'Ornaments of Fronts, Palls, and Books, upon his Altar. The like did BP. ANDREWS, &c...... To this head we refer the Organ, 'the Font and Altar, the Communion-Table, and the Pulpit, with 'the Coverings, and Ornaments of them all; together with the Paten, Chalice, and Corporas, which were all in use in the 2nd of Edward VI. by the authority of the Acts of Parliament 'then made.' (p. 17.)-Add. Notes to NICHOLL'S Com. Pr.

These remarks of BP. COSINS have guided the judgment of many of the stricter Rubricians of the present day. Yet we will annex a few more modern opinions:

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The late BISHOP OF NORWICH (Dr. Stanley), speaking of the restoration of Churches, says -'I cannot understand the arguments of those who would oppose their development (of our gifts 'and talents) to the fullest extent in the service of Him by whom 'they were imparted; and it is upon this principle, therefore, that 'I would encourage the introduction of the highest exercise of art 'in all that relates to Ecclesiastical Architecture, and decoration, 'internal, as well as external......I need scarcely remind you, that, had not Religion patronized and encouraged the one and the other (Sculptors and Painters), the most distinguished professors in these sister arts would have remained in obscurity. I am aware of the reply, they pander, it is said, to idolatry, and may again become the objects of superstitious worship. In a former age, when the minds of men were under the control of a superstitious and designing Priesthood, such reasoning might have weight, but I must confess, I cannot now hear it without mingled sentiments of pain and surprise. In our more enlightened age, 'such fears are surely exaggerated: let us rather cherish it as the especial privilege of our Protestant faith, that we can now use, without danger, what was once a temptation to Popery......Instead of entertaining fears on account of this encouragement to arts dis'played in Painting, and Sculptures, and Ecclesiastical decoration, I would look rather with hope to the promotion of a purer and more enlightened taste amongst the people. and that so they 'might become important aids in education.-Charge. 1845.

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The BISHOP OF WORCESTER (Dr. Pepys), on the other hand, -when animadverting upon the attempts to revive the Ornaments and Forms supposed to have been used in the Churches of antiquity, says,-A stone Altar has been preferred to a Communion'Table, a Lectern to a Reading-Desk, Sedilia have been prepared ' in a Church where only one Clergyman was ever likely to officiate, 'the obsolete use of a Credence-Table revived, Candlesticks placed on a Communion-Table, never intended to be lighted, and the walls 'covered with Texts of Scripture, painted in divers colours, and in 'old English, which never could be read; and thus we have heard 'much of a Reredos, a Rood-screen, a Piscina, and a Hagioscope, as essential to a truly Ecclesiastical structure. Now, I object to 'the revival of these long disused ORNAMENTS in our Churches, 'not only on account of the additional expence which they entail "(though this is a consideration by no means to be disregarded in cases where the sum to be expended is raised by the contributions, of others, who may not approve such an application of them)

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'but because I think them further reprehensible as having a tendency to convey a false notion of the purposes for which we, as Protestants, assemble in our Churches and Chapels......It may be doubted therefore whether there is much discretion in the attempt to restore Ecclesiastical Ornaments, which, originating at a time when vital religion was almost lost in a mass of ritual observances, and superstitious formalities, are no longer accordant 'with the more spiritual character of our Reformed Church.'Charge. 1845.

MR. STEPHENS (Barrister-at-Law), observes:-'In a legal point of view, it is not very clear what Ornaments of the Church, and of the Ministers thereof' were used in the Church of England by authority of Parliament in the 2nd of Edward VI.; but nothing is more reasonable, in questions concerning the interpreta'tion of a doubtful law, than to enquire how the practice of people was in times by-gone; because what they did when the reason and sense of the Law were best perceived, and what the Lawgiver allowed them to do in the obedience of it, may best be supposed to be that which he intended (p. 351.)......In order to ascertain what Ornaments, &c. were in use in the 2nd year of 'Edward VI. reference must be had to contemporaneous docu'ments.' (p. 352.).—The author then quotes the Inventories of several Churches, enumerating the Ornaments in their possession at that date, yet it is not specified which of those Ornaments were then in actual use.-Book of Com. Pr. E. H. S.

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After these opposite opinions, we may pass to the consideration of the several GOODS and ORNAMENTS which are now to be met with in our Churches, taking the order in which they are enumerated in the following Table. Those which must of necessity be provided, if they are required, at the cost of the Parish, are in Italic letters, to distinguish them from such as are only optional, and from those which are of but modern introduction, and of rare occurrence.

THE ORNAMENTS OF THE CHURCH.

Alms-Basin.

The ALMS-BASIN, or Offertory-Dish (Offertorium), is ordered by the RUBRIC of the Liturgy following the Offertory Sentences in the Communion Service, and is to be provided at the cost of the Parish: thus-

T. Whilst these sentences (the Offertory) are in reading, the Deacons, Churchwardens, or other fit Person appointed for 'that purpose, shall receive the Alms for the Poor, and other 'devotions of the People, in a decent BASON to be provided 'by the Parish for that purpose.'—(1662). ·

Previous to the last Review of the PRAYER-BOOK the Offertory Aims were deposited in the 'Poor Men's Box.'

In the First Liturgy of Edward VI. the RUBRIC

ran

1549. In the meantime whiles the Clerks do sing the Offertory, so many as are disposed shall offer unto the POOR MEN'S 'Box every one according to his ability and charitable mind.' (1549)-KEELING. 185.

In the three intervening Liturgies the RUBRIC

was

1552-1604.

'Then shall the Churchwardens, or some other by 'them appointed, gather the devotion of the People, and put 'the same into the POOR MEN'S Box; &c.' (1552, 1559, 1604)— KEELING. 184, 185.

