The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia Part 10

Frequent Communion.--The influence of the Puritans on the religious life of the Church was in many instances tremendous and far-reaching.

While the Prayer Book provides for _frequent Communion_, that is, every Lord's Day and Holy Day at the least, yet under the Puritan influence _infrequent_ Communion became prevalent, and four times a year at the most came to be considered sufficient. When the Church began to pa.s.s out from under this influence we find that a _monthly_ celebration became the universal rule {116} in the Church, and even with this many seem now to be satisfied. But as the Church grew, as the study of the Prayer Book and of Church History became more general and the Church began to a.s.sert herself, to claim her heritage, we find a return to the ancient order and Scriptural rule. The Sunday and Holy Day Eucharist was more and more restored, so that to-day there are very few parishes where "Frequent Communion"

is not the rule. On this subject the Bishop of Maryland, the Rt.

Rev. William Paret, D.D., has remarked, "G.o.d's Word and all history show that receiving the Holy Communion every Lord's Day was the _old way_ and receiving once a month entirely a modern custom. In often receiving we are copying the whole Church of the first three hundred years."

Friday.--In the Prayer Book we find that Friday of each week is placed in the Table of Fasts to be observed in this Church throughout the year, and the rubric directs that it be announced to the congregation on the Sunday before. Friday as a Fast is intended to be the weekly memorial of the Crucifixion of our Lord just as Sunday is the weekly memorial of the Resurrection. Both are alike obligatory as both are enjoined by the same authority. It is encouraging to note a growing recognition of this Fast and a more general desire to honor weekly the day of our Lord's Crucifixion with a public service in Church and by personal acts of self-denial and devotion on the part of the faithful. (See GOOD FRIDAY, also FASTS, TABLE OF.)

Frontal.--The name given to a hanging in front of the Altar. The same as ANTEPENDIUM (which see). {117}

Fruits of the Spirit.--(See SPIRIT, FRUITS OF.)

Funerals.--The solemn BURIAL OF THE DEAD (which see). In the Church there is no such thing as "Preaching a Funeral," as it is called, but the reverent and devout committal of the "body to the ground,"

"looking for the General Resurrection in the last day and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ." Plainness and simplicity should mark so holy a function.

G

Gehenna.--In the original Greek of the New Testament Scriptures there are two words unfortunately translated by our one English word "h.e.l.l." The first of these is _Gehenna_, meaning the "place of torment." The second is _Hades_, which also occurs in the original Greek of the Creed, and means the _hidden_, covered, intermediate world where the soul rests between death and the general Resurrection. When, therefore, we confess in the Creed that our Lord "descended into h.e.l.l," we do not mean that He entered the "place of torment," but the "place of departed spirits" or _Hades_. This difference of meaning of the word "h.e.l.l" as used in our English translation of the Bible and the Creed should be borne in mind.

General Clergy Relief Fund.--This is the abbreviated t.i.tle of a Society organized by the General Convention under the corporate name, "The Trustees of the Fund for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans {118} of Deceased Clergymen, and of Aged, Infirm and Disabled Clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a corporation created in the year 1855 by chapter 459 of the laws of the State of New York." This is one of the most important Funds in the Church and commands the generous support of all earnest and devoted Church people. As its name implies, it is a Fund established for the purpose of taking care of Aged and Infirm clergy who through age or sickness have become disabled and can no longer fulfil their ministry. The conscience of the Church makes her feel obligated, like the national government, to take care of her faithful servants in their old age and disability, and also to provide for the care of the widows and orphans of deceased clergymen. The Church, however, cannot do this blessed work of Relief, unless all her people contribute largely to this Fund.

General Confession, The.--The form of words used by both Minister and People in humbly acknowledging their sins before G.o.d in preparation for the true wors.h.i.+p of His Name about to follow. The General Confession was placed in the Morning Prayer in 1552 and in the Evening Prayer in 1661. Such beginning of our Public Wors.h.i.+p is in accordance with the practice of the Primitive Christians, who, as St. Basil, writing in the Fourth Century, tells us, "in all churches, immediately upon their entering into the House of Prayer, made confession of their sins unto G.o.d, with much sorrow, concern and tears, every man p.r.o.nouncing his own confession with his own mouth." A similar General Confession, but more heart searching, {119} is also to be found in the Communion Office, to be said in preparation for the due reception of the Sacrament. A third Confession is also set forth in the Penitential Office and commonly called the "Ash Wednesday Confession."

