give their services as bearers1 free of cost1 which they cannot afford to do earlier in the day4 ,the family of the deceased1 too1 are freed from the necessity of taxing their scanty means in order to supply a day's hospitality to their visitors1 who now do not assemble till after their day's labour1 and immediately after the funeral retire to their own homes1 and to rest4 ,i am sorry to say1 however1 this was not always so4 ,when ,i first came to the ,parish1 the evening was too often followed by a night of dissipation4 ,but since ,i have induced the people to do away with hired bearers1 and enter into an engagement to do this service one for another1 free of charge1 and simply as a ,christian duty1 those evils have never recurred4 ,i once preached a sermon to them from the text1 ',devout men carried ,stephen to his burial' 7,acts viii4 #b71 in which ,i endeavoured to show them that none but men of good and honest report should be selected for this solemn office2 and ,i am thankful to say1 from that time all has been decent and orderly4 ,when it is the funeral of one of our own school-children1 the coffin is always carried by some of the school-teachers2 ,i need hardly say this is simply an act of ,christian charity4 ,moreover1 this custom greatly diminishes the number of our ,sunday burials1 which are otherwise almost a necessity among the poor#ai4 ,the ,sunday1 as a great ,christian ,festival1 is not appropriate for a public ceremony of so mournful a character as that of the burial of the dead2 there is1 too1 this additional objection to ,sunday burials3 that they create ,sunday labour4 ,but1 considering the subject generally1 ,i confess a preference for these evening funerals4 ,to me they seem less gloomy1 though more solemn1 than those which take place in the broad light of day4 ,when the house has been closed1 and the chamber of death darkened for several days 7to omit which simple acts would be like an insult to the departed71 it seems both consonant with this custom which we have universally adopted1 and following the course of our natural feelings1 to avoid--in performing the last solemn rite--the full blaze of midday light4 ,there is something in the noiseless going away of daylight suggestive of the still departure of human life2 and in the gathering shades of evening1 in harmony with one's thoughts of the grave as the place of the sleeping1 and not of the dead4 ,the hour itself invites serious thought4 ,when a little boy1 ,i once attended a midnight funeral2 and the event left an impression on my mind which ,i believe will never be altogether effaced4 ,i would not1 however1 recommend midnight funerals1 except on very special occasions2 and ,i must freely admit that under many circumstances evening funerals would not be practicable4 ,i see1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 that the system here adopted obviates many evils which exist in the prevailing mode of ,christian burial1 but it hardly meets the case of large towns1 especially when the burial must take place in a distant cemetery4 ,don't you think we want reform there1 even more1 perhaps1 than in these rural parishes8 ,yes1 certainly1 my friend1 ,i do2 and ,i regret to say ,i see1 moreover1 many difficulties that beset our efforts to accomplish it4 ,still something should be done4 ,we all agree1 it is much to be deplored that1 owing to the necessity for extramural burial1 the connexion between the parishioner and his parish church is1 with very rare exceptions1 entirely severed in the last office which the ,clergy and his friends can render him1 and the solemn ,service of the ,burial of the ,dead is said in a strange place1 by a stranger's voice4 ,now this we can at least partly remedy4 ,i would always have the bodies of the departed brought to the parish church previous to their removal to the cemetery2 and the funeral knell should be tolled1 as formerly1 to invite their friends and neighbours to be present1 and take part in so much of the service as need not be said at the grave4 ,it would then be no longer true1 as now it is1 that in many of our churches this touching and beautiful ,service has never been said1 and by many of the parishioners has never been heard4 ,then let the bearers be men of good and sober character4 ,how revolting to one's sense of decency is the spectacle1 so common in ,london1 of hired attendants1 wearing funeral robes and hat-bands#bj1 drinking at gin-palaces1 whilst the hearse and mourning coaches are drawn up outside6 ,then ,i would have the furniture of the funeral less suggestive of sorrow without hope2 and specially ,i would have the coffin less gloomy1--,i might in many cases say1 less hideous3 let it be of plain wood1 or1 if covered1 let its covering be of less gloomy character1 and without the trashy and unmeaning ornaments with which undertakers are used to bestud it4 ,as regards our cemeteries1 ,i suppose in most of them the ,burial ,service is said in all its integrity1 but in some it is sadly mutilated4 ',no fittings1 sir1 and a third-class grave1' said the attendant of a large cemetery the other day to a friend of mine1 who had gone there to bury a poor parishioner2 which in simple ,english was this3--',the man was too poor to have any other than a common grave1 so you must not read all the ,service2 and his friends are too poor to give a hat-band1 so you must not wear a hood and stole4' ,my friend did not of course comply with the intimation4 ,illustration3 ,grave-,stones ,well1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 ,i hope we may see the improvements you have suggested carried out1 and then such an abuse as that will not recur4 ,much indeed has already been done in this direction1 and for this we must be thankful4 ,yes1 and side by side with that1 ,i rejoice to see an increasing improvement in the character of our tombstones and epitaphs4 ,ah1 sir1 there was need enough1 ,i am sure1 for that4 ,how shocking are many of the inscriptions we find on even modern tombstones6 ,to 'lie like an epitaph' has long been a proverb1 and ,i fear a just one4 ,what a host of false witnesses we have even here around us in this burial-ground6 ,there lies ,john ,wilk1 who was--,i suppose--as free from care and sickness to his dying hour as any man that ever lived2 yet his grave-stone tells the old story3-- ',afflictions sore long time ,i bore1 ,physicians was in vain4' ,and beyond his stands the stone of that old scold ,margery ,torbeck1 who1 you know1 sir1 was the terror of the whole village2 and of her we are told3-- ',a tender wife1 a mother dear1 ,a faithful friend1 lies buried here4' ,i often think1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 when walking through a churchyard1 if people were only half as good when living1 as when dead they are said to have been1 what a happy world this would be2 so full of 'the best of husbands1' 'the most devoted of wives1' 'the most dutiful of sons1' and 'the most amiable of daughters4' ,one is often reminded of the little child's inquiry--',mamma1 where are all the wicked people buried8' ,but did you ever notice that vain and foolish inscription under the north wall to the 'perpetual' memory of ',isaac ,donman1 ,esq4'8 ,poor man6 ,i wonder whether his friends thought the ',esq4' would perpetuate his memory4 ,i wish it could be obliterated4 ,i have told ,john ,daniels to plant some ivy at the base of the stone1 and ,i hope the words will be hidden by it before the summer is over4 ,i find this the most convenient mode of concealing objectionable epitaphs4 ,but is it not an instance of strange perversity1 that where all earthly distinctions are swept away1 and men of all degrees are brought to one common level1 people will delight to inscribe these boastful and exaggerated praises of the departed1 and so often claim for them virtues which in reality they never possessed8 ,what can be more out of place here than pride8 ,as regards the frail body on which is often bestowed so much vain eulogy1 what truer words are there than these8-- ',how loved1 how valued once1 avails thee not2 ,to whom related1 or by whom begot3 ,a heap of dust alone remains of thee1 ',tis all thou art1 'tis all the proud shall be4' ,these kind of epitaphs1 too1 are so very unfair to the deceased4 ,we who knew old ,mrs4 ,ainstie1 who lies under that grand tombstone1 knew her to be a good1 kind neighbour2 but posterity will not believe that1 when posterity reads in her epitaph that 'she was a spotless woman4' ,it is better to say too little than too much2 since our ,bibles tell us that1 even when we have done all1 we are unprofitable servants4 ,there are other foolish epitaphs which are the result of ignorance1 not of pride4 ,for instance1 poor old ,mrs4 ,beck1 whose son is buried in yonder corner 7it is too dark now to see the stone71 sent me these lines for her son's grave-stone3-- ',here lies ,john ,beck1 aged #ai years1 ,father and mother1 wipe away your tears4' ,i persuaded her instead to have this sentence from the ,creed3--',i believe in the communion of ,saints4' ,when ,i explained to her the meaning of the words1 she was grateful that ,i had suggested them4 ,illustration3 ,grave-,stones ,the two things specially to be avoided in these memorials are flattery and falsehood2 and1 moreover1 we should always remember that neither grave-stone nor epitaph can benefit the dead1 but that both may benefit the living4 ,therefore a short sentence from the ,bible or ,prayer ,book1 expressive of hope beyond the grave1 is always appropriate2 such as3--',i look for the resurrection of the dead1 and the life of the world to come2' or words which either may represent the dying prayer of the deceased1 or express a suitable petition for ourselves when thus reminded of our own approaching departure1 such as3 ',jesus1 mercy1' or ',god be merciful to me a sinner1' or ',in the hour of death1 good ,lord1 deliver us4' ,how much better is some simple sentence like these than a fulsome epitaph6 ,but the funeral is nearly at the gate2 so ,i must hasten to meet it4 ,and ,i will say good evening1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 as ,i may not see you after the service2 and ,i thank you for drawing my attention to a subject on which ,i had before thought too little4 ,mr4 ,ambrose met the funeral at the lich-gate4 ,first came the two torch-bearers1 then the coffin1 borne by six school-teachers2 then ,john and ,mary ,daniels1 followed by their two surviving children2 then came old ,matthew1 and after him several of little ,lizzie's old friends and neighbours4 ,each attendant carried a small sprig of evergreen#ba1 or some spring flowers1 and1 as the coffin was being lowered1 placed them on it4 ,many tears of sadness fell down into that narrow grave1 but none told deeper love than those of the old ,shepherd1 who lingered sorrowfully behind to close in the grave of his little friend4 ,illustration3 ,llanfechan ,church ,,chapter ,v ,,the ,,porch ,keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of ,god4 ,eccles4 v4 #a4 ,when once thy foot enters the church1 be bare4 ,god is more there than thou3 for thou art there ,only by ,his permission4 ,then beware ,and make thyself all reverence and fear4 ,kneeling ne'er spoilt silk stockings3 quit thy state1 ,all equal are within the ,church's gate4 ,let vain or busy thoughts have there no part3 ,bring not thy plough1 thy plots1 thy pleasures thither4 ,christ purged ,his temple2 so must thou thy heart4 ,all worldly thoughts are but thieves met together ,to cozen thee4 ,look to thy actions well2 ,for churches either are our heaven or hell4 ,george ,herbert4 ,one place there is--beneath the burial sod1 ,where all mankind are equalized by death3 ,another place there is--the ,fane of ,god1 ,where all are equal who draw living breath4 ,thomas ,hood4 ,illustration3 ,godmersham ,church ,,the ,,porch ,mr4 ,ambrose only remained in the churchyard a few moments after little ,lizzie's funeral1 just to say some kind words to the bereaved parents and the attendant mourners1 and then hastened to comply with the urgent request of a messenger1 that he would without delay accompany him to the house of a parishioner living in a distant part of the ,parish4 ,it was more than an hour ere the ,vicar began to retrace his steps4 ,his nearest way to the village lay through the churchyard1 along the path he had lately traversed in earnest conversation with ,mr4 ,acres4 ,he paused a moment at the gate1 to listen for the sound of ,matthew's spade2 but the old man had completed his task1 and all was still4 ,he then entered1 and turned aside to look at the quiet little grave4 ,a grassy mound now marked the spot1 and it was evident that no little care had been bestowed to make it so neat and tidy4 ,mr4 ,ambrose was slowly walking on1 musing on the patient sufferings of his little friend1 now gone to her rest1 when just as he approached the beautiful old porch of the church his train of thought was suddenly disturbed by hearing what seemed to him the low1 deep sobbing of excessive grief4 ,the night was not so dark but that he could see distinctly within the porch1 and he anxiously endeavoured to discover whether the sound had proceeded from any one who had taken shelter there for the night2 but the place was evidently tenant less4 ,it must have been only the hum of a passing breeze1 which my fancy has converted into a human voice1 thought he1 for assuredly no such restless sobs as those ever escape from the deep sleepers around me here4 ,and so the idea was soon banished and forgotten4 ,but as he stood there1 his gaze became1 almost unconsciously1 fixed upon the old church porch4 ,the dim light resting upon it threw the rich carvings of its graceful arches1 and deep-groined roof1 with its massive bosses of sculptured stone1 into all sorts of fantastic forms1 and a strange mystery seemed to hang about the solemn pile1 which completely riveted his attention to it1 and led him into the following reverie3--,ah1 thou art indeed a 'beautiful gate of the temple'6 ,well and piously did our ancestors in bestowing so much wealth and labour to make thy walls so fair and lovely4 ,and well ever have they done in crowding these noble porches with the sacred emblems of our holy faith4 ,rightly have they deemed that the very highest efforts of human art could not be misapplied in adorning the threshold of ,god's ,house1 so that1 ere men entered therein1 their minds might be attuned to the solemnity of the place#bb4 ,all praise1 too1 to those honest craftsmen who cemented these old stones so well together that they have stood the storms of centuries1 and still remain the unlettered though faithful memorials of ages long gone by4 ,ah1 how many scenes my imagination calls up as ,i look on this old porch6 ,hundreds of years ago most of the sacred offices of our ,church were there in part performed4 ,now1 ,i think ,i see the gay bridal party standing in that dusky portal#bc2 there comes the ,priest to join the hands of the young and happy pair2 he pronounces over them the ,church's blessing2 and the bridegroom endows with her bridal portion her whom he has sworn to love till one shall die4 ,a thousand brides and bridegrooms1 full of bright hopes of happy years1 have been married in that porch4 ,centuries ago they grew old and died1 and were buried in this churchyard1 but the old porch still remains in all its beauty and all its strength4 ,there1 kneeling upon that well-worn pavement1 ,i see the mother pour forth her thankfulness to ,god for her deliverance from sickness1 and for the babe she bears#bd4 ,and now1 still beneath that porch1 she gives her tender infant into the arms of ,god's priest1 that he may present it to ,him in holy ,baptism4 ,in yon dark corner ,i seem to see standing the notorious breaker of ,god's commands2 his head is bent down with shame1 and he is clothed in the robe of penance#be4 ,now the scene is changed3 the old walls resound with the voices of noisy disputants--it is a parish meeting#bf1 and passions long since hushed find there a clamorous expression2 but there stands the stately form of the peace-maker1 and the noisy tongue of the village orator is heard no more4 ,yes1 rise up1 ,sir ,knight1 who1 with thy hands close clasped as if in ceaseless prayer1 hast lain upon that stony couch for five long centuries1 and let thy manly step be heard beneath that aged roof once more2 for1 though a warrior1 thou wast a good and peace-loving man1 and a devout worshipper in this temple1 or1 ,i trust1 thy burial-place would never have been in this old porch#bg4 ,the eyes of the ,vicar were fixed upon the recumbent effigy of an old knight lying beneath its stone canopy on the western side of the porch 7of which1 however1 only a dim outline was visible71 when the same sound that had before startled him was repeated1 followed by what seemed the deep utterance of earnest prayer1 but so far off as to be but faintly heard4 ,he stood in motionless attention for a short time1 and then the voice ceased4 ,he then saw a flickering light on one of the farthest windows of the chancel2 slowly it passed from window to window1 till it reached that nearest to the spot where he was standing4 ,then there was a narrow line of light in the centre of the doorway2 gradually it widened1 and there stood before him the venerable form of the old shepherd4 ,,chapter ,,vi ,,the ,,porch ,enter into ,his gates with thanksgiving1 and into ,his courts with praise4 ,ps4 c4 #d4 ,why should we grudge the hour and house of prayer ,to ,christ's own blind and lame1 ,who come to meet ,him there8 ,better1 be sure1 ,his altar-flame ,should glow in one dim wavering spark1 ,than quite lie down1 and leave ,his ,temple drear and dark4 ,what if the world our two or three despise ,they in ,his name are here1 ,to whom in suppliant guise ,of old the blind and lame drew near1 ,beside ,his royal courts they wait1 ,and ask ,his healing ,hand3 we dare not close the gate4 ,lyra ,innocentium4 ,illustration3 ,porch of ,luebeck ,cathedral ,,the ,,porch ,illustration3 ,porch and ,parvise of ,st4 ,mary's ,church1 ,finedon ,the ,vicar's first impulse1 on recovering from his surprise at so unexpectedly meeting with the old ,shepherd in such a place1 at such an hour1 was1 if possible1 to escape unnoticed1 and to leave the churchyard without suffering him to know what he had heard and seen2 but at that instant the light fell full upon him1 and concealment was impossible4 ,you'll be surprised1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said the old man1 at finding me in the church at this late time4 ,but it has1 ,i assure you1 been a great comfort for me to be here4 ,my good friend1 replied the ,vicar1 ,i know you have been making good use of ,god's ,house1 and ,i only wish there were more disposed to do the like4 ,i rejoice to hear you have found consolation1 for to-day has been one of heavy sorrow to you1 and you needed that peace which the world cannot give4 ,how often it is that we cannot understand these trials until we go into the ,house of the ,lord1 and then ,god makes it all plain to us4 ,i've learnt that to-night1 sir1 as ,i never learnt it before4 ,when ,i had put the last bit of turf on the little grave1 and knew that all my work was over1 there was such a desolate1 lonely-like feeling came over me1 that ,i thought my old heart must break2 and then1 all of a sudden1 it got into my head that ,i would come into the church4 ,but it was more dull and lonesome there than ever4 ,it was so awful and quiet1 ,i became quite fearful and cowed1 quite like a child1 you know1 sir4 ,when ,i stood still1 ,i hardly dared look round for fear ,i should see something in the darkness under the old grey arches1 and when ,i moved1 the very noise of my footsteps1 which seemed to sound in every corner1 frightened me4 ,however1 ,i took courage1 and went on4 ,then ,i opened this ,prayer ,book1 and the first words ,i saw were these in the ,baptismal ,service3--',whosoever shall not receive the ,kingdom of ,god as a little child1 he shall not enter therein4' ,so ,i knelt down at the altar rails and prayed1 as ,i think ,i never prayed before1 that ,i might in my old age become as good as the little maid ,i had just buried1 and be as fit to die as ,i really believe she was4 ,then ,i said those prayers you see marked in the book1 sir 7she put the marks71 and at last ,i came to those beautiful words in the ,communion ,service 7there is a cross put to them1 and ,i felt sure she meant me particularly to notice them73--',we bless and praise ,thy holy ,name for all ,thy servants departed this life in ,thy faith and fear4' ,i stood up1 and said that over and over again2 and as ,i did so1 somehow all my fear and lonesomeness went away1 and ,i was quite happy4 ,it was this that made me so happy3 ,i felt sure1 sir1 quite sure1 that my poor dear wife and our child and little ,lizzie were close to me4 ,i could not see nor hear them1 but for all that ,i was somehow quite certain that they were there rejoicing with me1 and praising ,god for all the good people ,he had taken to ,himself4 ,oh6 ,i shall never forget this night1 sir2 the thought of it will always make me happy4 ,you will never see me again so cast down as ,i have been lately4 ,well1 ,matthew1 you cannot at least be wrong in allowing what you have felt and believed to fix more firmly in your faith the ,church's glorious doctrine of the communion of saints4 ,for some time each stood following out in his own mind the train of thought which these words suggested4 ,matthew was the first to break silence1 by begging the ,vicar kindly to go with him into the room above where they were standing1 as he wished there to ask a favour of him4 ,matthew returned into the church to find the key of the chamber1 and ,mr4 ,ambrose at once recognized the volume which he had left on the stone seat of the porch1 as that from which ,lizzie was used to read when she sat beside the old ,shepherd on the neighbouring hill4 ,he took it up1 and1 opening it at the ,burial ,office1 he found there a little curl of lovely fair hair marking the place4 ,the page was still wet--it was the dew of evening1 gentle tears of love and sorrow shed by one whose night was calmly and peacefully coming on4 ,the old man soon returned with the key1 and1 bearing the lantern1 led the way up a narrow1 winding stone staircase1 formed in the masonry of a large buttress1 to the little chamber4 ,as soon as they had reached it1 he said1 ,before ,i beg my favour1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 ,i should much like you to tell me something about this old room4 ,ever since ,i was a boy it has been a sort of lumber-room1 but ,i suppose it was not built for that8 ,well1 ,matthew1 there is not much here to throw light upon the history of this particular chamber2 but ,i will tell you what ,i can about such places generally4 ,the room is most commonly1 but not correctly1 called the parvise#bh4 ,the word parvise1 or paradise1 properly only applies to an open court adjoining a church1 and surrounded by cloisters2 but in olden times a room in a private house was sometimes called a paradise#bi1 and hence1 ,i suppose1 the name came to be used for the porch-room of the church4 ,it was also called the priest's chamber#cj2 and such1 ,i think1 was the room in which we now are4 ,you see it is provided with a nice little fire-place#ca1 and it is a comfortable little place to live in4 ,sometimes it was called the treasury#cb1 or record-room1 because the parish records and church books were kept in it2 or the library#cc1 from its being appropriated for the reception of a church or parochial library4 ,there are many of these chambers furnished with valuable libraries which have been bequeathed from time to time for this purpose4 ,it is also evident1 from the remains of an altar and furniture connected with it1 that not infrequently it was built for a chapel#cd4 ,occasionally it has been used as the parish school#ce2 and ,i have heard that in some of the eastern counties poor people have occasionally1 in cases of extreme distress1 claimed sanctuary or refuge1 both in the porch and parvise1 and lived there undisturbed for some weeks together4 ,but latterly1 in many places1 the parish clerk or sexton has been located in the parvise1 that he may watch the churchyard and protect the church#cf2 and ,i am inclined to think this is a much more sensible thing to do1 than to give up the room to the owls and bats1 as is very often the case now1 but even that is better than to use it as it has sometimes been used--as a common prison#cg4 ,i am glad to hear you say that1 sir1 for it makes the way for me to ask my favour4 ,john ,daniels wants to give up the place of sexton2 and as ,i am getting too old now to walk far1 and to take care of the sheep as ,i used to do1 ,i'm going to make so bold as to ask you to let me be sexton in his stead1 and to live in this little room1 if you please1 sir4 ,i could then keep the key of the church1 and it would be always at hand when wanted3 ,i should be near to ring the bell for morning and evening prayer2 ,i could watch the churchyard1 and see that no one breaks the cross on ,lizzie's grave--,i shall be able to see it from this window4 ,and then1 sir1 if you will have this little window opened again into the church#ch1 why ,i can keep guard over the church too2 and that's rather necessary just now1 for several churches about us have been robbed lately4 ,besides all this1 the room is much more warm and comfortable than mine in the village1 and ,i shall enjoy the quiet of it so much4 ,most glad1 ,matthew1 shall ,i be to see the office of sexton in such good hands4 ,you will not yourself be equal to all the work1 but you will always be able to find a younger hand when you need one4 ,and then1 with regard to your living here1 it's just the thing ,i should like1 for1 apart from other reasons1 it would enable me to have the church doors always open to those who would resort thither for prayer or meditation4 ,it is a sad thing for people to be deprived of such religious retirement4 ,i almost wish that the church porch could be made without a church door altogether1 as it used to be#ci1 and then the church would be always open4 ,but1 my friend1 have you considered how gloomy1 and lonely1 and unprotected this place will be8 ,illustration3 ,parvise1 ,westbury-on-,trim ,you mus'n't say gloomy1 if you please1 sir2 ,i trust and believe my gloomy days are past2 and lonely ,i shall not be3 you remember my poor daughter's little boy that was taken out to ,australia by his father 7ah6 his name almost does make me gloomy--but1 ,god forgive him67--he is coming home next week to live with me4 ,he is now seven years old2 ,i hear he is a quiet1 old-fashioned boy4 ,he will be a nice companion for me1 and ,i hope you will let him help in the church2 but we can speak of that again4 ,then for protection1 sir1 you must let my fond old dog be with me at nights2 the faithful fellow would die of grief were we altogether parted4 ,come1 sir1 it's an old man's wish1 ,i hope you'll grant it4 ,this last sentence was said as they were returning down the little winding staircase back to the porch4 ,it shall be as you wish2 next week the room shall be ready for you4 ,and as ,i have granted all the requests you have made1 you must grant me one in return4 ,you must let me furnish the room for you4 ,no1 ,i shall not listen to any objections2 this time ,i must have my way4 ,good night4 ,,chapter ,,vii ,,the ,,pavement ,the place whereon thou standest is holy ground4 ,exod4 iii4 #e4 ,mark you the floor8 that square and speckled stone1 ,which looks so firm and strong1 ,is ,patience2 ,and the other black and grave1 wherein each one ,is checker'd all along1 ,humility2 ,the gentle rising1 which on either hand ,leads to the quire above1 ,is ,confidence2 ,but the sweet cement1 which in one sure band ,ties the whole frame1 is ,love ,and ,charity4 ,,george ,,herbert4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,,ss4 ,philip and ,james1 ,oxford ,,the ,,pavement ,illustration3 ,brass of ,john ,bloxham and ,john ,whytton in ,merton ,college1 ,oxford ,why1 my dear ,constance1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 as one morning he found the eldest of his three children sitting gloomy and solitary at the breakfast-room window1 you look as though all the cares of the nation were pressing upon you6 ,come1 tell me a few of them2 unless1 added he1 laughingly1 my little queen thinks there is danger to the ,state in communicating matters of such weighty import4 ,oh1 don't make fun of me1 dear ,papa6 ,i have only one trouble just now1 and you will think that a very little one2 but you know you often say little troubles seem great to little people4 ,then we must have the bright little face back again at once1 if1 after all1 it is only one small care that troubles it1 said he1 kissing her affectionately4 ,but now1 my darling1 let me know all about it4 ,well1 ,papa1 ,i think it's too bad of ,mary to go up to the church again to-day to help ,ernest to take more rubbing's of those dull1 stupid old brasses4 ,i don't care any thing about them1 and ,i think it's nonsense spending so much time over them as they do4 ,i wish ,mr4 ,ambrose would not let them go into the church any more1 and then ,mary would not leave me alone like this4 ,that's not a very kind wish1 ,constance1 as they both seem so much interested in their work2 but ,i dare say this is the last day they will give to it4 ,suppose we go this afternoon to look after them3 we can then ask ,ernest to bring home all the copies he has taken1 and when ,mr4 ,ambrose comes in by-and-by1 perhaps he will tell us something about them2 and who knows but your unconsciously offending enemies may turn out to be neither dull nor stupid1 after all8 ,the proposal was gladly accepted1 and at four o'clock they were enjoying their pleasant walk up to ,st4 ,catherine's ,church4 ,as they entered the church ,mr4 ,acres heard1 to his surprise1 the clear ring of ,mary's happy laugh4 ,she was standing in the south aisle1 beside the paper on which she had been vainly attempting to copy a monumental brass4 ,seeing her father approach with a serious and somewhat reproving countenance1 she at once guessed the cause1 and anticipated the reprimand he was about to utter4 ,you must not be angry with me1 ,papa1 she said1 in a very subdued tone1 for indeed ,i could not help laughing1 though ,i know it is very wrong to laugh in church2 but1 you know1 ,i had just finished my rubbing of the brass here1 and thought ,i had done it so well1 when all of a sudden the paper slipped1 and the consequence was that my poor knight had two faces instead of one2 and he looked so queer that ,i could not help laughing at him very much4 ,no doubt1 my dear child1 said her father1 there was something in your misfortune to provoke a laugh1 but ,i think you must have forgotten for a moment the sacredness of this place1 when you gave vent to the merry shout ,i heard just now4 ,you should always remember that in ,god's house you are standing on holy ground1 and though it may be permissible for us to go there for the purpose of copying those works of art1 which in their richest beauty are rightly dedicated to ,god and ,his service1 and these curious monuments which you and ,ernest have been tracing1 yet we should ever bear with us a deep sense of the sanctity of the building as the 'place where ,his honour dwelleth1' and avoid whatever may give occasion to levity2 or should the feeling force itself upon us1 we ought1 by a strong effort1 to resist it4 ,although the words were spoken in a kind and gentle voice1 many tears had already fallen upon ,mary's spoilt tracing1 so her father said no more on the subject2 but1 taking her hand1 led her quietly away to a chapel at the north-east corner of the church1 round which was placed a beautifully carved open screen4 ,it was the burial-place of the family that formerly tenanted the ,hall1 and there were many brass figures and inscriptions laid in the floor to their memory4 ,here1 attentively watched by old ,matthew the sexton1 ,ernest was busily engaged tracing the figure of a knight in armour1 represented as standing under a handsome canopy4 ,he had already completed his copy of the canopy1 and of the inscription round the stone1 and was now engaged at the figure4 ,two sheets of paper were spread over the stone1 and he had guarded against ,mary's accident by placing on the paper several large kneeling hassocks1 which were used by the old people4 ,he was himself half reclining on a long cushion laid on the pavement1 and having before marked out with his finger on the paper the outlines of the brass underneath it1 was now rubbing away vigorously with his heel-ball#dj1 and at every stroke a little bit more of the knight came out upon the paper1 till1 like a large black drawing1 the complete figure appeared before them4 ,they had all watched ,ernest's labours with the greatest interest1 and1 this being the last1 they assisted in rolling up the papers1 that they might be taken home for more careful examination in the evening4 ,i wish ,master ,ernest could take a picture of good old ,sir ,john1 as we call him1 ,mr4 ,acres1 said ,matthew2 ,i mean him as lies in the chancel1 right in front of the altar2 but he's cut out in the flat stone1 and not in the metal1 so ,i suppose ,master ,ernest can't do it4 ,i remember the time1 sir1 when people as were sick and diseased used to come for miles round to lie upon that stone1 and they believed it made them much better#da2 and if they believed it1 ,i dare say it did1 sir4 ,and 'tisn't but a very few years back when it would have been thought very unlucky indeed if a corpse had not rested over good ,sir ,john all night before its burial4 ,we still place the coffins just in the same place at the funerals1 but of course nobody any longer believes that good ,sir ,john can do good or ill to those inside them4 ,i must bring some stronger paper than that ,i use for the brasses1 to copy the stone figure1 ,matthew1 said ,ernest2 so that must be done another day4 ,all said good-bye to the old sexton1 and as he wended his way up the narrow stone stairs to his little chamber1 ,mr4 ,acres and his family returned to ,oakfield ,hall4 ,the dining-room was soon decorated with the trophies of ,ernest's four days' labour1 and other rubbing's which he had before taken2 and when ,mr4 ,ambrose arrived he was met by several eager petitioners1 praying him to give some explanation of the strange-looking black and white figures that hung upon the walls4 ,it would take me a whole day to tell you all that might be said about them1 said he2 but ,i shall be very glad to give you a short description of each1 and ,i will follow the course which ,ernest has evidently intended me to adopt1 for ,i see he has arranged all the bishops and priests together1 and the knights1 the civilians1 and the ladies1 each class by itself4 ,but first ,i must tell you something of the general history of these brass memorials4 ,there are an immense number of them in this country--it is supposed about #djjj--;and they are chiefly to be found in ,norfolk1 ,suffolk1 ,essex1 and ,kent2 but indeed there are comparatively few old churches in ,england in which you cannot find upon the pavement some traces of these interesting memorials4 ,though1 however1 so many remain1 probably not less than #bj1jjj have been either stolen or lost4 ,you will see on the pavement at ,st4 ,catherine's1 marks of the force which has been used in tearing many from the stones in which they had been firmly fixed4 ,but who could have been so fearless and wicked as to take them away8 exclaimed ,constance1 who already had begun to feel a real interest in the subject4 ,alas6 ,constance1 that question is easily answered4 ,there was indeed a time1 long ago1 when people would not have dared to commit these acts of sacrilege4 ,you know among the ancient ,romans there was a belief that the manes or spirits of the departed protected their tombs1 and so persons were afraid to rob them2 but people since then have been deterred by no such fear1 indeed by no fear at all4 ,within the period between #aecf and #aedj somewhere about #ijj religious houses were destroyed1 and their chapels were dismantled and robbed of their tombs1 on which were a great number of brasses4 ,and this spirit of sacrilege extended beyond the monasteries1 for at this time1 and afterwards1 very many of our parish churches were also despoiled of their monumental brasses2 indeed the evil spread so much that ,queen ,elizabeth issued a special proclamation for putting a stop to it4 ,the greatest destruction of brasses1 however1 took place a hundred years after this1 when thousands were removed from the cathedrals and churches to satisfy the rapacity or the fanaticism of the ,puritan ,dissenters1 who were then in power#db4 ,in later times1 ,i am sorry to say1 large numbers have been sold by churchwardens1 for the just value of the metal1 and many have been removed during the restoration of churches and have not been restored2 of course1 those whose special duty it was to protect them have been greatly to blame for this4 ,then not a few have become loose1 and been lost through mere carelessness4 ,some of the most beautiful brasses in our church ,i discovered a few years since under a heap of rubbish in the wood-house of ,daniels1 the former sexton#dc4 ,so you see it is no wonder we find so many of those curiously-indented slabs in the pavement of our churches1 which mark the places where brasses have formerly been4 ,a few of these memorials are to be found in ,wales1 ,ireland1 and ,scotland4 ,some also exist in ,france1 ,germany1 ,russia1 ,prussia1 ,poland1 ,switzerland1 ,holland1 ,denmark1 and ,sweden4 ,in these countries1 however1 they have never been numerous4 ,but now ,i must say a few words about their origin4 ,the oldest memorials of the dead to be found in our churches are the stone coffin-lids1 with plain or floriated crosses carved upon them4 ,the stone coffins were buried just below the level of the pavement1 so their lids were even with the floor of the church4 ,afterwards1 similar crosses were graven on slabs of stone above the coffin2 then the faces of the deceased were represented2 and at length whole figures1 and many other devices1 were carved on the stone1 and around the stone was sometimes an inscription consisting of letters of brass separately inlaid4 ,then the figures and inscriptions were either altogether made of brass1 or were partly graven in stone and partly in brass2 specimens of both1 ,i see1 ,ernest has provided for us4 ,the earliest of these incised slabs are probably of the ninth century1 but the faces of the deceased were not carved on them till about #ajej4 ,the earliest brass of which we have any account is that of ,simon de ,beauchamp1 #abjh2 and the most ancient brass figure now remaining is that of ,sir ,john ,daubernoun1 #abgg4 ,the form of the brass has evidently been often suggested by the stone and marble effigies we see on altar-tombs4 ,for we find that not only the costume and position of the figures are closely copied1 but also the canopies above them1 the cushions or helmets on which their heads rest1 and the lions1 dogs1 or other animals on which the feet are placed4 ,i have something more to say on the subject generally1 before ,i come to speak particularly about ,ernest's copies2 so after the general interval of ten minutes ,i will resume the subject4 ,,chapter ,,viii ,,the ,,pavement ,they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement1 and worshipped1 and praised the ,lord1 saying1 ,for ,he is good1 for ,his mercy endureth for ever4 #b ,chron4 vii4 #c4 ,this is the abode where ,god doth dwell1 ,this is the gate of ,heaven1 ,the shrine of the ,invisible1 ,the ,priest1 the ,victim given4 ,o holy seat1 ,o holy fane1 ,where dwells the ,omnipotent6 ,whom the broad world cannot contain1 ,nor ,heaven's high firmament4 ,here1 where the unearthly ,guest descends ,to hearts of ,innocence1 ,and sacred love her wing extends ,of holiest influence2 ,let no unhallow'd thought be here1 ,within that sacred door2 ,let nought polluted dare draw near1 ,nor tread the awful floor2 ,or1 lo6 the ,avenger is at hand1 ,and at the door doth stand4 ,the ,child's ,christian ,year4 ,illustration3 ,heywood ,church ,,the ,,pavement ,illustration3 ,brass of ,henry ,sever1 at ,merton ,college1 ,oxford ,as soon as the short pause was over1 all ears were open to learn something more on a subject which had been hitherto entirely without interest to most of the ,vicar's little audience4 ,we find sometimes upon the pavement of our churches1 said ,mr4 ,ambrose1 memorials just like those ,i have spoken to you about1 except that they are made of iron or lead instead of brass1 but they are comparatively very rare1 and1 except in the metal of which they are composed1 differ nothing from the brasses4 ,sepulchral brasses must have been a great ornament to our churches before they were despoiled of their beauty by the hand of ,time1 and the still less sparing hand of man4 ,the vivid colours of the enamel with which they were inlaid1 and the silvery brightness of the yet untarnished lead which was employed to represent the ermine and other parts of official costume1 must have added greatly to the splendour of these monuments4 ,at first they were no doubt very costly1 for there appear to have been but few places where they were made in this country1 and1 in addition to the cost of the brasses themselves1 the expense of their carriage in those times must have been considerable4 ,a great many of these monuments1 however1 are of foreign manufacture1 and were chiefly imported from ,flanders4 ,it is easy to distinguish between the ,english and the ,flemish brasses1 for whereas the former are composed of separate