SECT. XX.-The Recess.

The whole Coronation Office being thus performed, the King, attended and accompanied as before, the four Swords being carried before Him, descends from His Throne Crowned, and The Proceeding carrying His Sceptre and Rod in His Hands, goes into the Area Eastward into King Ed- of the Theatre, and passes on through the Door on the South side of the teard's Chapel: Altar into King Edward's Chapel; and as they pass by the Altar, the rest Of the King: of the Regalia lying upon it, are to be delivered by the Dean of Westminster to the Lords that carried them in the Procession, and so they proceed in State into the Chapel, the Organs all the while playing. The Queen at the same time

Of the Queen. descending, goes in like manner into the same Chapel at the Door on the North-side of the Altar; bearing Her Sceptre in Her Right Hand, and Her Ivory Rod in Her Left.

The King and Queen being come into the Chapel, the King standing before the Altar, will deliver the Sceptre with the Dove to the Archbishop, who will lay it upon the Altar there. And the Gold Spurs and St. Edward's Staff are given into the hands of the Dean of Westminster, and by him laid there also.

The Archbishop being still vested in his Cope, will then place the Orb in His Majesty's Left Hand. Which being done, the Archbishop and Bishops will divest themselves of their Copes, and leave them there, proceeding in their usual Habits.

Then Their Majesties will proceed through the Choir to the West Door of the Abbey, in the same manner as They came, wearing Their Crowns. The King bearing in his Right Hand the Sceptre with the Cross, and in His Left the Orb; the Queen bearing in Her Right Hand Her Sceptre with the Cross, and in Her Left the Ivory Rod with the Dove; all Peers wearing their Coronets, and the Archbishops and Bishops their Caps.

the dead.

The last religious ceremony of the English Liturgy is the burial of the dead. In the order for that service, it is noted, first, "That it is not for any that die unbaptized, or excommunicated, or have laid violent Burial of hands upon themselves." The priest and clerk, meeting the corpse at the entrance of the church-yard, and going before it either into the church or towards the grave, say, "I am the resurrection and the life," &c. (John, chap. xi. ver. 25), with some other sentences of scripture. In the church some suitable psalms are read or sung, with a lesson adapted to that ceremony. When they are come to the grave, and are preparing everything to put the body into the earth, the priest and his clerk say or sing, "Man that is born of a woman," &c. Earth is then cast upon the body, and some prayers are said, in one of which God is desired to grant "that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in glory."

Civil rites

As soon as any one has breathed his last, the minister of the parish, and those who have in charge to visit dead bodies, must have notice given them; this was ordered to be done immediately after the great of Funerals. plague which raged in London in the year 1665, that it might be found out if any distemper proved contagious, and proper precautions taken to prevent its spreading. This visit is commonly performed by two women; the clerk of the parish receives their attestation, and an abstract of it is printed every week, by which the public are informed how many died in the week, of what distemper or by what accident. An act of parliament, made for the encouragement of the woollen manufactory, ordains that all corpses shall be buried in flannel, without

any allowance for linen, but the flannel may be as fine as they think fit. Those shrouds are either bespoken or bought ready made, and most linendrapers have some by them of all sizes and prices. The corpse being washed very clean, and shaved if it be that of a man, they put on it a flannel shirt, the sleeves of which are ruffled and plaited, with another tufted piece of the same stuff which covers the opening of the shirt upon the breast. The shirt must be above half-a-foot longer than the corpse when extended at full length, that the feet of the deceased may be put into it as in a bag, which when performed it is tied with woollen, so as to look like a tuft. They add to this a cap, with a large chin-cloth tied to the cap, a cravat and gloves, all woollen. Some put a large quantity of bran at the bottom of the coffin. Instead of a cap, the women have headclothes with a forehead-cloth. Some coffins are exceedingly fine. When the corpse is in it, they make a second visit, to see whether it be all in flannel, and no linen or even thread, except woollen, employed about it. The body lies so three or four days, and all that time is allowed to provide mourning and prepare for the funeral.

The palls are provided by the undertakers; some of black velvet, some of black cloth, bordered either with white satin, or linen, or taffety, about a foot long. It is so large, that it covers not only the coffin, but likewise the men who carry it upon their shoulders, and still hangs low enough to be supported by the pall-bearers, either men or women, according to the sex of the person who is to be buried, and they have gloves, hat-bands, and sometimes scarfs, black or white, given them. When everything is ready, two men called mutes go first, and they are immediately followed by the corpse and pall-bearers; the chief mourners and other persons invited, two and two, close the procession. Generally they go into the church, in the middle of which, the body being placed upon two tressels, the service for the dead appointed for that occasion is said. If the body be not buried in the church, they carry it to the church-yard belonging to it, and put it into the ground before the whole company, who seldom depart till the earth be again thrown in.

