The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia by William James Miller (thriller books to read .TXT) 📕

Ring.—The custom of the Wedding Ring was probably adopted by the early Church from the marriage customs of the Jews and also of the heathen, as its use has been almost universal. From its shape, having neither beginning nor ending, it is regarded as an emblem of eternity, constancy, and integrity. It is placed on the fourth finger of the woman's left hand, and the ancient ceremony of doing so was to place it first on the thumb at the Name of the first Person of the Trinity; on the next finger, at the Name of the Son; on the third at the Name of the Holy Ghost, and then on the fourth finger, and leaving it there at the word "Amen." The ring is, also, frequently given at the consecration of a Bishop, to symbolize his espousal with the Church in his Diocese. Thus bestowed, it is the symbol of authority and is called the Episcopal Ring. {232}

Rites and Ceremonies.—The Rites and Ceremonies of the Church are based on the Apostolic injunction, "Let all things be done decently and in order." By rites are meant certain prescribed ordinances, and by ceremonies certain sacred observances, as distinguished from Sacraments. These when prescribed by lawful authority are instrumental in promoting uniformity of worship and are conducive to regularity and edification. We learn from the Twentieth Article of Religion that the power to decree Rites and Ceremonies rests with the Church, and, as set forth in the Twenty-fourth Article, "every particular and national Church hath authority to ordain, change and abolish ceremonies, ordained only by man's authority." The Rites and Ceremonies of the American Church, are set forth and implied in the Book of Common Prayer, marked out in the rubrics and the Tables prefixed to it.

Ritual. Ritualism.—By ritual is meant the ceremonial part of Religion; the name is also applied to the book in which the Rites and Ceremonies are set forth. By ritualism is meant the system of ritual or prescribed form of religious worship. Therefore, these words meaning what they do are to be lifted up out of all party spirit and are to be regarded as expressive of the Church's real system of worship. Loyalty to the Prayer-book demands obedience to the rubrics on the part of both minister and people. Then it is well to remember that when the Prayer-book was first set forth in 1549, the principal change was that the services should be said in English; the ritual remained the same. This explains the origin of many practices which now prevail in the Church as {233} a matter of course, such as kneeling, bowing at the Name of Jesus, the use of vestments, etc. These are simply what had been in use in the early Church, and the use of the Prayer-book presupposes them all. It is well, also, to observe that Ritualism properly considered, emphasizes the continuity of the Church before and after the Reformation, and is a standing protest against the false idea that the Episcopal Church was founded by Henry the Eighth, or that it is a mere schism from the Church of Rome. (See ORNAMENTS; also UNDIVIDED CHURCH, THE.)

Rochet.—A Bishop's vestment, and may be described as a long narrow surplice or alb which he wears under the CHIMERE (which see).

Rogation Days.—The Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Ascension Day. They are days of abstinence preparatory to the great Feast of the Ascension. They are so called from the Latin word rogare, meaning to ask, and coming as they do in the early part of the year, it was customary on these days to ask God's blessing on the fruits of the earth. So that the Rogation Days bear the same relation to the plowing and sowing that Thanksgiving Day bears to the harvest. Two special prayers for this purpose, entitled "For Fruitful Seasons,—To be used on Rogation Sunday and the Rogation Days," were introduced into the American Prayer-book at its last revision in 1892. The Rogation Days were originated about the middle of the Fifth Century by Mamercus, Bishop of Vienne in Gaul, on the occasion of a great calamity that threatened his Diocese; whence arose the custom of saying the Litany and certain Psalms such as 103d {234} and 104th, during perambulations of parishes. This method of celebrating the Rogation Days still prevails in many parishes in England.

Rogation Sunday.—The Fifth Sunday after Easter, being the Sunday next before the Rogation Days and Ascension Day is so called, and no doubt from the words with which the Gospel for the day begins, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you." (See ROGATION DAYS.)

Rood Screen.—The word "rood" is the old Saxon word for cross or crucifix; and the term "rood screen" is the name given to the screen or open partition to be seen in many churches, placed between the chancel and the nave, and which is always surmounted by the rood, i.e., the cross.

Rubric.—The rules or directions in the Prayer-book, printed in Italics, concerning the method of conducting the services. While they are now usually printed in black ink, they are still called rubrics from the fact that they were formerly always printed in red; rubric being derived from a Latin word meaning red.

Sabaoth.—The Hebrew word for "Hosts." The words "Lord God of
Sabaoth," to be found in the Te Deum, mean the same as "Lord God of
Hosts" in the Ter Sanctus in the Communion Service. {235}

Sabbath.—The Jewish weekly day of rest (which the word means) observed on the seventh day because God rested on that day from His work of creation. It is no longer binding on Christians, and the name is very improperly applied to the first day of the week which Christians observe as a day of rest and worship. (See LORD'S DAY.)