pieces of metal laid in different parts of the stone1 and giving the distinct outline of the figure1 canopy1 inscription1 c41 the latter are composed of several plates of brass placed closely together and engraved all over with figures1 canopies1 and other designs4 ,the later ,english brasses are1 however1 very similar to the ,flemish4 ,you see that little copy of a brass about three feet long by one foot deep which ,ernest has somehow obtained from the church at ,walton-on-,thames8 ,now that is a square piece of metal just like those they made in ,flanders1 but it was evidently engraved in ,england4 ,it is dated #aehg1 and is in memory of ,john ,selwyn1 keeper of ,queen ,elizabeth's park at ,oatlands1 near ,walton4 ,it represents1 as you see1 a stag hunt1 and is said to refer to this incident3--',the old keeper1 in the heat of the chase1 suddenly leaped from his horse upon the back of the stag 7both running at that time with their utmost speed71 and not only kept his seat gracefully1 in spite of every effort of the affrighted beast1 but1 drawing his sword1 with it guided him to wards the ,queen1 and coming near her presence1 plunged it in his throat1 so that the animal fell dead at her feet#dd4' ,but1 my friend1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 it seems to me that the record of such an event1 even if it ever happened--which ,i must take the liberty to doubt--is quite as objectionable as any of those epitaphs in our churchyard which you once so strongly and justly condemned4 ,i quite agree with you4 ,but this was made at a time when sepulchral monuments were frequently of a very debased character4 ,at this period the brasses underwent a great change4 ,they began to rise from their humble position on the pavement1 and the figures were occasionally made without their devotional posture1 which up to this date had been almost universal4 ,they were then placed on the church walls1 on tablets1 or on the top and at the back of altar-tombs1 and this led the way for the erection of a large number of monuments in stone of similar design1 but more cumbrous and inconvenient4 ,inferior workmen also were evidently employed at this time to engrave the brasses1 and they became more and more debased1 till they reached the lowest point of all1 a hundred years ago1 and soon after their manufacture altogether ceased4 ,it was near the time when this brass was put up to the old park-keeper1 that that ugly monument in memory of ,sir ,john ,york1 with its four heathen obelisks1 and its four disconsolate ,cupids1 was put up in our chancel1 covering so much of the floor as to deprive at least twenty persons of their right to a place in ,god's ,house4 ,about this time1 too1 that uncomfortable looking effigy of ,lady ,lancaster was put upon its massive altar-tomb4 ,to judge from the position of her ,ladyship1 and hundreds of other similar monuments1 represented as reclining and resting the face upon the hand1 we might imagine that a large proportion of the population in those days died of the toothache4 ,however1 the attitude of prayer was that most commonly adopted1 as well in stone as brass effigies1 till long after this period4 ,if any thing more than the figure1 canopy1 inscription1 and shield is represented on a brass1 it is commonly a sacred symbol1 a trade mark1 or some badge of rank or profession4 ,to this there are but a few exceptions1 besides the brass of ,john ,selwyn4 ,at ,lynn1 in ,norfolk1 on one brass is a hunting scene1 on another a harvest-home1 such as it was in the year #acdi1 and on another a peacock feast1 the date of which is #acfd4 ,founders of churches frequently hold in their hands the model of a church4 ,the emblem of undying love we find in the heart1 either alone or held by both hands of the effigy4 ,a long epitaph was often avoided by the simple representation of a chalice1 a sword1 an ink-horn1 a wool-sack1 a barrel1 shears1 or some such trade or professional emblem4 ,some--comparatively few--of the inscriptions on brasses are1 however1 profusely long1 and sometimes1 but very rarely1 ridiculous4 ,in very early times the epitaphs were always written in ,latin or ,norman ,french2 and if that practice had continued1 it would not much matter to persons generally even if they were absurd1 as few could read them3 but about the year #adjj they began to be written in ,english1 and then of course these foolish inscriptions must have been distracting to the thoughts of those who attended the church4 ,but it very often happened that persons had their brasses put down some time before their decease1 as is evident from the circumstance that in many cases the dates have never been filled in4 ,this custom would much tend to prevent foolish and flattering inscriptions4 ,i have noticed that there is in nearly all brasses a solemn or serious expression in the countenance suitable to their presence in ,god's ,house4 ,they were frequently portraits of the persons commemorated#de4 ,this was no doubt the case in later brasses1 and ,i think in the earlier also4 ,latterly the faces were sometimes coloured1 no doubt to represent the originals more exactly4 ,it seldom happens that the age of the person is otherwise than pretty faithfully portrayed4 ,i must next tell you something of the dresses of the clergy1 the soldiers1 and the civilians1 as we see them engraved upon the pavements of our churches4 ,,chapter ,,ix ,,the ,,pavement ,it was a cave1 and a stone lay upon it4 ,john xi4 #ch4 ,on the floor beneath ,sepulchral stones appear'd1 with emblems graven ,and footworn epitaphs1 and some with small ,and shining effigies of brass inlaid4 ,wordsworth's ,excursion4 ,the warrior from his armed tent1 ,the seaman from the tide-- ,far as the ,sabbath chimes are sent1 ,in ,christian nations wide1-- ,thousands and tens of thousands bring ,their sorrows to ,his shrine1 ,and taste the never-failing spring ,of ,jesus' love ,divine4 ,if at the earthly chime1 the tread ,of million million feet ,approach whene'er the ,gospel's read ,in ,god's own temple-seat2 ,how blest the sight1 from death's dark sleep ,to see ,god's saints arise1 ,and countless hosts of angels keep ,the ,sabbath of the skies6 ,lyra ,sacra4 ,illustration3 ,chancel of ,whippingham ,church ,,the ,,pavement ,illustration3 ,brass of ,sir ,roger de ,trumpington ,that costumes are pretty accurately represented on brasses1 continued ,mr4 ,ambrose1 we are sure1 from the fact that many different artists have made the dresses of each particular period so much alike2 and this circumstance adds much interest and importance to these monuments4 ,i will now describe some of these dresses1 and you must try to find out1 as ,i go on1 the several parts of the dress ,i am describing on ,ernest's rubbing's which hang upon the wall4 ,but ,i shall only be able to say a little about each4 ,first there come the persons holding sacred office in the ,church4 ,the priests are usually1 you see1 dressed in the robes worn at ,holy ,communion1 and they commonly hold the chalice and wafer in their hands4 ,the robe which is most conspicuous is the chasuble4 ,it is usually richly embroidered in gold and silk4 ,this robe is one of the ornaments of the minister referred to in the rubric at the commencement of the ,prayer ,book4 ,at the top of it you see the amice4 ,this too is worked in various colours and patterns4 ,the academic hood1 some suppose1 now represents this part of the priest's dress4 ,you must remember we are looking at the dresses worn five hundred years ago1 and which had been in use long before that time1 and we cannot be surprised if some of them1 as now worn1 are a little changed in shape and appearance4 ,the narrow band which hangs from the shoulders nearly to the feet1 embroidered at the ends1 is called the stole4 ,this1 you know1 is still worn by us just as it was then4 ,it is one of the most ancient vestments of the ,church1 and is intended to represent the yoke of ,christ4 ,the small embroidered strip hanging on the left arm is the maniple4 ,it is used for cleaning the sacred vessels4 ,beneath the chasuble is the albe1 a white robe which--changed somewhat in form--we still wear4 ,it is derived from the linen ephod of the ,jews4 ,sometimes on brasses1 as on that beautiful one to the memory of ,henry ,sever#df1 the cope is represented4 ,this is a very rich and costly robe1 and is still always worn at the coronations of our ,kings and ,queens2 it is also ordered to be worn on other occasions4 ,then the bishops wore1 you see1 other robes besides those ,i have mentioned3--the mitre1 like the albe1 handed down from the time of the ,jews to our own period2 the tunic1 a close-fitting linen vestment2 the dalmatic1 so called because it was once the regal dress of ,dalmatia2 the gloves1 often jewelled4 ,they hold the crozier1 or cross staff1 or else the crooked1 or pastoral staff1 in their hand4 ,as bishops and priests were then1 as now1 very often buried in their ecclesiastical vestments1 the brass probably in such cases represented1 as near as could be1 the robed body of the person beneath4 ,the earliest brasses of ecclesiastics are at ,oulton1 ,suffolk1 and ,merton ,college1 ,oxford4 ,the date of both is about #acaj4 ,we must next come to the monumental brasses of knights and warriors2 and that curious brass to ,sir ,peter ,legh1 which is taken from ,winwick ,church1 will do well for a connecting link between the clergy and the warriors4 ,he is1 you see1 in armour1 but over the upper part of it is a chasuble1 on the front of which is his shield of arms4 ,and this tells his history4 ,he was formerly a soldier1 but at the decease of his wife he relinquished his former occupation1 and became a priest of the ,church4 ,you see before you soldiers in all kinds of armour1 and you can easily trace the gradual change from the chain mail to the plated armour1 till you find the former almost entirely abandoned1 and the latter adopted1 in the early part of the fifteenth century4 ,now ,i should soon tire you if ,i were to describe all the curious sorts of armour these soldiers wear1 so ,i must just take one of them1 and that will go far to wards explaining others4 ,there hangs ,sir ,roger de ,trumpington#dg1 of ,trumpington1 ,cambridgeshire2 his date is #abhi4 ,you see he is cross-legged1 and so you would put him down for a ,knight ,templar1 and a warrior in the ,holy ,land4 ,and so he was2 but nevertheless you must remember all cross-legged figures are not necessarily ,knights ,templar4 ,he rests his head upon a bascinet 7,a71 or helmet4 ,his head and neck are protected by chain mail 7,b71 to which is attached his hauberk 7,d71 or shirt of mail4 ,on his shoulders are placed ailettes 7,c71 or little wings1 and these are ornamented with the same arms as those borne on his shield4 ,they were worn both for defence and ornament1 as soldiers' epaulettes are now4 ,the defence for the knees 7,g7 was made of leather1 and sometimes much ornamented4 ,at a later time it was made of plated metal4 ,the legs and feet are covered with chain mail1 called the chausse 7,f71 and he wears goads1 or 'pryck spurs1' on his heels 7,h74 ,over the hauberk he has a surcoat 7,e7 probably of wool or linen4 ,here you see it is quite plain2 but it is frequently decorated with heraldic devices2 and such devices on the surcoat or armour are often the only clue left to the name and history of the wearer4 ,on the brasses of civilians we find nothing like the present ungraceful and unsightly mode of dress2 indeed we can scarcely imagine any thing more ridiculous than the representation of the modern fashionable dress on a monumental brass4 ,but on these memorials1 you see1 the robes are1 with rare exceptions1 flowing and graceful4 ,in the sixteenth century there was but slight difference between the male and female attire of persons in private life4 ,of course the dresses of professional men have always been characteristic4 ,civilians were1 with hardly an exception1 always represented on brasses bare-headed4 ,happily for the good people in those times they did not know the hideous and inconvenient hat which continues to torture those who live in towns1 but from which we in the country have presumed to free ourselves4 ,the dresses actually worn by the deceased are probably sometimes represented on the brasses of ladies4 ,you have before you every variety of costume1 from the simple robe of the time of ,edward ,,ii4 and ,,iii41 down to the extravagant dresses of ,elizabeth's reign4 ,on the early brasses the wimple under the chin marked the rank of the wearer4 ,till about the year #aeej ladies are not infrequently represented with heraldic devices covering their kirtles and mantles2 but ,i should think such ornamentation was never really worn by them4 ,the different fashions of wearing the hair here represented are most fantastic4 ,st4 ,paul tells us that 'if a woman have long hair1 it is a glory to her2' but these ,english matrons too often forgot that simplicity which gives to this beauty of nature its chief charm4 ,see1 here is the butterfly head-dress1 of the fifteenth century1 extending two feet at the back of the head2 and there is the horn head-dress1 spreading a foot on either side of the head4 ,the fashions among women then appear to have been as grotesque as they have been in our own day4 ,children on these tombs are represented either behind or beneath their parents2 sometimes they wear the tabard1 a short coat1 with heraldic figures upon it--as on this brass to ,john ,ansty2 you see there are twelve sons below the father1 and four daughters below the mother--sometimes they wear a dress which marks their occupation2 and in a few instances the name of each child is placed below it4 ,skeletons and emaciated figures1 sometimes in shrouds1 were represented on brasses after the fifteenth century4 ,crosses1 with or without figures of the deceased1 are very frequently to be met with1 and their form is often exceedingly elegant#dh4 ,you will not fail to notice the canopies of many of these brasses2 the beauty of some of these designs it would be impossible to surpass4 ,but ,i fear you must be tired of my long lecture1 so ,i must hasten to bring it to a close4 ,these memorials ,i like better than any others for churches2 for1 first1 they are by far the most durable of all2 then they are the most convenient1 for they take up little space1 and are a great ornament to the pavement of the church2 moreover they teach their own moral1 they occupy a lowly place in ,god's ,house1 and are all on one common level4 ,i am1 therefore1 very glad to see them introduced again into many of our cathedrals and parish churches4 ,and1 my dear ,constance1 ,i must end with a word to you4 ,i fancy by this time you have learnt that monumental brasses are not dull and stupid4 ,to the student of antiquity1 history1 genealogy1 heraldry1 and architecture1 these pavement monuments are1 ,i assure you1 of the greatest interest and value4 ,they help to fix dates to ancient documents1 to illustrate various periods of ecclesiastical architecture1 and throw much light on the manners and customs of other times4 ,they are1 too1 a constant protest against that excess in 'wearing of gold and putting on of apparel1' against which ,st4 ,paul wrote1 and which is one of the great sins of our day2 for though we find elaborate and costly robes represented on the brasses of the great and the wealthy1 you always see the figures of the humbler classes clothed in neat and simple attire4 ,if people would only follow the good advice of old ,polonius to his son1 ',costly thy habit as thy purse can buy1 ,but not express'd in fancy#di1' there would be less sin1 and less want1 and less misery in the world4 ,,chapter ,x ,,the ,,pavement ,behold1 ,i will lay thy stones with fair colours4 ,isa4 liv4 #aa4 ,how all things glow with life and thought1 ,where'er our faithful fathers trod6 ,the very ground with speech is fraught1 ,the air is eloquent of ,god4 ,in vain would doubt or mockery hide ,the buried echoes of the past2 ,a voice of strength--a voice of pride-- ,here dwells amid the stones and blast6 ,still points the tower1 and pleads the bell1 ,the solemn arches breathe in stone1 ,window and wall have lips to tell ,the mighty faith of days unknown2-- ,yea6 flood1 and breeze1 and battle shock ,shall beat upon this ,church in vain1 ,she stands a daughter of the rock-- ,the changeless ,god's eternal fane6 ,r4 ,s4 ,,hawker4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 ,kidmore ,end ,,the ,,pavement ,illustration3 ,encaustic ,tile1 ,brooke ,church ,mr4 ,acres and his family attended ,morning ,prayer at ,st4 ,catherine's the day following the ,vicar's lecture2 and after service they examined with greater interest than ever they had done before the floor of the church--indeed ,mr4 ,acres confessed that till that morning he had never had the curiosity to walk up either of the aisles of the church with the view of finding any object of interest on the pavement4 ,in the course of their search they now discovered a large flat stone1 hitherto unknown even to the ,vicar2 the stone1 when cleansed from the dust which had accumulated upon it 7for it was placed in a remote corner of the church71 was very white2 it was engraved with the figure of a priest1 and the incised lines were filled with a black resinous substance1 so that it almost looked like a large engraving on paper1 or still more like one of the copies of brasses which ,ernest had exhibited the night before#ej4 ,but what most attracted their attention was the curious old pavement tiles1 of various patterns1 which they found in different parts of the floor of the church4 ,their admiration of these ancient works of art was soon so deeply engaged1 and their desire to know more about them so excited1 that ,ernest was speedily despatched to the vestry to request the ,vicar to come and satisfy their inquiries4 ,i rejoice to see you1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 said the ,squire1 as ,mr4 ,ambrose approached2 pray come and save me from any further confessions of ignorance3 the children have been persecuting me with a hundred questions about these ancient tiles1 and ,i really am not able to answer one of them4 ,we must again be dependent upon your kindness for some information on the subject4 ,then1 if you please1 we will walk and talk1 as ,i must go this morning to see old ,wood1 at the ,warren ,lodge2 the poor man is very ill4 ,oh1 we shall enjoy that1 exclaimed ,constance1 and do1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 give us a nice lecture like you did last night4 ,well1 my dear1 if it is to be a real lecture1 we will suppose this gravel path to be my platform1 and your father and yourselves to be my highly respectable and most intelligent audience2 and so1 making my bow to the company1 ,i will begin4--,there is considerable uncertainty as to the origin of these tiles4 ,most people suppose that the old ,roman tessellated pavement suggested the idea of representing figures on tiles4 ,but we may imagine them to be merely the result of successive improvements4 ,first1 there was the rude tile or brick2 then1 in very early times1 the makers impressed their own particular marks upon them2 and from this simple practice we can easily imagine the gradual introduction of the elaborate patterns you were looking at in the church4 ,if you please1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said ,constance1 will you tell us what was the ,roman tessellated pavement8 ,it was composed of a number of square pieces of hard-burnt clay1 like dice1 of different colours2 these were arranged to form a pattern1 and then firmly fixed in very strong cement4 ,they were exceedingly durable1 and often of most elegant design4 ,when found in the ruins of ,roman villas1 which they frequently are1 they generally appear almost as fresh as when they were put down4 ,tessellated or mosaic pavements are to be found in a few old churches2 the most beautiful now existing in ,england1 are in ,westminster ,abbey1 and in ,canterbury ,cathedral1 near the tomb of ,thomas a ,becket4 ,but don't you think it probable1 inquired ,mr4 ,acres1 if these tiles date pretty nearly back to the time when the mosaic pavement was used1 that the pavement suggested the tiles8 there seems to be some similarity of pattern1 and ,i noticed that in one part of the church there are plain tiles of different colours arranged so as to form a pattern#ea1 which seems1 on a larger scale1 a close imitation of the mosaic pavement4 ,it may be so2 and this view seems confirmed by the circumstance that in some foreign churches the tiles are mixed in the same pavement with mosaic work4 ,it certainly seems a natural transition from the one to the other4 ,illustration3 ,encaustic ,tile1 ,brooke ,church ,encaustic tiles exist in abundance and great beauty in ,normandy2 and though1 as ,i have said1 we cannot fix a precise date to their introduction1 it seems not improbable that we are indebted to that country for the first idea of using them in the pavement of our churches1 since in some instances they appear to be coeval with the erection of the ,norman churches in which they are found4 ,some have upon them the semi-circular headed arch1 which is characteristic of ,norman times2 and as no doubt the later tiles frequently indicate by their patterns the period of ecclesiastical architecture to which they may be referred1 most likely these may be equally relied upon as marking the ,norman period4 ,in ,ireland1 tiles of this date are more common than in this country4 ,their general use1 however1 has prevailed among us from about ,a4,d4 #abej to ,a4,d4 #aeej1 and the finest and most interesting specimens we have remaining are at ,gloucester and ,malvern4 ,there are several different kinds of ornamental pavement of which specimens remain4 ,in the ruins of ,fountains ,abbey are specimens having the pattern pierced through the entire tile1 and afterwards filled in with clay of another colour4 ,at ,canterbury there are circles of stone pavement with patterns cut in relief1 the spaces being filled in with dark cement4 ,in the early stages of the art the pattern of the tiles was sometimes left in relief1 the tile being of one colour only1 but the uneven surface was found to be very inconvenient for walking upon4 ,encaustic tiles--so called because the patterns are burnt into them--are by far the most common sort of tile pavement in our ,english churches1 especially in the southern and western counties4 ,i suppose1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said ,constance1 that the tiles in our church are of that sort8 ,yes1 all of them1 both the new and old1 except the few of a different kind which ,mr4 ,acres spoke of just now4 ,and will you be so kind as to tell us how they contrived to make those pretty patterns on them8 ,oh1 yes2 it was a very simple process3 very much in the same way as ,bridget makes those pretty pats of butter we admire so much2 quite the same1 if ,bridget would only fill in the spaces between the patterns with butter of another colour4 ,they first made the tile of clay1 and then impressed it with a wooden stamp2 then it was dried or burnt1 then some thin clay or cement of another colour 7usually white7 was poured into the pattern1 then it was glazed over and burnt1 the glazing material making the white a rich yellow1 and deepening the colour of the tile4 ,the pattern is sometimes perfect in a single tile1 sometimes four1 eight1 or a large number are required to perfect the design4 ,several ancient kilns for their manufacture have been discovered#eb4 ,some of these manufactories1 it is evident1 were very popular2 for we find that the same kiln sometimes supplied a great number of churches4 ,most of our old churches have at some time been paved with these encaustic tiles2 but in all cases they have in great measure been destroyed or removed when other beauties of ,god's house have been defaced1 but often too where the hand of man has spared1 the hand of ,time has obliterated4 ,we find every variety of pattern upon these tiles4 ,at ,malvern and elsewhere are many letters on single tiles3 sometimes they are alphabetically arranged1 sometimes they read backwards1 and sometimes to a centre4 ,frequently the tiles have upon them texts of ,scripture or other inscriptions1 such as ',the time is short1' ',wait for the knell4' ,at ,malvern is a very remarkable tile2 it contains the following curious direction to executors1 and was probably intended to be placed over a tomb3-- ',thenke 4 mon 4 i 4 liffe maij 4 not 4 cu 4 endure4 at 4 ow 4 dost 4 i 4 self ,of 4 at 4 ow 4 art 4 sure4 but 4 at 4 ow 4 kepist un 4 to 4 i 4 sectur 4 care4 and 4 eu 4 hit 4 auaile 4 e hit 4 is 4 but 4 aventure#ec4' ,sacred emblems are very common on encaustic tiles1 and especially symbols of the ,passion2 within a single shield is sometimes to be found the cross1 crown of thorns1 the nails1 hammer1 scourge1 spear1 ladder1 dice1 vessel for vinegar1 sponge on a rod of hyssop1 and rarely1 a sort of bill1 perhaps representing an instrument used in removing the ,body from the cross4 ,the cross alone1 floriated1 is frequently composed of many tiles2 but it enters too into the great majority of those geometrical and floriated patterns which form so large a portion of the encaustic pavements of most churches4 ,armorial bearings and mottoes of benefactors1 founders1 and others are frequently met with4 ,at ,great ,bedwyn1 and in the ruins of ,chertsey ,abbey1 have been found knights in armour and other most interesting figures1 throwing considerable light on the history of the armour and costumes of the period4 ,at ,westminster are figures of a king1 queen1 and abbot1 which are supposed to represent ,king ,henry ,,iii41 his ,queen1 and the ,abbot of ,westminster4 ,then ,i have often seen the cock1 the emblem of vigilance2 the fox1 the emblem of subtlety2 the pelican1 of piety4 ,why1 quietly inquired ,ernest1 is the pelican an emblem of piety8 ,there is an old legend which tells us that the young of a pelican were once saved from death by starvation by the parent bird tearing open her breast and feeding them with her own blood4 ,this has from very early times been considered a very beautiful emblem of that ,sacrifice which has been offered by ,jesus ,christ to save us from eternal death4 ,other emblems are--the circle1 of eternity2 the fleur de lis1 of the ,blessed ,virgin2 the triangle1 of the ,trinity2 the fish1 of the ,second ,person of the ,trinity4 ,now do tell me what that means1 please1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said ,constance2 ,i cannot see why the fish should be so sacred an emblem4 ,as you don't understand ,greek1 my dear1 it is not a matter of surprise that you have not understood this oft-recurring emblem4 ,you must know that the ,greek word for fish is ,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,iota ,,with ,,dasia,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,chi,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,theta,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,upsilon ,,with ,,dasia,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,final ,,sigma ichthys1 and the letters in this word form the first letters of each word of a ,greek sentence1 of which this is the ,english translation3--',jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 the ,saviour2' hence the employment of this sacred symbol4 ,other devices are stags1 hounds1 antelopes1 and other animals2 swans1 and other birds2 emblems of trades1 c4 ,some appear ludicrous to us1 though no doubt many of them were originally intended to teach some useful lesson4 ,at ,little ,marlow is a fool's head1 or cock's comb2 at ,godmersham1 on several tiles is a bending old man1 with a staff in his hand1 and on his head a fool's cap1 representing age and folly4 ,it would seem1 however1 that some of these grotesque figures were manufactured for no very useful purpose1 as is evidenced by the penance once inflicted on a monk of ,normandy for making tiles of this description#ed4 ,encaustic tiles have sometimes been used for memorials of the departed#ee4 ,in the ruins of ,evesham ,abbey1 under a stone coffin1 was found a pavement of tiles1 on which were initials and a cross4 ,above a stone coffin1 in the ruins of ,kirkstall ,abbey1 was found1 in #agac1 a pavement of similar tiles2 in ,gloucester ,cathedral is a tile to the memory of ,john ,hertford2 and at ,monmouth one to ,thomas ,coke and ,alice his wife4 ,these works of art are not only to be admired as the most suitable decorations for the floors of ,god's house2 they are also interesting as specimens of art at various periods2 frequently they throw light on the history of churches and religious foundations1 and occasionally also of private families4 ,i rejoice to see them again claiming the attention of modern artists and manufacturers1 and finding a place once more in the churches1 which on all sides are happily being restored to their former beauty and appropriateness4--,but here we are at ,wood's cottage4 ,,chapter ,,xi ,,the ,,walls ,peace be within thy walls4 ,ps4 cxxii4 #g4 ,now view the walls3 the church is compass'd round1 ,as much for safety1 as for ornament3 ',tis an enclosure1 and no common ground2 ',tis ,god's freehold1 and but our tenement4 ,tenants at will1 and yet in tail1 we be3 ,our children have the same right to't as we4 ,remember there must be no gaps left ope1 ,where ,god hath fenced1 for fear of false illusions4 ,god will have all or none3 allows no scope ,for sin's encroachments1 or men's own intrusions4 ,close binding locks ,his ,laws together fast3 ,he that plucks out the first1 pulls down the last4 ,,george ,,herbert4 ,illustration3 ,st4 ,andrew's ,church1 ,halstead ,,the ,,walls ,the ,warren ,lodge was one of those pretty little cottages which are often to be found nestling in bright1 peaceful corners1 about the parks and estates of such wealthy squires as ,mr4 ,acres2 men whose kindliness of heart and whose refinement of taste induce them to combine the picturesque with the comfortable1 in the houses they provide for their tenants and retainers4 ,it was built very near to the ,warren ,gate of the park1 and old ,wood had been placed here because1 being a spot little frequented1 it was a quiet resting-place for him in his old age4 ,opposite the cottage was a lovely glen1 where yew-trees and laurels1 mingling with oaks and beeches1 hung in many beautiful and fantastic forms over a greensward which all the year round never lost its verdure or its softness4 ,seldom did old ,master ,wood and his wife wander farther from their cottage than the end of this quiet glen2 but that was their daily walk1 and ,mr4 ,acres had put up two rustic seats for them to rest upon1 so that the old couple might accomplish their daily journey without any great fatigue4 ,but the old man was now too weak for this4 ,i think you and the children had better go in1 and leave me outside1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 as possibly poor ,wood may feel more at his ease if ,i am not present4 ,so ,mr4 ,ambrose and the three children entered the cottage4 ,it was1 as always1 the picture of neatness and cleanliness2 there were a few well-tended geraniums in the windows1 and some nice pictures on the walls--not the gaudy1 vulgar prints which are so commonly found in the cottages of the poor1 but really good and well-coloured engravings of sacred subjects--a supply of which ,mr4 ,ambrose always kept on sale at a very low price#ef4 ,there was enough of neat furniture in the rooms2 and on a nice bed1 with snow-white drapery1 lay the poor old man4 ,after a short conversation ,mr4 ,ambrose read the twelfth chapter of ,st4 ,paul's ,epistle to the ,romans1 and then1 when he had given a short explanation of the chapter1 all knelt down whilst he said some collects from the ,office of the ,visitation of the ,sick1 and a prayer applicable to the special circumstances of these humble cottagers4 ,illustration3 ,ancient ,wall ,painting in ,kimpton ,church ,the prayers ended1 the old man rose up in his bed1 and said1 ,ah1 sir1 ,i have often thought of that chapter you read just now1 when ,i was able to go to our dear old church4 ,just opposite my seat1 you know1 was the picture on the wall of the man giving a poor thirsting creature a cup of water1 and of another giving a loaf of bread to somebody that looked very hungry4 ,when ,mr4 ,greekhurst was at our church1 years ago1 you know1 sir1 he used to preach very learned sermons1 and we poor people couldn't understand much about them1 but there was my text and sermon too1 straight before me1 and ,i always remembered the picture if ,i didn't remember the sermon4 ,i really think that looking on the old picture made me somehow more kindly disposed to some of my neighbours4 ,i suppose it has been there a great many years1 sir8 ,illustration3 ,ancient ,wall ,painting in ,kimpton ,church ,yes1 my friend2 ,i should think about five hundred years4 ,so long as that6 ,well then1 ,i hope it has taught a good lesson to many before me4 ,no doubt it has2 and though it is now almost worn away from the wall1 you will be glad to know that we have the same subject in the new painted window close by1 so the old sermon will not be lost4 ',tis strange1 sir1 how well one remembers pictures of this sort1 and how they make one think about things which1 but for them1 we certainly might not care to inquire much about4 ,now when ,i was a young man ,i never thought a great deal of that beautiful chapter where ,st4 ,paul says so much about charity4 ,i had often heard the chapter read1 and sometimes read it myself1 but still it never came to my mind how necessary a thing charity was for us to have1 till one day ,i went to ,sunday-morning service at an old church near our home4 ,i got to the church some time before service1 so ,i walked about the churchyard1 and looked round the church1 and there were pictures all round the outside of the walls of the church#eg1 explaining that chapter4 ,there was one man bringing all his riches1 and every thing he had1 to give to the poor1 and there was another poor man being burnt to death1 and so on2 and then at the last it said that1 without love to ,god and man1 all this was good for nothing4 ,now1 sir1 ,i don't recollect a single word of hundreds of sermons ,i have heard1 but ,i shall never forget those pictures4 ,very likely1 for most of us remember better what we see than what we hear1 and it is a great mistake not to teach people through the eye as well as the ear4 ,but we must say good-bye1 as ,mr4 ,acres is waiting for us in the park4 ,god bless you1 and1 if it is ,his will1 ,i hope you may yet be strong enough to enjoy many of your old walks4 ,on their return home they followed a path which led them again through the churchyard of ,st4 ,catherine's1 and were soon joined by the ,squire1 whose patience had been somewhat exhausted by the long stay of the little party at old ,wood's cottage4 ,,chapter ,,xii ,,the ,,walls ,thou shalt call thy walls salvation1 and thy gates praise4 ,isa4 lx4 #ah4 ,behold in heaven yon glorious bow1 ,which spans the gleaming world below6 ,the hues distinct in order glow1 ,yet each in each doth melt unseen1 ,that none can mark the bound between3 ,lo1 such is ,faith's mysterious scroll1 ,a multiform harmonious whole1 ,together gather'd for our aid1 ,and in the darken'd heights display'd3 ,the ,church shall ne'er that emblem want ,of her eternal covenant4 ,the ,cathedral4 ,illustration3 ,st4 ,michael's ,church1 ,gloucester ,,the ,,walls ,mr4 ,dole1 the proprietor of the village emporium1 where all sorts of inferior wares were to be had at the highest obtainable prices1 was one of those persons who seem sent into the world for the special purpose of preventing others from being too happy in it4 ,there are persons1 no doubt1 who go through life always frowning upon their fellow-creatures1 ever throwing a dark shadow along the path before them2 people who persistently turn their backs upon the sunny side of human life2 who seem to think it wicked to take a bright and cheerful view of any thing or any body on all ,god's earth2 whose whole countenances would be utterly revolutionized by the faintest approach to an honest1 friendly smile4 ,such persons1 we must believe1 are often very sincere1 and are endeavouring to do good in their own way2 nor must we say that they always fail in their endeavour2 nevertheless they are not the sort of persons we care to have as our frequent companions4 ,it is true1 there is enough about the lives of most of us to make us often sorrowful2 but no less true is it1 that the man who1 leading a ,christian life and doing ,god's work in the world1 preserves a conscience void of offence to wards ,god and to wards men will take care that his outward demeanour does not make his religion unlovely and repulsive in the sight of others4 ,mr4 ,dole being of the class we have described1 it was no wonder that the village lads had honoured his name with an affix1 and that he was generally known among them as old ,doleful2 nor shall we be surprised that his appearance in the churchyard just as ,mr4 ,acres and the ,vicar entered it was not welcomed by them with any excessive pleasure4 ,good evening1 ,mr4 ,dole1 said both gentlemen1 as they approached him4 ,but there was no responsive ,good evening from ,mr4 ,dole4 ,now it is always a bad sign when a man will not return such a simple salutation as that3 ,i never knew but one who made me no answer when ,i wished him ,good evening2 ,i was at once impressed with the idea that there was little good in him1 and my impression was correct1 for in a few moments after the fellow had put a light to the thatched house of a poor neighbour who had offended him1 and very soon the poor man's house and goods were crackling in a mass of flame4 ,but1 it must be confessed1 ,mr4 ,dole withheld his salutation from no such motive as influenced this man4 ,there was something far too pleasant and cheerful about a kindly ,good evening to harmonize in any way with the tone of ,mr4 ,dole's voice or manner2 but beyond this1 he never said ,good morning or ,good evening to any one on principle4 ,the fact is1 ,mr4 ,dole belonged to a portion of the sect of ,anabaptists called ,calvinist ,baptists1 and the extreme ,calvinistic feature of his ,creed had become with him quite a monomania4 ,the idea of predestination haunted him every where and in every thing2 it ran through his whole life of thought1 word1 and action2 with it he justified all his own shortcomings1 and it made him insensible to the right motives and doings of others4 ,he had become so accustomed to look on the dark side of men and things1 that he had gained for himself a settled character of gloominess and suspicion1 and had quite lost sight of the ,apostolic precept--,be courteous4 ,thus he did not believe that these two gentlemen meant what they said1 and really wished him to have a ,good evening2 and1 as regarded himself1 he would have considered the words as a flying in the face of ,providence1 a direful offence against the phantom idol of inevitable ,predestination which he had set up in his own heart4 ,to him it seemed only a mockery to use those words of common courtesy1 when--as he said to himself--it was already ordained whether these persons should have a good or a bad evening1 and no words of his could affect or alter their destiny4 ,and so he simply said1 ,how do you do1 gentlemen8 ,but it was spoken in a deep1 sepulchral voice1 as though he reserved to himself a mental protest against even this small conformity to the world's civility4 ,people are talking about the painting you have been doing in the church1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 and ,i have just come up to look at it2 not that ,i like that sort of thing1 and ,i don't think the parish money should be spent in that way4 ,you need not be at all anxious on that score1 ,mr4 ,dole1 as my friend here has defrayed the whole cost of the work2 but let us go into the church together4 ,now the line of thought which this man had so long adopted1 and the one idea he had cherished1 had so dulled his heart and mind to all sense of the beautiful that he could never appreciate1 like other people1 what was pure and lovely1 either in nature or in art4 ,no wonder then that he failed to admire the beautiful decoration with which the ,squire had adorned ,st4 ,catherine's ,church4 ,first of all1 ,mr4 ,ambrose pointed out to him some old wall-paintings of great interest1 which had been recently discovered4 ,from these ,mr4 ,acres had had the successive coats of whitewash carefully removed1 and1 though they were several centuries old1 the colours were but little faded4 ,among the most curious were a series of paintings which quite covered the north wall of the chancel4 ,illustration3 ,ancient ,wall ,painting in ,bedford ,church ,you will see1 ,mr4 ,dole1 that these all represent events in the life of our ,blessed ,lord4 ,here is the beginning of the series2 it is the ,tree of ,jesse1 showing the descent of our ,lord in the line of ,david1--next is the ,nativity1--next the ,adoration of the ,magi1--then1 the ,massacre of the ,holy ,innocents1--then1 the ,presentation in the temple2 and there1 on the upper part of the wall1 are--the ,betrayal1 our ,lord before ,pilate1 being ,mocked1 being ,scourged1 bearing ,his ,cross1 ,his ,crucifixion1 and there1 below the ,crucifixion1 ,his descent from the ,cross1 and ,his ,entombment#eh4 ,these1 you see1 ,mr4 ,dole1 are not only valuable as showing one way in which our ,church five hundred years ago set before the eyes and minds of the people the human life of our ,lord2 but they are still well suited for the sacred place they adorn1 inasmuch as they still serve to remind the worshipper in this ,house of ,prayer of the great truths