The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia Part 15

Miserere.--Meaning "Have Mercy." The Latin t.i.tle of the 51st Psalm which is used in the Penitential Office appointed to be read on Ash Wednesday.

Missal.--In the early ages of the Church the Office of the Holy Communion was contained in several separate volumes, one for the Epistles, one for the Gospels, another for the anthems and a fourth for the service itself with the Collects. These four volumes were eventually united into one volume under the name _Missal_, _i.e._, pertaining to the Ma.s.s, and therefore, it is the old t.i.tle of the book containing all that pertains to the Office of the Holy Communion.

Mission.--A sending forth to preach the Gospel, as when our Lord sent forth His Apostles. The word involves also the idea of power and authority and also a definite sphere of operations. Thus when a Bishop is consecrated, it is for some particular Diocese where he has, by reason of his consecration, "the power of Mission." So also, a Priest who is Rector of a Parish has the "power of Mission" in that Parish. And the Bishop has no authority to minister in any other Diocese, nor the Priest in any other Parish, save only {189} as they may be invited to do so by the ecclesiastical authority thereof.

Such "power of Mission" is bestowed by the Church through her Bishops and it is thus that she maintains order and prevents confusion in her work.

Mission. Parochial.--The word "Mission" is also applied to a special effort made in a parish to arouse and quicken its people; to lead them to a deeper realization and appreciation of the privileges and blessings of Christ's Religion; to set forth clearly by a series of addresses and instructions how they can bring the Church's system to bear on their hearts and lives and to lead them to ask, "Can we not all do more than we are now doing and do all with a better spirit?"

A Mission is conducted by a Priest specially invited for the purpose and is chosen for his aptness in carrying on such special work. If well conducted and blessed of G.o.d a Mission brings great spiritual blessings to the Parish in which it is held and its happy results are to be seen in the awakened life and renewed energy of its people.

Missionary.--One who is sent, whether Bishop, Priest, Deacon or Layman, to do the work of the Church where it has not been established, whether at home or abroad. As an adjective, the word means, of or pertaining to Missions.

Missionary Council, The.--(See DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.)

Missioner.--The name given to the Priest who conducts a Parochial Mission. (See MISSION, PAROCHIAL.)

Missions.--The Missionary work of the Church. This includes _Foreign Missions_, as in Africa, China, {190} j.a.pan, etc., and _Domestic Missions_, _i.e._, the Church's work within the United States where there are no Dioceses; also work in towns and villages in Dioceses where parishes have not been established. This last is called DIOCESAN MISSIONS (which see, also, DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY).

Mitre.--The official covering for the head worn by the order of Bishops. It represents mystically the cloven tongues of fire which lighted on the heads of the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost. The mitre is worn by many Bishops of the American Church, and the General Convention, by its Committee on Vestments, declared, "The first Bishop of the American Succession (Bishop Seabury) was accustomed to wear the mitre in certain offices; and the first of our Bishops ever consecrated in America (Bishop Claggett of Maryland) continued its use. It has not been generally followed, but in the opinion of this Committee this historic fact justifies any Bishop in resuming it."

Mixed Chalice.--The symbolical mixing of water with wine in the Holy Communion to represent the union of the human with the Divine nature in the Incarnation. It is also a lively memorial of Him who for our Redemption did shed out of His most precious side both Water and Blood. This mixing of Water with Wine for this purpose seems to have been an Apostolical use and very probably was practiced by our Lord Himself. This ancient practice remained universal for the first 1,500 years after Christ in all Churches, and is now quite common.

Morning Prayer.--The name given to the Church's Daily Office of prayer offered in the morning. In the {191} first Prayer Book of 1549 both the Morning Service and that for evening began with the Lord's Prayer and ended with the third Collect. In 1552, the Sentences, Exhortation, Confession and Absolution were prefixed to Morning Prayer, but not to the Order for Evening Prayer. In 1661, they were prefixed to Evening Prayer also; and both Morning and Evening Prayer were then lengthened at the end by the addition of all that follows the third Collect. (See DAILY PRAYER; also MATINS.)