In respect to the Episcopal Church in the United States, it may be briefly stated in this place, that in her rites and ceremonies she copies those of the mother church in England, with those necessary Episcopal Church in the variations, which arise from a different form of civil governUnited States. ment, under which its members live, &c. The English common prayer book is adopted, with the omission of the Athanasian creed, and some other alterations, to conform it to the peculiar state of the church. Subscription to the articles is not required by candidates for holy orders. The number of bishops is fifteen; the number of their clergymen is estimated at five thousand and ninety-six; and their churches at nine hundred and twenty-two. The episcopal establishment in the United States has no archbishops, nor lord bishops, archdeacons, deans, prebends, canons, nor vicars. The bishops are elected by the convention of the diocess. Their bishops have no episcopal palaces, but dwell in their own hired houses; nor episcopal revenues, being pastors of congregations as are the other clergy, and, like them, supported by the contributions of those who enjoy their instructions. When they travel through their diocess, the churches they visit pay their expenses. The bishops have no patron

age, nor can they, by individual authority, appoint or remove any minister. No person has the gift of "parish" or "living;" it depends on the choice of the people. Some churches leave the appointment of the minister to the vestrymen, who are annually selected by the pew-holders; others select him by the ballot of the whole congregation. It is entirely left to the clergymen who shall be admitted to the ordinances: but their discipline varies in the different states. This church is governed by a general convention, which sits once in three years, divided into an upper and lower house; the former is composed of the bishops of the different states, and the latter of a portion of the clergy and laity from the several diocesses. All motions may originate in either house; although the concurrence of the majority of both must be obtained before they pass into a law.

Historical Incidents.

SEC. III. KIRK OF SCOTLAND *.

THE Conversion of the Scots to the Christian faith began through the ministry of Paladius, about the year 430, and from the first establishment of Christianity in that country till the Reformation in the reign of Mary, mother of James I. and of Mary I. of England, their church government was episcopacy; but the Presbyterian discipline was not finally established in Scotland, until the reign of King William and Mary, A. D. 1689, when episcopacy was totally abolished. The Westminster Confession of Faith was then received as the standard of the national creed; which all ministers, and principals and professors in universities, are obliged to subscribe as the confession of their faith, before receiving induction into office.

The church of Scotland is remarkable for its uncommon simplicity of worship; it possesses no liturgy, no altar, no instrumental music, no surplice, no fixed canonical vestment of any kind. It condemns Worship.Ministerial the worship paid to saints, and observes no festival days. Its parity, &c. ministers enjoy a parity of rank and of authority; it enforces that all ministers, being ambassadors of Christ, are equal in commission; that there is no order in the church, as established by the Saviour, superior to presbyters; and that bishop and presbyter, though different words, are of the same import. It acknowledges no earthly head: its judicatories are quite distinct from, and independent of, any civil judicatory; insomuch, indeed, that the decisions of the one are often contrary to those of the other, yet both remain unaffected and unaltered. When, for example, a clergyman has been presented to a parish by a patron, and induction and ordination have followed on that presentation, if afterwards it be found that the patron, who had given the presentation, has not that right, and that it belongs to another, the clergyman may be ejected as to all the temporalities of the office; but quoad sacra, he may continue minister of the parish, and exercise all the sacred functions: and though a new presentee may obtain a right to the civil endowments of the benefice, he can perform none of the sacred duties, while the other chooses to avail himself of his privilege.

There are four ecclesiastical judicatories,—namely, the Kirk Session,

The word Kirk is of Saxon origin, and signifies Church; or according to others, it is a contraction of the Greek word, meaning the House of God.

the Presbytery, the Synod, and the General Assembly, from each of which there is a power of appeal to the other; but the decision of the General Assembly is supreme.

Judicatories. The lowest court is the Kirk Session, which is composed of the minister of the parish, who is the moderator or president of it, and a number of the most grave and respectable laymen, members of the con

Kirk Session. gregation. Their number varies in different parishes, five or six being about the average number; and their services are entirely gratuitous. They are something like churchwardens in England, only they have a spiritual jurisdiction, as it is a part of their duty to visit the sick, &c. The Kirk Session takes cognizance of cases of scandal, such as fornication, sabbath breaking, profane swearing. It also manages the funds of the poor, a duty in which it formerly was assisted by deacons, a class of men inferior to elders, as they had no spiritual jurisdiction; but not being found necessary, they are consequently disused.