they represent4 ,i must1 however1 confess that we brought to light some paintings on the walls of a different character2 some of these were very grotesque1 others were from some cause or other objectionable4 ,these were copied1 as possessing antiquarian interest1 and were then obliterated4 ,it was long before we could bring our minds to destroy these curious relics of old days#ei1 and had they occupied less conspicuous places in the church1 ,i think we should have been tempted to preserve them1 but the ,house of ,god has a higher use than to be a mere preserver of curiosities1 and to this higher use its decorations and all within it should contribute4 ,mr4 ,ambrose then explained the new wall-decorations which had been painted by ,mr4 ,acres4 ,these consisted of groups illustrating sacred subjects1 texts of ,holy ,scripture mixed with foliage and tracery2 and1 by clever introduction of foliage and holy texts among the old work1 he had made the old and the new to harmonize very well4 ,the colours were well arranged1 and all was done with a due reference to the architectural features of the church4 ,before this time the only attempt at ornament for the walls of the church consisted of some square boards1 put up about fifty years ago1 on which were painted some ill-selected sentences1 whilst beneath each sentence was painted a human head of inhuman ugliness4 ,not one word had as yet been spoken to the ,vicar by his seemingly attentive listener4 ,at length he said1 in his usual dismal tone1 ,i don't see any use in it1 sir4 ,to my mind1 our little ,rehoboth down in the village is more like the simplicity of the ,gospel4 ,besides1 ,i call all this a breaking of the second commandment4 ,i leave you to judge whether the mean little meeting-house you call ,rehoboth1 or this beautiful church1 is most in accordance with the only patterns we have in ,god's ,word of houses dedicated to ,his worship1 or most fitting as types of the ,heavenly ,temple whose magnificence is described in such glowing language by ,st4 ,john2 but as regards these paintings1 the pictures and toys you sell in your shop are just as much a breaking of the second commandment2 for these are no more made to worship than are those4 ,but nobody will kneel down before my toys and pictures2 if they kneel at all1 however1 in your church1 they must kneel before these pictures4 ,i call them idolatrous images1 and ,i say they are worshipped4 ,and1 by the same mode of reasoning1 ,i say1 ,mr4 ,dole1 that the people at your meeting-house break the second commandment2 for they fall down to whitewash1 and worship it4 ,what do you mean1 sir8 ,why1 only this3 that turn whichever way they will to worship1 they must turn to one of your four whitewashed walls4 ,but let us be quite fair to each other4 ,the truth is1 you don't worship whitewash1 nor do we worship images2 but whilst we think it most in accordance with reason and religion to decorate our walls with sacred subjects1 such as are likely to suggest solemn and holy thoughts1 and to make our churches as beautiful as possible1 you1 on the contrary1 seem to regard it as a religious duty to make your meeting-houses as ugly as possible4 ,and now ,i must say good-bye1 ,mr4 ,dole4 ,sir1 ,i should like to meet you here again some day4 ,i only wish we could at least meet here every ,sunday4 ,good-bye4 ,i almost think1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 as they left the church1 the outside of our church walls are as interesting as their interior4 ,the north wall is evidently the earliest part of the church4 ,it contains some ,roman bricks1 placed herring-bone fashion1 among the old ,norman rubble4 ,this1 doubtless1 was erected immediately after the destruction of the little ,saxon church with its wooden walls#fj which once stood on this very site2 then come the ,early ,english walls of the chancel1 then the very interesting specimens of brick-work of the sixteenth century in the tower and western walls4 ,but you have given ,mr4 ,dole and us all such a long and useful lecture on the inside of the walls1 that we must not stop to say any more about their outside4 ,i must just say this1 my friend1 respecting the outside walls1 that ,i can forgive a builder for any fault more easily than for want of reality in the exterior of a church4 ,for the sake of decoration and neatness it may be desirable that the internal walls should be covered with cement or plaster1 but there is no excuse for so covering the church externally4 ,if mean materials are used1 let the mean materials appear2 but it is unpardonable to use the mean and spread over it a false pretence of the costly4 ,brick walls are often very beautiful1 and not inferior to flint or stone2 but if they are of brick1 let the brick be seen1 and let it not pretend to be stone4 ,illustration3 ,wall ,painting ,,chapter ,,xiii ,,the ,,windows ,i will make thy windows of agates1 and thy gates of carbuncles1 and all thy borders of pleasant stones4 ,isa4 liv4 #ab4 444 ,sometimes thoughts proud and wild ,have risen1 till ,i saw the sunbeams steal ,through painted glass at evensong1 and weave ,their threefold tints upon the marble near1 ,faith1 ,prayer1 and ,love1 the spirit of a child6 ,,faber4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,st4 ,john1 ,brandenburg ,illustration3 ,doorway1 ,st4 ,stephen's ,church1 ,tangermuende ,,the ,,windows ,mr4 ,acres and his family had now learnt1 from their many conversations with the ,vicar on the subject1 to take a deep interest in church architecture1 and were ever seeking and finding some new beauties either in the solid building or the ornaments of their own ancient church1 which now they looked upon with quite a new feeling of pride and admiration4 ,when1 therefore1 ,mr4 ,ambrose was a visitor at the ,hall1 he was not unfrequently called upon to deliver a short drawing-room lecture on some portion of the church or its furniture4 ,now1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said the ,squire1 on one of these occasions1 as we are only a family party this evening1 will you kindly give us some more information on our favourite topic of conversation lately8 ,i see the same request is on the lips of all these little people1 but they are not so impudent1 ,i suppose1 as ,i am4 ,you will1 ,i hope1 find us more profitable pupils than ,mr4 ,dole1 to whom you specially addressed your lecture in the church the other day4 ,i am not so sure of that2 for what ,i said to him1 if it did no more1 at least set him thinking2 and that is a great point1 you know4 ,you see1 those kind of people1 as a rule1 never read and never hear any thing really worth reading or hearing about matters of this sort4 ,they are simply taught to believe that all outward form and ceremony in the ,services1 and all outward meaning and beauty in the fabric of the church1 are idolatrous and superstitious1 and they care to inquire no further than that4 ,their prejudice is fostered by ignorance1 and to lead them to inquire is the first step to wards inducing conviction4 ,then1 how very little our own people generally know about these things1 and how seldom comparatively they are prepared with a ready answer with which to meet the objections of persons who are even more ignorant than themselves6 ,this surely ought not to be4 ,if we place beautiful and costly ornaments and furniture in our churches1 the poorest person in the parish should be taught the meaning of them2 and if the ,stones of the ,temple have each a lesson to teach1 the poorest person in the parish ought to know what they say4 ,but ,i am wandering from my point3 our last subject was the walls of the church2 what shall we talk about to-day1 ,constance8 ,oh1 ,i think the windows should come next1 ,mr4 ,ambrose2 but there are so many different kinds of windows1 that1 of course1 you cannot tell us all that might be said about them4 ,no1 indeed1 my dear2 ,i can only tell you a very small part of their history1 but still enough1 perhaps1 to increase the interest you already feel on the subject4 ,first1 then1 ,i shall say something about the stone-work of the windows2 and what ,i say about windows applies very much also to the doors of a church1 only the doors are generally much more richly ornamented4 ,now there are some very simple rules by which we may commonly know from the windows pretty nearly at what period that particular part of the church was built4 ,you cannot1 of course1 always tell from any thing still existing at what time the church was first built1 because often no part whatever of the first church is remaining4 ,the font1 from its sheltered position1 is the most frequently preserved relic of the original church2 sometimes one doorway alone remains1 and sometimes but a single window to mark the earliest date of the church4 ,as ,i must not puzzle your brains with the hard words employed by persons learned in church building1 ,i do not profess to give you the nice distinctions by which they arrive almost at exact dates4 ,ours must be a very rapid glance at the whole subject4 ,the two great distinct characters1 then1 in church windows1 as also in other parts of the building1 are the semi-circular arch and the pointed arch4 ,the former is to be found in churches erected before the year #aaej1 and the latter since that year2 but of course there are exceptions4 ,the earliest round-headed windows 7that the few buildings in which they are found were originally intended as ,christian temples1 ,i do not of course affirm7 are the ,roman1 and these are easily known1 for they are nearly always partly composed of red bricks#fa4 ,then come the ,saxon2 these are built of stone1 but are quite plain1 and generally as rude and rough as the ,roman4 ,you know the ,romans held possession of our country from the year #ej before ,christ till ,a4,d4 #dej2 and then the ,saxons held the country till ,a4,d4 #ajff2 but it is impossible accurately to fix the dates of most of the churches they built4 ,next follow the ,norman2 these are more ornamental1 and not so roughly executed2 and after the ,norman ,conquest1 when many clever builders and masons came over from ,normandy1 they were often most beautifully decorated4 ,the figures of persons and animals1 indeed1 that are sometimes to be found 7but more especially above the doorways7 at this time seem very quaint and curious to us now1 and often quite unintelligible1 but no doubt they once all had an useful meaning and were specimens of the highest art of the time2 very many of them are ,scripture subjects4 ,sometimes triangular windows are to be met with of the ,saxon and ,norman periods1 but very rarely4 ,as ,i said before1 some of their stone carvings appear to us to be very quaint and grotesque1 and so too the arrangement of their windows was sometimes fanciful2 they seem to have attempted occasionally#fb1 to represent the features of the face1 the doorway representing the mouth1 and the windows the eyes and nose4 ,illustration3 ,crowmarsh ,church ,the reason why the windows were in some instances so small1 we may imagine was because they were sometimes not glazed1 and it was desirable that1 to keep out the wind and rain and the winter's cold1 they should be only just large enough to admit the necessary light4 ,i have lately seen an old ,norman window which had been long bricked up1 in which there had evidently never been any glass#fc4 ,we need not be surprised at this1 for even so lately as in the reign of ,queen ,elizabeth1 it was no uncommon thing for the windows in private houses to have no glass in them4 ,illustration3 ,diagram of arches ,now we come to the pointed-headed arches4 ,from about ,a4,d4 #aaej to ,a4,d4 #abjj1 which is called the ,transition period the two styles were a good deal mixed4 ,people have different1 opinions as to the origin of these pointed arches4 ,a learned friend of mine has an idea of his own about it1 which he calls the finger theory4 ,he supposes that all church arches and tracery may be derived from different positions in which the fingers may be placed when the hands are clasped as in prayer1 and that from these1 first the round1 and then the pointed arch was suggested as a fit design to be adopted for a ,house of ,prayer4 ,it is at least an ingenious and a pleasing conception4 ,some have imagined that the meeting of branches in a grove of trees first gave the idea of the pointed arch4 ,often1 as ,i have looked down the avenue by old ,wood's cottage1 has the opening at the opposite end reminded me of the eastern window of some splendid cathedral1 whilst the long intervening rows of trees1 with their branches uniting overhead1 has suggested to my mind the pillars and groined roof of the building4 ,our old heathen forefathers knew well the grand effect of these magnificent temples of nature's building1 when they selected them as the places best adapted for their awful sacrifices1 and the worship of their ',unknown ,god#fd4' ,but it seems most probable that one style of architecture naturally introduced another1 and that the pointed followed naturally from the semi-circular arch4 ,when the builders saw what a beautiful arch was produced by a number of their old semi-circular arches intersecting each other1 they gradually introduced the newly-discovered pointed arch1 and at length1 finding that it admitted of such a far greater variety of beautiful tracery in the window1 they abandoned the old style altogether4 ,the first pure style of pointed windows is called the ,early ,english#fe1 which prevailed from about ,a4,d4 #abjj to ,a4,d4 #acjj4 ,it is often very simple1 the plain lancet-shaped window being the most common2 it frequently has the same ornaments as the ,norman1 but its peculiar ornament is a flower1 almost round1 called the ball-flower4 ,this was followed1 up to about ,a4,d4 #adjj1 by a more graceful flowing style1 called the ,decorated or ,florid1 and it is chiefly to be distinguished by the waving flame-like character of the stone-work in the upper part of the window4 ,then next we have quite a different style1 which is called the ,perpendicular1 so named from its upright or perpendicular lines1 some of which run up uninterruptedly from the bottom to the top of the window4 ,this style is peculiar to ,england1 and windows of this character are very rarely to be found elsewhere4 ,in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries1 the arch of the window gradually becomes depressed1 first sinking to the ,tudor arch1 and then losing its pointed character altogether and becoming quite flat2 and this introduced what1 from its comparative want of beauty1 is called the ,debased style4 ,the windows of this period were usually square-headed1 and possessed1 like the other parts of the building1 little ornament4 ,it prevailed till the middle of the seventeenth century1 and may be considered the second childhood of ,church ,architecture2 and it was certainly far inferior to the first4 ,succeeding to this period came all those hideous semi-classical erections1 most of which1 ,i believe1 were built in the reign of ,queen ,anne1 though some were before and some after2 and those still more unsightly parodies on ,gothic architecture which were erected at the close of the last and commencement of the present century4 ,in our own day we have far advanced by a complete retrogression1 and churches are mostly copies of one or other of the styles ,i have mentioned4 ,if1 however1 our present age may boast of a church architecture of its own1 it will undoubtedly be that of those most beautiful brick churches which have been but lately erected1 such as ,all ,saints' and ,st4 ,alban's1 ,london1 and ,st4 ,james'1 ,oxford4 ,you have not told us any thing about the round windows1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said ,constance2 you know we have a very pretty one in our church4 ,yes1 ,i ought to have told you that these circular windows are to be found in all styles of architecture1 usually at the west end of the church4 ,they are called rose windows and marigold windows1 from their supposed likeness to those flowers2 and ,st4 ,catherine's windows1 from their resemblance to the wheel on which she suffered martyrdom4 ,it is likely that this window was placed in our church because it is dedicated to ,st4 ,catherine4 ,that leads me to ask1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 what symbolism there may be in the windows of a church2 for in your sermon last ,sunday you said that there was a lesson to be learnt from all the speechless stones of the sanctuary4 ,yes2 and every window in the church should remind us of certain ,christian truths4 ,the light which they admit should make us think of ,him who is the ',light of the world1' 'a ,light to lighten the ,gentiles1' 'the ,day-spring from on high1' 'the ,sun of ,righteousness1' 'that lighteth every man that cometh into the world4' ,the window with its double compartments reminds us of the two natures of ,christ2 the triple window1 and the many triple forms in it1 of the ,trinity#ff4 ,but it is of course most chiefly in its storied panes that the church window becomes our teacher4 ,certainly2 ,i see that3 and1 by-the-by1 as ,i am as ignorant as my children about the history of stained glass1 please tell us something about that before we part4 ,i will1 gladly4 ,as far as we know1 stained glass was never used before about the year #hej2 but when it once came into general use1 it would appear that no church was considered complete unless every window was furnished with it4 ,at first1 it probably consisted of rude imitations of old mosaic patterns#fg4 ,then figures were introduced1 which depended for their general effect upon broad black lines either produced by lead or colour4 ,the old stained glass may always be known by the deep richness of its colours1 especially of the blue and ruby4 ,probably ,canterbury ,cathedral possesses the earliest and best specimens remaining1 the date of some of which is about ,a4,d4 #aabjfh4 ,in the glass of this time you find small medallions containing several figures1 the surrounding parts being filled with tracery4 ,next come small single figures1 or groups of figures1 with or without canopies1 with border tracery and foliage2 sometimes there are the shields of founders and benefactors4 ,about ,a4,d4 #acej larger figures of saints were painted1 each occupying a whole compartment of the window1 with larger and more elaborate canopies4 ,now1 too1 windows began to be mortuary1 and contained figures of deceased persons1 with their shields and banners4 ,in the following century single subjects often extended over several compartments1 or even the whole of the window4 ,sentences in old ,english letters were frequently painted1 issuing from the mouths of figures 7just as we find them on monumental brasses of the same date71 and also in various other parts of the window4 ,one colour only1 commonly yellow1 with black lines to mark the features and dresses1 was now1 and also before this time1 frequently used4 ,at this period glass painters fell into a great error by studying more to paint pictures1 correct in all the lesser and unimportant parts of the drawing1 than to produce a pleasing and solemn distant effect2 they often lost the effect of a grand accessory to the beauty and harmony of a ,gothic temple1 in order to gain that of a piece of painted calico4 ,from about ,a4,d4#afjj this art gradually declined1 and1 with some exceptions1 the glass painting and architecture of our churches fell together1 the inferior artist of the former being often employed in depicting the debased style of the latter4 ,immense quantities of stained glass were destroyed by the sacrilegious hands of the ,puritans in the seventeenth century#fi1 and of course much1 from its brittle nature1 has otherwise perished2 enough1 however1 remains to show how splendidly our churches were formerly decorated with it1 and to afford invaluable aid to those who are now engaged in promoting the happy revival of this noble art4 ,illustration3 ,stained ,glass ,window in ,great ,malvern ,church ,illustration3 ,stained ,glass ,window in ,great ,malvern ,church ,illustration3 ,stained ,glass ,window in ,great ,malvern ,church ,there is just one other point to which ,i must briefly allude--the value of stained glass windows as historical records4 ,there can be no objection to windows in some parts of the church 7specially those placed over the arches of the nave which are called clerestory windows7 being thus employed1 though the presence of these subjects in some parts would be most objectionable4 ,there are some most interesting windows of this character still remaining4 ,i have only time to notice some of those in ,great ,malvern ,church4 ,i have brought you some drawings of these windows2 they represent some events in the life of ,st4 ,werstan1 who was martyred in a small chapel near to the spot where these windows are4 ,this glass preserves the only ancient record we have of this saint4 ,in the first pane you see there is a representation of ,werstan himself2 the hills at the back1 with the flowers and ferns upon them1 probably represent the ,malvern hills2 and the painting above1 the plot of ground on which his church was built4 ,the key has reference either to the material fabric or the spiritual efficacy of its sacred services1 and the four corner-stones1 held by four angels1 each with three fingers raised in the attitude of blessing in the name of the ,trinity1 are doubtless intended to indicate the favour of ,heaven on his pious work4 ,in the next pane the figure and hills are repeated1 and above is a representation of the different ceremonies attending the consecration of the completed church4 ,in the third pane you see the hills1 with their flowers and ferns1 covering the whole background2 in the lower part1 the now regular services of ,st4 ,werstan's little church appear to be represented by three choristers2 and standing near them are two persons who are probably their instructors4 ,the upper part represents the martyrdom of the saint in his own chapel4 ,the stained glass in ,great ,malvern ,church contains other historical records1 but we have not time to notice them4 ,illustration3 ,rose ,window1 ,cremona ,cathedral ,,chapter ,,xiv ,a ,,loose ,,stone ,,in ,,the ,,building ,a ,,digression ,let the priests repair the breaches of the house1 wheresoever any breach shall be found4 #b ,kings xii4 #e4 ,men1 who have ceased to reverence1 soon defy ,their forefathers2 lo6 sects are form'd1 and split ,with morbid restlessness2--the ecstatic fit ,spreads wide2 though special mysteries multiply1 ,the saints must govern1 is their common cry2 ,and so they labour1 deeming ,holy ,writ ,disgraced by aught that seems content to sit ,beneath the roof of settled modesty4 ,,wordsworth4 ,illustration3 ,amberley ,church1 in ruin1 and restored ,a ,,loose ,,stone ,,in ,,the ,,building ,a ,,digression ,since the last conversation which we recorded between the ,vicar and ,mr4 ,dole1 the character of the latter had become much softened4 ,on various occasions they had been brought into each other's company1 and the consequence was that each had begun to think more favourably of the other1 and to find some unsuspected good qualities which promised well to establish between them that cordial good feeling and mutual respect which ought always to exist between a ,pastor and each member of his flock4 ,the following close of a long conversation might explain the loss of esteem and influence which many a parish priest1 besides the ,vicar of ,st4 ,catherine's1 has had to deplore3-- ,well1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 had we known each other more1 we should have understood each other better2 my lips1 at least1 would have been saved the guilt of many hard words2 perhaps1 too1 sir1 you would have thought of me a little more charitably4 ,there may be truth in that1 ,mr4 ,dole1 said the ,vicar2 but then you must own that you have always shown such sternness and severity to wards me as to forbid any friendly approach on my part4 ,i have1 indeed1 put it down1 in a great measure1 to that harsh judgment of the conduct and opinions of others which ,i considered your form of dissent tended to foster--but this has not relieved me of my difficulty4 ,i suppose ,i must confess that those who hold very strictly to the doctrines in which ,i have been brought up1 have generally a severe and sour bearing to wards others who do not believe as they do1 and1 indeed1 very often to wards members of their own body also4 ,then1 you see1 sir1 at their prayer meetings1 and their ,sabbath services1 they get much more excited and animated than people do at church1 and so1 perhaps1 it's natural for them to be a little more subdued and less lively when they are out of 'meeting4' ,yes1 that's natural2 and no doubt what you say accounts for some differences in the opinions we form of each other's characters4 ,at 'meeting' ,i am aware persons are commonly wrought up1 by exciting appeals1 loud words1 and wild gestures1 to a state of high pressure1 of which we at church know little2 and so they consider the calm1 dignified solemnity of our services as cold and lifeless4 ,out of 'meeting' a reaction takes place1 and they become comparatively depressed and undemonstrative1 and we consider them morose and ill-tempered2 we have no such reaction to undergo1 and to us the world seems brighter than to them1 and so they think us frivolous and worldly4 ,but for my part1 ,mr4 ,dole1 ,i can't possibly see what is the use of a man's speaking ten times louder than is necessary in order to make himself heard1 just that he may produce a fever-heat in the pulses of his congregation4 ,if continued for any length of time1 it leads to something very like temporary madness2 if not1 it is likely to subside into a dull1 sullen apathy4 ,moreover1 ,i have yet to learn that it is wrong1 provided we do not abuse them1 to enjoy the good things ,god gives us1 with a cheerful countenance--aye1 and with a merry heart1 too4 ,on that point ,i have for some time been inclining to your opinion1 sir2 though1 ,i fear1 you will think ,i have not given much outward proof of it4 ,but1 nevertheless1 you have in this matter as yet partly mistaken me--indeed we have partly mistaken each other4 ,perhaps my religion may1 in some degree1 account for my seeming gloominess and indifference2 but these have arisen quite as much from home sorrows and disappointments1 and the coldness and cruelty ,i have experienced from others4 ,i will not1 however1 trouble you with these matters now1 more than to say1 that if you could have overlooked the ungracious words ,i may sometimes have said to and of you1 and have looked in upon me1 and for my evil have returned good1 by speaking some kind and friendly words to me1 you would have done much to brighten a life that has known but little sunshine2 for ,i have longed more than ,i can tell you for a friend to whom ,i could fearlessly tell the sorrows of my heart4 ,i know ,i have been to blame1 for ,i always used to think you too proud to take much interest in my cares and troubles2 may be1 sir--,i am sure you will forgive my plain speaking--may be we have been both a little to blame4 ,now1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 continued his parishioner1 in a far more cheerful voice than was usual with him1 you know that since your friendly conversation with me that day in the church1 ,i have followed the advice you then gave me1 and have never failed to be one of your congregation at least once on the ,sunday4 ,i trust ,i have profited by what you have taught me3 will you not be offended if ,i for a moment turn the tables1 and preach a few words to you8 ,i don't mean to you yourself personally1 sir1 but ,i mean to you as one of the ministers of the ,church4 ,i am sure you will not say any thing that will give me just cause for offence1 my friend1 and so ,i promise not to be offended4 ,well then1 sir1 you know ,i have always lived amongst ,dissenters1 so ,i know pretty well who and what they are4 ,you will agree with me1 that there are many excellent people among them1 and there are some learned people among them2 but generally they have but little learning4 ,very often their attention has been almost solely directed to a single point of doctrine which itself forms the ground of their dissent from the ,church--just as with me2 though ,i do not think the ,church is quite right on some other matters1 yet ,i should not separate from it could ,i be persuaded that the ,church was right about ,baptism4 ,that has always been my one great stumbling-block4 ,but ,i think1 sir1 speaking with all respect for yourself1 that there is one great cause in the ,church ministers themselves which has kept the ,dissenters from coming back to the ,church4 ,i know that this has more to do with the past than the present2 ,i know too that it could not of itself justify any one in separating from the ,church4 ,but1 sir1 look at the class of people ,dissenters are of1 in this country2 their whole strength lies in the middle and the small-trade class4 ,there are among them comparatively very few rich and educated1 very few poor4 ,you will say the love of the power and position which those people obtain for themselves in the meeting-house1 but which they could not possess1 in the same way1 in the ,church1 naturally draws them to the ,dissenters4 ,that is no doubt partly true2 giving them also credit--as ,i am sure you do1 sir--for higher motives4 ,but ,i see another reason2 and that is1 the wide difference between the ,church ministers and the people4 ,i see what you mean1 said the ,vicar3 the difference in their social position4 ,i admit that the social position of the dissenting preacher is more on a level with that class of which1 as you say1 ,dissenters are chiefly composed than is that of the ,clergy4 ,but then1 ,mr4 ,dole1 the ,church does not only retain its hold on the upper and the educated classes1 but also on the poor 7of course ,i speak generally2 for there are1 alas6 a large number of these which are beyond the reach of any religious ministrations whatever74 ,ah1 yes1 sir1 that's the very point4 ,i think in times past the ,church ministers have stood too much on their social and worldly dignity3 they have made too much of the man1 and too little of the office4 ,it's different now almost every where4 ,but you see1 sir1 this just separated them from the tradespeople1 but it didn't separate them from the poor4 ,they didn't feel their pride wounded when they took the horny hand of the labourer2 but it was a greater trial of humility to shake hands with the tradesman over the counter1 and to go and sit down in the parlour behind the shop1 in the same friendly way in which they visited the poor cottagers4 ,then1 you know1 sir1 there were many other ways in which this class was neglected3 we think it was lest too great attention should lead to too great familiarity4 ,the wealth and education of a tradesman perhaps sometimes made his social position border too closely on that of the ,church minister1 and perhaps the minister felt it his duty carefully to guard the narrow barrier2 but1 oh1 dear me1 sir1 what is all that compared with the work ,god has given him to do6 ,i don't think that one who has the salvation of his people at heart will stop to consider whether a friendly1 faithful pastoral visit may or may not result in a more familiar nod from his parishioners for the future4 ,do you know1 sir1 ,i think this is one of the loose stones in your spiritual ,house4 ,i agree with much that you have said1 as regards past years3 but you must not put all down to pride2 you must make more allowances for men's peculiar habits1 and circumstances1 and manners4 ,only just now you excused a kindred fault in yourself on the ground of private cares and anxieties4 ,however1 our views on this matter are not far apart4 ,i consider1 with you1 that a clergyman's office overrides all social distinctions2 and that he should be equally at home at the squire's mansion1 the tradesman's parlour1 and the meanest cottage in his parish2 none should be too high for his familiarity1 none too low for his friendship3 as ,chaucer says1 'the beggar is his brother4' ,his social position is certainly as nothing compared with his official1 and should always be made subservient to it4 ,i cannot understand how any clergyman1 who rightly estimates the high dignity of his sacred office as a priest1 can take a different view from this4 ,however--,god be praised6--times are altered in this respect3 the ,clergy have thrown away almost every where that reserve which no doubt lost to the ,church many of the class which the ,dissenters have gained4 ,and we see now the good results2 for in thousands of parishes the sons and daughters of these very people are working hand-in-hand with their ,pastor1 and are among the most zealous and faithful children of the ,church1 bringing again within the walls of her ,temples multitudes of those who have been fellow-wanderers with themselves1 and so helping to repair1 one by one1 the many breaches which have1 alas6 been made in the ,house of the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xv ,,the ,,font ,suffer the little children to come unto ,me1 and forbid them not2 for of such is the kingdom of heaven4 ,luke xviii4 #af4 ,there is a ,font within whose burnish'd face ,the o'erarching pile itself reflected sleeps1 ,columns1 arch1 roof1 and all the hallow'd place1 ,beauteously mirror'd in its marble deeps2 ,and holy ,church within her vigil keeps3 ,thus round our ,font on storied walls arise ,scenes that encompass ,sion's holy steeps1 ,rivers of ,god and sweet societies1 ,the mountain of our rest1 and ,kingdom of the skies4 ,the ,baptistery4 ,illustration3 ,ancient ,font in ,west ,rounton ,church ,,the ,,font ,a few weeks after the interview mentioned in the last chapter1 the ,vicar preached three sermons from the same text1 ,st4 ,john iii4 #e3 ,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of ,god4 ,the first sermon was on the necessity of ,baptism2 the second1 on its benefits2 and the third1 on its mode of administration1 specially in the case of infants4 ,mr4 ,ambrose could not help noticing that ,mr4 ,dole was on each occasion deeply affected1 for he saw tears on his face1 which evidently manifested deep emotion within4 ,he was1 therefore1 hardly surprised1 when1 after his third sermon1 a knock at the vestry-door announced a visit from his parishioner4 ,i have listened very attentively to your last three sermons1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said he1 and the subjects of them have also1 as you know1 for a long time past been seriously and prayerfully considered by me2 ,i am now come to ask you to receive me into the ,church by ,baptism4 ,have you never yet been baptized1 my friend8 inquired the ,vicar1 taking his hand in a kind and friendly way4 ,no1 ,i have not2 when ,i was an infant1 my parents objected to my being baptized1 and since ,i became a man1 ,i must confess with shame1 that ,i have never had the courage to go through the service at our meeting4 ,that service1 you know1 sir1 is such as to deter far more courageous men--and specially women--than ,i am1 and ,i have always1 too1 had my doubts about its propriety4 ,i am not surprised at that4 ,i once1 when a boy1 attended a baptism at one of your meetings1 and ,i shall never forget it2 for a more unseemly spectacle ,i never witnessed4 ,there were several young men and women immersed by the preacher1 in a large tank of water1 in the middle of the meeting-house4 ,each was clothed in a flannel garment fitting almost closely to the body1 and the appearance of the first of them was the signal for a general rush to the best places for seeing2 men and boys climbed noisily over the pews1 and some took their places on the backs of the seats1 so as to get a good view2 and the whole scene was most disorderly and irreverent4 ,i have explained to you that our own ,church also admits of baptism by immersion#gj1 but it does not require it1 nor even recommend it4 ,nevertheless occasionally persons desire it2 and there are a few churches1 chiefly in ,wales1 where a large tank of water1 as well as a smaller font1 is provided for such special cases4 ,but this mode of baptizing is not encouraged by the ,church1 for these among other reasons3--,it is not necessary--for #a1 the word ,baptism1 in the original1 does not necessarily mean entire immersion2 #b1 in the absence of proof to the contrary1 we may fairly conclude1 from the peculiar circumstances#ga of the cases1 that many of whose baptism we read in the ,new ,testament were not so immersed2 #c1 the ,church from the earliest period has not considered immersion as necessary to the validity of ,baptism4 ,it is also inconvenient--for #a1 in some cases it would be most difficult to obtain sufficient water for the purpose2 #b1 in many cases there would be much risk and danger attending its practice2 #c1 in all cases there would be difficulty in securing that solemnity1 propriety1 and order so desirable in the administration of this holy sacrament4 ,but the ,baptism of adults1 even according to the ,church's ordinary rules1 is no small test of courage1 as well as sincerity4 ,you are aware1 no doubt1 that your own ,baptism and reception into the ,church must be in the face of the congregation4 ,the law of the ,church is very plain on this point2 it distinctly forbids ,baptism to be administered privately1 either at home or in the ,church1 'unless upon a great and reasonable cause2' and it is much to be regretted that this rule has ever been departed from4 ,yes1 sir1 ,i have well considered that point4 ,the ,vicar remained long that afternoon in the vestry in serious conversation and earnest prayer with his parishioner4 ,he again went over the subject of the last three sermons2 showing1 #ast1 how the text could refer to nothing else than holy ,baptism1 and that1 if it did refer to it1 then no doubt1 where it can be had1 ,baptism must be necessary for us1 in order that we may enter into the kingdom of ,god2 #bndly1 that the promise is as sure as the warning2 and1 #crdly1 that the terms of the text are unexceptional1 that they refer to all mankind without any exception whatever1 men1 women1 and children4 ,in speaking of these different subjects1 of course he had to meet the various objections which ,dissenters are used to adduce2 but on all these points it was not very difficult to satisfy the mind of one who had already freed himself from the trammels of prejudice1 and was earnestly seeking for the truth4 ,on the following ,sunday afternoon therefore1 after the second lesson1 ,mr4 ,dole presented himself1 with his chosen witnesses1 at the ,font of ,st4 ,catherine's4 ,the service was a very solemn one1 and all the congregation evidently took the greatest interest in it4 ,mr4 ,dole made the responses in a firm manly voice1 its very tone seemed to say1 ,this is the result of my deep and honest conviction2 ,i have been wrong1 and ,i am not ashamed to say so before all those who are here present1 from whom ,i have so long been separated1 but who are henceforth my brethren in ,christ4 ,and then for the first time1 he quietly and calmly took his place on a bench at the west end of the building--a sincere member of the ,christian ,church4 ,it was natural that the ,squire and ,vicar should have some conversation after service on an event of so much importance in the village as was this4 ,they both foretold1 and rightly1 the downfall of the little village ,bethel as soon as its chief supporter had left it4 ,its former attendants came back to the ,church one by one1 till at length the owner of the building1 finding no prospect of receiving his rent1 closed the ,meeting1 and appropriated it to another purpose4 ,the ,vicar and ,squire were standing near the ,font1 and the conversation took its rise from the object before them4 ,how often1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 we find these old ,norman ,fonts preserved1 when there is hardly another bit of masonry remaining in the church of the same date4 ,yes2 and it is remarkable it should be so1 considering the exposed part of the church in which they are placed1 and the perishable stone of which they are not unfrequently composed2 besides which1 the carvings upon them are often of so mysterious and grotesque a character as naturally to excite the wrath of the ,puritan fanatics who so relentlessly destroyed the beauty of our ,houses of ,god1 and 'brake down all the carved work thereof with axes and hammers4' ,it is very interesting to watch the progress of architectural changes as delineated on ,fonts4 ,each period of ecclesiastical architecture1 as well in its general features as in its details1 is abundantly illustrated by the carvings and mouldings to be found on ,fonts4 ,the early ,fonts were with few exceptions made of stone4 ,marble was seldom used till in comparatively recent times4 ,some of the early ,fonts had a solid leaden bowl1 placed on a stone base#gb2 ,i have never seen but one ancient wooden ,font#gc2 that was placed on a stone base of the ,norman period1 but was itself no doubt much later4 ,the sculpture on very ancient ,fonts1 as well as other church carving of the time1 sometimes borrowed its symbolism from the heathen mythology which preceded it#gd4 ,constance ,acres1 who had been hitherto a quiet listener1 here asked ,mr4 ,ambrose why the ,font was always placed near the door of the church4 ,it's a natural inquiry1 my dear1 for one of your age1 said the ,vicar1 but the reason is evident4 ,its position there1 at the entrance of the material fabric1 fitly represents ,baptism as the outward form of admission into the ,christian ,church4 ,the ,font1 too1 thus placed1 should ever remind us1 as we enter the church1 of the vows and promises