09818161 1861. Dec.16 wift of Rev. Andrew P. Pealvely Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1860, by in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massa- RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY H. O. HOUGHTON. PREFACE. THE PUBLICATION of this little Work, the MS. of which has been used by the compiler for many years, not, it is trusted, without some good effect, in the instruction of Candidates for the Ministry, has originated in a conviction common to himself and a large number of the ministers of our Church, that there exists a widespread deficiency of information, not only amongst the younger members of the Church, but even with a considerable number of the older and comparatively wellinformed, respecting the history of our PRAYERBook, and the RATIONALE of our LITURGICAL SERVICES. A correct knowledge of these subjects is unquestionably very essential to a just appreciation of the piety, purity, comprehensive character, and great spiritual beauty of OUR LITURGY; and a humble hope is entertained that these "LESSONS" may be of some use in promoting that knowledge. The plan of the work was originally formed to a great extent on the basis of a little volume entitled, "Questions and Answers on the Liturgy," compiled about thirty years ago by an English Clergyman, the Rev. W. Trollope, for the use of Divinity Students in that country. The form of question and answer was, however, set aside, and many additions and alterations - far exceeding the original contents of the book referred to — made, not only to adapt the work to the amended form of our AMERICAN PRAYERBook, but also to introduce a large amount of information not to be found either in that, or, it is believed, in any other work, of a practical nature and moderate size, extant. The compiler has availed himself of opportunities of consulting, not only the best works to be found in American Libraries, but also the MSS., LITURGIES, and other ancient works in the LIBRARIES of the two great ENGLISH UNIVERSITIES. He has endeavoured so to arrange the work, that it shall be, at the same time, usefully available for Candidates for the MINISTRY, and even, as a volume of reference, to parochial MINISTERS; and likewise for SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, and the more advanced classes in SUNDAY SCHOOLS, where, indeed, it is hoped, that its introduction as a class-book will be found to supply a want at present severely felt by the conductors of those important branches of our CHURCH ORGANIZATION. It has been deemed desirable to give the Greek derivations of various Ecclesiastical terms with the explanation of their meaning; but, it will be observed, that by placing the English representatives alongside of the Greek characters, these derivations are rendered intelligible to the youngest scholar. One leading characteristic of the compiler's plan has been, while making it a prime object to illustrate and explain our AMERICAN VERSION of the Book of COMMON PRAYER, still to keep, as far as possible, the order of the PRAYER-BOOK of our PARENT CHURCH constantly before the reader's view. This plan has seemed desirable for many reasons, and especially as tending to cherish and preserve that spirit of affectionate union and bond of intimate relationship between the American and English branches of the EPISCOPAL CHURCH, which was so distinctly recognized and avowed by the CONVENTION of 1789, the object of which CONVENTION was, in the words of Bishop White, "The perpetuating of the EPISCOPAL CHURCH, on the general principles which she had inherited from the CHURCH of ENGLAND, and of not departing from them, except so far as local circumstances required, or some very important cause rendered proper." In order to avoid the necessity of encumbering the book with notes of reference, a list is subjoined of the works which the compiler has consulted in its preparation, and from some of which he has quoted freely. Those, to which he is under the chief obligations in this way, are printed in small capitals. In the hope of contributing a mite, not altogether valueless, to the TREASURY of our CHURCH, the compiler has devoted much care, labour, and time to the preparation of this little volume; but he is painfully sensible, that it falls far short of the standard of comprehensiveness and correctness, at which he had aimed ; and he will feel grateful to those who may be able and willing to suggest desirable alterations or additions. It must however be borne in mind, that the work is mainly directed in its scope to the historical and intel |