The Book on Altar (with canopy), fo placed as only to be read from facing eaft. Photographed from "The Book of Common Prayer." Printed by Hill, printer to the Queen, London, 1709.

Page 97.

PART II.

CHOIR WORSHIP.

CHAPTER I.

OF EVENSONG OR VESPERS.

I.

(This Office fhould be "FINIS DIEI, INITIUM NOCTIS," according to John of

Avranches).

N Saturday Evening, at FIRST VESPERS OF EVENSONG of the FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT, according to the Ufes of Sarum, York, Hereford, Wells, Exeter, and the other English Cathedrals, and on all other Saturday Evenings throughout the year, the Bells (of which three peals fhould be rung), having ceafed ringing, and the Clergy, Singing Men, and Boys having affembled in the Veftry, or in their respective Veftries, before or whilft vesting himself let each individual fay to himself the following prayer before entering the Church :

"O Lord, open Thou my lips to blefs Thy Name. Purify alfo my heart from all vain thoughts, that I may be worthy to be heard before the face of Thy Divine Majefty. Through our Lord Jefus Chrift Thy Son, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the Unity of the Holy Ghoft, God, world without end. Amen."

At these Vefpers, the Clergy should wear Surplices only, long, full, and going down to the heels, with a fomewhat shorter Cope or long Tippet, black in colour, and made of ferge, or of fome fuch material, over them. This in fubfequent times became the ample black scarf put on over the fhoulders of the officiating Minister or Hebdomadary. On Double Festivals

the Officiators and Clergy should wear Copes of filk. The older and more dignified Clerks may, in addition, put an Almuce or Tippet of fur over their fhoulders, from Michaelmas to Eafter.

It appears from the engravings and paintings of the fifteenth and fixteenth century, and again from thofe in the English Prayer Books and Books of Devotion of the pericd of the Restoration up to 1730, that the Surplices of the Officiating Clerks and other Clergy (being always long, reaching to the heels, with full and long pendant fleeves), had ufually in Choir broad borders of lace or fringe running round the bottom or skirt, and the extremities of the fleeves. This is a graceful ornament, and should be revived.

In these Vefpers the two Rulers of the Choir (if any), ought to wear Copes of Silk of a purple or violet colour over their Surplices, and carry Staves or Batons in their left hands. Eight of these Staves or Batons to rule the Choir are mentioned in the Sarum Inventory of 1222. They should stand or fit on raised platforms on the first step of the Choir towards the Western end of the fame, with feats in front of the rest of the Singers. Five Chairs of wood and iron, with leather feats for Rulers of the Choir, are mentioned in the Exeter Inventory of 1503 (Oliver, 329). On this Sunday, the whole Choir of Singers and Principal Ruler fhould be ftationed on the Decanal fide. The Secondary Ruler only on the Precentor's fide.

The inferior Clerks and lay Singers should wear black or purple Caffocks, and over them linen Albes, a kind of fhorter Surplice or Gown, tighter in the arm and fitting close to the body, or Tunicles, a fomewhat fimilar linen fhirt-like Veft with very short fleeves, and reaching to the knees only. These may in festal seasons be fringed or bordered with lace. But they fhould not wear long or full Surplices, which are appropriate to the officiating Clergy and Acolytes only.

The Boys of the Choir ought at this Season, and at these Vefpers, to wear black or purple Caffocks, and over them short linen Albes, fastened round the waift with girdles. They alfo may have Amices, or fine linen kerchiefs tied round the neck with a string. These Amices afterwards were changed into what are called Bands.

A Rochet ("Rocca," or little Coat), which was an Albe or Surplice without fleeves, may also be fometimes worn by the Boys and lay Singers.

Those Boys or Acolytes that have to take any special part in the Service, as to read the Leffons and affift the Minifter, should usually wear Surplices, unless a contrary direction be given. Thus, in the usual Afperfion of Bleft Water on Sundays, he who carried the Waterftoup, and he who held up the book to the Minifter, wore Surplices. The Cerofer and Crossbearer, Albes.

From the Authorities cited above, it seems to refult that at these First Vefpers, if the Deacon be the officiating Minister, as alfo at Mattins, he may

wear a Surplice; but he fhould not (unless a Senior, and by special permiffion), place himself in the Stalls when so officiating, but at the West end of the Second row of Forms.