Morse.--The clasp used to fasten the cope in front is so called. It is frequently made of precious metal and set with jewels. From the Latin _morsus_, meaning a _bite_, hence a clasp.

Mothering Sunday.--A popular name used in England for the Fourth Sunday in Lent. It is supposed to have derived this name from the Epistle for the Day in which occur the words "Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the Mother of us all." This no doubt gave rise to the custom in England of making pilgrimages to the Mother Church of the Diocese, _i.e._, the Cathedral. This Sunday also became a holiday on which young persons in service were permitted to visit their mothers in their homes. (See FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT; also LENT, SUNDAYS IN.)

Movable Feasts and Fasts.--Those Feasts and Fasts which are not observed on a fixed date, but are variable being dependent on the time Easter is kept. Easter Day is always the first Sunday after the full moon which happens upon or next after the Twenty-first day of March; and if the full moon happen upon a Sunday, Easter Day is the Sunday after. The {192} _Movable Feasts_ are the following: Advent Sunday which is always the nearest Sunday to the Feast of St.

Andrew (Nov. 30) whether before or after; the three remaining Sundays in Advent; Septuagesima, s.e.xagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays; the Six Sundays in Lent; Rogation Sunday; Ascension Day, Whitsun Day and Trinity Sunday; Monday and Tuesday in Easter Week; Monday and Tuesday in Whitsun Week; also the number of Sundays during the Epiphany and Trinity Seasons is variable, these Seasons being longer or shorter according to the time Easter is kept. The _Movable Fasts_ are the Forty Days of Lent, including Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter Even and the Lenten Ember Days; the Rogation Days and the Whitsun Tide Ember Days.

Music, Church.--(See HYMNS; GREGORIAN MUSIC, PLAIN SONG, and EVEN SONG, also INTONE.) Recognizing the fact that music always characterized the worship of G.o.d's Church both under the Old Dispensation and under the New, the essential thing is the character of the music in our churches to-day and the mode of rendering it.

The organist, upon whom so much depends, should be a competent musician, with a good knowledge of the music of the church, and the music that he uses should be strictly sacred music. The choir should consist of the best voices and most cultivated singers available. They should be trained with care, not only in the music they are to sing, but also in the Church service. The late Bishop Thorold remarked on this subject, "We are all coming to feel that Church Music is a great help to worship. . . .But I also feel that if members of the choir accept {193} from G.o.d and the minister the privilege of taking part in the services, the one thing they owe to Almighty G.o.d, to the congregation and to themselves, is REVERENCE. I know choirs where their singing is almost a means of grace; it is done so beautifully, so reverently and with so much care that it lifts up the whole service to a higher level. The one secret of all good and acceptable rendering of the Church's music is _reverence_."

Mystery.--A Truth or fact of Religion which has been revealed but not explained is called a mystery, because proposed to our faith faculty, such as the Incarnation, the Atonement, the Blessed Trinity, the Doctrine of the Eucharist. St. Paul speaks of the whole Revelation of Christ as the "Mystery of G.o.dliness." Derived from the Greek word _musterion_, which in the Greek Church is the equivalent of our word "Sacrament."

Mystical Body of Christ.--The Church is called the Mystical Body of Christ because He is the Head and we members of His Body. It is by means of its Sacraments that we are made members of Him and partakers of His Nature and Life. (See INCARNATION.)

N

N or M.--The letters placed after the first question in the Church Catechism, "What is your name?" to show that the Christian name or names of the person questioned should be given. "N" stands for {194} the Latin word _nomen_, meaning name; while the letter "M" is an abbreviation of double "N. N.," the "N" being doubled according to an old custom to indicate the plural, viz., _nomina_, meaning names.

The same thing is to be seen in the letters "LL.D." standing for the degree of "Doctor of Laws," the double "LL" signifying the plural _legum_, meaning "of laws."

Name, the Holy.--(See HOLY NAME, also JESUS.)