The substitution of a Basin for the Poor-Box, MR. ROBERTSON supposes, 'gave a sanction to the 'collection of money for pious purposes in general.' (How shall we Conf. to Lit. 191.). Be that as it may, our concern here is less with the reason, than the fact, that a change was made in the receptacle for the Alms; and Rubrical conformity therefore requires a Basin to be used, and not a Box, or Bag, as is frequently the case. The practice of using the lid of the Chalice, or of the Flagon, is very reprehensible.

WHEATLY (ob. 1742.), speaking of these Alms, says- 'They I were ordered to put (them) into the Poor Man's Box; not, I 'presume, into that fixed in the Church, but into a little Box which

'the Churchwardens or some other proper persons carried about 'with them in their hands, as is still the custom at the Temple 'Church in London. Now indeed they are ordered to make use of a 'decent Basin to be provided by the Parish for that purpose.' (p. 271)-Rat. Ill. of B. of Com. Pr.

Among modern writers we have the following:

REV. W. BATES describes the Offertorium as-'A vessel, or 'piece of silk or linen to receive the Offerings in......This was 'totally distinct from the Poor-Box.' (p. 323.)-Lect. on Christ. Antiq. and Ritual.

REV. R. HART speaks of the Offertorium as-'A large deep 'metal dish, embossed in the centre with some Scriptural subject, 'or sacred emblem. That which I have seen is of brass and 'circular, having the Annunciation represented in the centre, and 'a legend round its rim.' (p. 236.)-Eccl. Records.

MR. STEPHENS (Barrister-at-Law) says-'The Churchwardens can be compelled by mandamus to provide a decent Basin ;' and collecting the Alms in anything but a decent Busin,' is un'authorized by the RUBRIC; expressio unius est exclusio alterius,' is a rule of law very applicable to this RUBRIC. Ministers and Churchwardens act in a reprehensible manner when they 'deviate from the letter of the law, as they sometimes do, by using 'wooden Boxes, and leathern Bags. Such expedients can only be 'excusable, when they are rendered necessary by the largeness 'of the congregation; and then the Alms, or the Bags or Boxes 'containing them, should be received in the Basin by the Deacons, 'Churchwardens, or other fit person appointed for that purpose, 'and so presented to the Priest.' (p. 1170.)-Book of Com. Pr.

E. H. S.

Deep circular Alms-Basins of Dutch manufacture, and made of brass, or latten, may now be commonly met with. They are embossed in imitation of the antique; and the centre design usually represents either the 'Fall of Man,' or the 'Grapes of Eschol.'

ALMS PLATES.-In addition to the Alms-Basin, two or more Alms-Plates for Charity, or Missionary collections, are frequently provided by the Churchwardens, but not of necessity. Their appearance among the Church furniture may be more generally ascribed to the liberality of the Incumbent, or to the pious bounty of some Parishioner. They are commonly of carved oak, walnut, or beech wood; sometimes of brass, occasionally of silver, or gold.

For Charitable Collections, gathered from Pew to Pew, later times have introduced in some places the use of BAGS (Almoniers') attached to a staff; they

are manufactured of various materials,-leather, silk, and velvet-and more or less ornamented.*

Alms-Chest.

The Alms-Chest, or Poor-Box, is directed to be set up in Churches by the 84th CANON; thus

'The Churchwardens shall provide and have,......a strong Chest, with a hole in the upper part thereof, to be provided at the charge of the Parish......having three keys, of which one 'shall remain in the custody of the Parson, Vicar, or Curate, 'and the other two in the custody of the Church wardens for the 'time being; which Chest they shall set and fasten in the most 'convenient place, to the intent that the Parishioners may put 'into it, their Alms for their poor neighbours...... The which 'Alms and devotion of the People, the keeper of the keys shall 'yearly, quarterly, or oftener, as need requireth, take out of the Chest, and distribute the same in the presence of most of the 'Parish, or of six of the chief of them, to be truly and faithfully 'delivered to their most poor and needy members.'-CANON 84.

The Statute of 27 Hen. VIII. c. 25. (a. d. 1535.) for the 'Punishment of sturdy Vagabonds'-requiring the money of all and every the foresaid free and charitable collections shall be kept in the common Coffer or Box standing in the Church of every Parish'-— is now obsolete. STEPHENS' Eccl. Stat. 196.

The CANON, above quoted, is derived almost word for word from the Injunctions of Edward VI. 1546-7. (CARDWELL'S Doc. Ann. I. 17, 47.), where the Alms-Chest was required to be fixed 'near unto the high Altar.' BP. RIDLEY in his Visitation Articles in 1550 (ib. 81.); the Injunctions and Visitation Articles of Elizabeth in 1559 (ib. 189, 212); and of ABP. PARKER in 1569 (ib. 321), all enforce the same; except that they order the Chest to be 'fastened in the most convenient place.'

ARCHDEACON SHARP, after remarking upon the argument in this CANON as being- 'borrowed from King Edward VIth's INJUNCTIONS in 1547, when it had its full weight, and applied 'before it was altogether out of date, in the year of the CANONS, 'viz. 1603,' says further, that it can have no place or use at this 'time of day; and as most other arguments for the supply of the 'Poor's Box or Chest of Alms, are almost out of date with us, the 'Poor's Boxes themselves being so in most places; I do suppose 'that the purpose of this CANON may be thought sufficiently an

* Very elaborate patterns may be seen at Mr. Gilbert French's manufactory at Bolton, at about 15s. each; where also may be obtained Alms-Basins of metal of various Ecclesiastical designs, from 25s. to 50s. a-piece. Alms-Plates of carved walnut, or other wood, and of proper character can readily be procured from Messrs. Cox & Son's, in Southampton-street, Strand, at about 21s.