Sacrament.—The word "Sacrament" is derived from the Latin Sacramentum, meaning the military oath required of the soldiers of ancient Rome. Its outward sign was the uplifted hand whereby the soldier pledged himself to loyalty, which may be regarded as the thing signified by that outward gesture. The word came to be used for those ordinances of the Christian Church possessing an "outward sign" and conveying an "inward grace." Thus the Church Catechism treating of the two Sacraments "generally necessary to salvation, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord," defines a sacrament as being an outward and visible sign ordained by Christ, of an inward and spiritual grace given by Him as its accompaniment. This definition has reference to the Sacramental system of the Church and means that Christ appointed only two Sacraments that are generally or universally necessary to salvation. It does not imply that there are not other Sacramental agencies in the Church—but only that these two are absolutely necessary to salvation. For example, if a man would be saved he must receive Holy Baptism and Holy Communion where these Sacraments are to be had; but for his salvation it is not necessary that he should be married, or ordained to the Sacred Ministry, and yet Marriage and {236} Ordination are thoroughly sacramental in character in that they are grace conferring, and therefore, in her book of Homilies the Church calls them Sacraments, The great English divines generally take this position in regard to the Sacraments and the Sacramental System of the Church. Thus Archbishop Bramhall declares: "The proper and certain Sacraments of the Christian Church, common to all, or (in the words of our Church) generally necessary to Salvation, are but two, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. . . . The rest we retain, though not under the notion of such proper and general Sacraments,—as Confirmation, Ordination, Matrimony, Penitence and lastly, the Visitation of the Sick." So also, Bishop Jeremy Taylor says, "it is none of the doctrine of the Church of England, that there are two Sacraments only, but that 'two only are generally necessary to salvation.'"

Sacred Vessels.—(See VESSELS, SACRED.)

Sacrifice.—A solemn offering made to God according to His ordinance, for His honor and for the benefit of sinners, as in the Holy Communion which is called "our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving," and in which the merits and death of Christ are pleaded for the remission of our sins.

Sacristan.—An old word derived from the Latin sacra, meaning sacred things, still retained to designate one who has charge of the Sacristy with all its contents, viz., the vestments and sacred vessels. The word has been corrupted into sexton which is now used for the man who takes care of the church building.

Sacristy.—The apartment in a church building {237} where the vestments, books and sacred vessels are kept; sometimes called the vestry.

Saint.—The New Testament name for all the Baptized, who are declared to be "an holy nation," by reason of their incorporation into Christ's mystical Body. Like the ancient people of God they may not in their individual lives fully realize their high destiny, yet are they partakers of an holy calling. The word has since come to be used only of those of extraordinary virtue and who, perchance, suffered for the Truth's sake.

Saints' Days.—It has always been characteristic of the devotional system of the Christian Church to commemorate before God the grace given to His faithful servants whereby they were enabled to live righteously and to bear witness to His Truth, and to pray that we may follow the good examples of these His servants and with them be made partakers of Everlasting Life. (See DIPTYCHS.) The day commemorated is generally that of the Saint's death, because like his Master, he passed through death to the portals of Everlasting Life. According to the Prayer-book the Saints commemorated in this Church are the Twelve Apostles; St. John Baptist and St. Barnabas; the Evangelists St. Mark and St. Luke; the Holy Innocents, St. Stephen; Conversion of St. Paul; and in addition, St. Michael and All Angels' Day, and All Saints' Day. The Saints commemorated in our Calendar are all treated of elsewhere under their proper titles, to which the reader is referred.

Sanctuary.—Meaning the "Holy Place"; the name given to that portion of the Chancel within the rail {238} where the Altar stands; from this fact the whole church building is frequently called the Sanctuary of God.

Schism.—Derived from a Greek word, meaning fissure, or rent, and may be defined as a rending of the Body of Christ, His Church on earth, and making divisions in the one Body. The divisions between the East and West, and between Rome and the Anglican Communion may be described in St. Paul's words as "schism in the Body," rather than schism from it, inasmuch as none of these three bodies has lost any of the essentials of Church Unity—the Apostolic Ministry, the Sacraments, the Creeds and the Holy Scriptures. But the word also means separation from the Church and is applied to those religious bodies which have abandoned the Historic Church. Such wilful separation, whether within the Church or without, St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians, calls a sin (1 Cor. 1:10; 3:3; 11:18), and in Romans 16:18, we are directed to avoid those who cause divisions. The Church regards her unity as of such vital importance to her own life and to the life of each individual soul, she bids us pray in the Litany, "From all false doctrine, heresy, and Schism, Good Lord, deliver us." (See UNITY, CHURCH; and also UNDIVIDED CHURCH.)

Scriptures in the Prayer-book.—It has been pointed out, on the authority of a careful and detailed calculation that of the whole Prayer-book, three-fifths of it are taken from the Bible and that two-fifths of all the Church's worship are carried on in the actual words of Holy Scripture. Again, that one-half of this Divine Service is Praise; one-fourth, Prayer; and {239} one-fourth, Reading of the Bible. From these facts, the Episcopal Church has been rightly called a "Bible Reading Church." We thus learn the great value of the Prayer-book in setting forth "the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (See LECTIONARY.)

Seasons, The Church.—(See CHRISTIAN YEAR.)

Sedilia.—From the Latin sedile, meaning a seat. The name given to the seats near the Altar, usually placed against the south wall, to be used by the Clergy during the sermon at the Holy Communion.

See.—Derived from the Latin word sedes, meaning a seat. The word is used to designate the place of a Bishop's Jurisdiction, and his place of residence, the city where his cathedral is; usually called the See City.

Sentences, The Opening.—Short passages of Holy Scripture read at the beginning of Daily Morning and Evening Prayer, are so called, and are intended to strike the