made in our name when first we were brought in our helpless infancy to be presented to ,god1 and to be made members of ,christ through the grace of our second birth4 ,if people would only accustom themselves to associate such thoughts with the baptismal ,font1 then just a glance at it as they come into the church would be enough to solemnize their minds1 and help to fit them for the sacred services in which they are about to take a part4 ,it was once the custom1 ,constance1 to place what were called stoups1 at the entrances to our churches1 and there are still remains of them at the doors of many old churches4 ,these were small basins1 made of stone1 for the purpose of holding water1 which--like the water in the ,font--was consecrated by the priest4 ,when persons came into the church1 they dipped a finger in the basin1 and crossed their forehead with the water1 just as the priest now crosses the brow of the person who has been baptized4 ,the forehead1 you know1 is always regarded as the seat of shame or courage#ge2 and so the person1 when baptized1 is signed with 'the sign of the ,cross1 in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of ,christ crucified4' ,the old custom of frequent crossing with holy water has now for a long time been discontinued by us1 the practice was regarded by many as superstitious1 nor does there appear to be authority for it in the ,primitive ,church4 ,the same motive which prompted the use of the stoup1 however1 still induces some persons to use the sign of the ,cross on entering a church3 ,i do not myself do so2 not that ,i see any harm in the practice in itself1 as it is intended to remind persons of the ,sacred ,presence to which they are about to enter1 and to drive away worldly thoughts by this memento of the crucifixion of their ,lord2 but ,i think it is better1 in my own case1 as some would be offended by it1 to try to accomplish this right object by other means4 ,people's minds have very much changed in late years respecting the use of the ,cross1 said ,mr4 ,acres4 ,a few years ago not only was the sign of the ,cross in baptism considered superstitious1 but it was considered even wrong to use it in church architecture1 or as an ornament within the church1 or as a part of a memorial in the churchyard2 there are few now1 ,i suppose1 who regard such use of the sacred symbol as superstitious4 ,i was in a bookseller's shop the other day when a ',baptist' preacher came in to purchase a ,prayer ,book to present to a friend2 the bookseller said to him1 ',of course that will not suit you1 sir1 as it has a ,cross upon it4' ',i like the book very much1' was his reply2 'and as for the ,cross1 why the ,puritans may object to that if they like1 ,i don't4' ,but ,i am of opinion that people are going a little in the opposite extreme1 and1 at least as a personal ornament1 the ,cross is become too common4 ,why do you fall into the popular error1 my good friend1 said the ,vicar1 reprovingly1 of calling these ,anabaptist preachers1 ,baptists8 ,surely they ought to be called any thing rather than ,baptists1 for they make more light of ,baptism than any other people who can properly be said to believe in ,baptism at all4 ,do let us call things by their proper names2--why1 to call them ,baptists1 is almost as bad as to call ,roman ,catholics1 ,catholics1 and so to ignore our own claim to be members of the ,christian ,church1 because we allow them a name which would imply that they are the only ,church in the world4 ,i need not tell you that the word ,,anabaptist#gf exactly expresses what they are1 namely1 they who baptize a second time those who have already been baptized in infancy4 ,the term ',baptist' is far more applicable to ,church people than to them4 ,i see1 ,i deserve your rebuke3 mine is a mistake too often made4 ,by-the-bye1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 ,i was very pleased to hear your reply to ,mr4 ,dole1 when he inquired what was the fee to be paid for his baptism4 ,i heard you tell him that the sacraments of the ,church were always free4 ,yes1 certainly ,i did2 and ,i confess ,i cannot understand how any one can dare1 in these days1 to demand a fee for ,baptism2 the claim is as illegal as it is unchristian1 and ,i believe goes far to make the poor take a low view of this holy rite4 ,i wish1 too1 ,i could make the poor understand that ,baptism has nothing to do with ,registration2 many of the most ignorant of them really regard them as the same thing4 ,some of them1 too1 will persist in thinking that to be privately baptized1 is to be 'half baptized4' ,of course they must be altogether baptized1 or not baptized at all2 but they do not readily see that the baptism is complete1 though the reception into the ,church is not perfected till the service is concluded in the face of the congregation4 ,,chapter ,,xvi ,,the ,,pulpit ,he commanded us to preach unto the people4 ,acts x4 #db ,the pulpit1 therefore 7and ,i name it1 fill'd ,with solemn awe1 that bids me well beware ,with what intent ,i touch that ,holy thing71 ,i say the pulpit 7in sober awe ,of its legitimate peculiar powers7 ,must stand acknowledged1 while the world shall stand1 ,the most important and effectual guard1 ,support and ornament of virtue's cause4 ,there stands the messenger of truth3 there stands ,the legate of the skies6 ,his theme divine1 ,his office sacred1 his credentials clear4 ,by him the violated law speaks out ,its thunders2 and by him1 in strains as sweet ,as angels are1 the ,gospel whispers peace4 ,,cowper4 ,illustration3 ,stone ,pulpit in ,dartmouth ,church ,,the ,,pulpit ,i suppose we must not expect you to conform to all our usages at first1 ,mr4 ,dole1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 as they walked out of the churchyard one ,sunday1 after the ,afternoon ,service2 but no doubt you will soon see the fitness of our several forms and ceremonies1 and then you will do as we do4 ,of course these things are--compared with others--of no great importance2 but still it is better1 even in small matters1 to avoid differences in our mode of worship4 ,yes1 that is so1 sir2 but you must give me time1 and ,i shall be glad if you will tell me what you have specially noticed in my manner different from others8 ,i don't wish to seem particular4 ,well1 to be candid then1 ,mr4 ,dole1 it seems strange to us to see a man when he comes into church stand up and say his prayers in his hat1 instead of reverently kneeling down4 ,i never thought of that before1 but ,i dare say it does2 but then you know1 sir1 that is our way at the meeting4 ,i see1 however1 that it is much more proper in ,god's house to obey the precept of ,his ,holy ,word1 and 'fall low on our knees before ,his footstool4' ,then for the same reason you will1 ,i am sure1 see that1 instead of sitting during the other prayers1 as ,i notice you do1 it is proper to kneel at those times too4 ,you will find that all in our church1 from the oldest to the youngest1 except poor ,old ,reynolds and ,tom ,barham 7who are too infirm to kneel71 do so4 ,then again1 when the ,creed is said1 ,i see you do sometimes stand up1 but not always2 and ,i notice you don't turn to the ,east1 as all the rest of the congregation do4 ,no1 ,i confess ,i don't do that4 ,i like the idea of repeating our ,confession of ,faith whenever we meet at church3 ,i suppose the want of this practice is one reason why the different leading sects of ,dissenters are constantly being broken up into fresh divisions4 ,yes1 there is certainly something very supporting to a ,christian in so declaring with the ,church every where1 his belief in the great doctrines of their common ,faith2 but the fact is1 ,i have some scruples about turning to the ,east at that time4 ,even old ,mrs4 ,tubbs1 who1 you know1 is a ,church-woman1 says she thinks it is superstitious4 ,all ,i can say1 then1 is1 that ,mrs4 ,tubbs doesn't know the meaning of the word she uses2 and in this she is like a great many more people who think themselves very wise about these matters4 ,now1 my good friend1 when you next come to church1 stand up with the rest1 and turn to the ,east as the others do1 and first say to yourself some such words as these3--',we all stand1 to signify that we are not ashamed of our ,belief1 and that1 if need be1 we will manfully defend it4 ,we all turn in one direction1 to signify that we all hold one and the same faith4 ,we all turn to the ,east1 because there in the east of our churches every thing reminds us of the presence of ,him in whom we profess our belief2 because there1 in remembrance of ,him1 we celebrate the highest and most sacred mysteries of our ,faith2 and because the ,east specially reminds us of the holy life1 the ,divine teaching1 the miracles1 the suffering1 the death of our ,blessed ,lord--the ,sun of ,righteousness1 the ,day-spring from on high--in the ,east#gg4' ,do this1 ,mr4 ,dole1 and you will never again be disposed to regard this custom as superstitious4 ,why1 some people even think it is superstitious to bend the head reverently at the name of ,jesus1 when it is mentioned in the ,creeds and the other parts of the ,service4 ,i don't think so1 though once ,i did4 ,since ,i have considered more about it1 it has seemed to me that some outward show of reverence at the mention of the ,sacred ,name is quite ,scriptural#gh4 ,but as ,i am yet only a learner about these outward forms1 will you kindly tell me1 sir1 whether there is any rule of the ,church about this custom8 ,the ,vicar will be able to answer that better than ,i can4 ,i could not help overhearing our friend's question1 said ,mr4 ,ambrose1 as ,i was close behind you1 and ,i will answer it at once4 ,the rule of our ,church is very plain on this point2 it is this3 ',all manner of persons present shall reverently kneel upon their knees1 when the general ,confession1 ,litany1 and other prayers are read2 and shall stand up at the saying of the ,belief1 according to the rules in that behalf prescribed in the ,book of ,common ,prayer2 and likewise1 when in time of ,divine ,service the ,lord ,jesus shall be mentioned1 due and lowly reverence shall be done by all persons present1 as it hath been accustomed3 testifying1 by these outward ceremonies and gestures1 their inward humility1 ,christian resolution1 and due acknowledgment that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the true eternal ,son of ,god1 is the only ,saviour of the world#gi4' ,thank you1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 nothing could be plainer1 or more reasonable than that direction2 but1 you see1 ,i have for so many years sat under ,mr4 ,scole1 who never taught us any thing of this sort1 that you will forgive me if ,i seem a little more ignorant than those who have been all the time sitting under you4 ,what do you mean by 'sitting under1' my friend8 said the ,vicar1 very innocently4 ,i mean hearing you preach1 was ,mr4 ,dole's reply4 ,it's a curious expression1 now ,i come to think about it4 ,it certainly is so1 and the meaning of it is not very clear4 ,but in our ,church we don't talk about sitting under1 or hearing this or that preacher4 ,we simply say we attend this or that church1 as the case may be4 ,and the reason is1 that--although very important in its proper place--we consider preaching of little moment 7and the preacher of far less71 when compared with the other objects of ,christian worship1--,prayer and ,praise4 ,we look upon ,god's ,house as pre-eminently 'a ,house of ,prayer4' ,well1 ,i do think we used to make too much of the sermon at the meeting2 and ,i remember all our conversation afterwards was about the sermon or the preacher4 ,one ,sunday we had a young gent4 from ,london1 ,mr4 ,sweetly1 to preach1 and our people never ceased to talk about him4 ,i believe1 however1 none of them recollected a word he said2 but they could remember well enough 'his lovely voice1' and 'how nice he looked in his beautiful black silk gown' 7you know1 sir1 our people always preach in black gowns71 'and those charming lavender gloves6 and then the sweetest embroidered white lawn pocket-handkerchief imaginable6' ,it had just been presented to him1 he told me1 by a young lady--,miss ,angelina ,gushing--who sat under him at his ,london meeting-house4 ,i never was a preacher-worshipper myself1 sir4 ,save me from the man with the lavender gloves and the white embroidered pocket-handkerchief1 ,i say1 said ,mr4 ,acres4 ,if there is one thing in nature ,i shrink from more than another1 it is a fop1 and a fop in the pulpit is beyond endurance4 ,a most offensive person1 indeed1 said the ,vicar1 and one that brings great discredit upon the ministry2 but it can be no matter of surprise that men sometimes a little over-estimate themselves in some of our fashionable towns1 where the people 7specially the ladies7 flock to hear 'dear' ,mr4 ,somebody1 and so abundantly supply him with those articles of personal furniture which are usually the reward of a popular preacher4 ,it is not so very long ago that in our own church every thing was made to give way to the sermon4 ,you remember1 ,mr4 ,acres1 when many of the people in ,st4 ,catherine's used to sit and sleep through the prayers#hj1 and just wake up for the sermon4 ,then the pulpit was every thing1 and little else could be seen by the people2 the galleries were built so that the people might sit and see the preacher1 and the pews were likewise built up only with a view to sitting comfortable during the sermon4 ,it is all different now1 ,i am thankful to say1 and the pulpit takes once more its old and appropriate position4 ,but we must take care not to esteem too lightly the office of the preacher1 in our contempt for one who preaches merely to please the people4 ,to 'preach the ,word' is one of the solemn duties laid upon us at our ordination2 and woe be to us if we neglect to do so earnestly and faithfully6 ,,chapter ,,xvii ,,the ,,pulpit ,because the preacher was wise1 he still taught the people knowledge2 yea1 he gave good heed1 and sought out1 and set in order many proverbs4 ,eccles4 xii4 #i4 ,unskilful he to fawn1 or seek for power1 ,by doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour2 ,far other aims his heart had learn'd to prize1 ,more bent to raise the wretched than to rise4 99 99 99 99 99 ,at church1 with meek and unaffected grace1 ,his looks adorn'd the venerable place2 ,truth from his lips prevail'd with double sway1 ,and fools1 who came to scoff1 remain'd to pray4 ,,goldsmith',s ,country ,parson4 ,resort to sermons1 but to prayers most3 ,praying's the end of preaching4 ,,george ,,herbert4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,st4 ,mary1 ,henley-on-,thames ,,the ,,pulpit ,illustration3 ,stone ,pulpit in ,north ,kilworth ,church ,it's curious to note1 continued the ,vicar1 how the ,pulpit and the ,gallery have kept company in rising higher and higher4 ,at first the pulpit was placed at a moderate height above the congregation1 and then the church improvers 787 were usually contented with erecting a small low gallery at the west end of the church#ha4 ,it is true1 that was bad enough2 for in order to construct it1 it was nearly always thought necessary to fill in the tower arch and to hide the western window--often the most beautiful features in the church2 and then the organ was taken up into this gallery1 and the singers followed it2 and nothing1 you know1 could be more inconvenient than that those who help to lead the services of the ,church should be behind those they profess to lead4 ,but when people had once tasted the luxury of sitting in a church gallery1 the demand for it rapidly increased1 and my ,lady ,pride1 who had very comfortable crimson-cushioned seats in her box at the theatre1 could not be content without an equally comfortable and elegant box in the gallery at her church1 where she could see all the people quite as well as in her box at the theatre1 and had such a good view of the pulpit and its occupant1 that1 with a good opera-glass1 she could even read the manuscript from which the clergyman was preaching4 ,as the taste spread1 of course galleries multiplied1 and not only extended in a lateral direction over all available parts of the church1 but sometimes mounted up one above another 7as witness many of our ,london churches7 till they almost touched the very roof4 ,indeed1 to build a new gallery was one of the most popular things a local magnate could do2 and even ,members of ,parliament1 who desired to make sure of their next election1 could hardly adopt better means for recommending themselves to their constituents than by disfiguring their church with one of these hideous structures1 and recording the same on some conspicuous part of the church#hb4 ,but worse still2 these galleries were sometimes even still more nearly connected with the political parties of the day4 ,i know one church#hc--;and that is not the only instance--in which are galleries1 having complete opera-boxes1 furnished with luxurious chairs1 stoves1 c41 and every box is a two-pound freehold1 and the boxes are1 from time to time1 advertised for sale1 with the inviting recommendation that each one gives a vote for the county4 ,one great piece of presumptuous vanity connected with these galleries1 is the numberless instances in which the names of churchwardens1 that otherwise would have been unknown to fame1 have been emblazoned upon them4 ,you remember1 no doubt1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 the inscription1 in large gilt letters1 that covered the front of our old gallery--',this gallery was erected ,a4,d4 #agaf1 ,thomas ,grubb and ,matthew ,stokes1 ,churchwardens2 enlarged1 and newly painted and ornamented1 ,a4,d4 #agfj1 ,peter ,jenks and ,samuel ,styles1 ,churchwardens4' ,i believe ,i have read that inscription thousands of times1 and those names used even to haunt me in my dreams4 ,had those churchwardens been four of the greatest saints in the calendar1 it would have been gross impiety to emblazon their names so conspicuously as thus to force them upon one's notice during the whole service4 ,if1 however1 tradition does not speak falsely of them1 those men were by no means too correct either in their private life or in their parish accounts4 ,but let them be never so good1 people who go to church for ,christian worship1 don't wish to have the names and exploits of these worthy or unworthy men staring them in the face every moment they are there4 ,but ,i beg your pardon1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 ,i interrupted you when you were speaking of the pulpit4 ,well1 you know1 when the gallery had reached the ceiling1 it could go no higher2 but then its upper tenants could no longer see the preacher4 ,so the pulpit rose too1 and1 to enable all to see it1 sometimes took its place just in front of the altar1 so as completely to hide that from most of the congregation2 nay1 ,i have seen it even over the altar itself#hd4 ,then the prayer-desk came climbing up after the pulpit2 and then the clerk's desk came creeping up below them1 till that1 too1 became one of the most conspicuous and important objects of the church4 ,thus the three together grew into that clumsy1 unsightly mass which has been not inaptly called the ,three ,decker6 ,ah1 ,i shall never forget poor old ,mowforth's perplexity1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 when he looked about for his peculiar box in our restored church4 ,first he looked doubtingly at your prayer-desk2 then he examined the lectern from which you read the lessons2 then he looked with some faint hope at the pulpit2 at last he came to me1 and said1 ',please1 sir1 which of these is to be my place8' and his look of dismay was indescribable when ,i told him that1 as you intended that henceforth the choir should lead the responses1 he would be absorbed in the congregation1 and would in future be able to take his place with the rest of his family4 ,but the man is a sensible fellow1 and he confessed to me the other day that he considers the new arrangement a great improvement1 and wonders that the people could have so long endured the duet service in which only the voices of the parson and himself could be heard4 ,but we have again wandered a little from our subject4 ,let us go back to the pulpit2 it must have a history of its own1 like every other part of the church4 ,will you kindly enlighten me and our friend here on the subject8 for it must be one of much interest to us both4 ,well--to begin at the beginning--,i suppose we must look for the origin of our pulpits in the 'brazen scaffold' which ,solomon set 'in the midst of the ,temple#he1' and the 'pulpit of wood#hf' from which ,ezra read the ,book of the ,law4 ,there are in this country many very beautiful examples of ancient pulpits2 these are1 with but very few exceptions1 constructed of stone1 and very generally of the same date as the church itself4 ,sometimes they were erected outside the church#hg1 but usually in the place where we are still accustomed to see them4 ,sometimes stone pulpits were quite separate buildings1 erected in some much frequented place1 usually near a cathedral or other church#hh4 ',in the ancient rites of ,durham there is mention of a fine iron pulpit1 with iron rails to support the monks in going up1 of whom one did preach every holiday and ,sunday at one o'clock in the afternoon4 ,this was situated in the ,galilee1 or western division of the church1 which was open to the public even when the entrance to the rest of the church was interdicted#hi4' ,although the most beautiful pulpits1 both ancient and modern1 are of stone--many of them being richly carved and inlaid with costly marbles--yet the greater number of the more modern pulpits are made of wood#ij4 ,by an injunction of ,queen ,elizabeth in #aeei1 pulpits were ordered to be erected in all churches#ia1 and by a canon of #affc it was ordered that pulpits should be placed in all the churches of the country not already provided with them4 ,the pulpits then erected were in almost every case made of wood1 and their pattern has since then been generally1 though by no means universally1 followed4 ,a curious appendage to the pulpit sometimes found is the horologium1 or hour-glass4 ,whether this was placed there for the information of the congregation as to the progress of the hour1 or to teach them its own solemn moral1 or as a guide to the preacher respecting the length of his discourse#ib1 ,i cannot say4 ,another adjunct to the pulpit is the sounding-board1 or1 as it should rather be called1 the lid or cover of the pulpit2 and a thing more useless1 and usually more ugly1 one cannot conceive#ic4 ,it certainly always seems to me rather to impede the sound of my voice than to assist it2 and then it has1 to say the least1 a most uncomfortable appearance2 and though ,i never heard of the accident really happening1 yet it always appears to me to be on the point of falling and crushing the poor preacher below it4 ,it is not1 however1 difficult to trace the origin of these covers to the pulpit2 they were really necessary where the pulpits were separate buildings--as at ,st4 ,paul's ,cross--in order to protect the preacher when the weather was inclement4 ,at ,st4 ,paul's ,cross1 and at the ,cross ,pulpit at ,norwich1 and probably elsewhere1 not only the preacher1 but also the audience1 were provided with such a shelter#id4 ,will you kindly tell us1 said ,mr4 ,dole1 why you discarded the large handsome velvet cushion that was once on your pulpit1 and have1 instead1 adopted the embroidered piece of velvet which now hangs in front of the pulpit8 ,well1 as a matter of taste1 ,i think you will agree with me that the present beautiful frontal1 with its richly-embroidered cross1 is an improvement upon the old cushion4 ,but ,i discarded the old big pillow--for such1 indeed1 it was--not only because it was unsightly1 but also because it was useless1 for my head is not so much more tender than that of other persons1 that ,i1 any more than they1 should require a pillow to rest it on during my private devotions2 and as ,i am not accustomed to perform the part of a mountebank in the pulpit1 or1 as some say1 to use much action when preaching1 ,i need no such protection in order to preserve my limbs safe and sound4 ,but1 besides this1 there is a manifest objection to these huge cushions2 undoubtedly they tend to impede the sound of the preacher's voice#ie2 so ,i was very glad to get rid of your handsome cushion1 and adopt our more convenient and more beautiful pulpit frontal4 ,i often think1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 if the old pulpits could speak1 what a strange account they would give of the various preachers that have occupied them4 ,take our own old stone pulpit1 for instance4 ,in early times1 of course1 there were only sermons at long intervals1 perhaps often dependent upon the occasional visits of some old preaching friar4 ,at length there came the quaint old ,homilies of the ,church2 then there came an interruption to all true religion and order1 and the old pulpit poured forth the mad ravings of the fanatical ,puritans who got possession of it4 ,now and then came a noisy soldier to hold forth1 and there was--as our old registers show--the ,reverend ,ebenezer ,bradshaw1 the ,presbyterian1 who left his snuff and tobacco shop to enlighten our poor benighted people2 next came the ,reverend ,obadiah ,brent1 late of the ',green ,dragon1' the ,independent preacher2 and then the ,reverend ,jabez ,zanchy1 the baker of ,starchcombe1 the ,anabaptist preacher#if2 then there was a century of long learned essays freely interspersed with ,greek and ,latin1 so that1 if the prayers were said in a language 'understanded of the people1' the sermon certainly was not4 ,following upon this came what we may call the muscular style of preaching--usually extempore--requiring the pillows of which you have been speaking to save the knuckles of the preacher from entire demolition4 ,thank ,god1 amid these many changes1 there have always been some good men to be found in our pulpits2 but1 for my part1 ,i like the quiet1 sober1 persuasive style1 which--saving your presence1 ,mr4 ,vicar--,i am thankful to say1 characterizes the sermons at ,st4 ,catherine's4 ,i think sermons cannot be too practical2 and1 whilst they should be addressed both to the heart and the intellect1 they should most of all be designed to touch the heart4 ,,chapter ,,xviii ,,the ,,nave ,my brethren1 have not the faith of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,lord of ,glory1 with respect of persons4 ,s4 ,james ii4 #a4 ,at length a generation more refined ,improved the simple plan4444 ,and o'er the seat1 with plenteous wadding stuff'd1 ,induced a splendid cover1 green and blue1 ,yellow and red1 of tapestry richly wrought1 ,and woven close1 or needlework sublime4 ,,cowper4 ,illustration3 ,st4 ,mary's ,church1 ,sherborne ,,the ,,nave ,ah1 ,mr4 ,beeland1 ,i'm so glad to see you6 said the ,vicar1 as1 on leaving the church1 he met his neighbour the newly-appointed ,vicar of ,droneworth4 ,i have been much grieved to hear of the sad opposition you have had to encounter in restoring your fine old church2 but this was sure to be the case in a parish like yours1 which has been so long neglected2 indeed it must be so1 more or less1 in every parish1 so long as there are people who honour themselves much more than they honour ,god2 and such1 ,i suppose1 there will be till the end of the world4 ,you may be sure1 my friend1 the woe of universal commendation#ig never yet fell upon any church restorer4 ,never1 certainly4 ,but what makes our position often so difficult and so painful is the fact that1 whilst we are fully sensible of the rectitude of our own course1 we cannot help1 to some extent1 sympathizing in the feelings of those who blame us4 ,for instance1 in almost every case of church restoration it is necessary to disturb a large number of human bones1 and yet we can but sympathize in that feeling of respect for the departed1 which sometimes expresses itself in the most strenuous opposition to any work involving this painful necessity4 ,then1 you see1 there is the rooting up of long-cherished associations4 ,we have a case in point close at hand4 ,there's the grand old church of ,rainsborough will be left in its miserable condition so long as the present ,vicar lives1 and for no other reason than this3--ten years since he lost a favourite daughter1 and she had always been accustomed to sit in one particular corner of their large pew4 ,now the ,vicar fears 7and no doubt justly7 that should the church be altered1 the old pew with its fond associations would be swept away--and so the church will never be improved as long as he lives#ih4 ,we must respect the old man's tender love for the spot sacred to the memory of his dear child1 yet we plainly see it is all wrong that for the sake of the private feelings 7however praiseworthy7 of any one person1 ,god's house should remain in a state of neglect1 and the poor should be uncared for therein4 ,this1 however1 is an oft-told tale4 ,but most of all1 we have to contend against wounded pride in its most cherished strong-hold--alas6--the ,church of ,god2 and the enemy is all the more fierce because it is prostrate4 ,my two great opponents1 ,sir ,john ,adamley and ,mr4 ,parvener1 are to meet me this evening1 and ,i am come to ask you and ,mr4 ,acres to walk back with me to ,droneworth1 so that ,i may have the benefit of your support4 ,you see these two gentlemen had pews in the nave of our church1 lined1 cushioned1 and carpeted in dazzling crimson2 each pew was as large as a good-sized room1 and the two occupied nearly half the nave4 ,mr4 ,parvener was generally at church once on a ,sunday1 and then he sat not only in luxurious ease1 but also in solitary dignity4 ,sir ,john never came to church1 as there was some old feud respecting the right owner of his pew2 but the door was always locked1 and a canvas cover was stretched over the top4 ,these precautions1 however1 failed to keep out an occasional intruder1 and at last the door was securely nailed up#ii4 ,the worst of it was1 that all this time there was not a seat in the church which a poor man could occupy with any chance of either seeing or hearing the ministering ,priest4 ,now people talk about proper distinctions in church between the high and the low1 and we sometimes hear much about old ancestral pews4 ,believe me1 it's all nonsense1 my dear sir2 the distinction is solely between riches and poverty4 ,if a man has plenty of money1 he may 7or rather1 till lately he might7 secure the biggest pew in ,england2 and if he has not money1 though he be entitled to quarter the royal arms on his escutcheon1 he will get no pew at all4 ,mr4 ,parvener is an exact instance of this4 ,but a few years since he was working for half-a-crown a day4 ,no sooner did he become wealthy than he obtained a large pew at our church1 whilst its former owner1 whose fall had been as complete and rapid as was the rise of his successor1 was driven to a remote corner of the church allotted to degraded poverty4 ,the walk to ,droneworth was soon accomplished1 but the ,rector with his two friends only reached the ,parsonage a few moments before the arrival of the two aggrieved parishioners4 ,it was evident from the first greeting that they had come in no friendly spirit4 ,but few words passed before ,sir ,john came direct to the object of the interview4 ,the purpose of our visit1 said ,sir ,john1 you are aware1 is to protest against the removal of our pews at church1 and to declare our determination to have them replaced if it is possible4 ,but1 gentlemen1 you are aware that we have provided good accommodation for you in the restored church1 replied the ,vicar4 ,good accommodation1 sir6 exclaimed ,sir ,john4 ,why1 you have given us nothing but low wooden benches to sit upon2 and1 to add to the insult1 sir1 there is not the semblance of a door2 so that our devotions may at any time be interrupted by the presence of an inferior4 ,why1 sir1 the very labourers1 who earn their half-crown a day1 have seats in the church just as good as ours6 ,the last sentence made poor ,mr4 ,parvener writhe a little2 and that indeed was its real intention1 for the two neighbours had1 in truth1 little love for each other4 ,the words1 however1 accomplished another and a better purpose2 they broke up at once any thing like united action on the part of the opposition4 ,let me ask you1 gentlemen1 a very simple question1 said the ,vicar4 ,why should not the labourer have as good a place in ,god's house as yourselves8 ,you might as well ask1 said the ,baronet1 why they should not have as good houses as we have4 ,the cases are in no way similar4 ,you live in better houses than the poor1 simply because your worldly means enable you to do so2 but ,i have yet to be taught that in the ,church wealth is to be exalted and poverty degraded4 ,no1 ,sir ,john1 be sure this distinction is out of place there4 ,we go to church to worship and to learn1 and if favour is shown to any class1 no doubt it should be to the ignorant and the poor2 but this is a matter on which we are not left to our own judgment4 ,there are not many instructions in our ,bibles as to the manner of arranging our churches1 but here the direction is plain and unmistakable4 ,indeed1 sir6 ,i had no idea that any thing about church seats was to be found in the ,bible4 ,oh1 but indeed there is4 ,the passage to which ,i refer is in ,st4 ,james' ,epistle2 and it is this3 ',my brethren1 have not the faith of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,lord of ,glory1 with respect of persons4 ,for if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring1 in goodly apparel1 and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment2 and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing1 and say unto him1 ,sit thou here in a good place2 and say to the poor1 ,stand thou there1 or sit here under my footstool3 are ye not then partial in yourselves1 and are become judges of evil thoughts#ajj8' ,if those words are in the ,bible1 ,i must confess the ,bible is against me2 but ,i had no idea that they were there4 ,i assure you they are the exact words of ,holy ,scripture4 ,it's clear enough to me1 interposed ,mr4 ,parvener1 that the labourer ought to have as good a place at church as the lord4 ,i don't think the church is the place to show off aristocratic pride4 ,why1 for that matter1 there's many a man that doesn't know who was his grandfather doing more for the glory of ,god and the good of his fellow-creatures than your grandest aristocrats4 ,this was intended as a counter-thrust1 and it created a wider breach in the enemy's camp4 ,but1 continued he1 ,i don't see why1 if all have good places in the church1 we should not make our own seats as comfortable as we can4 ,ah1 but there comes in just what ,st4 ,james tells us we ought to keep out3 the distinction between riches and poverty1 distinctions which among our fellow-men have their advantages1 but not before ,god in ,his house4 ,just hear what ,st4 ,james says again3 ',hearken1 my beloved brethren1 ,hath not ,god chosen the poor of this world rich in faith1 and heirs of the kingdom which ,he hath promised to them that love ,him8 ,but ye have despised the poor#aja4' ,i was much struck with a sermon ,i heard the other day on this subject4 ,the preacher said1 ',if our ,lord ,jesus ,christ were to enter some of our churches just as ,he went to the temple at ,jerusalem1 do you think ,he would take ,his seat in the luxuriously furnished pew of the rich1 or in the open bench of the poor#ajb8' ,now1 let me ask you too1 ,mr4 ,parvener 7for this is1 after all1 the sum and substance of the matter71 do you think that ,he 'who was rich1 yet for our sakes became poor#ajc1' and whose life was a perfect pattern of humility1 would sanction the distinctions which either pride of station1 or pride of riches1 would create in the ,house of ,prayer8 ,well1 sir1 ,i must say that's a solemn question1 and it sets one a-thinking more than ,i have thought before about this4 ,but1 ,mr4 ,beeland1 said ,sir ,john1 interrupting1 for he saw the ground of his arguments was slipping from under him1 you will acknowledge that these open benches in church are a novelty1 and you often talk to us about keeping to the old paths4 ,now1 here you are teaching us to strike out a new way altogether4 ,i wish ,i knew something more than ,i do about the history of these pews4 ,i anticipated some such remark from you1 and knowing that my friend ,mr4 ,ambrose is more learned than ,i am in all these subjects1 ,i induced him to join us this evening1 and if he will kindly give us the benefit of his information1 he will1 ,i am sure1 convince you that pews1 and not benches1 are the modern innovation4 ,if you can have patience to listen to me1 said the ,vicar of ,st4 ,catherine's1 ,i will gladly give you the history of pews1 as far ,i know it4 ,,chapter ,,xix ,,the ,,nave ,take theses things hence2 make not ,my ,father's house a house of merchandise4 ,john ii4 #af4 ,not raised in nice proportions was the pile1 ,but large and massy2 for duration built2 ,with pillars crowded1 and the roof upheld ,by naked rafters intricately cross'd1 ,like leafless underboughs1 'mid some thick grove1 ,all wither'd by the depth of shade above1 444 ,the floor ,of nave and aisle1 in unpretending guise1 ,was occupied by oaken benches ranged ,in seemly rows4 ,,wordsworth4 ,illustration3 ,all ,saints' ,church1 ,bradford ,,the ,,nave ,in order to trace the history of pews#ajd to their first source1 ,i must1 as ,mr4 ,beeland has hinted1 go back to a time when pews1 as we now see them1 had never been thought of4 ,it is pretty certain that the first seats in churches were stone benches placed round the north1 south1 and west walls1 portions of which are still remaining in many old churches#aje4 ,in some ancient churches in ,ireland the stone bench has also been found adjoining the eastern wall1 the altar being placed a little distance before it4 ,in those early times people were far less self-indulgent than at present in ,god's ,house1 and the usual custom was to stand or kneel during the whole service4 ,the first wooden seats were small stools1 each intended to seat one person1 and placed in the nave as suited the convenience of each occupier4 ,then came plain benches1 and next1 benches with backs to them4 ,the priest's reading-pew was probably the origin of all pews4 ,they seem to have been unknown in any form till the end of the thirteenth century1 but the earliest record we have of a pew is #afjbajf4 ,next to the 'reading-pew' came the 'bride's pew#ajg1' the 'churching-pew1' and the 'churchwarden's pew4' ,in the nave of ,little ,berningham ,church1 ,norfolk1 is a pew erected by a shepherd2 a skeleton carved in wood is fixed at the south-west corner of it1 and these lines are carved on the pew3-- ',for couples join'd in wedlock2 and my friend ,that stranger is3 this seat ,i did intend1 ,but at the coste and charge of ,stephen ,crosbee4 ,all you that do this place pass by1 ,as you are now1 even so was ,i-- ,remember death1 for you must dye1 ,and as ,i am1 soe shall you be4 ',anno ,domini1 #afdjajh4' ,the general adoption of pews began with ,puritanism1 and with its increase they too grew in width and stature4 ,first of all1 people were satisfied with the uniform arrangement and space of the old oak benches1 only erecting on the top of them an ugly and useless panelling of deal4 ,this was bad enough1 but worse soon followed2 and1 to make the seats more luxurious1 first one bench was taken away1 and the two benches made one pew2 then two were removed1 then three1 till at last it required the removal of six benches1 which formerly would accommodate thirty persons1 to make one pew to accommodate two or three4 ,now1 either men are giants in these days and were pigmies in those days1 or else the pride and luxury of man claim a prominence now in ,god's ,house1 which was quite unknown then4 ,i will ask either of you1 gentlemen1 to decide which is the true explanation4 ,i fear it must be against ourselves1 said ,mr4 ,parvener4 ,i fear so1 indeed#aji4 ,but now let me explain to you more fully what are the real evils of this wretched pew system4 ,and first1 as to the private pew--for1 besides sharing in the evils of all the rest1 it has some peculiarly its own4 ,of these1 the pride it fosters1 and the 'respect of persons1' so severely condemned by ,st4 ,james1 are the worst4 ,my dear sir1 ,i assure you it has often made my blood boil to see some poor old man with his venerable bare head exposed to the cold draught of a neglected part of the church1 whilst a young1 pampered son of fortune has been cushioned up under the stately canopy of his own pew#aaj4 ,oh1 sir1 ,i'm sure you must agree with me that this is altogether against the spirit of ,christianity6 ,i'm no leveller out of church2 the social distinctions must be there kept up2 but in ,god's ,house these should have no place at all4 ,then1 surely1 the luxury of many of these private pews is altogether inconsistent with the object of our meeting in the ,house of ,prayer4 ,it is--as it shows the progress of luxury1 and its concomitant1 effeminacy--a curious circumstance1 that when the custom of having pews in our churches began to spread1 they were1 by our hardy ancestors1 considered as too great indulgences1 and as temptations to repose4 ,their curtains and bed-furniture1 their cushions and sleep1 have1 by a long association of ideas1 become intimately connected4 ,the ,puritans thought pews the devil's baby1 or booby hutches#aaa4 ,i have heard that in ,america they go even beyond us in the luxury of pews1 and that in ,boston some of them are actually lined with velvet#aab4 ,i believe that both there and here the private pew system has done very much1 