The Presbytery, which is the court next in dignity, is composed of the ministers of a certain district, with an elder from each parish. The number of presbyteries is seventy-eight. Their chief duty consists in Presbytery. the management of such matters as concern the church within their respective bounds. But they may originate any matter, and bring it under the view of the Synod or General Assembly. They have also the superintendence of education within their bounds, such as the induction of teachers, and the examination of schools.

The Synod is the next intermediate court. There are fifteen synods, each consisting of the clergymen of a certain number of presbyteries, with elders, as in presbyteries. Presbyteries meet generally once Synod. a month; synods twice a year, though some remote synods, such as that of Argyle, only once.

The General Assembly is the last and supreme court, and meets yearly in the month of May, in Edinburgh, and continues its sitting for twelve days. The king presides by his representative, who is always a General nobleman, and is denominated the Lord High Commissioner. Assembly. The General Assembly is a representative court, consisting of 200 members representing presbyteries, and 156 elders representing burghs or presbyteries, and five ministers or elders representing universities,making altogether 361 members. They choose a moderator or president, out of their own number, distinct from the Royal Commissioner, the duty of the latter consisting merely in convening and dissolving the court, and in forming the medium of communication betweeen it and the throne. The moderator is now always a clergyman, though, previously to 1688, laymen sometimes held that office.

The duties of the Scotch clergy are numerous and laborious. They officiate regularly in the public worship of God; and in general, they must go through this duty twice every Sunday, (exclusively of Duties of the other occasional appearances,) delivering every Sunday a Scotch Clergy. lecture and a sermon, with prayers. It is also expected,

throughout Scotland, that the prayers and discourses shall be of the minister's own composition; and the prayers, in all cases, and the discourses, in most instances, are delivered without the use of papers. They are expected to perform the alternate duties of examining their people

from the Scriptures and catechisms of the church, and of visiting them from house to house, with prayers and exhortations. This is done commonly once in the year, being ommitted only in those cases in which the ministers deem it impracticable, or not acceptable, or at least not necessary.-The charge of the poor devolves, in a very particular manner, on the clergy, and in them also is vested the superintendence of all schools within their bounds.

Baptism in this church is practised by none but ministers, who do it by sprinkling; and whether performed in private or in public, it is Baptism. almost always preceded by a sermon.

The Lord's Supper is not administered so frequently in Scotland as in some other places. Some time before this sacrament is dispeused, it is

Lord's Supper.

announced from the pulpit. The week before the Kirk Session meets, and draws up a list of all the communicants in the parish, according to the minister's examination-book, and the testimony of the elders and deacons. According to this list, tickets are delivered to each communicant, if desired, and the ministers and elders also give tickets to strangers who bring sufficient testimonials. None are allowed to communicate without such tickets, which are produced at the table. Those who never received are instructed by the minister, and by themselves in the nature of the sacraments, and taught what is the proper preparation thereunto. The Wednesday or Thursday before, there is a solemn fast, and on the Saturday there are two preparatory sermons. On Sunday morning, after singing and prayer as usual, the minister of the parish preaches a suitable sermon; and when the ordinary worship is ended, he in the name of Jesus Christ forbids the unworthy to approach, and invites the penitent to come and receive the sacrament. Then he goes into the the body of the church, where one or two tables, according to its width, are placed, reaching from one end to the other, covered with a white linen cloth, and seats on both sides for the communicants. The minister places himself at the end or middle of the table. After a short discourse, he reads the institution, and blesses the elements; then he breaks the bread, and distributes it and the wine to those that are next him, who transmit them to their neighbours; the elders and deacons attending to serve, and sce that the whole is performed with decency and order. Whilst these communicate, the minister discourses on the nature of the sacrament; and the whole is concluded with singing and prayer. The minister then returns to the pulpit, and preaches a sermon. The morning-service ended, the congregation are dismissed for an hour; after which the usual afternoon worship is performed. On the Monday morning, there is public worship, with two sermons; and these, properly speaking, close the communionservice. No private communions are allowed in Scotland.

Marriage is solemnised nearly after the manner of the Church of England, with the exception of the ring, which is deemed a great relic of "popery." By the laws of Scotland, the marriage-knot may be tied without Marriage. any ceremony of a religious nature: a simple promise in the presence of witnesses, or a known previous cohabitation, being sufficient to bind the obligation. That most ridiculous, often immoral, and almost always injurious practice, of marrying at Gretna-Green, was, till lately, in use; a person said to have been a blacksmith performed the ceremony Gretna according to the rites of the church!