The Lights at these First and Second Vefpers in Advent, according to all the English Confuetudinaries, fhould be four in number at leaft; two above the Altar and two on the steps afcending to the Altar, befides those which the Thuriblers bring in if the Altar is to be censed. A fevenbranched Candlestick or Rail with seven sockets, may also be placed before the Altar or lengthwife down the Choir, to be lit up on Festivals. Thefe four Candles (of wax only), near the Altar, fhould be large in fize, each weighing at least one pound.

Other Lights there fhould be in the Choir, if neceffary, for use, and each of these should weigh at least half-a-pound. If it be the Vigil of S. Andrew, those in the Corona fhould be lighted, and three behind the Pulpitum or Ambo. This was the minimum.

These Lights are not Rites or Ceremonies, for (like thofe at the Mass), they are not mentioned or enjoined in any of the Office Books or their Rubrics, but are a fymbolic cuftom or ufage, practised at public worship from the very earliest ages of the Church, after the example of Chrift, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.

The present Ornaments Rubric is wholly in its terms affirmative, and in no fenfe exclufive; and as these Lights were unquestionably in lawful use before and after the time of the First Book of Edward VI., as they are quite confiftent with the Service, and affift the fame and conduce to its honour, dignity, and fignificance, as the Rubrics do not extend to Utenfils or Articles fet up in Churches in the fenfe of decorations (as not to Croffes), or as emblems of Chriftian faith, the use of these Lights, although having no Parliamentary Authority, ought to be continued in our Churches at the present day.

The Bells having ceafed founding, as above mentioned, let the Singers and Boys enter the Choir and take their places, and remain standing, each as they enter making their due obeifances as above required (fee p. 88 ante). There is no particular rule in the Rubrics or Confuetudinaries as to the exact order of entrance, except that it should be, as above ftated, in an orderly manner, and according to rank and feniority.

Now let the Rulers of the Choir (if any) enter, duly vested and with their staves, and after making their obeisances, ftation themselves each on his proper ftep or platform, one on each fide; the Ruler of prior rank on that fide where the Choir is on this day, to wit, the Decanal fide, the other Ruler on the oppofite fide.

The other Clerks, with the Bishop, Dean, Precentor, and other Dignitaries, ought to be now in their places, although allowed to enter before the third or fourth verfe of the first Pfalm.

Next let the Officiating Minifter turn to the Altar, and bowing, fay privately, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen," at the fame time making the fign of the Crofs over his face or breast.

Then let the fame Officiator, with all the Clergy, Choir, and people standing, turn to the Altar, and before beginning the Office, fay to themselves fecretly, "Our Father," &c., ending, "But deliver us from evil.

Then in like manner

Amen."

"Hail Mary! full of grace, The Lord is with thee; bleffed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jefus. Amen.”

Or, what seems to have been usual, let the Lord's Prayer be faid throughout, then "Hail Mary," &c. fecretly; then let the Minifter fay, audibly, "And lead us not into temptation;" the Choir responding, "But deliver us from evil, Amen;" then let every one present fign himself with the sign of the Cross over his face.

In the beginning of the fixteenth century it had become customary to say all this kneeling. If fo done, let every one as he rises turn to the Altar, bow, and cross himself as above directed.

The whole of the Clergy and Choir fhould be arranged within the Chancel of the Church, if there be one.

That the Chancel is the proper place where they should fay Evenfong and Mattins, and not the Nave, is manifeft from the firft claufe of the Ornaments Rubric, which directs thus:

"THE ORDER FOR MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER, DAILY TO BE SAID AND USED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

The Morning and Evening Prayer shall be used in the accustomed place of the Church, Chapel, or Chancel; except it shall be otherwise determined by the Ordinary of the Place. And the Chancels shall remain as they have done in times paft."

It is an ascertained and indifputable fact, that the "accustomed place" for faying and finging Morning and Evening Prayer was before and in the year 1549, and in the First of Elizabeth and fubfequently, the Choir or Chancel, and not the Nave or any part of it. The Bidding Prayer and Litany were to some extent exceptions; to thofe portions of the Office, however, this Rubric does not apply.

The reading boxes or pens, which first in James I.'s reign were reared for this purpose, are entirely unauthorized, unless the Ordinary or Bishop shall have expreffly determined that they fhall, from motives of edification or convenience, be fo used (fee Canon xiv.).

It is here to be observed that the Evenfong of the Anglican Church is a