not only to force the poor from the ,church1 but to drive many of all classes over to dissent4 ,i can't see how that can be1 said the ,baronet4 ,why1 naturally enough1 sir1 for they find all this the very opposite to what the ,church professes to be and to teach4 ,they see the rich exalted1 and the poor debased2 they find a house of pride1 instead of a house of prayer4 ,the exclusiveness of this system is one of the most curious as well as absurd features in its history4 ,true1 the change in our social habits has created a change for the better here2 but much of the old temper survives4 ,you would hardly believe1 perhaps1 that years ago it was not only considered an impropriety for the squire and the dame to sit in the same pew with any of their inferior fellow-worshippers1 but the presence of their own children#aac was even considered an indecent intrusion4 ,this was1 indeed1 ridiculous2 but1 in truth1 the whole system would be monstrously grotesque1 were it not so very wicked4 ,there is a curious inscription on an old seat in a church at ,whalley1 which seems to throw some light on the early history of private pews2 it is this3--',my man ,shuttleworth1 of ,hacking1 made this form1 and here will ,i sit when ,i come1 and my ,cousin ,nowell may make one behind me if he please1 and my sonne ,sherburne shall make one on the other side1 and ,mr4 ,catterall another behind him2 and for the residue1 the use shall be first come first speed1 and that will make the proud wives of ,whalley rise betimes to come to church#aad4' ,the first seat thus appropriated was1 no doubt1 a rude wooden bench2 but certain it is1 that no sooner were even these claimed as private property than quarrelling began#aae2 and the quarrel has1 alas6 been kept up to our own day4 ,the right to these faculty pews1 as they are called1 is1 however1 in most cases very questionable1 and often leads to costly law processes#aaf4 ,many sensible men and earnest ,churchmen are giving up their supposed right to them1 and are contented to take their place in church like ordinary mortals4 ,i sincerely trust1 gentlemen1 this may be your case4 ,now1 let me notice a few of the evils which are common to all pews4 ,they tend to destroy the unity and uniformity of common worship1 which forms so grand a feature in our church system4 ',they are very inconvenient to kneel down in1 necessarily oblige some to sit with their backs to the speaker1 and when they rise up1 present a scene of confusion1 as if they were running their heads against one another#aag4 ,as ,god's ,house is a ,house of ,praise and ,prayer1 so before all things the arrangement there should have reference to the proper posture#aah of praise and prayer4 ,then see how these pews shelter and encourage levity in ,god's ,house4 ,as long ago as the year #affb1 a bishop of ,norwich wrote this satire upon pews3 ',there wants nothing but beds to hear the ,word of ,god on4 ,we have casements1 locks and keys1 and cushions--,i had almost said bolsters and pillows--and for those we love the church4 ,i will not guess what is done within them3 who sits1 stands1 or lies asleep at prayers1 communion1 c42 but this1 ,i dare say1 they are either to hide some vice or to proclaim one#aai4' ,i will only mention one more objection to pews3 they harbour dust and dirt#abj1 and otherwise disfigure the beauty of our churches4 ,well1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 ,i must confess myself brought to the same opinion as yourself1 said ,sir ,john1 and the reformation of the evil may commence at ,droneworth to-morrow without any obstacle whatever from me4 ,nor yet from me1 rejoined ,mr4 ,parvener3 ,i certainly never heard the case fairly stated before1 and now ,i have1 ,i own ,i'm convinced4 ,heartily glad1 ,i'm sure1 my friend here must be to part with the old half empty packing-cases1 and to see proper benches in their place4 ,and as you have been kind enough to listen to me so far1 ,i will just say a few more words to explain the two desks which the ,vicar has placed in the nave of your church1 and of which ,i heard you had disapproved4 ,one is the ,litany-desk1 or faldstool#aba1--;as it is called in the ,coronation ,service4 ,the ,litany is a very solemn1 penitential service1 and from very early times it has been said from the appropriate place where the ,vicar has placed the ,litany-desk in your church--namely1 just at the entrance to the chancel4 ,its position there has reference to that ,litany of ,god's own appointing1 of which we read in the ,book of ,joel#abb1 where1 in a general assembly1 the priests were to weep between the porch and the altar1 and to say1 ',spare ,thy people1 ,o ,lord4' ,in allusion to this1 our ,litany--retaining also the same words of supplication--is enjoined1 by the royal injunctions#abc1 still in force1 'to be said or sung in the midst of the church1 at a low desk before the chancel-door#abd4' ,the other desk is called the lectern1 or lettern1 and sometimes the eagle-desk2 and1 as you are aware1 is the desk from which the lessons are read4 ,they were first made of wood1 and often richly carved2 afterwards they were commonly made of brass or copper4 ,they were first used about the end of the thirteenth century1 and although most of our country churches have been despoiled of them1 yet they have never ceased to be used in our cathedrals1 as well as many other churches#abe4 ,the desk is often supported by a pelican feeding its young with its own blood1 the emblem of our ,saviour's love2 more frequently it is supported by an eagle1 the symbolic representation of the ,evangelist ,st4 ,john4 ,it is true that both the faldstool and the lectern have long been unknown at ,droneworth1 yet ,i feel sure you will not1 on second thoughts1 consider the restoration of such convenient and appropriate furniture as objectionable4 ,the two late dissentients agreed that as they had overcome the greater difficulty1 they should withdraw all opposition in the matter2 and1 it being now late1 the party broke up1 each one feeling glad that a good thing had been done on a good day4 ,,chapter ,,xx ,,the ,,aisles ,praise ye the name of the ,lord2 praise ,him1 ,o ye servants of the ,lord4 ,ye that stand in the house of the ,lord1 in the courts of the house of our ,god4 ,ps4 cxxxv4 #a1 #b4 ,three solemn parts together twine ,in harmony's mysterious line ,three solemn aisles approach the shrine1 ,yet all are one4 ,,keble4 ,illustration3 ,castle ,cary ,church ,,the ,,aisles ,mr4 ,beeland accompanied his two friends some distance on their way home4 ,i remember noticing1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 that the pews of your two parishioners very much blocked up the centre aisle of the church2 their removal will much widen the aisle1 which will be a great improvement4 ,forgive me for correcting you1 said ,mr4 ,ambrose1 there can be no such thing as a centre aisle4 ,you are speaking of the centre alley or passage4 ,the word aisle#abf can only refer to the wing of a building1 and it always denotes that portion of a church which runs laterally north or south of the nave or chancel4 ,i see1 ,mr4 ,beeland1 you have some work to do in that aisle of yours before your church will be in good order4 ,yes1 that is my greatest remaining difficulty4 ,i have observed that those of the congregation who occupy that aisle are far less attentive and devotional than the rest2 and the reasons are obvious4 ,they are cut off from the main portion of the church1 not only by the high backs of the existing pews1 and by the hat and cloak rails which run from pillar to pillar1 but also by needless masses of modern masonry4 ,moreover1 they can see nothing of that part of the church which is sacred to the most solemn offices of our worship4 ,then1 again1 what the people do see is enough to divert all devotional thought and feeling from any but the most seriously and religiously disposed4 ,you mean the hideous heathen monument which occupies the east end of the aisle4 ,if ,i remember rightly1 it is a sort of monstrous ,roman altar1 with four huge bull's heads at each corner4 ,yes2 it is in the centre of a mortuary chapel1 once belonging to a family named ,bullock1 and their frightful crest1 in gigantic proportions1 is the one object on which the eyes of at least a third of our congregation must rest1 if they open their eyes at all4 ,i can hardly conceive any thing more calculated to deaden the fervour of ,christian worship than an object like this placed before the gaze of the worshipper4 ,much as ,i object to the bare walls of ,dissenting meeting-houses1 and the many-altared aisles of ,roman ,catholic churches1 ,i believe neither are so distracting to the minds of the congregation generally as are the mortuary chapels1 with their uncouth adornments1 which occupy so large a space in the aisles of many of our own churches4 ,unfortunately1 this chapel now belongs to a young man who has recently seceded to the ,church of ,rome1 and he will neither allow me to appropriate for the use of the parishioners any of the space we so much need1 nor will he consent to have the unsightly monument removed to a less conspicuous place4 ,the bitter hostility to wards the ,church of their baptism1 and the utter absence of ,christian sympathy in good works of this nature1 which characterize so many of those who have fallen away from our ,communion1 is indeed most deplorable4 ,but even if your unreasonable and narrow-hearted parishioner will oppose all improvement in that part of the aisle which--stolen from ,god and ,his people--he claims as his own private property1 there is much you can do1 when you set about your work of restoration1 to make that part of the church less isolated than at present4 ,at least1 you can remove much of the useless wood and masonry which now separate the aisle from the nave4 ,i propose also to re-open the ancient hagioscope in the south wall of the chancel1 by which means the people in the aisle will once more gain a view of the altar1 and be enabled to see and hear the priest when officiating there4 ,will you kindly tell me1 ,mr4 ,beeland1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 what are hagioscopes#abg8 ,i never remember having heard the word before4 ,you probably have heard them called by their more common name of squints4 ,they are openings in the north or south walls of the chancel1 or perhaps more commonly in the walls supporting the chancel arch1 and are intended to give a view of the altar to those who are worshipping in the aisles4 ,they are to be found in most old churches1 but they have commonly1 as in our case1 been bricked up4 ,it is manifestly very desirable that in all cases they should be restored1 not only on account of their architectural beauty1 but also for their practical utility in the services of the ,church4 ,the party then separated1 and the ,vicar of ,droneworth took back to his parish a lighter heart than he had known for many a day4 ,,chapter ,,xxi ,,the ,,transepts ,strength and beauty are in ,his sanctuary4 ,ps4 xcvi4 #f4 ,pace we the ground6 our footsteps tread ,a cross--the builder's holiest form-- ,that awful couch where once was shed ,the blood with man's forgiveness warm1 ,and here1 just where ,his mighty breast ,throbb'd the last agony away1 ,they bade the voice of worship rest1 ,and white-robed ,levites pause and pray4 ,,hawker4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,,ss4 ,peter and ,paul1 ,ringwood ,,the ,,transepts ,much of the objection which you have expressed to the prevailing arrangement of the aisles1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 continuing the conversation with his ,vicar1 seems to me to apply also to that of the transepts--,i believe that is the proper name for those portions of a church which extend in a transverse direction north and south8 ,yes1 replied the ,vicar2 and the remedies for the evil are in both cases nearly the same4 ,great inconvenience often arises from the exclusive character of the parclose4 ,i would have the solid part of this made lower1 and the upper part more light and open4 ,pardon me1 my friend1 but ,i am ignorant as to what you mean by the word parclose4 ,i refer now to the screen which encloses the chancel on the north and south sides2 but ,i believe the word may apply to any screen in the church4 ,by means of these screens1 however1 the persons in the transepts are needlessly excluded from a view of the altar4 ,yes2 but the change in them which you suggest would not fully meet the difficulty1 even if a squint or hagioscope should also be provided4 ,i see that1 said the ,vicar2 and for that reason ,i would1 as a rule1 only have those portions of the transepts nearest the chancel fitted with permanent seats4 ,on special occasions chairs could be placed in the back parts2 or1 perhaps1 the whole of the transepts might be given up to the children of the parochial schools1 the elder children1 who could best understand the nature of the services1 being placed in the front4 ,a very proper arrangement1 indeed1 ,i should think1 for all of them would be able at least to hear1 and they would be conveniently placed for assisting in the musical parts of the service4 ,it has often struck me as the refinement of cruelty to place these children in the remote damp corners of country churches1 where too often they are to be found2 or1 worse still1 in the topmost galleries of city churches1 where the air they breathe is heated and impure4 ,in both cases there is a manifest unconcern as well for the temporal as for the spiritual welfare of these little ones of ,christ's flock4 ,to whatever use1 however1 they may be applied1 or even if they are entirely unappropriated1 so far as regards affording accommodation for the congregation1 ,i would1 by all means1 wherever practicable1 retain the transeptal arrangement of our churches1 not only as being the most ornamental form of structure1 but as preserving in the entire building the distinct form of the ,cross2 and as symbolizing in the gathering together of each congregation of ,christ's ,church--which is ,his ,body1 that ,body itself4 ,thus the nave represents the body1 the transepts the outstretched arms1 and the chancel--being the most excellent part of the church--the head#abh of our ,lord4 ,some perhaps might think it fanciful1 but to me there is something very solemn and beautiful in the idea1 not only of the church's whole fabric assuming these symbolic forms1 but also of the united prayers and praises of the congregation making1 as it were1 in their very sound the sign of the ,cross4 ,i think so too4 ,and to my mind it has always seemed that the grand symbolism which looks through1 as it were1 the whole fabric of the church1 and the whole congregation therein assembled1 was formerly much marred in our churches1 when there were many altars1 dedicated to many saints1 instead of the one altar1 which we now only retain1 dedicated to the one ,head of the ,christian ,church4 ,yes2 and your remark1 of course1 applies specially to the transepts about which we were speaking1 since even in our country churches every transept had its separate altar1 the piscina attached to which is still to be found in almost every old church4 ,i suppose1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 that beautiful ,gothic niche in our south transept which you recently restored is a piscina8 ,yes1 it is4 ,the piscina was always placed on the south side of the altar1 and it was used chiefly as the receptacle for the water used in cleansing the sacred vessels1 or for that used by the priest in washing his hands#abi4 ,it is to be found in our earliest ,norman churches1 and evidently dates from the time of their erection4 ,there is often a shelf placed over the basin of the piscina1 which was used as a credence#acj4 ,we heard much about the credence-table some time since1 interrupted the ,squire1 when there was a suit in law about this and some other matters2 but ,i confess ,i am still ignorant as to the purpose of the credence-table4 ,it is usually a small table1 or1 when forming part of the piscina1 a shelf1 on which the elements intended for use at the ,eucharist are placed before their consecration4 ,just before the prayer for the church militant in the ,communion ,service there is this direction3 ',the priest shall then place upon the table 7i4e4 the altar7 so much bread and wine as he shall think sufficient4' ,now1 you see1 it would be very inconvenient1 and a sad interruption of that part of the service1 to bring these from a distant part of the church4 ,the ancient custom1 therefore1 of placing the elements on the credence-table at the commencement of the service is most convenient for the proper observance of this rubric4 ,and so1 although the credence has only been preserved as an interesting relic1 or ornament in other parts of the church1 in the chancel it has been preserved or restored#aca1 as being still a most useful and important part of the furniture of the church4 ,having now arrived at the vicarage-gate1 the two friends bade each other good-night4 ,,chapter ,,xxii ,,the ,,chancel ,,screen ,the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy4 ,exod4 xxvi4 #cc4 ,i love the ,church1--the holy ,church1 ,the ,saviour's spotless bride3 ,and1 oh1 ,i love her palaces ,through all the land so wide6 ,the cross-topp'd spire amid the trees1 ,the holy bell of prayer2 ,the music of our mother's voice1 ,our mother's home is there4 ,i love the ,church1--the holy ,church1 ,that o'er our life presides2 ,the birth1 the bridal1 and the grave1 ,and many an hour besides6 ,be mine1 through life1 to live in her1 ,and when the ,lord shall call1 ,to die in her--the spouse of ,christ1 ,the mother of us all4 ,christian ,ballads4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,st4 ,john1 ,walworth ,,the ,,chancel ,,screen ,perhaps1 gentle reader 7all readers are supposed to be gentle1--they ought to be71 if you live in a retired village1 you will find that in the course of many years1 your village annals present little or nothing worthy of record1 as matter of general interest or importance2 you will1 therefore1 understand how that the past six years at the little village of ,st4 ,catherine's have been so uneventful as to be noticed only by a blank in our narrative4 ,but now1 on this twenty-sixth day of ,june1 in the year #ahff1 an event of no common interest in a country parish is about to take place4 ,since their first meeting1 four years ago1 at the vicarage of ,droneworth1 a close intimacy had grown up between the families of ,mr4 ,acres and his neighbour ,sir ,john ,adamley2 the upright integrity and manly candour which marked both their characters soon begat a deep mutual respect1 which1 in course of time1 ripened into a warm friendship1 now about to be sealed in the marriage of the ,baronet's eldest son ,egbert with ,mr4 ,acres' eldest daughter ,constance4 ,the place is all astir betimes4 ,early in the morning a merry peal is sounding from the old church tower1 and many hands are busy in decorating with flowers and evergreens arches placed at intervals between the church and the ,hall4 ,it is by no order of the ,squire or his steward that these arches--erected at no slight cost of money and labour--are put up2 they are the spontaneous expression of the interest which the villagers themselves take in the day's rejoicing4 ,there are ,william ,hardy1 ,robert ,atkinson1 ,mr4 ,dole1 even old ,matthew and his grandson1 and indeed half the village1 as busy as bees in and out of the church1 vying with each other in their endeavour to make every thing look bright and joyful4 ,every one has put on something gay and cheerful1 purchased specially for the occasion2 there is the light of honest gladness on every face2 and now that the children with their baskets of fresh flowers stand ranged on either side of the pathway that leads from the main road to the lich-gate1 the scene is one of the most picturesque that can be imagined4444 ,does ,mr4 ,ambrose particularly wish that the first part of the service should take place near the chancel screen8 inquires ,sir ,john4 ,yes1 answers the ,squire2 it is always the custom here1 and ,i think you will afterwards acknowledge that this arrangement is very fitting and appropriate2 and1 indeed1 adds not a little to the impressiveness of the ceremony4 ,i can quite imagine that2 but what authority has the ,vicar for the practice8 ,oh1 that is very plain4 ,if you just look at your ,prayer ,book1 you will see this rubric at the commencement of the ,marriage ,service3 ',at the time appointed for the solemnization of matrimony1 the persons to be married shall come into the body of the church with their friends and neighbours1 and there standing1 the priest shall say'--then follows the address to the congregation assembled1 and the rest of the service1 till the priest pronounces the first blessing2 and after that1 the priests and clerks1 'going to the ,lord's ,table1' are directed to say or sing one of the ,psalms1 and it is evidently intended that the newly-married persons should accompany them1 for when the ,psalm is ended they are mentioned as 'kneeling before the ,lord's ,table4' ,this procession to the altar of course loses much of its meaning and impressiveness when there is no celebration of ,holy ,communion4 ,but1 then1 this ought not to be omitted1 except in very extreme cases4 ,i quite see now that ,mr4 ,ambrose is following the rule of the ,church4 ,i certainly never read the directions in the ,service before4 ,i suppose1 however1 there is no particular part of the body of the church named8 ,no2 ,i believe it is only ancient custom which decides upon the chancel screen2 it is1 too1 the most convenient part of the church for this purpose4 444 ,why is it that all those young eyes are so bright with love1 as from each ready hand falls the gay flowers at the feet of the happy pair8 ,why is each knee bent during every prayer in that solemn service8 ,and1 now1 when the hands of ,mr4 ,ambrose rest on the heads of ,constance and her husband1 as he pronounces over them the last blessing of the ,church1 why does the deep ,amen sound from every lip8 ,why is there that breathless silence as those happy ones kneel before the altar to bind themselves yet more closely together1 and to ,god1 in ,holy ,communion8 ,and now1 as they come forth from ,god's ,house1 how is it that there is no faltering voice in all that assembly as the glad shout of ,christian joy rings up through the air to heaven8 ,i'll tell you4 ,it is because the priest and the ,squire have ever recognized their joint duties in that parish2 because ,constance has been a sister of charity and mercy among the poor2 because they have striven with all their might to do the work ,god gave them to do2 and now they have their reward in the hearty affection and respect of all their neighbours4 ,there were but two exceptions to this general manifestation of good feeling among the villagers1 and they were the last evil growth of the old ,anabaptist schism in the parish4 ,at the same time that ,egbert and ,constance were breathing their mutual vows beneath the old chancel screen of ,st ,catherine's1 ,william ,strike and ,sally ,sowerby were being married by ,mr4 ,gallio at the new register-office at ,townend4444 ,there is something very touching1 said the ,squire to ,mr4 ,ambrose1 as they walked back together to the ,hall1 in that old custom preserved in our village of hanging a white glove on the chancel screen#acb4 ,that was the very glove my dear ,mary wore when she promised to be the wife of ,edward ,markland1 and poor ,edward himself placed it there4 ,i saw ,constance's eyes fill with tears to-day as she ventured to give one look at the sad memento4 ,the custom is fast dying out1 and only survives in a few rural parishes4 ,indeed1 the very screens themselves have1 you know1 in most churches been swept away#acc4 ,the finer carving is often to be found worked up into pews1 and the large timbers have been used in building galleries4 ,where these screens were made of stone#acd1 they have generally been preserved unharmed4 ,in some cases1 alas6 people have not been contented with demolishing the screen1 but have actually in their place built a gallery#ace for a family pew1 extending all across the front of the chancel1 but ,i am thankful to say such instances are very rare4 ,will you kindly tell me the origin of the chancel screen8 ,it was formerly called the rood screen1 or rood gallery1 and where the rood has been restored1 it is still properly so called4 ,the ,gospel used to be read from this gallery1 and sometimes the psalms were sung there by the priests and choristers4 ,the custom of reading the ,gospel from this position was evidently intended to express a special respect for this portion of ,god's ,word2 and so1 for the same reason1 now the ,gospel is read from the north side of the chancel1 whilst the ,epistle is read from the south4 ,the rood#acf1 which consisted of a crucifix with the figure of the ,blessed ,virgin on one side1 and of ,st4 ,john on the other1 was placed at the top of the screen4 ,over this1 and between the chancel arch and the roof1 the wall was painted1 the subject usually being the ,doom1 or representation of the ,last ,judgment4 ,to replace this1 it would seem that1 at the ,reformation1 the ,commandments were ordered to be painted at the east end of the church4 ,you think1 then1 said the ,squire1 that the order in the canons does not refer to the east end of the chancel8 ,it is a disputed point1 but ,i think not4 ,had the chancel been intended1 ,i think it would have been so stated4 ,besides1 it was ordered that they should be so placed that the 'people could best see and read the same1' and certainly they could not do the latter if they were painted at the east end of the chancel4 ,indeed1 ,i regard that as the least convenient and appropriate place in the whole church for them4 ,if we have them any where1 the east end of the nave or aisles is the best place for them2 but1 really1 the need to have them at all is now passed away1 as those who can read1 can read the ,commandments in their ,bibles and ,prayer ,books2 and for those who cannot1 it is useless placing them on the walls of the church#acg4 ,however1 it is far better to have the ,commandments over the chancel arch than the royal arms4 ,it is wonderful how silly people become when they have a superstitious dread of superstition4 ,for instance1 ,i know a church where the congregation were offended by an old painting in the church1 the subject of which was at least calculated to inspire solemn thoughts1 yet could be contented that the most conspicuous object in the church should be a hideous representation of the royal arms1 with this sentence below it in large characters3 ',mrs4 ,jemima ,diggs1 widow1 gave this painting of the ,queen's arms1 ,a4,d4 #agajach4' ,i should like to know what there is in that to remind us that we are in the ,house of ,god8 ,,chapter ,,xxiii ,,the ,,chancel ,in this place is ,one greater than the temple4 ,s4 ,matt4 xii4 #f4 ,our life lies eastward3 every day ,some little of that mystic way ,by trembling feet is trod3 ,in thoughtful fast1 and quiet feast1 ,our thoughts go travelling to the ,east ,to our incarnate ,god4 ,fresh from the ,font1 our childhood's prime1 ,to life's most oriental time1-- ,still doth it eastward turn in prayer1 ,and rear its saving altar there3 ,still doth it eastward turn in creed1 ,while faith in awe each gracious deed ,of her dear ,saviour's love doth plead2 ,still doth it turn at every line ,to the fair ,east--in sweet mute sign ,that through our weary strife and pain1 ,we crave our ,eden back again4 ,,faber4 ,illustration3 ,sutton ,benger ,church ,,the ,,chancel ,i hope you and my friend ,mr4 ,beeland here are now working harmoniously together at ,droneworth1 said ,mr4 ,ambrose to ,sir ,john ,adamley1 as with ,mr4 ,acres and the ,vicar of ,droneworth they were enjoying a pleasant afternoon stroll in the gardens of the ,hall4 ,well1 ,i think we must say yes and no to that1 for though we have never had any difference of opinion respecting the restoration of our church since the evening when ,i first had the pleasure of meeting you--and1 indeed1 ,i am proud1 and we are all proud1 of our renovated and beautiful church--yet there is one point on which we cannot quite agree4 ,you see ,i am ,lay ,rector1 and though ,i have long ago given up my old selfish idea about pews1 and only claim the space in the church which ,i really want to occupy1 yet ,i do consider that1 as the chancel belongs to me1 ,i have a right to a place there for my family and servants1 as well as for myself4 ,but1 unfortunately1 ,mr4 ,beeland thinks otherwise4 ,the chancel is furnished with handsome oak stalls for the choristers1 ,i believe2 as every chancel ought to be4 ,you propose1 if ,i understand you1 to remove the choristers1 and to occupy the stalls for yourselves and servants8 ,i think ,i have a right to do so4 ,the right is very doubtful4 ,the position of a lay rector is altogether an anomalous one2 but the duty and the privilege connected with it are1 to my mind1 definite and plain enough4 ,the duty is to keep out the wind and water from the chancel1 the privilege is to receive the great tithes of the parish4 ,now1 of course1 this privilege and duty were originally never intended to be associated with other than a spiritual office4 ,the tithes were for the support of the parish priest1 and in return for them1 there was laid upon him not only the spiritual supervision of the parish1 but also the duty of keeping the shell of that portion of the church which was occupied by him and the assisting clerks sound and entire4 ,now1 of course1 the rector1 being a priest1 had a right to his proper place in the chancel2 and ,i by no means deny that the lay rector succeeds to the same right2 but my belief is that the right 7if any7 extends no farther than himself4 ,he represents the clerical rector1 who certainly could only claim a right to a seat for himself1 and it is my opinion the layman can claim no more4 ,but1 my dear sir1 this is surely a case where higher considerations than mere legal rights should have influence4 ,even if you have the right1 ought you not to waive it8 ,for you cannot doubt that the chancel was never built to supply seats for the ,squire's family1 but for the priest and those whose office it is specially to assist him in leading the prayers and praises of the congregation4 ,no church is properly ordered where the chancel stalls are not occupied by the choir2 and you can only rightly occupy a place there as one of them4 ,so ,i venture to advise you to follow the example of our friend ,mr4 ,acres1 and next ,sunday put on a surplice1 and take your place as a member of the choir1 for you have a good bass voice1 which would be of great assistance there4 ,so you really think my claims as a lay rector should come down to this8 ,nay1 ,i think they should come up to this1 for your highest1 as well as most fitting office as a lay rector1 is to assist in his duties the ,vicar of your parish4 ,well1 ,i will think about that4 ,you have studied these matters much more deeply than ,i have1 and you always have the best of the argument4 ,but ,i have something more to say4 ,i should like to have your opinion as to the proper arrangement and furniture of the whole of the chancel#aci1 for ours has not yet been completed1 and ,i have undertaken to finish it4 ,i will gladly give you my opinion on the subject4 ,of course1 the altar should be the central and principal object in the church4 ,for this reason1 the east of the chancel should be the highest part1 but for evident reasons the whole of the chancel should be higher than the nave#adj4 ,there should be a marked difference between the chancel--or choir1 and the sanctuary--or space immediately surrounding the altar2 a difference which had its type in the ',holy ,place' and the ',holy of ,holies' of the ,jewish temple4 ,the lectern--or desk1 from which the lessons are read1 and the faldstool--or ,litany desk1 may be either just without or within the chancel screen4 ,the sedilia#ada--;a stone recess for the seats of the officiating clergy1 with the piscina#adb--should be on the south side1 and the credence#adc table may be on the north or south side of the altar4 ,the reredos#add1 at the east end of the chancel1 should be the most costly and elaborate part of the church1 as it is connected with the most dignified portion of the building4 ,its most prominent feature should be the symbol of our salvation1 and whatever adornment is employed1 it should have distinct reference to the 'sacrifice of the death of ,christ4' ,empty niches should here and every where be carefully avoided2 for they have little beauty and no meaning4 ,without their tenants1 they are ridiculous forms of ornamentation1 for the corbel--or bracket1 has no meaning unless it is intended to support a figure1 nor its canopy1 unless intended to shelter and protect one4 ,i have seen slabs containing epitaphs and the armorial bearings of private persons1 as well as the royal shield1 substituted for a proper reredos1 but this is a sad profanation#ade4 ,there is one thing worse2 and that is engraving armorial bearings on the sacred vessels4 ,the prayer desk#adf should form part of the choir stalls1 and look in the same direction2 this desk should not face the congregation1 as the priest does not preach the prayers to the congregation1 but says the prayers with them4 ,when the ,absolution is said1 the case is different1 and the propriety of the change of posture and position is evident4 ,this is directly addressed to the congregation1 and to be 'pronounced by the priest standing4' ,so in the ,communion ,office the ,priest is directed to stand up1 and1 turning himself to the people1 pronounce the ,absolution4 ,i quite acknowledge the justness of what you say on these points1 and shall gladly avail myself of your further counsel2 specially ,i shall be grateful for your advice respecting the construction of the altar1 and providing its proper furniture3 but ,i have now already trespassed so long on your time1 that ,i must only ask you to explain one thing more1 and that is the meaning of the two little hollow square places in the north wall of our chancel4 ,they formerly were closets1 and had doors1 no doubt1 of carved oak4 ,they are commonly called almeries1 and are to be found in all old churches1 their use in the chancel being to hold the sacred vessels used at the altar2 even where they can no longer be utilized1 they ought to be preserved as objects of interest#adg4 ,illustration3 ,llanfaenor ,church ,,chapter ,,xxiv ,,the ,,altar ,we have an altar4 ,heb4 xiii4 #aj4 ,whene'er ,i seek the holy altar's rail1 ,and kneel to take the grace there offer'd me1 ,it is no time to task my reason frail1 ,to try ,christ's words1 and search how they may be4 ,enough1 ,i eat ,his flesh1 and drink ,his blood2 ,more is not told--to ask it is not good4 ,i will not say with these1 that bread and wine ,have vanish'd at the consecration prayer2 ,far less1 with those1 deny that aught ,divine1 ,and of immortal seed1 is hidden there4 ,hence1 disputants6 ,the din which ye admire ,keeps but ill measure with the church's choir4 ,lyra ,apostolica4 ,illustration3 ,st4 ,alban's ,church1 ,holborn ,,the ,,altar ,it was late in the evening before the other guests had left the ,hall1 and our four friends sat down together in the library1 without fear of interruption1 to continue the conversation of the afternoon4 ,i should like you to tell me1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 said ,sir ,john1 whether you consider that the word altar is properly applied to a table made of wood4 ,oh1 most certainly it is4 ,the term is equally applicable1 whether the altar be made of wood or stone4 ,no doubt stone was the material first used#adh1 yet at so early a period as the building of the tabernacle1 we read that ,god commanded ,moses to make an altar of wood#adi4 ,in the earliest days of the ,christian ,church the altars were1 probably without exception1 made of wood2 but afterwards it became the practice to erect them of stone1 and from the sixth#aej to the sixteenth century this rule was all but universal4 ,how is the change to be accounted for8 ,during the persecutions of the early ,christians under the heathen ,emperors of ,rome1 they resorted1 as you are aware1 to the subterranean catacombs there1 as the only places where they could1 in comparative safety1 hold their religious services4 ,here the stone altar-tombs of those who had suffered martyrdom offered the most convenient and fitting altars for the celebration of the ,holy ,eucharist4 ,in after times1 when the ,church was prosperous and at peace1 the remembrance of these altar-tombs not only suggested the material for the ,christian altar1 but also the custom of erecting it over the relics of saints and martyrs4 ,this custom of building the altar over the bones of martyrs 7which is still continued in the ,roman ,church1 but which has for many years ceased to be the practice in our own71 is1 moreover1 supposed to have reference to that mysterious vision in the ,revelation of ,st4 ,john1 which you will remember he thus describes3 ',when the ,lamb had opened the fifth seal1 ,i saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the ,word of ,god1 and for the testimony which they held#aea4' ,the use of stone instead of wood was1 no doubt1 adopted also for other reasons than the one ,i have stated4 ,stone altars were less liable to desecration2 they possess1 too1 a symbolism of their own1 representing both the incarnation and entombment of our ,blessed ,lord#aeb4 ,the scriptural symbol of a ,rock#aec1 as representing our ,lord1 might appear to be more evidently connected with the stone than the wooden altar1 but this symbol must always be associated with the idea of altar1 of whatever material it is made4 ,the wooden altar1 on the other hand1 may seem to refer more directly to the institution of the ,lord's ,supper2 and the altar candlesticks have1 of course1 a peculiar and very manifest appropriateness when the altar is so considered4 ,but surely1 my friend1 the word table seems to be here exactly applicable4 ,yes1 so it is2 but you must not try to separate things which are inseparable4 ,every altar is a table1 though every table is not an altar4 ,both terms are correct1 but the one must not be supposed to exclude the other2 and it would be strange indeed if1 having a priest and an oblation#aed1 the church should be without an altar4 ,the top slab of the altar is the table#aee1 whether it is made of wood or stone4 ,where this slab is of stone1 it has from early times been considered to represent the stone rolled to the mouth of the sepulchre of our ,lord4 ,in the ,greek ,church the seal that was set on the stone#aef is represented by the consecrated wafer2 in the ,roman ,church this seal is represented by the small square stone let into the centre of the altar table#aeg4 ,in the primitive ,church there was but one altar in each church1 but afterwards it became a custom to erect many others1 dedicated to as many saints and martyrs4 ,this was the custom in our own ,church--just as it is still in the ,roman ,church--before ,queen ,elizabeth ordered all altars to be removed in every church1 except the high altar1 which is the only one we now retain2 and1 for my part1 ,i certainly wish for no other4 ,but at the same time all stone altars were ordered to be removed1 and then altars of wood were once more placed in almost every church4 ,i am sorry to say the old stone altars were broken up and desecrated4 ,some few1 however1 of them escaped#aeh1 and many more have since that time been erected4 ,there are probably hundreds of stone altars to be found in our cathedrals1 college chapels1 and parish churches1 and ,i don't suppose 7though some seem to do so7 that people attach more superstitious meaning to them than to the most modern oaken ,communion table4 ,but1 as ,i said before1 to my mind it is indifferent whether the altar be of wood or stone4 ,i should like your opinion about the proper furniture for the altar4 ,first1 with regard to its covering3 the canon directs that the altar shall be covered with 'a carpet of silk1 or other decent stuff' on ordinary occasions1 and with 'a fair linen cloth' at the time of the celebration of ,holy ,communion4 ,this order allows considerable liberty as to colour and pattern2 but it appears to imply that it should be as rich as the circumstances of each case will allow#aei4 ,where cloths of more than one colour are used1 these five--in accordance with very ancient practice--are commonly employed as specially adapted to the different seasons of the ,christian year3 white1 at ,christmas and certain other festivals1 as emblematical of purity2 red1 as representing the blood of martyrs1 and at ,pentecost1 as emblematic of the fiery tongues2 green1 for general use1 as the prevailing colour of nature1 and a sort of middle colour between the rest in use2 violet and black as colours of mourning4 ,but1 surely1 this variety is unnecessary8 ,most assuredly4 ,nevertheless1 where they can conveniently be had1 they are appropriate1 and teach their own lesson4 ,it was not necessary to put a cloth of black on the altar at ,droneworth when your father died two years since2 and ,i am doubtful whether ,mr4 ,beeland was quite right in doing so4 ,but surely if you thought it was right for him to do this at the funeral of a mere mortal man1 you cannot say that it is wrong to use a black altar-cloth on ,good ,friday2 and1 of course1 the same argument applies to all the rest4 ,with regard to the custom in some places of covering half the church with black for a month1 because some rich man has died in the parish--,i say plainly that ,i regard