Name, the Christian.--The name received in Holy Baptism. In former days people in general had only one name, as John, Henry, Mary, etc., and were further known by their occupation or some other distinctive word. But the names of trades, place, etc., thus _added on_ to the Christian name, (_i.e._, _supra_ or _sur nomen_) gradually became permanent _surnames_, so that now every person after infancy and Baptism has two names, viz., a Christian name and a surname. The Christian name we receive at our Christening, that is, Christianing or Baptism or New Birth. It is _given_, not inherited.

It is a new name given to us in our Baptism because we then become something new. It is given in Baptism to indicate a new relationship to G.o.d by thus being brought into covenant with Him. We find many examples in the Bible of new names given in connection with a change of spiritual conditions. Thus Abram's name was changed to _Abraham_ when G.o.d made His covenant with him, and Jacob's name was changed to _Israel_ when that covenant was renewed with him, which had been made with Abraham. In the same way and for the same reason Christian names have great significance. They are the sign that those who bear them have been brought into covenant with G.o.d, that they have been {195} made in their Baptism, "members of Christ, the children of G.o.d, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven." (See BAPTISM, HOLY; also CHRISTIAN.)

Nativity of our Lord.--The Prayer Book t.i.tle of the Festival of Christmas is, "The Nativity of our Lord, or the Birthday of Christ, commonly called CHRISTMAS DAY" (which see).

Nave.--The body of the Church building; that portion of it before the choir or chancel, and between the aisles in which the congregation sits. Derived from the Latin word _navis_ meaning a ship, and is intended to symbolize "the ark of Christ's Church."

Neophyte.--A term applied in the primitive Church to the newly baptized--"newly grafted" (which the word means) into Christianity.

It was customary for them to wear white garments at their Baptism and for eight days after. The word is still frequently used.

New Birth.--The name which the New Testament Scriptures, and the Church for nearly two thousand years have given to Holy Baptism, which is the Laver of Regeneration, the new and spiritual Birth.

(See BAPTISM, HOLY; also REGENERATION.)

Nicea, Council of.--The first of the great ec.u.menical Councils, held in Nice, or Nicea, A.D. 325. It was at this Council that what we call the Nicene Creed was set forth although additional definitions touching the Holy Ghost were inserted at the Second General Council (the first held at Constantinople, A.D. 381) and therefore, this form of the Faith is frequently called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed. It is to {196} be noted that this Council did not originate the Creed or the Faith; it simply bore witness to it; its members simply testified to what was always most surely believed among them in their several Dioceses throughout the world. Thus the Nicene Council simply reaffirmed the consentient voice and witness of the Church in general. Or as St. Athanasius, who was a member of this council, wrote concerning it, "About the Faith they wrote not 'It seemed good,' but 'Thus believes the Catholic Church'; and therefore they confessed how they believed, in order to show that their sentiments were not novel, but Apostolical, and what they wrote down was no discovery of theirs, but is the same as was taught by the Apostles." (See COUNCIL.)

Nicene Creed.--The name commonly given to the longer of the two Creeds set forth in the Prayer Book, from its being settled at the COUNCIL OF NICEA (which see). It was introduced into the Liturgy, A.D. 471. The rubric directs that it be specially recited in the service on Christmas Day, Easter Day, Ascension Day, Whitsun Day and Trinity Sunday; but it is always used at the Holy Communion whenever celebrated. The Nicene is the Creed of worship; the Apostles' the Creed of Instruction and of the Daily Offices.

Nocturns.--A name given to certain services which in ancient times were held during the night. The Psalter was usually recited during the three parts into which the night was divided. One of the seven CANONICAL HOURS (which see).

Nonconformists.--A name given in England {197} to those who do not conform to the usages and doctrines of the National Church. The word as used now is practically synonymous with _Dissenter_.

Nones.--One of the seven CANONICAL HOURS (which see). The "ninth hour," or 3 P. M.

North Side.--That part of the front of the Altar which is on the right hand of the Cross, and consequently on the left of the Celebrant as he faces the Altar; the side where the Holy Gospel is read.

Nowell.--The old English name for Christmas; the same as _Noel_, derived from _Natale_, meaning a birthday. It is also the old name for a carol sung in praise of the Incarnation.

