The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03

deacon ana subdeacOn are clad In. dial =
mates, or long silk cloaks that como TO the
knee. An wear rcd or white cassocks and
white abs. sometimes OF lace, but In tho
ritualistic churches more frequently OF
fine linen
The subdeacon reads the Eplstle and
the deacon marching TO the Gospel side of
the altar with the thurifer and the crucifer
and the master Of ceremonies. IL this f,nc.
tionary Ia serving. reads the Gospel from n
book which the subdeacon rests on his
head Sonetimes the altar procession,
as it is called. may include more than the
deacon. subdeacon, thurifer, crucifer and
celehrant There may be acolytes and
candle-bearers In any number that NAV
tend to increase the effectiveness or beau,y
Of the procession.
In ono OF the Roman Catholic churches
in this city, there are always fifty acolytes
at the service Of vespors and the
benedlction Of the sacrament on Sundavs
They move through very intricate manoeu-
vres urdcr the direction Of a master
Of ceremonies. None Of the ritualistic
churches has ever had so many acolytes.
The deacon, Of course, incenses the book
Of the Gospel before he reads aud kieses it,.
brant Of the mass. the two assist him TO
on the Gospel side Of the altar. The chasuble
is reserved only for the celebration of the
mass and is not worn for sermon.
The deacon and sub-deacon serve the
celeblant during the solemn mass. just az
the acolytes do in the other mass They
bring the water and the napkin for ths
ahlutions and they perform all the other
duties of the acolytns. 1t is they who hslp
to put the chasuble again over the head
Of the celebrant after he has finished the
sermon.
They sometimes but not always make
communion with the priest at the solemn
mass. It is they VINO retire with the cele-
brant to the Gospel eide of the altar for the
reading Of the Gospel for Christmas, or the
first Gospel as 1t is called. which is read in
silence in the ritualistic churches. But
the congregations in these churches are all
familiar with the Gospel and at the words,
And the Word was made flesh" congre-
cation and clergy genuhect. This Gospel
Is read at every mass in the rtualistic
churches only.
After tho solemn mass, the clergy and
the choir retire as they entered through
the nave of the church. while the ceiehfant
and the acolytcs leave the church directly
from the sanctuary.
On feast days in tho Church Of st. Mary
the Virgin, the ordinary musical forces Of
the parish are incref .ed by large orchestra
Of players from the Philharmonic. The
masses OF Haydn and Mozart az well as
ether music Of the best religious composers
are sung In addition 10 tIlt boy choir
there lis a mixed choir Of trained voices.
The vesper services at this church are
nearly rs elaborate, AT the solemn vekper
service on feast days, the priests wear heavy
silk embroidered copcs and during the III
censng Of tho altar while the Magnificent
Is being sung. the cope is held back by the
priests assisting in the service.
The most important part Of the evening
or afternoon service in the ritualistic. church
il. of course. the -Magnificat" except in
those which have the benediction Of the
Bles scd Sacrament, regarded always as
a distinctly Roman ard not an ancient
service. This ceremony was introduced
into the ritualistic services In this city by
the Rev. Arthur Rlchny when he came hero
from Chicago. where ne had established in
the Church Of the Ascension. very ad-
vanced parish. Ha was called to succeed the
Rev. Ferdinand Ever. one If the first ritu-
alists in this city, who attempted to make
a high church out Of Christ Church and
failed.
After Father Rchey, as he is called by his
hock made this innovation some OF the
other ritualistic churches began to make
practical use of their tabernacles and reserve
the sacrament. indicating its presence as
the practice is in the Roman Catholic
churches, by lighting the red lamp that
hangs in front Of the altar. But the bene-
diction OF the sacrament has not been
adopted elsewhere in this city.
A special feature OF this service IS made
on the night of Maundy Thursday. In
Saint Ignatiuss 1t was customary to have
a mass on Good Friday, AZ in the Roman
Catholic churches. at which no new wafer
was eonsecrated, hut use was made Of
the sacrament consecrated the day before.
These are the distin gushing features
of the services in the two most advanced
ritualistic churches Of this city. All OF
those where the same doctrines are taught
have in their services some features OF
tho ritual used in these two, but none other
has all OF them. This ritual is, of course.
the full Sarum use. to whitehall the ritualistic
churches are tending and which they will
reach If thcy continue in the
d rection Of their teachings
Most of them add one feature of ritual
year after year The number of celebra-
ions of the communion held every Sun
lay ia possibly the first test of a church's
ioctrina! position.
There are. however, many Protestant
churches which have a COM
,aratively simple ritual. although they
ave daily celebrations and frequent cele-
,rations on Sunday. Usually these parishes
lcaure ritual year by year az rapidly
But only at the two churches named
,ere is the ritual Of the most advanced
oarty in the Church to be seen in its fullest |
development One of the principles in these |
services Ia never under any, circum-
stance to use artificial flowers or imitation |
andes, Only the genuine are allowed.
md such substitutes as paper roses and !
electric lights are vigorously forbidden.
ny-p EUnICIlE ENP0RTS.