that as next to impiety and profanation4 ,i see the justness of your words4 ,what do you say to cushions on the altar8 ,say6 they ought never to be there4 ,i can imagine nothing more out of place4 ,i have often wondered for what purpose they could originally have been put there4 ,they are certainly not required1 nor yet convenient as a rest for the ,altar ,service ,book4 ,it is too shocking to suppose they were intended to enable the priest to rest his arms and head softly on ,god's altar6 ,i have sometimes fancied ,i see their origin in an old custom observed in the ,roman ,church of placing the two lambs1 whose wool was used for making the palls#afj with which the ,bishop of ,rome invests his archbishops with their archiepiscopal authority1 on two richly embroidered cushions1 one of which was placed on the north1 the other on the south side of the altar2 but ,i know not4 ,a desk of brass or oak is convenient to support the office-book1 and two candles are ordered to be placed on the altar4 ,but1 my dear sir1 ,i am told that is a very ,romish custom4 ,well1 ,sir ,john1 and so it is a very ,romish custom to say the ,lord's ,prayer1 and it is a very ,hindoo custom for a wife to love her husband with a special devotion2 but we shall not1 for either reason1 be disposed to blame either custom4 ,the thing with us1 like every thing else1 is either right or wrong in itself1 independent of the use of any other ,church4 ,but it so happens that this is the very reverse to a ,romish custom1 for these two candles were ordered to be placed on the altar in direct opposition to the custom of the ,roman ,catholic ,church#afa4 ,nothing can be more expressive1 and utterly unobjectionable1 than the symbolism of these two candles 7of course1 it is not necessary that they should be lighted in order to preserve their emblematic meaning71 and ,i should be very sorry to see this simple symbolism broken into by the introduction of more than two lights upon the altar#afb4 ,i have not by any means mentioned all that is required for the service of the altar2 ,i have only spoken of its ordinary furniture4 ,that which is specially required for the ,eucharistic services is1 doubtless1 already provided in your church4 ,before we say good-night1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 let me ask you one question indirectly connected with this subject4 ,i notice that many of my neighbours receive the consecrated bread on the palm of the hand1 some holding both hands in the form of a cross4 ,i suppose this is in accordance with your instruction3 ,i should like to know the reason for it4 ,where there are high altar-rails--which ,i much object to1 and which1 of course1 are altogether unnecessary when the chancel screen is properly arranged1 as with us--this custom would be very inconvenient4 ,the short rail1 north and south1 for the use of the aged and infirm1 is certainly all that is required4 ,as regards the manner of receiving the sacred element1 to which you refer1 ,i certainly have recommended it1 and for these reasons3 it is much more convenient both for the priest and the communicant2 it avoids all danger of any portion of the bread falling on the floor2 and it is most in accordance with the rubric1 which directs that the minister shall deliver the communion into the hands of the recipients4 ,thank you4 ,i consider your reasons as amply sufficient1 and ,i see no possible objection to the custom4 ,,chapter ,,xxv ,,the ,,organ-,,chamber ,samuel ministered before the ,lord1 being a child1 girded with a linen ephod4 #a ,sam4 ii4 #ah4 ,but let my due feet never fail ,to walk the studious cloisters pale1 ,and love the high embowed roof1 ,with antique pillars1 massy proof1 ,and storied windows1 richly dight1 ,casting a dim religious light4 ,there let the pealing organ blow1 ,to the full-voiced quire below1 ,in service high1 and anthems clear1 ,as may with sweetness1 through mine ear1 ,dissolve me into ecstasies1 ,and bring all ,heaven before mine eyes4 ,il ,penseroso4 ,illustration3 ,icklesham ,church ,,the ,,organ-,,chamber4 ,and so1 ,harry1 my boy1 you have really made up your mind to be a chorister8 said ,mr4 ,ambrose to old ,matthew's grandson1 one ,sunday morning4 ,yes1 if you please1 sir1 was his reply4 ,grandfather says he should like me to be one4 ,and you wish it yourself1 do you8 ,yes1 sir4 ,very well4 ,you are a well-conducted boy1 and ,god has given you a good musical voice1 so we shall be very pleased to have you amongst us4 ,but you must never forget that there is not only a high honour1 but also a very solemn responsibility connected with the office of a chorister4 ,always remember1 then1 that you are in a very especial way ,god's servant1 that ,his eye is upon you1 and that ,he will expect you to do your duty in the very best way you possibly can4 ,you must sing and give praise with the best member that you have#afc--that is1 you must devote to ,god's praise and glory the very best service you can render4 ,you are a little boy to talk to about setting a good example to a congregation1 composed for the most part of persons so much older than yourself1 but yet that is one of your chief duties4 ,when you are in the choir1 the eyes of all the congregation are upon you1 and they should not only hear you singing as well as you can1 and so be led themselves to join heartily in the musical parts of the service1 but also at all other times they should see you reverent and devout in your conduct2 and be sure1 my boy1 this good and serious behaviour of yours will have its influence upon others1 though perhaps they may be hardly conscious of it4 ,now there is enough in this to make you very serious1 but yet the thought that ,god permits you in your young years thus to help in promoting ,his glory1 and to be such a blessing to your fellow-creatures1 should make you very happy and very thankful to ,him4 444 ,before the commencement of the ,morning ,prayers little ,harry was solemnly admitted a member of the choir4 ,the ceremony was a very simple1 but yet a very solemn one4 ,on this occasion the usual order of entering the church was reversed4 ,mr4 ,ambrose came first1 then the eight senior members of the choir1 then the seven boy choristers1 and last came ,harry4 ,all wore their surplices except ,harry1 and he carried his new little surplice on his arm4 ,during the procession solemn music was played on the organ4 ,as soon as it ceased1 all knelt down to say their private prayers1 ,harry kneeling on a cushion prepared for him at the entrance to the chancel4 ,it was the custom at ,st4 ,catherine's for all the congregation to stand up when the priest and choir entered2 which custom1 besides being a mark of respect for ,his presence to whom they were about to dedicate their worship and service1 had this advantage--that it induced all to say their private prayers at the same time1 and thus avoided much confusion2 it tended also to prepare the mind at once to enter into the spirit of the public service4 ,after a short pause1 ,mr4 ,ambrose read a portion of the third chapter of the first book of ,samuel4 ,he then addressed ,harry in these words3-- ,henry1 before ,i proceed to admit you a member of the choir of this church1 you must promise1 before ,god and this congregation1 that in the solemn office on which you are about to enter1 you will always strive above all things to promote ,his glory4 ,do you so promise8 ,little ,harry1 in a timid1 trembling voice1 answered1 ,i do so promise4 ,the ,vicar and choir then sang1 alternately1 the following sentences3-- ,priest4--,our help is in the name of the ,lord2 ,choir4--,who made heaven and earth4 ,p4--,o ,lord1 bless and keep this ,thy servant2 ,c4--,who putteth his trust in ,thee4 ,p4--,accept his service in this ,thy ,house2 ,c4--,and make the voice of ,thy praise to be glorious4 ,p4--,lord1 hear our prayer2 ,c4--,and let our crying come unto ,thee4 ,mr4 ,ambrose then read these verses3-- ,and it came to pass1 when the priests were come out of the holy place--also the ,levites1 which were the singers1 all of them of ,asaph1 of ,heman1 of ,jeduthun1 with their sons and their brethren1 being arrayed in white linen1 having cymbals and psalteries and harps1 stood at the east end of the altar1 and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets3--it came even to pass as the trumpeters and singers were as one1 to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the ,lord2 and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals1 and instruments of music1 and praised the ,lord1 saying1 ,for ,he is good2 for ,his mercy endureth for ever3 that then the house was filled with a cloud1 even the house of the ,lord2 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud3 for the glory of the ,lord had filled the house of ,god#afd4 ,the choir then sang1 ,glory be to ,thee1 ,o ,god1 during which time the senior choir boy led little ,harry into the middle of the choir1 where he knelt down on a cushion prepared for him4 ,mr4 ,ambrose then said this prayer3 ,o most merciful ,father1 before whom ',samuel ministered1 being a child1 girded with a linen ephod1' give1 we pray ,thee1 to this ,thy youthful servant such gifts as shall enable him to sing ,thy praise1 and promote ,thy glory in this ,thy ,temple1 and grace to worship ,thee acceptably in the beauty of holiness1 and to adorn the doctrine of ,christ his ,saviour in all things4 ,amen4 ,harry then stood up1 and as ,mr4 ,ambrose placed on him his little surplice1 he said1-- ,henry1 ,i robe you in this surplice in token that you are now set apart to be a chorister1 and1 together with those around you1 to assist in the high and glorious work of leading the praises of ,god in this church3 let the whiteness of this robe always remind you of that purity which should mark the service you here offer up to ,god4 ,i pray you never1 either here or elsewhere1 to disgrace this robe of your solemn office4 ,what you sing with your lips believe in your heart1 and what you believe in your heart fulfil in your life2 and may ,god so bless and protect you1 that when this life is ended1 you may join that angel choir who in robes of white sing before the ,throne1 ',glory to ,god and to the ,lamb for ever and ever4' ,amen4 ,the new chorister then took his place in the choir1 whilst the organ almost thundered the following chorus1 in which all joined3-- ,o ,great and ,mighty ,god1 with angels and archangels we laud and magnify ,thy glorious name4 ,amen4 ,the usual morning service then proceeded4 ,many eyes were fixed on the earnest1 thoughtful little face that appeared for the first time in the choir2 and with not a little pardonable pride did old ,matthew watch the hearty efforts of his grandson to fulfil the promise he had just made4 ,it had long been a custom for the ,vicar and ,mr4 ,mendles1 the organist1 to partake of a late meal at the ,hall when their ,sunday duties were ended2 and on this ,sunday evening the ,squire accompanied them home from church4 ,our little friend1 said he1 will be quite an acquisition to the choir2 he has a very sweet voice4 ,yes1 he has1 replied the ,vicar2 and what is of no less importance1 he is sure to conduct himself well4 ,but1 for that matter1 ,i have no reason to complain of any one of our choir2 for1 thanks to ,mr4 ,mendles1 and to their own sense of propriety1 ,i don't believe there is a better conducted choir in any parish than ours4 ,that is very much owing to your allowing no men to be there who are not communicants4 ,that's a good rule1 no doubt1 and accounts1 perhaps1 more than any thing for their reverent behaviour4 ,you well know1 ,mr4 ,mendles1 there was little reverence enough once4 ,the great difficulty1 said ,mr4 ,mendles1 is to persuade the choir that they should sing to ,god1 with the congregation1 not to the congregation4 ,i strive both to learn myself1 and to teach them1 that our singing should be worship1 not the mere exhibition of talent1 and that we ought to rejoice when the congregation join in1 not when they only listen to our hymns and chants4 ,i believe we have now learnt the lesson1 and are the happier for it4 ,and we all feel the benefit of that lesson too1 said the ,vicar1 for whereas formerly nothing but flashy tunes which enabled them to show off their own talent would please the choir1 we have now1 thank ,god1 a solemn and devotional character in the music of our liturgical services1 and a joyful gladness in the music of our hymns--equally far removed from levity and from mournfulness--which1 with our praises and our prayers1 seem to float up our very souls to heaven4 ,i think we must attribute the success of our musical services in some measure to the new position of the organ1 must we not1 ,mr4 ,mendles8 said the ,squire4 ,most certainly4 ,there can be no doubt that the most convenient position for the organ-chamber is either on the north or south side of the chancel2 or1 if the organ is divided1 on both sides4 ,it is a misfortune that1 as organs were but little known when most of our old churches were erected#afe1 we find no fitting place provided for them in the original structure4 ,there is1 however1 no excuse for our modern architects who are guilty of such an omission2 and it is a matter of surprise to me that they do not make the organ-chamber a feature of more prominence and greater beauty1 both externally and internally1 than they are accustomed to do4 ,true1 said the ,squire2 specially as in our days the organ is regarded as all but a necessity in every church4 ,certainly1 there is no musical instrument so suitable for congregational worship1 for whilst it represents all kinds of music1 it exactly realizes the description given in the account of the dedication of the temple which ,mr4 ,ambrose read this morning1 and brings together the cymbals and the psalteries and the harps1 and the trumpeters and the singers 'as one4' ,it is a curious fact--is it not1 sir8--that whereas the presence of organs in our churches used to be the source of great offence to ,dissenters in this country1 and has recently been the subject of much dispute among ,presbyterian ,dissenters1 yet you can now hardly find a ,dissenting meeting-house of any size but can boast of its organ1 and often a very good one too4 ,let us hope1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 that ere long they1 may become reconciled also to other things in our ,church which now they may regard with the same horror with which they once looked upon the church organ4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi ,,the ,,vestry ,let all things be done decently and in order4 #a ,cor4 xiv4 #dj4 ,avoid profaneness6 ,come not here4 ,nothing but holy1 pure1 and clear1 ,or that which groaneth to be so1 ,may at his peril farther go4 ,,george ,,herbert4 ,illustration3 ,harpsden ,church ,,the ,,vestry ,to the close friendship which existed between the ,squire and the ,vicar1 constantly cemented by such meetings as we have just described1 was owing1 in a considerable degree1 the general harmony and goodwill which made ,st4 ,catherine's one of the most peaceful villages in ,england4 ,when1 many years ago1 ,mr4 ,ambrose first became ,vicar there1 he felt it his duty to make many changes in a parish which had been long neglected1 and in a church which was almost a ruin4 ,his labours were then regarded with much suspicion and disfavour2 but he had now been long enough resident in the parish to live down all that hostile feeling4 ,nevertheless1 it was not all peace at ,st4 ,catherine's4 ,from time to time there would be an importation of cross-grained malcontents1 who usually succeeded in stirring up some parochial strife4 ,such had for some time past been the laudable occupation of ,william ,strike and his too faithful companion1 whom1 by kind permission of ,mr4 ,gallio1 the registrar1 he was allowed to call his wife4 ,he had never promised to love her1 and she had never promised to obey him1 and on these little points each scrupulously maintained a right to act in perfect independence of the other3 nevertheless1 they heartily united in a common effort to instil into the minds of their neighbours a feeling of hostility to wards the church2 and some discord in the parish was the natural consequence4 ,an opportunity offered on the morning of ,easter ,monday for ,strike to find a full vent for all his spleen4 ,it is a sad1 sad thought1 that at this season of the ,christian year1 when all should be peace1 the bitterness of party strife should break up the harmony of so many parishes4 ,but so it is2 and so it was at ,st4 ,catherine's2 and this one man was at the bottom of all the mischief4 ,i am sorry to see you are going to the vestry this morning1 ,william1 said ,mr4 ,dole1 as they met in the village street4 ,i've as much right there as you have1 ,i suppose1 he replied2 you're going to support the ,vicar1 and ,i'm going to oppose him thick and thin4 ,peace is better than war1 ,william4 ,well1 you used to be on our side once1 and ,i should like to know what's made you turn round8 ,it would take too long to answer that question fully1 ,william4 ,it will be enough if ,i tell you that where ,i thought ,i knew most1 ,i found myself all wrong2 and the more ,i thought and inquired1 the more convinced ,i was that there could be only one true ,church committed by ,christ to ,his ,apostles and their successors1 and that to separate from that1 and cause division and schism1 must be a sin4 ,after long and prayerful consideration1 and many conversations with ,mr4 ,ambrose on the subject1 ,i was convinced that the sect to which ,i belonged--and you do still--was not the one true ,church2 and so ,i left it4 ,well1 ,i don't mean to leave it2 and ,i don't mean that the parson shall have it all his own way in this parish4 ,mr4 ,dole had in vain tried to bring his companion to a better mind when they reached the vestry#aff4 ,it was a small chamber on the opposite side of the chancel to the organ#afg1 and there was a sombreness about it that harmonized with the solemn use for which it was intended4 ,on the eastern side were two small windows filled with stained glass1 and over them1 in large letters1 was the sentence1 ,let thy priests be clothed with righteousness1 and let thy saints sing with joyfulness4 ,between these two windows stood an oaken table1 on which was a small desk or lectern2 and on this1 written in beautifully illuminated characters1 were the prayers used by ,mr4 ,ambrose and the choir before and after the ,church services4 ,before the table was a small embroidered kneeling cushion for the priest at these times4 ,the parish chest#afh1 and two ancient chairs1 all of oak and richly carved1 completed the furniture of the vestry2 whilst on its walls were hung the surplices of the choir and the vestments of the priest#afi4 ,the meeting was called together for the double purpose of electing churchwardens and making a church-rate1 and it was soon evident to the ,vicar that ,strike and his friends had come determined on a stormy meeting4 ,but few angry words1 however1 had been spoken1 when ,mr4 ,ambrose rose and said1 ,my friends1 ,i had hoped that this meeting would have been conducted in that spirit of ,christian charity and peacefulness which has been our custom2 but as ,i find this is not to be the case1 ,i will not allow any part of ,god's ,house to be desecrated by the exhibition of party animosity and angry strife#agj4 ,this vestry is known to those of you who are associated with me in conducting our religious services1 as the place of holy meditation and solemn prayer2 nor are its associations less sacred to those among you who have come here1 with unquiet consciences or troubled minds1 to seek my counsel and advice4 ,all around us here1 my friends1 reminds us of the service of a ,god of love2 so if the ,demon of ,discord must come into our little parish1 let this place1 at least1 not be the scene of his unhallowed presence4 ,it was then proposed to adjourn the meeting to the house of ,mr4 ,walton2 and he1 having both a good heart under his waistcoat1 and a large room in his house1 readily agreed to the proposal4 ,he was1 moreover1 one of the churchwardens1 and1 though the village blacksmith1 was a man in good circumstances1 and exercised considerable influence for good in the parish4 ,nothing can be less profitable than to read the foolish talking which commonly characterizes a discordant vestry meeting2 we will1 therefore1 pass that over4 ,the churchwardens were re-elected1 and the church-rate was carried4 ,the ,vicar then endeavoured to pour oil upon the troubled waters by delivering a kind and friendly address1 which he ended in these words3 ,mr4 ,strike tells you that he will always oppose the ,church so long as it is in any way supported by the ,state4 ,but let me remind him that the ,church did not receive from the ,state the possessions with which she is endowed for the maintenance of true religion in this land4 ,those were1 for the most part1 given to our ,church by pious men and women1 many hundreds of years ago2 and the ,state1 in securing these to us1 is only acting with common honesty1 and doing no more for the ,church than it does for every other society--indeed1 for every person--in the country4 ,but ,mr4 ,strike tells you1 too1 he will not give a penny for keeping up the fabric of the ,church1 because he is a ,dissenter4 ,now1 my friends1 to take the very lowest view of the ,church1 and regarding her temples only as places in which a high standard of morality is set up1 it is surely for the advantage of the ,state1 and for the community1 that they should be maintained2 and1 therefore1 all should help to maintain them4 ',yes1' you say1 'but we teach morality1 too1 in our little ,salem ,chapel at ,droneworth3 why should not our meeting-house be supported as much as your ,church8' ,my answer is1 that your ,salem ,chapel may any day share the fate of the ,little ,bethel ,meeting-,house that used to be in our parish4 ,besides1 on your own principles1 you cannot accept ,state aid to keep it up4 ,of course ,i have myself higher reasons for considering it the duty of the ,state to secure the proper reparation of the fabric of our churches2 but ,i have only taken the lowest ground2 ,i think1 however1 that even that is firm enough to bear the weight of the whole argument4 ,but now1 my friends1 let us part in peace1 and let all angry feeling die away4 ,the church-rates will soon be done away with altogether1 depend upon it1 sir1 shouted ,mr4 ,strike1 in a tone which was an evident protestation against that spirit of peace which ,mr4 ,ambrose was so anxious should pervade his parish4 ,it may be so1 said the ,vicar2 and if so1 ,i believe and pray that ,god will overrule even that for the benefit of ,his ,church4 ,and so the ,st4 ,catherine's vestry ended4 ,i am heartily glad1 said ,mr4 ,acres to the ,vicar1 that we did not have all that row in the church to-day4 ,sorry as ,i am to make ,mr4 ,walton's house the scene of such discord1 yet ,i am sure he would far rather have it here than in the church vestry4 ,any where's better than the church1 said ,mr4 ,walton1 for such quarrels as these4 ,by the bye1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 as they both rose to depart1 do you remember the time when the churchwardens used to retire to the vestry before the conclusion of the service to count up the alms8 ,we could1 you know1 hear the jingling of the money during all the later prayers of the service1 and a most indecent interruption it was4 ,how far more seemly is your custom of reverently presenting the alms at the altar1 where it remains till the close of the service4 ,and ,i am so grateful to you for abandoning that objectionable and most ridiculous custom of holding the plates at the church door4 ,the custom seemed so completely to do away with the idea of almsgiving as an act of worship4 ,how many a wickedly grotesque scene has occurred at the door of our own church1 plainly showing that many who contributed their alms simply gave them to ,mr4 ,walton or ,mr4 ,acres1 and least of all thought of giving them to ,god4 ,nay1 so anxious was dear old ,lady ,angelina ,hilltower and her daughter to confer upon us equal honour1 and to avoid any just cause of jealousy between us1 that they used to create quite a pantomime at the door whenever there was a collection1 by crossing over to put half-a-crown in each plate1 making at the same time a profound obeisance to each of us4 ,yes1 said ,mr4 ,acres1 ,i certainly am glad all that's done away with2 but ,i'm more glad that at last we have been able to get rid altogether of the plates for collecting the offertory1 and to substitute ,bags4 ,there has been some opposition1 as you are aware2 some pleaded long custom as a reason for retaining the plates1 and some1 who were rather proud of their stereotyped shilling1 did not wish their benevolence to be hidden4 ,in fact all those who did their alms before men1 to be seen of them1 were of course hostile to the change4 ,i know1 said the ,squire1 that some were at first offended1 but none knew why4 ,i never heard the faintest approach to a reasonable objection to this plainly scriptural manner of secret almsgiving2 nor did ,i ever hear an argument of any weight in favour of the plate system1 except that it sometimes forces money from unwilling contributors1 and that argument is too contemptible to notice4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii ,,the ,,pillars ,the church of the living ,god1 the pillar and ground of the truth4 #a ,tim4 iii4 #ae4 ,see1 the ,church her head once more hath lifted2 ,seemly order dwells within her gate2 ,god-sent art adorns her holy precincts1 ,and no more she lieth desolate4 ,what is it that she is saying1 brothers8 ,all the subtle skill of graver's hand1 ,all the heavenward shafts1 and bended arches1 ,utter speech to those that understand4 ,you can hear them telling some things loudly1 ,telling of ungrudging love and care2 ,but ,i catch an inner voice that pleadeth ,soft and sweet1 like music in the air4 ,and it saith1--from every wreathed column1 ,every leafy carving1 breathing low1-- ',take our message1 ,o ye living temples1 ,fold it in your breasts1 before ye go4 ',purge the shrine of your own souls within you ,from all stain of pride and sloth and sin1 ,grace it with all saintly decoration3 ,then your ,god shall come and dwell within4' ,w4 ,w4 ,h4 ,illustration3 ,church of ,st4 ,john1 ,highbridge ,,the ,,pillars ,it was the day before the ,festival of the ,ascension1 and ,ascension ,day being not only one of the greatest festivals of the ,christian year1 but being1 moreover1 the day on which the people of ,st4 ,catherine's were used to commemorate with great rejoicing the restoration of their now beautiful temple1 old ,matthew and the ,vicar were busily engaged assisting those of the parishioners1 old and young1 who had the time to spare and were sufficiently skilful1 in decorating the church with flowers and evergreens4 ,i remember1 sir1 when ,i was a boy1 we used to call those twelve pillars that the ladies are putting the flowers on1 the twelve ,apostles1 said old ,matthew4 ,it's a common number in large churches1 replied the ,vicar1 and the name for them which you remember is not an unusual one4 ,i remember one church where there are eleven pillars1 and the old sexton told me they stood for eleven of the ,apostles1 and that there would have been twelve1 but ,judas was omitted4 ,the pillars of the church1 as the chief supports of the fabric1 are said to represent the ,apostles1 ,prophets1 and ,martyrs#aga4 ,as ,i have often told you1 there is hardly a part of the church without its special meaning3 'even the smallest details should have a meaning1 or serve a purpose#agb1' and whatever has a meaning serves a purpose1 and whatever serves a purpose1 has a meaning1 and a very important one too4 ,the four main walls of the building have a similar meaning to the pillars4 ,they are supposed to represent the four ,evangelists#agc4 ,the stones of which they are composed represent ,christians--the living stones of the spiritual building#agd2 the cement which joins them together is charity1 'the bond of perfectness#age' which binds together the members of the ,christian ,church4 ,the door#agf represents the means of entrance to the invisible kingdom2 the windows remind us of that sacred presence which keeps out the storm of angry and sinful life1 and admits the light of ,christ and ,his ,word4 ,you see1 ,matthew1 the old church builders were themselves ,churchmen2 sometimes even bishops were famous architects1 like ,gundulph1 ,bishop of ,rochester1 and ,william of ,wykeham1 ,bishop of ,winchester2 and then they made themselves felt in all their works--,i mean1 they gave a religious character and meaning to all parts of the structure they reared4 ,and so there were always a hundred preachers in the ,church1 though not a tongue uttered a single word4 ,i understand what you mean1 sir--the stones were the preachers4 ,just so1 ,matthew2 and then the churches were always open1 and people used to go and meditate and pray there at all hours2 for in church they found themselves surrounded by so much that reminded them of ,heaven and ,god's presence1 and sacred things1 and so little to remind them of the world and of sin1 that they could think and pray there better than any where else4 ,but in after times the old churches became neglected and dilapidated1 and the new churches were so mean and cold and bare1 that there was every thing to chill and nothing to warm devotion1 and so people gave up the good old custom of going to hear the stones preach1 and to say their daily prayers to ,god in ,his sanctuary4 ,but the time is coming back again1 ,i am thankful to say1 and church builders are again good ,churchmen1 and regard the building of churches as a sacred art and a religious work2 and the people are less contented to be ignorant about these things2 and the churches are no longer closed from ,sunday night to the next ,sunday morning1 as they used to be4 ,i haven't read my ,bible right1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 if it isn't a very wicked thing to allow ,god's ,house to go to decay4 ,in our old church people seemed to have forgotten all about the 'beauty of holiness1' both in their manner of worship and in the house where they worshipped4 ,they had their own houses 'ceiled with cedar and painted with vermilion1' and this house was 'laid waste#agg4' ,i have been told how grand ,queen ,victoria's ,palace is1 and how beautiful the ,parliament ,house is1 and ,i have often thought that surely1 sir1 the house of the great ,king of kings1 and the great ,ruler of all our rulers should be grand and beautiful too4 ,but our churchwardens not only didn't try to make the old church beautiful1 sir1 but hid as much as possible of whatever beauty they found4 ,too true1 my friend1 said the ,vicar3 these old pillars had become so coated over with whitewash that their rich carved work could hardly be seen at all4 ,whitewash was the cheapest thing they could use to hide the green damp and the plaster patches1 and for that reason ,i suppose they used it4 ,the work of decoration went on rapidly2 the many busy hands soon effected a wonderful change in the appearance of the church1 which gave it a very festive character4 ,the choicest flowers were placed at the back of the altar1 others were used in various ecclesiastical designs1 or woven into wreaths of evergreens4 ,the texts of ,holy ,scripture painted above the arches from pillar to pillar were neatly framed in borders of evergreens1 and wreaths of the same were already twined around many of the columns#agh4 ,the capitals of all the pillars were carved in imitation of the many wild flowers and ferns which grew in the neighbourhood#agi4 ,although these had been carved not less than five hundred years ago1 the same wild flowers were still to be found in the parish2 and every year on ,ascension ,day it was the custom at ,st4 ,catherine's to decorate each of these pillars with the same natural flowers that had been imitated in stone4 ,it was a pretty custom1 for as the natural leaves and flowers faded or were removed1 their more enduring likenesses were disclosed1 and remained throughout the year the faithful representatives of their bright and gay originals4 ,well1 my dear1 said the ,vicar1 addressing ,ellen ,walton1 his churchwarden's little daughter1 you have really shown great taste in arranging those ferns2 they look beautiful indeed4 ,i deserve but little credit1 sir1 for any taste of my own1 she replied1 for ,i have but copied the stone carving as near as ,i could4 ,yes1 but you do deserve great credit1 as every body does who copies exactly that which is worth copying4 ,the workman who so cleverly imitated in stone these beautiful works of ,god1 in order to adorn ,god's ,house throughout the year with memorials of ,his goodness in making our summer fields so lovely1 deserved much praise2 and now1 though yours is a lighter task1 that you have given life1 as it were1 to his work1 by your nice arrangement of leaf to leaf1 and flower to flower1 ,i must give you some praise too4 ,but ,i see you are anxious to ask me a question4 ,yes1 sir4 ,i was talking to ,sally ,strike this morning about the decorations1 and she says they are all nonsense and unmeaning2 she says1 too1 it's very wicked to put flowers about the church1 for it's nothing but a heathen and idolatrous custom4 ,of course1 ,i don't much notice what she says about it1 but ,i don't very well know what to answer her1 and ,i was going to ask you1 sir1 to be kind enough to tell me4 ,sally ,strike doesn't often say any thing very wise1 my dear1 and this is no exception to the rule4 ,you had better answer her out of her own mouth4 ,ask her1 when she gathered all the flowers her own garden could produce to decorate the little ',rehoboth'--as they call that meeting-house on ,wanderer's ,heath--when they held their last 'love feast1' and had tea and cake in their chapel1 did she put the flowers there to make the place look gloomy1 or to make it look festive and gay8 ,or1 why did she do the same thing a little while ago1 when they gave a children's treat in their meeting-house8 ,was it because it was a time of sadness or of rejoicing8 ,no doubt1 she will tell you it was the latter4 ,well1 we decorate our churches for a similar reason4 ,we regard all the ,christian festivals as seasons for great gladness and rejoicing1 and whilst at other times we are obliged1 for the most part1 to content ourselves with such ornamentation of ,god's ,house as our own poor imitations of the forms and colours of ,nature can supply1 on these high days we press into the service of the temple the lovely originals of all those forms and colours1 fresh and pure as when they first left the hand of their ,divine ,maker4 ',tis true that the heathen used flowers in decorating their temples and altars1 and also their victims prepared for sacrifice#ahj4 ,but they used them just as ,sally ,strike uses them at her meeting-house1 for the sole purpose of decoration4 ,now1 though we use flowers to give a festive appearance to our churches1 our use of them has1 too1 always a meaning beyond that3 how they remind us of the love of ,god in arraying this earth with so much beauty for our enjoyment2 how they remind us of the pure and lovely delights of the ,paradise that is lost2 and of our future resurrection#aha to a ,paradise of yet greater beauty4 ,and it is from our ,bibles that we learn to give1 too1 an emblematic meaning to particular flowers1 so that1 whether carved by man1 or moulded by the hand of ,nature1 each one teaches its own useful lesson4 ,there we find the lily mentioned as the emblem of ,god's providence2 the rose as the type of youthful beauty2 the cedar1 of manly strength4 ,nay1 my dear ,ellen1 we may even find in ,holy ,scripture itself our authority for decorating our churches with these pure and unsinning works of ,god4 ,you remember1 no doubt1 the verse to which ,i allude3 ',the glory of ,lebanon shall come unto thee3 the fir-tree1 the pine-tree1 and the box together1 to beautify the place of ,my sanctuary#ahb'4 ,thank you1 sir1 ,i quite understand your explanation4 ,but ,sally ,strike said she didn't object to the way the church used to be decorated thirty years ago1 when plain twigs of evergreen were put at the corners of the pews1 and some large branches fixed here and there on the walls2 but she does not like the triangles and circles and crosses1 and the other designs we now use4 ,and yet nothing could be more silly than the dislike1 though ,i fear it is one in which many--for mere want of thought--share4 ,surely1 the twigs themselves must be at least as harmless when bound together as when used singly2 and certainly it is better that they should be formed into beautiful and religiously suggestive designs1 than scattered unmeaningly about the church4 ,the cross1 often repeated1 reminds us1 you know1 of the one grand pervading truth of our religion2 the circle1 of eternity2 the triangle1 of the ,holy ,trinity4 ,we almost even forget the beauty of the design itself in the beauty of its symbol4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii ,,the ,,roof ,thou shalt overlay it with pure gold1 the roof thereof4 ,exod4 xxx4 #c4 ,give all thou canst2 high heaven rejects the lore ,of nicely calculated less or more3 ,so deem'd the man who fashion'd for the sense ,these lofty pillars1--spread that branching roof1 ,self-poised1 and scoped into ten thousand cells1 ,where light and shade repose1 where music dwells ,ling'ring and wand'ring on1 as loth to die1 ,like thoughts whose very sweetness yieldeth proof ,that they were born for immortality4 ,,wordsworth4 ,illustration3 ,keynsham ,church ,,the ,,roof ,i'm glad to see you both among the helpers to-day1 said the ,vicar1 as he shook hands with ,william ,hardy and ,richard ,atkinson1 though ,i know this must cost you at least the value of a day's work4 ,the village carpenter and mason were always accustomed on these occasions to give their services gratuitously4 ,very glad indeed to come and do the best we can1 sir1 replied ,william ,hardy1 though we couldn't quite agree about it at home1 my wife and me1 till we'd talked it over a bit4 ,now ,hardy's wife1 though not generally unamiable1 was like many other wives in this respect2 namely1 she had acquired a habit of always questioning the wisdom or sincerity of her husband's actions1 which she could now no more shake off than she could her own identity4 ,i'm sorry to hear that1 said the ,vicar2 but how was it8 ,well1 you see1 sir1 my wife says to me1 ',william1 you might turn your time to better account than going up to the church with ,richard ,atkinson to-day4 ,you'd be able to earn five shillings1 and that would just pay for the new ribbon for my bonnet1 which indeed ,i do want very much4' ',i really believe you do1 my dear1' says ,i1 'and so ,i must just alter my plans a little4 ,i thought ,i wanted a new ,sunday hat very much indeed1 and ,i was just going to buy one at ,master ,dole's the other day1 when thinks ,i to myself--no1 ,i mustn't buy it1 because ,i shall lose a day's earnings at church next week1 so ,i'll give the new hat to the church1 and have one for myself six months hence4 ,but that's no reason why you should lose your ribbons1 so ,i'll over-work for a few days1 and earn the ribbons that way4' ,you see1 ,mr4 ,ambrose1 ,i was thinking of that text1 ',god forbid that ,i should offer to the ,lord my ,god of that which doth cost me nothing4' ,well1 sir1 them words softened her a good deal2 but then she says to me1 ',william1 what's the use of all them ornaments at the church8 ,i really do call it waste of time and money4' ',my dear1' says ,i1 'there's something better than use1 ,i mean as you and ,i talk of use1 there is such a thing as doing things out of love and reverence for ,god1 and for nothing else1 and that's what ,i should like to do if ,i can4 ,there wasn't no more use in the precious ointment which the good woman poured on our ,saviour's head1 than in these ornaments we put up in ,his church4 ,and you know who it was that called that a waste1 and you know who it was too that praised her for what she did#ahc4' ',i think you're right1' says she2 and so ,i came away4 ,and so you were1 my friend4 ,but it's hard to persuade people that there is such a thing as a worship of adoration1 prompted simply by a sense of love1 gratitude1 veneration1 entirely apart from all idea of benefit1 advantage1 or use to ourselves in any way4 ,as you rightly say1 however1 there is4--,but ,i see the children have finished the frames for the clerestory#ahd windows1 so you had better put them up4 ,you mean the windows just under the roof1 sir8 ,yes2 it is not safe for them to climb so high4 ,i suppose you won't attempt to carry your decorations higher than that1 ,mr4 ,vicar8 said the ,squire1 as he approached to see how the work was going on4 ,no1 that must satisfy us4 ,indeed1 this roof is so rich in colour and carving that we could hardly make it look more festive than it does4 ,it is1 indeed1 a grand old roof2 but ,i rather prefer the high-pitched roof of the chancel to this flatter one of the nave1 though certainly nothing can be more beautiful than its carving4 ,the figures of angels on the corbels#ahe supporting the principal timbers are exceedingly well done4 ,what do you imagine to be the dates of these two roofs8 ,i should say that that in the chancel was built about ,a4,d4 #acej1 and this in the nave about ,a4,d4 #aejj4 ,these flatter roofs of our perpendicular period do not any of them date much farther back than ,a4,d4 #aejjahf4 ,i quite agree with you in preferring the older high-pitch for our timber roofs4 ,by-the-bye1 it is a curious conception that this particular kind of roof has a likeness to the