Nunc Dimittis.--The Latin t.i.tle for the Song of Simeon, meaning "Now lettest Thou (Thy servant) depart (in peace)," which is sung after the Second Lesson at Evening Prayer in praise of the manifestation of the Incarnate Word. It is to be found in St. Luke 2:29-32. The Nunc Dimittis has been so used throughout the Church from the earliest ages, being mentioned in the Apostolical Const.i.tutions (written in the early part of the Fifth Century) as an Evening Canticle. There are English versions of it as early as the Fourteenth Century. When the American Prayer Book was set forth in 1789, this beautiful hymn, for some reason, was omitted, but always to the regret of intelligent and devout Church people. When, however, the Prayer Book was revised in 1892 the Nunc Dimittis was restored, so that now this ancient song continues to gladden the hearts of the faithful and devout in the American Church as it did the hearts of the faithful in the old time before them. {198}

O

Oblation.--The act of offering the memorial of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, as is done in the second paragraph of the Prayer of Consecration, ent.i.tled "The Oblation." Sometimes this name is given to the whole office. The _Oblations_ are the Bread and Wine placed on the Altar at the Offertory preparatory to their Consecration.

Obligation, Days of.--(See DAYS OF OBLIGATION.)

Obsecrations.--The three pet.i.tions of the Litany beginning (1) "By the Mystery of Thy Holy Incarnation," (2) "By Thine Agony and b.l.o.o.d.y Sweat" and (3) "In all time of our tribulation" are called the Obsecrations, or entreaties. These pet.i.tions "go on the principle that every several act of our Lord's Mediatorial Life has its appropriate saving energy; that virtue goes out of each, because each is the act of a Divine Person and has a Divine preciousness."

(See LITANY.)

Occasional Offices.--Those services of the Prayer Book which are not in constant use, but used only as occasion may require, such as the Office for Holy Matrimony, the Order for the Burial of the Dead, the Order for Confirmation, the Baptismal services, Visitation of the Sick, etc.

Occasional Prayers.--The prayers set forth in the Prayer Book under the t.i.tle, "Prayers and Thanksgivings upon several Occasions," such as the Prayer for Congress to be used during their session; the prayer for a Sick Person; Thanksgiving for Recovery from Sickness, etc., which are read on request. {199}

Occurrence of Holy Days.--The coincidence of two or more Holy Days falling on the same date. When this happens, the question arises which is to be observed, which takes precedence. The ancient rule may be ill.u.s.trated by the following: When the First Sunday in Advent and St. Andrew's Day fell on the same date the Sunday took precedence and only the Collect for the Saint's Day was read; the Fourth Sunday in Advent took precedence of St. Thomas Day; while the Feasts of St. Stephen, St. John Evangelist, Holy Innocents, and the Circ.u.mcision, if any of these days occurred on the same date as the First Sunday after Christmas, the Saint's Day and also the Circ.u.mcision took precedence of the Sunday. A good Church Almanac will give the needed information concerning the "Occurrence of Holy Days" which takes place during the year.

Octave.--The eighth day after a Festival. The intervening days are said to be "of" or within its Octave and partake of the character of the Festival. The only Feasts mentioned in the Prayer Book, having an Octave as of obligation are Christmas, Easter, Ascension and Whitsun Day, each being honored with a Proper Preface in the Communion Office which is to be used each day during the week.

Trinity Sunday was formerly the Octave of Whitsun Day, and probably for this reason its Proper Preface is not repeated during the week.

Offertory, The.--That portion of the Communion service during which the alms of the people, and the Bread and the Wine are received and solemnly presented on the Altar. The word "offertory" is often {200} wrongly applied to the _offerings_, a mistake which should be carefully avoided. It is to be noted that The Offertory is an important part of worship. It is not an impertinence, but stands in the line of duties along side of prayer and singing. To give money each time you go to church, and in the appointed way will bring blessings from G.o.d. Pew rent is not "giving" in this sense, any more than paying the b.u.t.ter bill or for a seat at the opera house. We refer to the offering to G.o.d for religious or charitable purposes, regularly through the _Offertory_ in church. So your alms will go up with your prayers as a memorial before G.o.d.