inverted keel of the ark#ahg--;itself an emblem of the ,christian ,church4 ,but ,i prefer to regard it1 as ,i do the windows1 and doors1 and arches of pointed architecture1 as an emblem of the incompleteness of our worship here4 ,as ,i look up through the intricate multitude of timbers1 and my gaze becomes lost amid the dark top beams of the roof1 my thoughts are insensibly led higher still#ahh4 ,there is something in these lofty open roofs that always seems to invite one's thoughts above them--so different from the flat ceilings of most dissenting meeting-houses1 and some of our churches built a hundred years ago4 ,to me these flat ceilings are very depressing4 ,yes2 and not a little irritating too1 when you consider what splendid timber roofs in old churches1 they often conceal4 ,ugly1 however1 and objectionable as they are1 they have the one merit of being unpretending2 and give me any thing rather than a sham--a lath-and-plaster roof with papier-mache or stucco bosses1 and all sorts of painting and shading in perspective1 in imitation of wood or stone1 making the poor roof guilty of a perpetual lie4 ,i do own that tries my temper immensely6 ,there can be no doubt1 too1 that the high-pitch better suits our variable climate than any other4 ,i fear1 however1 that many of those which were built but a few years since are not very enduring4 ,young1 or badly-seasoned wood1 thin1 poor timbers1 which cannot last long1 have too often been put into the roof4 ,sometimes this has been the dishonest act of the builder2 but we have been too much in the habit of building for ourselves only--not like our forefathers1 who put up those big masses of timber over our heads4 ,they built for themselves and for posterity too4 ',they dreamt not of a perishable home1 ,who thus could build#ahi4' ,ah1 yes6 and that is1 of course1 especially true of those who erected the noble stone roofs of our cathedrals1 and many parish churches too4 ,nothing1 of course1 can equal the stone roof with its beautiful carvings and mouldings1 richly gilt and coloured4 ,nothing like stone for colour6 ,how very beautiful is the deep blue1 with its golden stars1 over the altar in our own cathedral6 ,they look well in our own church1 but the colours are richer there1 not so much faded4 ,that representation of ,heaven's canopy mantling over the most holy part of our church always seems to me so very appropriate and suggestive4 ,it is a matter of surprise to me1 said the ,squire1 that more care has not generally been taken to beautify the external part of our church roofs4 ,what relief is given to the long line of a nave roof by a good patterned row of ridge tiles1 or by some ornamental ironwork on the ridge6 ,the gable cross considerably relieves the chancel roof4 ,and where the roof is of stone1 why don't we have richly-carved external1 as well as internal1 stone-work8 ,that1 to my mind1 is the perfection of a stone roof#aij4 ,at this point1 the attention of both was directed to little ,harry1 old ,matthew's grandson1 who1 with a fixed expression of deep thoughtfulness1 was looking up to wards the roof of the church4 ,why so very serious just now1 my dear boy8 ,what may your thoughts be about1 ,harry8 said the ,vicar4 ,please1 sir1 ,i was wondering what they used to do with the roof-gallery1 where we've been putting the evergreens8 ,what does he mean by the roof-gallery8 said ,mr4 ,acres4 ,oh1 he means the triforium#aia4 ,i must confess that is still more unintelligible to me4 ,please explain it to me1 as well as to ,harry1 for we are evidently equally ignorant about it4 ,the triforium is the gallery you see just above the arches of the nave--between them and the clerestory4 ,it is not commonly found in parish churches1 but ,i believe all cathedrals have it4 ,it generally extends nearly all round the building4 ,there are different opinions as to its original purpose4 ,some suppose that it was reserved for the use of women4 ,on the ,continent1 it has been set apart for young men1 or for strangers4 ,it is the opinion of some that it was merely built for affording ready access to the various parts of the roof4 ,as an architectural feature1 it is very effective1 and occupies a space which would otherwise be a blank wall4 ,in this country1 however1 we know that it was often used for a similar purpose to that for which we have now been using it--the ornamentation of the church on special festivals1 when banners and tapestry and other ornaments were suspended from the several arches#aib4 ,i have often1 like little ,harry1 looked up at those arches and wondered what they were built for2 and1 not knowing1 ,i came to the conclusion that the passage must have been used for religious processions4 ,it is not at all improbable that occasionally they were so used4 ,and ,i can hardly imagine any thing more solemn than a torch-light procession of chanting choristers threading their way round the sacred building1 the sound of their voices undulating in solemn cadence as they would pass the arches of the triforium1 and then dying away amid the groined or timber roof above them4 ,illustration3 ,clerestory ,window ,,chapter ,,xxix ,,the ,,tower ,the house that is to be builded for the ,lord must be exceeding magnifical4 #a ,chron4 xxii4 #e4 ,lift it gently to the steeple1 ,let our bell be set on high2 ,there fulfil its daily mission1 ,midway 'twixt the earth and sky4 ,as the birds sing early matins ,to the ,god of nature's praise1 ,this its nobler daily music ,to the ,god of grace shall raise4 ,and when evening shadows soften ,chancel-cross1 and tower1 and aisle1 ,it shall blend its vesper summons ,with the day's departing smile4 ,year by year the steeple-music ,o'er the tended graves shall pour ,where the dust of saints is garner'd1 ,till the ,master comes once more4 ,j4 ,m4 ,,neale4 ,illustration3 ,meopham ,church ,,the ,,tower ,when the ,vicar and the ,squire met on their way to church the following day1 the conversation of the previous evening was thus resumed3-- ,you will1 ,i am sure1 agree with me1 said ,mr4 ,ambrose1 in regarding the church spire as ever teaching outside the building the same lesson that the open timber roof1 as you so truly said yesterday1 is teaching inside4 ,it is always pointing the thoughts of thoughtful men up above the earthly temple4 ,quite so2 and1 as is the case with many other great teachers1 the earthly fabric has1 ,i believe1 in both these cases1 a very humble origin2 for as the grandest cathedral roof is but a development of the simple tent which formed the early habitation of the once rude inhabitants of this and other countries1 so has its lofty and elegant spire gradually raised itself from the low and unpretending roof which covered in the towers of our earliest parish churches4 ,i am inclined myself to think that1 as a matter of taste and beauty1 no church tower is complete without a spire in some form#aic1 and it is a question whether1 in every case1 the tower was not at first built with a view to such an ornament4 ,the termination with a flat or only embattled cornice does not harmonize well with pointed architecture2 the spiral form seems to me the only appropriate termination2 and1 as you say1 the symbolic teaching of this part of the building depends upon it4 ,and yet1 though it may almost seem a contradiction to what ,i have said1 the spire always needs some object for the eye to rest upon at its summit4 ,the time-honoured weather-cock which every body knows to be the emblem of watchfulness1 seems by far the most convenient and suitable1 though ,i am aware that other forms--such as a dragon1 and a boat--are fixed to the summits of some spires4 ,we do not generally succeed well1 said ,mr4 ,ambrose1 in our imitations of the ,norman style of architecture4 ,its extreme massiveness1 on which so much of its beauty depends1 renders it very costly2 and if this is abandoned1 as it often is1 for the sake of saving expense1 and only the details of the style are copied1 whilst the walls are thin and unsubstantial1 the building has always a mean and cardboard appearance4 ,but where the style is faithfully carried out1 it is a matter of surprise to me that the round tower is not more often adopted4 ,it harmonizes so well with the semi-circular arches and the apsidal termination of the chancel4 ,we have1 you know1 many splendid examples of such towers#aid4 ,it is true1 indeed1 that the architects may in some cases have adopted this form1 in places where there was difficulty in obtaining the stone required for the corners of a square tower1 as being the most convenient for a building composed of flint only2 but that they did not always choose this form as a mere matter of convenience1 and not for its own peculiar beauty1 is evident from the fact that in the construction of some round towers not only flint1 but also stone1 is largely employed4 ,the objection to these towers1 founded on the supposition that they are not adapted for the use of bells1 may1 ,i think1 be easily met by a little constructional arrangement of the interior of the belfry4 ,the erection of towers detached from the church has not1 ,i am glad to say1 gained much favour in this country#aie4 ,they certainly lose much of their beauty when separated from the main building4 ,the custom1 however1 greatly prevails in ,italy4 ,the appropriation of a portion of the tower as a priest's chamber is1 ,i believe1 far more common with us than it is abroad#aif4 ,at this moment the bells of ,st4 ,catherine's commenced a cheerful peal4 ,after all1 said the ,vicar1 that sound indicates the real purpose of the tower4 ,true enough1 answered ,mr4 ,acres2 no doubt our towers were built to hold the bells#aig2 and so1 if the tower is good and sound1 and the bells are there1 we must not complain if the spire is wanting4 ,yes2 but ,i wish the bells were under better control than they commonly are4 ,ah1 so indeed do ,i4 ,there's no part of the church so much desecrated as the tower4 ,now1 ,i grieve for this2 for to my mind there's no music so delightful as that of the church bells1 provided there is nothing in the occasion of their being rung which grates upon one's feelings4 ,i often think of the story of a savage people who had never seen a church bell before1 when for the first time they heard it ringing1 they believed that it was talking to them#aih4 ,there is certainly no music that speaks to us like that of the church bells4 ,what call is there more eloquent than the chimes 'going for church'8 ,what voice more reproachful than theirs to one who disobeys their summons8 ,what sound so solemn as the deep-toned knell8 ,what so happy as the marriage peal8 ,ah1 my dear friend1 you and ,i know full well what joys and sorrows1 what hopes and fears1 the dear old church bells can tell of4 ,how the old memories of half-forgotten home-scenes come back to us when we listen to their merry ,christmas ringing6 ,nothing like them to fill the arm-chairs that have so long stood empty1 to tenant the old places with the once familiar forms which have long gone from us6 ,nothing like them to bring back the dear old voices and the dear old faces2 nothing like them to put back the old furniture in its old places again2 nothing like them to revive the bright and happy hours that are past6 ,then1 somehow1 the bells always seem to adapt their voices to each particular season4 ,what joyful hope there was in their music at ,easter6 a still gladder song they sing to-day4 ,they seem to me to have their own peculiar utterance for ,sunday and for saints' day1 for fast and for festival4 ,what a joyful song of thanksgiving they sang at our harvest festival last year6 ,i shall never forget what the bells said to me on that day4 ,you must forgive me1 my dear ,vicar1 for intruding this long rhapsody into our conversation1 my fondness for the music of church bells is so intense1 that ,i fear you will consider the expression of my admiration to be quite childish4 ,i don't mean to say they always make me feel cheerful and happy4 ,oh1 no1 they don't do that2 but most commonly they induce a sort of pleasant melancholy--harmless1 and even good in moderation1 but morbid in excess4 ,these simple lines exactly express what ,i often feel when the bells are ringing3-- ,when twilight steals along the ground1 ,and all the bells are ringing round1 ,one1 two1 three1 four1 and five2 ,i at my study window sit1 ,and1 wrapt in many a musing fit1 ,to bliss am all alive4 ,but though impressions calm and sweet ,thrill round my heart a holy heat1 ,and ,i am inly glad1 ,a tear-drop stands in either eye1 ,and yet1 ,i cannot tell thee why1 ,i'm pleased1 and yet ,i'm sad#aii4 ,illustration3 ,tower1 ,saragosa ,i know the feeling well1 said ,mr4 ,ambrose2 we love the silent eloquence of each feature of the church's fabric as we love the vivid expression of each feature of a dear friend1 and we love--as we love his familiar voice--the well-known uttered language of the old church tower4 ,yes2 and not more discordant would be the merry voice of a friend1 with a heart bowed down with sorrow1 than seems to me a merry peal of the church bells1 with the penitential seasons of the ,christian year4 ,i greatly admire your custom of only ringing three bells during ,lent and ,advent1 and tolling a single bell on ,good ,friday4 ,the contrast to the usual joyful chimes cannot fail to strike every one4 ,i am most thankful that in our parish we have a set of bellringers who really feel a proper interest in the work1 and regard theirs as a religious office4 ,i have only allowed men of well-known steady habits and good moral character to be among them4 ,from the time ,i came here1 as you know1 ,i have been their president1 and have always attended their annual dinners4 ,then their rules#bjj are good4 ,no drinking is allowed in the belfry1 no one is allowed to wear his hat there1 and no loud and boisterous language is permitted3 any one using offensive words or swearing is at once expelled4 ,in fact1 ,i think we do all that can be done to teach the ringers that they are engaged in a religious duty1 in a part of ,god's house4 ,i am fully sensible that much of our success is due to your influence among them1 and ,i very much wish that more ,church laymen in your position would follow your example1 and take part in the actual ringing of the church bells#bja4 ,on one occasion1 long ago1 ,i had some difficulty with our ringers4 ,you remember old ,sir ,perrygal ,biber8 a greater profligate or drunkard perhaps never lived4 ,he had wit enough1 however1 to secure his election for the county1 and money enough to reward those who voted for him4 ,i am sorry to say that in many parishes the church bells1 which had once been solemnly dedicated to ,god's service1 were impressed to do honour to that man1 whose immorality was patent to the whole county4 ,our ringers naturally thought that what was not wrong elsewhere would not be wrong here1 and so begged permission to follow the example of their neighbours4 ,however1 they were good fellows1 and open to reason4 ,i explained to them first that our church bells had nothing whatever to do with mere secular matters1 such as the election of a member of ,parliament2 and then ,i showed them that their neighbours were specially wrong in this instance1 because they were employing what was intended for ,god's service in doing honour to an impious man4 ,i believe they were all of them1 at heart1 glad to get out of it2 and1 in fact1 would never have thought of ringing at all had not ,william ,strike put it into their heads4 ,since then they have not caused me a moment's trouble4 ,the church bells have1 alas6 often been sadly ill-used2 sometimes broken up and employed for secular purposes#bjb2 sometimes sold to pay the cost of repairing the building3 but this1 to my mind1 is not half so bad as their desecration when rung on improper occasions4 ,no doubt1 ,mr4 ,vicar1 you have often read with interest the very quaint legends which are to be found on many church bells4 ,i very much like the terse ,latin sentences1 and the oft-repeated ',jesu1 miserere mei1' we meet with on the oldest of them4 ,not a few1 too1 of the more modern bells have simple pious inscriptions#bjc4 ,but there are some1 both ancient and modern1 that have foolish or otherwise objectionable sentences upon them#bjd4 ,in some cases they are merely laudatory of the donor2 in others of the founder1 or of the churchwardens of the parish4 ,i should think1 however1 that there is scarcely a peal of bells in the country1 except1 perhaps1 a few very recently cast1 but possesses some both interesting and instructive inscriptions4 ,of course1 many volumes would be filled with them1 could they be all collected4 ,i once copied one of these legends which much pleased me1 but ,i cannot now call to mind where ,i found it4 ,let me repeat it to you4 ',men's death ,i tell by doleful knell1 ,lightning and thunder ,i break asunder1 ,on ,sabbath all to church ,i call1 ,the sleepy head ,i raise from bed1 ,the winds so fierce ,i do disperse1 ,men's cruel rage ,i do assuage4' ,it was a curious conceit1 which ,i suppose every body once accepted1 that the ringing of the church bells cleared the air of all evil and discordant spirits1 and caused the storm and the tempest to cease4 ,but the ,church had another and a better reason for ordering the bells to be rung at such times2 and that was1 'that the faithful might be admonished to be urgent in prayer for the instant danger#bje4' ,i like the idea of the ,church bell inviting to private prayer as well as public worship1 but we have almost lost it4 ,the passing bell used to ask the private prayers of the faithful in behalf of the spirit passing from earth4 ,this was truly a ,christian custom2 nevertheless1 ,i see difficulties in the way of its general revival4 ,you have not1 however1 lost sight1 my dear friend1 of the invitation to private devotion as associated with church bells2 for it is in this light ,i regard the ringing of the little sancte bell just before the consecration of the elements at the celebration of ,holy ,communion4 ,i was very glad when you restored the old bell to its little turret over the chancel arch2 and ,i know that when it is rung1 many who cannot come to church bend their knees and join heartily with us in our prayers and adoration4 ,yes1 that is a good old practice of the early ,church1 and ,i am very glad to know that its revival has been a blessing and a comfort to many by awakening solemn thought and earnest prayer4 ,illustration3 ,window1 ,church of ,st4 ,petronius1 ,bologna ,,chapter ,,xxx ,,the ,,house ,,not ,,made ,,with ,,hands ,ye also1 as lively stones1 are built up a spiritual house4 #a ,pet4 ii4 #e4 ,one sweetly solemn thought ,comes to me o'er and o'er1-- ,i'm nearer home to-day ,than ,i have been before2 ,nearer my ,father's ,house1 ,where the many mansions be1 ,nearer the great white ,throne1 ,nearer the jasper sea2 ,nearer the bound of life1 ,where we lay our burdens down1 ,nearer leaving the ,cross1 ,nearer gaining the ,crown4 ,,carey ,,the ,,house ,,not ,,made ,,with ,,hands ,i must just go up for a minute to see poor ,matthew4 ,i hear he is not quite so well1 said the ,vicar1 as he parted from his companion1 and entered the little door that led up to the old sexton's chamber4 ,my dear friend1 said the ,vicar1 taking the old man's trembling hand1 ,i see you are still very weak2 but ,i trust you are not suffering much8 ,weak1 very1 sir2 but1 thank ,god1 no pain4 ,i feel1 however1 that the end can't be very far off4 ,you must look out for another sexton1 sir1 for old ,matthew's work is nearly over4 ,his will be done1 said the ,vicar2 and the old man breathed a solemn ,amen1 which seemed spoken for no earthly ears4 ,i've been thinking1 at length said ,matthew1 that it's ten years since you and ,i1 sir1 and ,mr4 ,acres1 met at the old lych gate in that terrible storm4 ,i remember ,i said then that it wouldn't be long before some younger ones would have to carry me through the gate1 but ,god has spared me these ten years more1 and now ,i shall need none to bear me through the gate2 for here ,i am--thanks to your kindness1 sir--already within the gate1 and even within the ,house of ,god itself4 ,yes2 and so when ,god calls you to ,himself1 ,he will but take you from one temple to another--from the courts of ,his ,house here1 to live for ever in ,his heavenly mansions4 ',those that be planted in the ,house of the ,lord shall flourish in the courts of our ,god#bjf4' ,if you please1 sir1 ,i should like to be buried beside little ,lizzie ,daniels4 ',tis long ago now since ,i made that little grave1 and ,i fear the flower-bed is a good deal overgrown with grass1 for ,i have been too poorly to look after it as ,i used to2 but ,i think you'll know it1 sir4 ,she helped in her own quiet1 simple way to teach an old man the way to ,heaven2 and ,i have never forgotten her lessons4 ,how often she used to talk about this day--,ascension ,day6 ,she once said to me1 sir1 that you had told her we ought to remember this day throughout the year1 and to try and lead an ,ascension life1 and let our thoughts and desires dwell as much as possible where our ,saviour has gone before4 ,i have tried to do so--,god forgive me1 for ,i have often failed6 ,he then drew the ,vicar nearer to him1 and whispered in his ear1 ,be good to dear little ,harry1 sir1 when ,i'm gone4 ,he loves me so1 ,i fear 'twill break his heart4 ,the parson's bell1 as it was called1 was now ringing1 so the ,vicar1 having promised that his wishes should be fully carried out1 was compelled to hasten into the church4 ,he first laid his hand on the noble brow of the good old man1 and pronounced the blessing of ,heaven upon him1 and then bade him farewell1 adding1 ,i hope1 my dear friend1 we may be permitted to meet again in this earthly house of ,god2 but if not1 my heart-deep hope and prayer is1 that we may meet in ,his house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens#bjg4 ,the little window that looked into the church from the sexton's chamber was opened1 and none listened more earnestly to the festive service1 and to the ,vicar's sermon1 on that ,ascension ,day than did old ,matthew ,hutchinson4 ,although it was a common practice with the ,vicar on festivals not to preach from any particular passage of ,holy ,scripture1 but simply to make the festival itself the subject of his discourse1 yet on this occasion he selected these words as his text3 ,the patterns of things in the heavens#bjh4 ,he showed how that all this world of ours1 in which so much that is beautiful and lovely has survived the fall1 is full of patterns1 or symbols1 or types of things in that ,heaven to which ,christ has ascended2 how that the whole ,bible abounds with the most vivid symbolism and the most graphic imagery representative of the glories of that ,heavenly kingdom2 and then1 looking round the beautiful church1 now so richly adorned with its festive decorations1 he explained how the earthly building1 in its several parts1 possessed a thousand patterns of those heavenly things which make up the spiritual fabric of the ,church of ,christ4 ,when we regard the material fabric of the ,christian ,church1 he said1 as a type of the spiritual house1 ever rising higher and higher in honour of its ,divine ,founder1 of which the saints on earth and the saints in ,heaven are the living stones1 we are arraying the noblest work of man with its grandest and most exalted dignity4 ',ye are built upon the foundations of the ,apostles and ,prophets1' writes ,st4 ,paul to the ,church of ,ephesus1 ',jesus ,christ ,himself being the chief corner stone2 in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the ,lord3 in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of ,god through the ,spirit#bji4' ,here1 in the symbol of the foundation stones of the material structure1 we have represented to us1 as it were1 at one view1 all those heavenly graces and blessings which from the day of ,pentecost down to this time have flowed to ,god's people through the visible ministry and appointed ordinances of the ,christian ,church4 ,then1 under the figure of the corner stone--the key stone of the edifice--we have gathered up all those old prophecies and types which pointed on forward1 through the sufferings and death of the ,saviour1 up to the time when1 having established ,his ,church in the world1 ,he should be ,himself the heavenly life of its living members4 ,long had it been 'contained in the ,scriptures3 ,behold1 ,i lay in ,zion a chief corner stone1 elect1 precious2 and he that believeth on ,him shall not be confounded#baj1' and in the fulness of time 'the stone which the builders refused became the head stone of the corner#baa4' ,and next see1 my friends1 how the figure is carried out by the two ,apostles1 ,st4 ,paul and ,st4 ,peter1 so as to embrace all the faithful members of ,christ's ,church4 ,they are represented by ,st4 ,paul as 'the whole building fitly framed together#bab1' and by ,st4 ,peter1 as the living stones which compose this living temple--',ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house#bac4' ,and this figure of a living temple is thus constantly employed by the sacred writers3 ',know ye not that your bodies are the ,temple of ,god8' writes ,st4 ,paul to the ,corinthian ,church2 and1 again1 ',ye are the ,temple of the living ,god#bad4' ,st4 ,jude is following out the same idea when he exhorts ,christians to build up themselves in their most holy faith4 ,the ,vicar ended his sermon with an earnest1 practical application of the subject4 ,let me entreat you1 my dear friends1 often to suffer the solemn thoughts which this sacred symbol suggests to dwell on your minds3 ',the temple of the ,lord is holy1 which temple ye are4' ,holy ,prophets and ,holy ,apostles1 and confessors1 and martyrs1 are the foundation of the sacred building2 the ,holy ,jesus is the corner stone1 in whom ye--the living stones--must be fitly framed together4 ,mark1 my friends1 there must be no schism1 no division1 no rent or fissure1 that ye may be a spiritual house perfect in all its parts1 and pure in all its adornments4 ,oh1 then1 cherish that heavenly life within you1 which alone can keep the building compact and firm6 ,be fruitful in good works4 ,remember faith without works is not living1 but dead#bae4 ',put on charity1 which is the bond of perfectness#baf1' and will be the best evidence to ,god and man1 and to your own souls1 that you possess a living faith2 that you are1 indeed1 living stones in a living temple4 ,be sure the cement that must unite the living stones of the spiritual house is brotherly love and fervent charity4 ,without these1 the house will be divided against itself2 its walls will be 'daubed with untempered mortar#bag1' and1 instead of living stones1 there will be but the dead1 outlying blocks of a ruined house4 ',except the ,lord build the house1 their labour is but lost that build it#bah4' ,be it yours1 then1 'by patient continuance in well doing1 to seek for glory and immortality#bai' in that 'house eternal in the heavens1 whose ,builder and ,maker is ,god4' ,learn to see in the whole earth1 and air1 and sky--with their countless beauties and wondrous harmonies--reflections of the glories of ,heaven1 and promises of the coming bliss of eternity4 ,learn to read lessons of wisdom and religion from the many instructive patterns1 and symbols1 and emblems in nature1 and in art1 with which you are ever surrounded4 ,thus go on1 day by day1 advancing nearer to your mansion in ,heaven4 ,thus1 in these earthly temples of ,jehovah1 be ever purifying your hearts1 and attuning your voices to share in that glorious song of the ,lamb when the sweet music of angels' harps shall vibrate on this regenerate earth1 when her ten thousand choirs shall join with theirs in joyful harmony--and melt their united praises in one never-ending rapture1 singing1 ',holy1 holy1 holy1 ,lord ,god ,almighty1 which was1 and is1 and is to come2' ',blessing and honour1 and glory and power be unto ,him that sitteth upon the ,throne1 and unto the ,lamb for ever and ever#bbj4' ,in the prayer for the ,church militant1 which followed the sermon1 the ,vicar paused longer than usual when he prayed ,god to succour and comfort those who were in sickness4 ,all knew that he was inviting a special prayer for the old man whom all the village loved2 and had they been offered for the proudest potentate1 the most learned philosopher1 or even the greatest philanthropist that ever lived1 the prayers that went up to ,heaven amid that solemn silence for him for whom the prayers of the ,church were desired1 could not have been more fervid and sincere4 ,when ,mr4 ,ambrose proceeded with the prayer1 a slight stir in the porch chamber was heard by those near at hand1 but it was little noticed4 ,at the conclusion of the service ,mr4 ,acres met the ,vicar in the vestry4 ,i should like1 said he1 to go with you to see our poor old friend once more4 ,it will probably be the last time1 replied the ,vicar1 for he was evidently sinking when ,i saw him before service4 ,i told little ,harry to go up to him as soon as we had sung the last hymn4 ,both went up together4 ,the ,vicar was not mistaken4 ,calm and peaceful1 without a line of care or pain1 there lay the placid face1 and the eyes were closed in the last1 long sleep4 ,one hand lay motionless upon the bed1 grasped by his little grandson1 who was kneeling beside him1 still robed in the snow-white surplice with which he had recently left the choir4 ,poor little fellow6 said the ,vicar2 ,i will keep my promise to the old man4 ,he shall not be left without a friend1 though his best is gone4 ,but ,mr4 ,acres saw that the little hands were white as the aged hand they clasped4 ,he's with a better ,friend now1 my dear ,vicar1 said he1 than this earth can give him4 ,we shall hear his sweet voice no more in our choir here2 he has gone to join the choir of angels in a nobler temple than ours4 ,old ,matthew's words were true2 the loving little heart was broken4 ,the old oak had fallen1 and crushed the tender sapling as it fell#bba4 ,on the morning of ,trinity ,sunday1 there stood under the old yew-tree of ,st4 ,catherine's churchyard1 three little stone crosses side-by-side1 where but one had been before4 ,,the ,,end ,,gilbert ,,and ,,rivington1 ,,printers1 ,,st4 ,,john',s ,,square1 ,,london4 ,footnotes #a3 ,in some parts of ,devonshire and ,cornwall1 ,lich-,gates are called ,trim-,trams4 ,the origin of this word is not easy to determine2 it is probably only a nickname4 #b3 ,anglo-,saxon1 lic1--a dead body4 ,in ,germany the word leiche has doubtless the same original2 it is still used to signify a corpse or funeral4 ,the ,german leichengang has precisely the same meaning as our ,lich-,gate4 #c3 ,it is stated in ,britton's ,antiquities that there was formerly a ,lych-,gate in a lane called ,lych-lane in ,gloucester1 where the body of ,edward ,,ii4 rested on its way to burial in the ,cathedral4 #d3 ,a ,lyke-wake dirge3-- ,this ae nighte1 this ae nighte1 ,every nighte and alle2 ,fire and sleete1 and candle lighte1 ,and ,christe receive theye saule4 7,scott's ,minstrelsy of the ,scottish ,border47 #e3 ,on the ,lich-,gate at ,bray1 ,berks1 is the date #addh2 but there are very few examples so early4 #f3 ,the following are among the most interesting of the ancient ,lich-,gates still remaining3-- ,beckenham1 ,lincolnshire2 ,berry-,harbor1 ,devonshire2 ,birstal1 ,york2 ,bromsgrove1 ,worcestershire2 ,burnside1 ,westmoreland2 ,compton1 ,berkshire2 ,garsington1 ,oxon2 ,tawstock1 ,devonshire2 ,west ,wickham1 ,kent2 and ,worth1 ,sussex4 ,the construction of the gate at ,burnside is very curious1 and ,tawstock ,lich-,gate possesses peculiar features of interest1 which are noticed in the next ,chapter4 ,one of the finest ,lich-,gates was at ,arundel1 in ,surrey1 but it has been removed1 and is now the ,church ,porch4 #g3 ,st4 ,john xi4 #be4 ,the first words of the ,burial ,office1 said by the ,priest at the entrance to the ,churchyard4 #h3 ,a very interesting paper on ,lich-,gates1 in the ,clerical ,journal1 affords much information on this subject4 ,over the gate at ,bray are two chambers1 connected with an ancient charitable bequest4 #i3 ,this chamber was formerly called the ,chapel of the ,holy ,rood4 #aj3 ,the custom of distributing cakes and ale at the churchyard on the occasion of funerals in ,scotland1 has been but very recently given up4 ,dean ,ramsey1 in his interesting anecdotes1 has informed us that at the burial of the ,chief of a clan1 many thousands would sometimes assemble1 and not unfrequently the funeral would end in a disgraceful riot4 #aa3 ,in ,cornwall the now common practice of placing a wreath of white flowers on the coffin is a very ancient and still prevailing usage4 #ab3 ,consecrated ,bishop of ,exeter ,a4,d4 #aeih4 #ac3 ,these crosses were erected at the following places3--,lincoln1 ,northampton1 ,dunstable1 ,st4 ,alban's1 ,waltham1 ,stratford1 ,cheapside1 ,blackfriars1 and ,charing2 those at ,waltham and ,northampton alone remain4 ,the statue of ,king ,charles now stands where the ,charing 7,chere ,reine7 ,cross formerly stood4 #ad3 ,in a churchyard in ,oxfordshire1 a large altar-tomb1 surrounded by iron railings1 occupying a space of ground in which at least thirty persons might be buried1 covers the grave of an infant of three months4 ,the erection of these masses of stone without restraint would make our churchyards only the burial-places of the rich1 and would soon entirely exclude the poor from a place in them2 whereas the poor have an equal claim with the rich to be buried there1 and when buried1 the same title to respect and protection4 #ae3 ,the urns which are placed upon so many tombs in our cemeteries and churchyards1 unless they have reference to the heathen custom of burning the dead1 and placing the ashes in funeral urns1 can have no meaning at all4 ,we moreover not unfrequently see a gilded flame issuing from these urns1 and here of course the reference is most clearly marked4 ,the ,christian custom of burying the dead1 which we practise in imitation of the entombment of ,christ1 dates from the earliest history of man2 and as well from the ,old as the ,new ,testament we learn that it has ever been followed by those who professed to obey the ,divine will4 ,the first grave of which we have any account was the grave of ,sarah1 ,abraham's wife 7,gen4 xxiii4 #ai71 and the first grave-stone was that over the burial-place of ,rachel1 ,jacob's wife 7,gen4 xlix4 #ca74 #af3 ,there are comparatively but few churchyard grave-stones more than #bej years old1 and probably there are very few of an earlier date but have engraved upon them the sign of the ,cross4 ,there are two very ancient grave-stones of this character1 having also heads carved upon them1 in the churchyard of ,silchester4 ,it is likely that the old churchyard crosses were often mortuary memorials4 ,probably there is hardly an old churchyard but has1 at some time1 been adorned with its churchyard cross2 in most cases1 some remains of this most appropriate and beautiful ornament still exist1 and doubtless is often older than the churchyard as a place of ,christian burial4 ,in many places this cross has been lately restored to its proper place1 near to the ,lich-,gate4 ,let a handsome churchyard cross be erected in every churchyard4--,institutions of the ,bishop of ,winchester1 ,a4,d4 #abbi4 #ag3 ,the interesting custom of placing natural flowers and wreaths upon graves1 is in every respect preferable to that which we see practised in ,continental burial-grounds1 where the graves are often covered with immortelles1 vases of gaudy artificial flowers1 images1 c4 ,we have seen as many as fifty wreaths of artificial flowers and tinselled paper1 in every stage of decomposition1 over one grave in the cemetery of ,pere la ,chaise1 in ,paris4 ,in ,wales it is a more general practice than in ,england1 to adorn the graves with fresh flowers on ,easter ,day4 #ah3 ,this story is true of a parish in ,monmouthshire4 #ai3 ,it is comparatively seldom that any other than the funerals of the poor take place on ,sunday1 and the reason commonly assigned is--that it is the only day on which their friends can attend4 ,in one1 at least1 of the large metropolitan cemeteries1 exclusively used as a burial-place for the rich1 no funerals ever take place on a ,sunday4 #bj3 ,let us hope that the time is near when this objectionable and unsightly appendage will be banished from our funeral processions4 ,the late ,mr4 ,charles ,dickens1 in his will1 forbad the wearing of hat-bands at his funeral4 #ba3 ,in several parts of the north of ,england1 when a funeral takes place1 a basin full of sprigs of boxwood is placed at the door of the house from which the coffin is taken up1 and each person who attends the funeral ordinarily takes a sprig of the boxwood and throws it into the grave of the deceased4--,wordsworth 7,notes1 ,excursion1 p4 #hg74 #bb3 ,great care was taken by the medieval architects to make the porches of their churches as beautiful as possible4 ,during some periods1 especially the ,norman1 they seem to have bestowed more labour upon them than upon any other portion of the building4 ,both externally and internally they were richly decorated1 and often abounded in emblematic tracery4 #bc3 ,the custom formerly was for the couple1 who were to enter upon this holy state1 to be placed at the church door1 where the priest was used to join their hands1 and perform the greater part of the matrimonial office4 ,it was here the husband endowed his wife with the dowry before contracted for4--,wheatley4 ,in a few church porches there are1 or have been1 galleries1 which seem to have been intended to accommodate a choir for these and other festive occasions4 #bd3 ,the porch of the church was anciently used for the performance of several religious ceremonies appertaining to ,baptism1 ,matrimony1 and the solemn commemoration of ,christ's ,passion in ,holy ,week1 c4--,brandon's ,gothic ,architecture4 ,the ,office for the ,churching of ,women also used to be said at the church porch4 #be3 ,as our ,commination ,service declares1 persons who stood convicted of notorious sins were formerly put to open penance4 ,the punishment frequently inflicted was--that they should stand at the church door1 clothed in a white sheet1 and holding a candle in each hand1 during the assembling and departure of the congregation on a ,sunday morning4 ,the old parish clerk of ,walton-on-,thames1 ,surrey1 remembers1 when a boy1 seeing a ,jew perform this penance in ,walton church4 #bf3 ,formerly persons used to assemble in the church porch for civil purposes4--,brandon4 #bg3 ,at a very early period1 persons of rank or of eminent piety were allowed to be buried in the porch4 ,subsequently1 interments were permitted within the church1 but by the ,canons of ,king ,edgar it was ordered that this privilege should be granted to none but good and religious men4--,parker's ,glossary4 #bh3 ,the parvise is to be found over church porches in all parts of ,england4 ,it is more common in early ,english than in ,norman architecture1 and very frequently to be found in churches of the ,decorated and ,perpendicular periods4 ,probably the largest parvise in ,england is at ,bishop's-,cleeve1 near ,cheltenham4 ,there are interesting specimens at ,bridport1 ,bishop's ,auckland1 ,ampthill1 ,finedon1 ,cirencester1 ,grantham1 ,martley1 ,fotheringay1 ,sherborne1 ,st4 ,mary ,redcliffe1 ,bristol1 ,stanwick1 ,outwell1 and ,st4 ,peter's-in-the-,east1 ,oxford4 ,in a few instances there are two parvises1 one over the north and one over the south porch1 as at ,wellingborough4 ,in some cases1 as at ,martley1 ,worcestershire1 the upper moulding of the original ,norman doorway has been concealed by the parvise of later architecture4 #bi3 ,the name was formerly given to a favourite apartment1 as at ,leckingfield1 ,yorkshire4 ',a little studying chamber1 caullid paradise4' 7,leland's ,itinerary47--,glossary of ,architecture4 #cj3 ,the room may have been the residence of one or more of the ordinary priests of the church1 or perhaps only a study for them 7see previous note71 or it may have been occupied by an anchorite or hermit1 or by a chantry priest4 ,rooms for these several purposes are also not unfrequently to be found over the vestry1 as at ,cropredy1 near ,banbury1 and at ,staindrop1 ,durham4 #ca3 ,fire-places are of frequent occurrence in these chambers2 many of them are coeval with the porch1 but others appear to have been erected at a later date4 #cb3 ,at ,hawkhurst1 ,kent1 the porch-chamber is called the treasury4 ,at ,st4 ,mary ,redcliffe1 ,bristol1 the room over the grand north porch1 in which are the remains of the chests in which ,chatterton professed to find the manuscripts attributed to ,rowley1 was at one time known as the treasury house4 #cc3 ,the chamber over the porch was generally used for the keeping of books and records belonging to the church4 ,such an appendage was added to many churches in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries2 and some of these old libraries still remain with their books fastened to shelves or desks by small chains4--,brandon's ,gothic ,architecture4 ,over the porch at ,finedon 7of which we give an engraving7 is a parvise in which is contained a valuable library of about #ajjj volumes1 placed there by ,sir ,john ,english ,dolben1 ,bart41 ,a4,d4 #aghh4 ,at ,st4 ,peter's-in-the-,east1 ,oxford1 and many other places1 are similar libraries4 #cd3 ,these were probably small chantries4 ,it is comparatively seldom that any vestige of the altar remains2 but the credence and piscina--certain proofs of the previous existence of the altar--are very commonly found4 #ce3 ,the custom of teaching children in the porch is of very early origin2 it is distinctly mentioned by ,matthew ,paris in the time of ,henry ,,iii4--,glossary of ,architecture4 ,after the reigns of ,henry ,,viii4 and ,edward ,,vi41 in which reigns all chantries were suppressed1 the children were promoted from the porch to the parvise4 #cf3 ,above the groining of the porch is a parvise1 accessible by a turret-stair1 having two ,norman window-openings1 unglazed1 and a straight-gabled niche between them on the outside4 ,in former days this chamber was constantly inhabited by one of the sextons1 who acted as a watchman1 but since the restoration of the church it has been disused4--,harston's ,handbook of ,sherborne ,abbey4 ,in the church accounts of ,st4 ,peter's-in-the-,east1 ,oxford1 ,a4,d4 #adhh1 there is a charge for a key to clerk's chamber4 ,this no doubt referred to the parvise4 #cg3 ,as1 a few years ago1 at ,headcorn in ,kent4 #ch3 ,there was frequently1 but not always1 a window or opening from the room into the church2 and it would seem that it was so placed to enable the occupant of the room to keep a watchful eye over the interior of the church1 and not for any devotional exercise connected with the altar1 as we never find this window directed obliquely to wards the altar1 as is commonly the case with windows opening from the vestry1 or chamber above the vestry1 into the church4 #ci3 ,many porches seem originally not to have had doors1 but marks exist which indicate that barriers to keep out cattle were used4 #dj3 ,it is composed of lamp-black1 bees'-wax1 and tallow1 and is commonly used by shoemakers to give a black polish to the heels of boots4 #da3 ,these superstitions existed a few years since in connexion with an old incised slab in the chancel of ,christ ,church1 ,caerleon4 #db3 ,in the year #afeg1 the adherents of a ,preacher of the name of ,cam obtained the grant of the chancel of the ,holy ,trinity ,church1 ,hull1 from the council of state under the ,protectorate1 and whilst the mob without were burning the surplice and the ,prayer ,book1 those within were tearing the brasses from the grave-stones4--,history of ,kingston-upon-,hull4 s4 d4 #afdd1 ,april #hth1 paid to ,master ,dowson1 that came with the troopers to our church1 about the taking down of images and brasses off stones #f #j #afdd1 paid1 that day1 to others1 for taking up the brasses of grave-stones before the ,officer ,dowson came #a #j --,churchwarden's accounts2 ,walberswich1 ,suffolk4 ,this ,william ,dowing 7,dowson71 it appears1 kept a journal of his ecclesiastical exploits4 ,with reference to the ,church of ,st4 ,edward's1 ,cambridge1 he says1-- '#afdc1 ,jan4 #a1 ,edward's ,parish1 we digged up the steps1 and broke down #dj pictures1 and took off ten superstitious inscriptions4' ,mr4 ,cole1 in his ,,mss41 observes1-- ',from this last entry we may clearly see to whom we are obliged for the dismantling of almost all the grave-stones that had brasses on them1 both in town and country2 a sacrilegious1 sanctified rascal1 that was afraid1 or too proud1 to call it ,st4 ,edward's ,church1 but not ashamed to rob the dead of their honours1 and the church of its ornaments4--,w4 ,c4'--,burn's ,parish ,registers4 #dc3 ,the very interesting brasses in ,chartham ,church1 ,kent1 were found a few years since as here described1 by the present rector1 and replaced by him on the chancel pavement4 #dd3 ,manual of ,monumental ,brasses1 vol4 i4 p4 #cd4 #de3 ,if any one will lay the portrait of ,lord ,bristol 7in ,mr4 ,gage ,rokewode's ,thingoe ,hundred7 by the side of the sepulchral brass of the ,abbess of ,elstow 7from whom he is collaterally descended7 figured in ,fisher's ,bedfordshire ,antiquities1 he cannot but be struck by the strong likeness between the two faces4 ,this is valuable evidence on the disputed point whether portraits were attempted in sepulchral brasses4--,notes and ,queries4 #df3 ,see page #gg4 #dg3 ,see page #he4 ,the engravings of sepulchral brasses and of stained glass windows are kindly supplied by the ,editor of the ,penny ,post4 #dh3 ,see page #fg4 #di3 ,hamlet1 ,act i4 ,sc4 #c4 #ej3 ,monumental slabs of this description are most common on the pavement of churches in the midland counties4 #ea3 ,this is the case in ,ely ,cathedral4 #eb3 ,at ,bawsey1 ,lynn2 ,droitwich2 ,great ,malvern2 and recently near ,smithfield1 ,london1 when excavating for the subterranean railway4 #ec3 ,thus translated in the ,gentleman's ,magazine for ,october1 #ahcc3-- ,think1 man1 thy life ,but that thou keepest ,may not ever endure1 ,unto thy executor's care1 ,that thou dost thyself ,if ever it avail thee ,of that thou art sure2 ,it is but chance4 #ed3 ,anno #abaj4 ,let the ,abbot of ,beaubec 7in ,normandy71 who has for a long time allowed his monk to construct1 for persons who do not belong to the order1 pavements1 which exhibit levity and curiosity1 be in slight penance for three days1 the last of them on bread and water2 and let the monk be recalled before the feast of ,all ,saints1 and never again be lent1 excepting to persons of our order1 with whom let him not presume to construct pavements which do not extend the dignity of the order4--,martini's ,thesaurus ,anecdotorum4--,extracted from ,oldham's ,irish ,pavement ,tiles4 #ee3 ,specially in ,normandy1 where they are occasionally found under trefoil canopies1 resembling our sepulchral brasses4 #ef3 ,some excellent coloured engravings for cottage walls1 of a large size1 have been published by ,messrs4 ,remington1 under the direction of the ,rev4 ,j4 ,w4 ,burgon1 of ,oriel ,college1 ,oxford4 ,others1 both large and small1 suitable for this purpose1 are published by the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 and also by several other publishers4 #eg3 ,these wall paintings exist 7or did till recently7 on the outside of a church at ,high ,wycombe4 ,they are curious1 and very grotesque2 no doubt1 however1 in their day they have served a good and useful purpose4 #eh3 ,these mural paintings still remain1 as here described1 on the north wall of the chancel of ,chalgrove ,church1 ,oxon4 ,there are also on the east and south walls of the chancel of the same church1 many other paintings possessing great interest4 #ei3 ,a very interesting mural painting1 of which the above is a copy1 has been lately discovered in a recess in the north wall of the nave of ,bedfont ,church4 ,the colour is exceedingly rich and well preserved4 ,the painting measures #d ft4 #f in4 by #d ft41 and is supposed to be of the thirteenth century4 ,it represents the ,last ,judgment4 ,our ,lord is sitting on ,his ,throne1 showing the five wounds4 ,on the right hand is an angel showing the ,cross1 on the left an angel with a spear4 ,four nails are represented near the head of our ,lord4 ,in the lower part of the painting are two angels holding trumpets1 and below them three persons rising out of the tomb4 ,it is probable that the interior of almost every old church in the country has at some time been decorated with wall-paintings--very many of them have been brought to light in recent works of church restoration4 ,the favourite subjects were representations of ,heaven and ,hell1 and of the ,day of ,judgment4 ,in many cathedrals and some parish churches the ,dance of ,death was painted on the walls4 ,this was one of the most popular religious plays about four centuries ago4 #fj3 ,no doubt the earliest church walls were made of wood4 ,greenstead ,church1 in ,essex1 affords a most interesting example of these old wooden walls4 #fa3 ,roman bricks are generally easy to be distinguished from others by their colour and shape4 ,they were not all made in moulds of the same size1 as we now make bricks1 and on this account we find them to vary much in size and form4 #fb3 ,as at ,crowmarsh1 ,oxfordshire1 of which an engraving is given4 #fc3 ,at ,godmersham1 ,kent4 #fd3 ,it is certain that many of the splendid yew-trees in our old churchyards are far older than the churches themselves4 ,and it is more than probable that in many instances they mark the places where heathen rites were once celebrated4 ,it was natural for our ,christian forefathers to select these spots as places of worship1 since1 being held sacred by the heathen people around them1 they would be regarded by them with reverence and respect1 and thus the cross which they reared1 and the dead which they buried beneath the wide-spreading branches of these old trees would be preserved from desecration4 #fe3 ,these styles are now frequently called first1 second1 and third pointed4 #ff3 ,the glass windows in a church are ,holy ,scriptures1 which expel the wind and the rain1 that is1 all things hurtful1 but transmit the light of the ,true ,sun1 that is1 ,god1 into the hearts of the faithful4 ,these are wider within than without1 because the mystical sense is the more ample1 and precedeth the literal meaning4 ,also1 by the windows the senses of the body are signified3 which ought to be shut to the vanities of this world1 and open to receive with all freedom spiritual gifts4 ,by the lattice-work of the windows1 we understand the ,prophets or other obscure teachers of the ,church ,militant3 in which windows there are often two shafts1 signifying the two precepts of charity1 or because the ,apostles were sent out to preach two and two4--,durandus on ,symbolism4 #fg3 ,stained glass is said to have been first used in churches in the twelfth century4 ,windows were at first filled with thin slices of talc or alabaster1 or sometimes vellum4 ,as the monks spent much time in illuminating their vellum ,,mss41 it has been thought likely that they also painted on the vellum used in the windows of their monasteries1 and that afterwards1 on the introduction of glass1 their vellum illuminations suggested their glass painting4 #fh3 ,at ,brabourne1 ,kent1 is a ,norman window filled with stained glass of the period1 which is still quite perfect4 #fi3 ,one who calls himself ,john ,dowsing1 and1 by virtue of a pretended commission1 goes about ye country like a ,bedlam1 breaking glasse windows1 having battered and beaten downe all our painted glasse1 not only in our ,chappels1 but 7contrary to order7 in our ,publique ,schools1 ,colledge ,halls1 ,libraries1 and ,chambers4--,berwick's ,querela ,cantabrigiensis4 #gj3 ,the rubric in the ,service for the ,public ,baptism of ,infants directs the priest1 if the godfathers and godmothers shall certify that the child may well endure it1 to dip it in the water4 ,in the first ,prayer ,book of ,edward ,,vi4 the priest is directed to dyppe it in the water thryce4 #ga3 ,acts xvi4 #ae1 #cc4 #a ,cor4 i4 #af4 #gb3 ,as at ,dorchester and ,warborough in ,oxfordshire1 and ,brookland in ,kent2 each of these have very elaborate mouldings upon them4 #gc3 ,at ,llanvair ,discoed1 ,monmouthshire4 #gd3 ,the ,font at ,west ,rounton1 of which we have given an engraving1 is one of many examples of this4 ,the ,centaur1 the arrow from whose bow is just about to pierce the monster1 probably represents the ,deity conquering ,satan1 or perhaps the continual conflict of the baptized ,christian against sin and ,satan4 ,the other figure may represent the ,divine and human natures united in our ,lord4 ,this exceedingly curious ,font was discovered during the recent restoration of the little ,norman ,church of ,west ,rounton1 ,yorkshire4 ,it was found under the pulpit1 of which it formed the base1 having been turned over so that the bowl rested on the floor1 and so carefully plastered that there was no external indication of its original form4 ,it has now been restored to its former position near the south-west door of the church4 #ge3 ,ezek4 iii4 #g1 #h2 ix4 #d4 ,rev4 vii4 #c2 ix4 #d2 xiii4 #af2 xiv4 #a1 #i2 xxii4 #d4 #gf3 ,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,beta,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,alpha,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,pi,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,tau,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,iota ,,with ,,dasia,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,zeta,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,omega baptizo1 to baptize1 ,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,alpha ,,with ,,dasia,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,nu,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,alpha ,,with ,,dasia ana1 again4 #gg3 ,god planted a garden eastward2 man went westward when he left it2 he turns eastward to remind him of his return4 ,almost every church in ,england is built east and west1 with the altar at the east4 #gh3 ,phil4 ii4 #aj4 #gi3 ,canon ,,xviii4 #afjc4 #hj3 ,many monuments are covered with seates1 or pewes1 made high and easie for parishioners to sit or sleepe in1 a fashion of no long continuance1 and worthy of reformation4--,weaver's ,funeral ,monuments4 ,temp4 ,james ,i4 #ha3 ,it is likely that the idea of a gallery at the west end of the nave1 was first suggested by the gallery of the ,rood ,screen at the eastern end4 #hb3 ,at ,h4444 church1 ,kent1 for instance4 #hc3 ,chertsey1 ,surrey4 #hd3 ,one of the churches in ,edinburgh1 for instance4 #he3 #b ,chron4 vi4 #ac4 #hf3 ,nehem4 viii4 #d4 #hg3 ,as at ,magdalene ,college1 ,oxford4 ,formerly1 when the annual sermon was preached on the feast of the nativity of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 from the stone pulpit before the chapel of ,magdalene ,college1 ,oxford1 the whole area before it was covered with rushes and grass1 to represent1 it is said1 the wilderness3 and doubtless also for the accommodation of the hearers2 the seats being set for the ,university authorities4--,history of ,pues4 #hh3 ,such an one formerly existed near the cathedral of ,exeter4 #hi3 ,parker's ,glossary of ,architecture1 part i4 p4 #aga4 ,at the west end of ,boxley ,church1 ,kent1 is a ,galilee4 ,there are very few--if any--other churches in which the ancient ,galilee is to be found4 #ij3 ,many of the wooden pulpits have dates upon them4 ,the earliest of these is ,a4,d4 #aeij1 on a pulpit at ,ruthin1 ,denbighshire4 #ia3 ,the ,churchwardens1 at the common charge of the ,parishioners in every parish1 shall provide a comely and honest pulpit1 to be set in a convenient place within the ,churche1 and to be there seemly kept1 for the preaching of ,god's worde4--,injunctions given by the ,queen's ,majestie1 #aeei4 #ib3 ,it seems most probable that the last of these was the real object4 ,in some old discourses the following phrase is met with3--,let us now take another glass1 meaning another period of time to be measured by the hour-glass3 and the preacher reversed the glass at this point4 ,ancient hour-glasses remain in the church of ,st4 ,alban's1 ,wood ,street1 ,city2 and at ,cowden1 ,kent4 ,the iron frames of hour-glasses still remain in the churches of ,stoke ,dabernoun1 ,surrey2 ,odell1 ,bedfordshire2 ,st4 ,john's1 ,bristol2 ,cliff1 ,kent2 and ,erdingthorpe1 ,norfolk1 and doubtless others are to be found elsewhere4 ,the ,queen has lately presented an hour-glass of the measure of eighteen minutes for the pulpit of the chapel royal in the ,savoy1 to replace the old one1 which was destroyed in the recent fire4 #ic3 ,some few of these sounding-boards are1 however1 very handsome4 ,at ,newcastle there is1 or lately was1 a sounding-board which was a representation of the spire of the church4 #id3 ,gentleman's ,magazine1 vol4 #a4 p4 #cfd4 ,preaching-,crosses are also at ,hereford1 near the ,friary of the ,dominican 7or ,preaching7 ,friars2 and in the churchyards of ,iron ,acton1 ,gloucestershire1 and ,rampisham1 ,dorsetshire4 #ie3 ,see a curious letter on this subject in the ,gentleman's ,magazine1 vol4 #a4 p4 #ebg4 #if3 ,see ,walker's ,sufferings of the ,clergy1 p4 #caj4 #ig3 ,s4 ,luke vi4 #bf4 #ih3 ,the ,vicar of the church here referred to has lately deceased1 and his successor has commenced the much needed improvements4 ,the ,vicar's good daughter1 who was quite a sister of mercy in the parish1 is not likely to be forgotten1 though the old pew has gone4 ,a beautiful window of stained glass has been erected to her memory by the parishioners4 #ii3 ,this phase of the pew system is not over coloured4 ,a few years since1 a pew in the nave of ,old ,swinford ,church was so nailed up2 but other instances of this might be mentioned4 #ajj3 ,james ii4 #a-d4 #aja3 ,james ii4 #e1 #f4 #ajb3 ,sermon by the ,rev4 ,e4 ,stuart1 preached at the ,church of ,st4 ,mary ,magdalene1 ,munster ,square1 ,london4 #ajc3 #b ,cor4 viii4 #i4 #ajd3 ,much information on this subject can be obtained from ,the ,history of ,pues3 a ,paper read before the ,cambridge ,camden ,society1 ,november #bb1 #ahda4 #aje3 ,stone seats were often placed round the bases of the columns of the nave2 examples are at ,st4 ,margaret-at-,cliffe1 and ,challock1 in ,kent4 #ajf3 ,british ,critic2 see ,history of ,pues4 #ajg3 '#afab1 #bg ,may4--,ye ,ch4 ,wardens meeting together for seekeing for workmen to mak a fitt seete in a convennent place for brydgrumes1 bryds1 and sike wyves to sit in ijs4 --,extract from ,parochial ,books of ,chester-le-,street1 ,durham4 ,it is plain that at this period the privilege of a separate pew was confined to persons of the first rank2 the rest sat promiscuously on forms in the body of the church1 and the privilege is here extended only to sick wives and brides1 who sat to hear the preacher deliver ',the ,bride's ,bush1' or ',the ,wedding ,garment beautified4'--,surtees' ,hist4 of ,durham4 #ajh3 ,blomfield's ,norfolk1 vi4 #cag4 #aji3 ,several congregations find themselves already very much straitened2 and if the mode increases1 ,i wish it may not drive many ordinary women into meetings and conventicles4 ,should our sex at the same time take it into their heads to wear trunk breeches1 a man and his wife would fill a whole pew4--,satire on ,female ,costume4 ,spectator1 ,no4 #abg4 ,at church in silks and satins new1 ,and hoop of monstrous size2 ,she never slumber'd in her pew ,but when she shut her eyes4--,goldsmith4 #aaj3 ,he found him mounted in his pew1 ,with books and money placed for shew4 ,the ,lawyer's ,pew1 ,butler's ,hudibras4 ,a bedstead of the antique mode1 ,compact of timber many a load1 ,such as our ancestors did use1 ,was metamorphosed into pews2 ,which still their ancient nature keep ,by lodging folks disposed to sleep4 ,swift's ,baucis and ,philemon4 #aaa3 ,european ,magazine1 #ahac4 #aab3 ,history of ,pues1 p4 #gg4 #aac3 #afag4 ,barnham contra ,hayward ,puellam4--,presentatur--for that she being but a young maid sat in ye pew with her mother1 to ye great offence of many reverent women3 howbeit that after ,i ,peter ,lewis the ,vicar had in the church privately admonished her to sit at her mother's pew-door1 she obeyed2 but now she sits with her mother again4--,god's ,acre1 by ,mrs4 ,stone4 #aad3 ,whittaker's ,whalley1 p4 #bbh4 #aae3 ,we have also heard that the parishioners of divers places do oftentimes wrangle about their seats in church1 two or more claiming the same seat1 whence arises great scandal to the ,church1 and the divine officers are sore set and hindered2 wherefore we decree that none shall henceforth call any seat in the church his own1 save noblemen and patrons3 but he who shall first enter shall take his place where he will4--,quivil1 ,bishop of ,exeter1 ,a4,d4 #abhg4 #aaf3 ,in the vestry of the church of ,east ,moulsey is suspended a map of considerable size1 showing the land that has been left to the parish for the sustentation of the church4 ,the land ought to produce #abjl4 but some years since the parishioners engaged in a law-suit respecting a pew in the church1 and lost the suit1 and the income from the charity land was year by year absorbed in the payment of the debt then incurred4 ,one evidence brought forward to prove the faculty was the following inscription1 which is still 7or was till lately7 over the altar1 painted at the foot of a daub1 having the ,ten ,commandments surrounded by drapery1 c43-- ,in lieu of the ,commandments formerly written on the wall 7when by consent of the parish he made his pew7 these tables were placed here by--,mr4 ,benson1 ,,mdccxii4 #aag3 ,gentleman's ,magazine1 ,a4,d4 #aghj1 p4 #cfd4 #aah3 ,we are so used to speak of the seats in church1 that we commonly forget the more proper appellation of kneeling4 ,this1 however1 was not always so4 ,an old metal plate formerly on a pew in a church in the diocese of ,oxford1 has this inscription3-- ,no #hc4 ,vicar and ,churchwardens1 two kneelings4 ,trustees of ,poor ,house three kneelings4 #aai3 ,see ,history of ,pues1 p4 #cg4 #abj3 ,item4 ,paid to good wyfe ,wells for salt to destroy the fleas d4 in the ,churchwardens' ,pew vi4 ,st4 ,margaret's ,accounts4 ,dublin ,review1 xiii4 #aba3 ,so called1 as some suppose1 because it could be folded and removed when necessary4 #abb3 ,joel ii4 #ag4 #abc3 ,injunctions of ,edward ,,vi4 and ,queen ,elizabeth4 #abd3 ,see ,wheatly on the ,common ,prayer1 p4 #afa4 #abe3 ,the earliest examples remaining are of wood1 many of them beautifully carved1 as at ,bury and ,ramsay1 ,huntingdonshire2 ,swancombe1 ,debtling1 and ,lenham1 ,kent2 ,newport1 ,essex2 ,hawstead1 ,suffolk4--,parker's ,glossary4 ,there are beautiful examples of brass lecterns at ,magdalene and ,merton ,colleges1 ,oxford1 in most of our cathedrals1 and many parish churches4 #abf3 ,derived from the ,french aile1 a wing4 ,it is no uncommon thing to hear persons who ought to know better talk about side aisles1 as if there were any other than side aisles4 #abg3 ,derived from the ,greek1 ,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,alpha ,,with ,,dasia,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,gamma,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,iota,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,omicron,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,final ,,sigma hagios1 holy1 and ,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,sigma,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,kappa,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,omicron,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,pi,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,epsilon ,,with ,,dasia,,greek ,,small ,,letter ,,omega skopeo1 to view4 ,there are very good specimens at ,st4 ,clement's1 ,sandwich1 and at ,st4 ,mary's1 ,gloucester4 ,the latter has three compartments4 #abh3 ,in some few churches--as at ,rottingdean1 ,sussex--the chancel1 by the deviation of its north or south wall from the line of the nave1 represent the inclined head of our ,lord upon the cross4 #abi3 ,the ,german word for piscina is ,wasserhaelter1 water-holder4 #acj3 ,derived from the ,italian credenzare1 to test by tasting beforehand2 which refers to an ancient custom for the governor of a feast to taste the wines before presenting them to his guests4 ,the application of the word to this piece of ,church furniture is supposed to have its origin in an attempt once made to mix poison with the eucharistic elements4 #aca3 ,the rubric at the commencement of the ,prayer ,book concerning the ,ornaments of the ,church1 and of the ministers thereof1 still directs a credence-table to be placed in every church4 #acb3 ,in ,flamborough ,church1 ,yorkshire1 a few years since1 a white glove was hanging over the centre arch of the very beautiful chancel screen1--perhaps is hanging there still4 ,sometimes a bridal wreath was hung up with the glove4 #acc3 ,when the rood screens were pulled down by the ,puritans and the chancels were alienated from their proper use1 it became necessary1 in order to protect the immediate precinct of the altar from general intrusion1 to erect around it some barrier2 hence the origin of altar-rails1 which were first ordered to be put up by ,archbishop ,laud4 ,there are a few instances of ancient screens of considerable height immediately surrounding the altar4 #acd3 ,as in ,bottisham ,church1 ,cambridge2 ,westwell1 ,kent2 and most of our cathedrals4 #ace3 ,such galleries existed in the parish churches of ,whitby1 ,yorkshire1 and of ,sandon1 ,staffordshire1 a few years ago1 but these have probably been since removed4 #acf3 ,rood is analogous to our common word rod4 ,it is a ,saxon word1 and means a cross4 #acg3 ,it is a question whether the order in the canons for placing the ,commandments in churches was intended to be other than temporary4 ,at the time few comparatively had ,bibles or ,prayer ,books1 so there was then a reason for the order1 which no longer exists4 ,one of many churches in which the ,commandments were painted at an early date over the chancel arch1 is ,fordwich1 ,kent2 the date is #afhh4 ,at ,dimchurch1 in ,kent1 there is an old painting of the ,commandments over the chancel arch1 and a modern one over the altar4 #ach3 ,as at ,c4444 ,church1 ,kent4 #aci3 ,cancellae are lattice-work1 by which the chancels being formerly parted from the body of the church they took their names from thence4 ,hence1 too1 the ,court of ,chancery and the ,lord ,chancellor borrowed their names1 that court being enclosed with open-work of that kind4 ,and so to cancel a writing is to cross it out with the pen1 which naturally makes something like the figure of a lattice4--,pegge's ,anonymiana4 #adj3 ,some of our chancels1 however1 were originally made considerably lower than the nave4 ,when the church has been built on a slope it has sometimes followed the fall of the ground from west to east4 #ada3 ,so called from the ,latin word sedes1 a seat4 ,this position1 on the south side of the altar1 is in all respects the most convenient for the clergy when not officiating4 ,to sit facing the people is a most painful position for the priest1 as the eyes of all the congregation naturally rest upon him2 it has1 too1 the appearance of irreverence4 #adb3 ,see p4 #bbc4 #adc3 ,see p4 #bbc4 #add3 ,this word is tautological1 derived from our common word rere1 back1 and the ,french dos1 back1 from its position at the back of the altar4 ,many of these altar-screens have in recent years been restored at immense cost1 as at ,ely ,cathedral4 #ade3 ,in ,braburn ,church1 ,kent1 an altar-tomb1 with armorial bearings around and above it1 occupies the very place of the altar itself4 ,in the church of ,prendergast1 ,south ,wales1 large marble slabs with elaborate epitaphs occupy the entire east end of the chancel4 ,the most prominent of these--immediately over the altar--records that the departed had learned by heart the whole ,book of ,psalms1 and all the ,collects of the ,book of ,common ,prayer1 with twenty-four chapters of the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 before she was thirteen years old1 and several more after ,however praiseworthy and marvellous these accomplishments1 this is surely no fitting place for proclaiming them6 #adf3 ,it is probable that the prayers and the sermon were formerly read from the same lectern4 ,the first authoritative document of which we have record in which mention is made of the prayer desk1 is the ,visitation ,articles of the ,bishop of ,norwich 7,parker71 in ,a4,d4 #aefi4 ,in the parish accounts of ,st4 ,mary's1 ,shrewsbury1 is an item in #aegg for colouring the ,curate's desk4 ,but prayer desks were used at a much earlier time4 #adg3 ,so called from the ,latin word almarium1 a closet or locker4 ,the almery had many uses1 and is to be found in all parts of the church1 but chiefly in the chancel4 ,sometimes it was used to hold the priest's vestments2 and in conventual churches1 to hold the gold and silver vessels belonging to the monastery4 #adh3 ,gen4 viii4 #bj2 xii #g2 xxxv4 #a4 #adi3 ,exod4 xxvii4 #a4 #aej3 ,the ,council of ,epaone in ,france 7,a4,d4 #eji7 ordered that none but altars of stone should be consecrated with chrism4 ,the custom of consecrating the altar with chrism is supposed to symbolize the anointing of our ,lord's ,body for the burial4--,see ,the ,stone ,altar1 by ,rev4 ,j4 ,blackburn1 p4 #df4 #aea3 ,rev4 vi4 #i-aa4 #aeb3 ,a type both of the womb and of the tomb4--,the ,stone ,altar1 p4 #da4 #aec3 #a ,cor4 x4 #d4 #aed3 ,see ,prayer for the ,church ,militant4 #aee3 ,queen ,elizabeth's ,advertisements1 ,a4,d4 #aefd1 require that the ,parish provide a decent ,,table1 standing on a frame1 for the ,communion ,table4 ,hence it appears that by the word table at the era of the ,english ,reformation1 the slab only was meant4--,parker's ,glossary4 #aef3 ,matt xxvii4 #ff4 #aeg3 ,the seal of the altar--that is1 the little stone by which the sepulchre or cavity in which the relics be deposited1 is closed or sealed4--,durandus1 p4 #abh4 #aeh3 ,as at ,st4 ,mary's ,hospital1 ,ripon4 ,these ancient stone altars may always be known by the five crosses on the table1 emblematic of the five wounds of ,jesus4 ,not infrequently1 alas6 this slab is to be found as part of the church flooring4 ,the altar table of ,norwich ,cathedral is 7or was lately7 to be seen in the floor of the nave4 #aei3 ,have you a ,communion ,table with a handsome carpet or covering of silk stuff1 or such like8--,visitation ,articles1 ,bishop ,bridges1 #afcd4 ,have you a carpet of silk1 satin1 damask1 or some more than ordinary stuff to cover the ,table with at all times8--,visitation ,articles1 ,bishop ,montague1 #afci4 #afj3 ,the pall is an archiepiscopal vestment1 forming at the back a figure like the letter ,y1 as seen on the armorial bearings of our archbishops4 #afa3 ,all ,deans1 ,archdeacons1 ,parsons1 ,vicars1 and other ,ecclesiastical persons shall suffer from henceforth no torches nor candles1 tapers1 or images of wax to be set before any image or picture4 ,but only two lights upon the high altar 7the only altar now retained in our ,church7 before the ,sacrament1 which1 for the signification that ,christ is the true ,light of the ,world1 they shall suffer to remain still4--,injunctions of ,king ,edward ,,vi4 ,and here it is to be noted1 that such ornaments of the ,church and of the ministers thereof1 at all times of their ministration1 shall be retained and be in use1 as were in this ,church of ,england by the authority of ,parliament in the second year of the reign of ,king ,edward the ,sixth4--,rubric before morning ,prayer4 #afb3 ,durandus1 who wrote about ,a4,d4 #abij1 says1 ,at the horns of the altar two candlesticks are placed to signify the joy of ,jews and ,gentiles at the ,nativity of ,christ4 ,in the ,sassetti ,chapel at ,florence is a beautiful fresco painting1 by ,ghirlandaio 7,a4,d4 #adhe71 representing the death of ,st4 ,francis4 ,the painting1 which has been copied by the ,arundel ,society1 has all the character of a really historical work1 and is particularly interesting as representing an altar with the two candlesticks upon it4 #afc3 ,ps4 cviii1 #a4 #afd3 #b ,chron4 v4 #aa-ad4 #afe3 ,organs appear to have been used at a very early period1 and some have thought that allusions to them are to be found in the ,psalms of ,david2 but till the commencement of the last century they were probably used in very few country churches4 ,in cathedrals the organ was sometimes placed in the clerestory2 its position over the choir screen is in every respect most objectionable4 #aff3 ,vestry1 so called because it is the place where the vestments of the priests and their assistants are kept4 ,it is also called the sacristy1 because the sacred vessels and other furniture for use at the altar are kept there4 ,the keeper of the vestry is properly called the sacristan4 ,this word has now degenerated to sexton4 #afg3 ,some of the subterranean and other small chambers in churches1 supposed to be chantries or mortuary chapels1 have probably been used as vestries4 ,the following is extracted from ,neal and ,webb's edition of ,durandus3--,on eache side of this chancelle peradventure 7for so fitteth it beste7 should stand a turret2 as it were for two ears1 and in these the belles to be hanged1 to calle the people to service1 by daie and by night4 ,undre one of these turrets is there commonly a vaulte1 whose doore openeth into the quiere1 and in this are laid up the hallowed vesselles1 and ornamentes1 and other utensils of the churche4 ,we call it a vestrie4--,fardle of ,facions4 ,printed #aeee4 #afh3 ,early examples of these chests for containing the parish records may be found in most old churches4 ,frequently they are of very rude design1 and the box is formed of a single block of wood strongly bound with iron hoops4 ,sometimes1 however1 they are richly carved1 as in the churches of ,clymping1 ,sussex2 ,luton1 ,bedfordshire2 and ,faversham1 ,kent4 ,the proper place for the parish chest is the vestry1 but it is not unfrequently to be found in some other part of the church4 ,we often meet with several large chests of common deal in various parts of the church containing useless papers and other rubbish4 ,the sooner these are swept away the better4 #afi3 ,see pages #he and #hf for a description of some of these vestments4 #agj3 ,it is always lawful1 and almost always desirable1 to hold vestry meetings in some hall or room in the parish1 and not in the church vestry4 #aga3 ,eph4 ii4 #bj4 #agb3 ,pugin's ,true ,principles of ,architecture4 #agc3 ,durandus4 #agd3 #a ,pet4 ii4 #e4 #age3 ,col4 iii4 #ad4 #agf3 ,john x4 #i4 #agg3 ,jer4 xxii4 #ah4 #agh3 ,most persons know--at least from engravings--the famous ,apprentice ,column in ,roslin ,chapel4 ,that was perhaps the first church pillar that ever was wreathed with flowers1 and those stone flowers are as fresh and beautiful now as when they were carved five hundred years ago4 #agi3 ,this old custom of copying in stone or marble the surrounding objects of nature has been imitated on the capitals of pillars in the church of ,st4 ,mary1 ,devon1 which has recently been so beautifully restored in memory of the late ,bishop of ,exeter4 #ahj3 ,acts xiv4 #ac4 ,virgil1 ,a,eneid1 i4 #dag2 ii4 #bdi4 #aha3 #a ,cor4 xv4 #db4 #ahb3 ,isa4 lx4 #ac4 #ahc3 ,mark xiv4 #d4 #ahd3 ,this word1 formerly spelt clear story1 plainly expresses its own meaning--a clear or separate story or flight of windows4 ,they are placed between the roof and the nave arches of a church4 #ahe3 ,the word corbel1 ,french corbeille1 means literally a large flat basket4 ,it is curious to note how the word obtains its present use in architecture4 ,after the destruction of the city of ,caryae in ,arcadia by the ,greeks1 ,praxiteles1 and other ,athenian artists1 employed female figures1 instead of columns1 in architecture1 to commemorate the disgrace of the ,caryatides1 or women of ,caryae 7see ,dr4 ,smith's ,dict4 of ,greek and ,roman ,antiquities1 ,caryatis74 ,these figures were always represented with corbels or baskets on their heads4 ,the basket1 being thus placed between the head of the figure and the roof1 was that which immediately supported the roof4 ,hence those projecting pieces of stone or wood which support the roofs of our churches1 as well as other buildings1 have received the name of corbels4 ,caryatides may be seen on the north and south sides of ,new ,st4 ,pancras ,church1 ,london--a church which externally possesses all the appearances of a heathen temple1 and few of a ,christian church4 #ahf3 ,although the carved roofs of this period cannot compare in point of elegance and beauty with those of an earlier date1 yet1 for the abundance of rich and elaborate detail in wood-carving 7oak and walnut71 no period equalled this4 ,the bench-ends1 screens1 rood-screens1 tombs of wood at this time were exquisitely beautiful4 ,the roofs1 however1 were too flat1 and externally they were concealed altogether by parapets4 #ahg3 ,in some chancels the idea of the keel of a ship is fully carried out1 the walls widening as they ascend4 #ahh3 ,the flat roofs well suited the heathen worship of ancient ,greece and ,rome1 where the object of worship was shut up within the walls of the temple itself4 ,it is far different with us1 who worship a ,deity who1 though specially present there1 is not confined to temples made with hands4 #ahi3 ,wordsworth4 #aij3 ,see the ,builder1 ,jan4 #bi1 #ahfe1 ,the ,roof and the ,spire4 #aia3 ,so called from the triple form of the arches it most commonly has4 #aib3 ,see ,parker's ,glossary1 ,triforium2 and ,hook's ,church ,dictionary4 #aic3 ,it is probable that all ,norman towers originally had low-pointed roofs covered with tiles 7as at ,sompting1 ,essex72 tower roofs of this period with gable-ends are also sometimes to be found4 #aid3 ,chiefly in ,norfolk and ,suffolk4 ,of these the round towers of ,little ,saxham and ,brixham are perhaps the most interesting4 #aie3 ,there are several instances1 however1 in ,england of bell-towers standing detached from the church1 as the beautiful tower at ,evesham1 ,worcestershire1 and the curious belfry at ,brookland in ,kent4 #aif3 ,evidences of these priests' chambers exist throughout ,england3 there are instances at ,challock1 ,sheldwich1 and ,brook in ,kent4 ,in the last mentioned are the remains of an altar1 with a portion of the original rude painting above it still remaining4 #aig3 ,bells are said to have been introduced into the ,christian ,church by ,paulinus2 ,bishop of ,nola1 at the end of the fourth century4 ,the first peal of bells in ,england was put up in ,croyland ,abbey1 about ,a4,d4 #hgj4 #aih3 ,when they heard the bell of the chapel of ,isabella sounding through the forests as it rung for mass1 and beheld the ,spaniards hastening to wards the chapel1 they imagined that it talked4--,irving's ,life of ,columbus1 ch4 iv4 ,the office of the church bell in summoning the people to prayer and holy worship was regarded in olden times with such respect that the bell was very solemnly set apart by a special religious service for this sacred use4 ,in the churchwarden's accounts of ,st4 ,lawrence1 ,reading1 is the following curious entry3-- #addi4 ,it payed for halowing of the bell named ,harry1 vjs4 viijd41 and over that1 ,sir ,william ,symys1 ,richard ,cleck1 and ,maistres ,smyth1 being ,godfaders and ,godmoder at the consecraycyon of the same bell1 and beryng all oth' costs to the suffrygan4 #aii3 ,kirke ,white4 #bjj3 ,in the last century it was a favourite custom with village bellringers to set forth their rules in verse4 ,they were generally painted on a board and fixed in the belfry4 ,in all cases the rhyme appears to be the production of native talent4 ,the rules are themselves unexceptionable4 ,the following are examples3-- ,in the belfry1 ,charlwood1-- ,ye men of action1 strength1 and skill1 ,observe these rules which ,i do will3 ,first1--,let none presume to swear1 ,nor e'er profane the house of ,prayer4 ,next1--,he that doth a bell o'erthrow ,a groat shall forfeit where'er he go2 ,and if he do refuse to pay1 ,be scorn'd1 and simply go his way1 ,like one who will for ever wrangle ,as touching of a rope to jangle4 ,in the belfry1 ,bredgar1-- ,my friendly ringers1 ,i do declare ,you must pay one penny each oath you do swear4 ,to turn a bell over ,it is the same fare2 ,to ring with your hats on you must not dare4 ,,mdccli4 ,in the belfry1 ,all ,saints'1 ,hastings1-- ,this is a belfry that is free ,for all those that civil be2 ,and if you please to chime or ring1 ,it is a very pleasant thing4 ,there is no music play'd or sung ,like unto bells when they're well rung2 ,then ring your bells well if you can2 ,silence is best for every man4 ,but if you ring in spur or hat ,sixpence you pay1 be sure of that2 ,and if a bell you overthrow ,pray pay a groat before you go4 #agef4 #bja3 ,in the preface to the ,prayer ,book the curate is directed to cause a bell to be tolled for morning and evening prayer2 but ,durandus says that this ringing of the bell was itself once part of the minister's own duty4 #bjb3 ,at ,cairnwent1 in ,wales1 the parish clerk used often to knock a bit or two from one of the bells when any one wanted a bit of metal4 ,in a neighbouring church two bells were taken down and sold to pay for the ceiling of the roof4 ,many church bells in ,england have1 alas6 met with as sad a fate4 ,the same parsimony which has sacrificed the bells has1 in many cases1 not spared the belfry4 ,it seems hardly credible--but it is true--that some years ago1 at ,st4 ,bride's1 ,monmouthshire1 there being no ladder in the village long enough to reach the top of the tower1 the tower was lowered to meet the length of the ladder4 #bjc3 ,the following are a few examples taken from village church bells in ,wales4 ,at ,nevern1-- ,i to the church the living call1 ,and to the grav do summon al4--#agfc4 ,at ,llandyssil1-- ,come at my call1 ,serve ,god1 all4--#aggg4 ,fear ,god1 honour the king4--#aggg4 ,at ,llangattock1-- ,be peaceful and good neighbours4 #bjd3 ,such as3--on six bells at ,northfield ,church1-- #ast4 ,we now are six1 tho' once but five1 #bnd4 ,but against our casting some did strive2 #crd4 ,but when a day for meeting they did fix1 #dth4 ,there appear'd but nine against twenty-six3 #eth4 ,thomas ,kettle and ,william ,jervis did contrive #fth4 ,to make us six that were but five4 ,at ,tamworth1-- ,be it known to all that doth me see1 ,that ,newcombe1 of ,leicester1 made mee4--#afjg4 ,at ,nevern1-- ',thomas ,rudall ,cast us all4--#agfc4' #bje3 ,durandus1 ,of ,bells4 #bjf3 ,ps4 xcii4 #ac4 #bjg3 #b ,cor4 v4 #a4 #bjh3 ,heb4 ix4 #bc4 #bji3 ,eph4 ii4 #bj-bb4 #baj3 ,isa4 xxviii4 #af4 #a ,pet4 ii4 #f4 #baa3 ,ps4 cxviii4 #bb4 ,matt4 xxi4 #db4 #bab3 ,eph4 ii4 #ba4 #bac3 #a ,pet4 ii4 #e4 #bad3 #b ,cor4 vi4 #af4 #bae3 ,s4 ,james ii4 #ag4 #baf3 ,col4 iii4 #ad4 #bag3 ,ezek4 xiii4 #aj4 #bah3 ,ps4 cxxvii4 #a4 #bai3 ,rom4 ii4 #g4 #bbj3 ,rev4 iv4 #h2 v4 #ac4 #bba3 ,in the parish registry of ,dymock1 in ,gloucestershire1 is the following entry3--,buried3 ,john ,murrel1 aged #hi years4 ,thomas ,bannister1 aged #ac years4 ,to which is appended the following note3 ,john ,murrel and ,thomas ,bannister died nearly at the same moment1 though the latter was in apparent good health4 ,he had always attended upon ,murrel1 who was much given to prayer1 and being by his bed at the time1 ,murrel1 in his last struggle1 extended his hand to him1 when both instantly expired4