General Convention, The.--The legislative body of the American Church which meets triennially and is composed of the Bishops and Representatives from all the Dioceses and Missionary Jurisdictions.

The Convention is composed of two houses, (1) the House of Bishops and (2) the House of Clerical and Lay Deputies consisting of four Clerical and four Lay representatives from each Diocese, and one delegate of each Order from every Missionary Jurisdiction. Both Houses together const.i.tute the _General Convention_. All the laws of the Church in the United States are made by this Convention, but it can make no alteration in the Const.i.tution or in the Liturgy and Offices unless the same has been adopted in one Convention, and submitted to all the Dioceses, and afterwards adopted in another Convention. For any measure to become a law it must be adopted by the concurrent action of both Houses. The General Convention provides also for the admission of New Dioceses; for Church extension, and for the erection of Missionary Jurisdictions both in the United States and in foreign lands, electing the Bishops for them. The Presiding Officer is the Senior Bishop by consecration, who presides in the House of Bishops and when both Houses meet as one body. When the Convention is not in session he acts as the Primate of the American Church. (See PRESIDING BISHOP.) The House of {120} Clerical and Lay Deputies also has its President or Presiding Officer who is chosen from among the Clerical Deputies at each meeting of the Convention.

General Council.--(See COUNCIL, also Ec.u.mENICAL.)

General Thanksgiving, The.--The t.i.tle of one of the prayers in Morning and Evening Prayer. It is called General as being suitable to all men, and in contradistinction to the special Thanksgivings to be used by request of members of the congregation for special mercies vouchsafed.

General Theological Seminary.--An inst.i.tution of learning for the education of men for the Sacred Ministry, established by the General Convention of the American Church, May 27th, 1817, and incorporated April 5th, 1822. The Inst.i.tution is situated in Chelsea Square, New York City, and has a very valuable property worth; $1,081,225.42.

The endowments amount to over; $700,000. The number of students average about 150 each year. Number of Alumni 1,800. Whole number matriculated since 1822 about 2,300. Volumes in the Library 30,000.

Generally Necessary.--In the definition given in the Church Catechism of Holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper, these Sacraments are declared to be "generally necessary to salvation." From the way many persons postpone their own Baptism, neglect the Baptism of their children and ignore the Holy Communion, it would seem that they think the word "generally" in the above clause, means "usually," but not essential to religious life. This is a mistake. The word "generally" as used when the Catechism was set forth is simply the Anglicized form of the Latin word {121} _generaliter_, meaning _universally_, always, absolutely necessary for every one who would be saved, and therefore, imperative where the Sacraments may be had.

Genuflexion.--A temporary bending of the knee as distinguished from actual kneeling; usually made towards the Altar as the symbol of Christ's Presence.

Ghost. Ghostly.--Ghost is the old Saxon word for _spirit_ and is still used in the Name of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.

_Ghostly_, the adjective form of the word, has been retained in the Prayer Book and means _spiritual_, _e_. _g_., in the Confirmation service one of the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Ghost is called "ghostly strength," that is, spiritual strength.

Ghost, The Holy.--(See HOLY GHOST.)

Gifts of the Holy Ghost, Sevenfold.--The gifts bestowed on the Baptized by the Laying on of Hands in Confirmation, viz.: "the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength, the spirit of knowledge and true G.o.dliness and the spirit of holy fear," as enumerated in Isaiah 11:2. These gifts may be briefly interpreted as follows:

WISDOM, to choose the one thing needful.

UNDERSTANDING, to know how to attain it.

COUNSEL, the habit of asking guidance of G.o.d.

STRENGTH, to follow where He shall lead.

KNOWLEDGE, that we may learn to know G.o.d.

G.o.dLINESS, that knowing Him we may grow like Him.

HOLY FEAR, meaning reverence and adoration.

Girdle.--A white cord to confine the alb at the {122} waist: used at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. (See VESTMENTS.)

Girls' Friendly Society.--A Society of young women organized in the American Church in 1877, and is a branch of a similar Society in the Church of England. The society has for its object the spiritual welfare of girls and young women through a.s.sociation and friends.h.i.+p with one another. The Society has (in 1901) 16,316 members in the United States and 4,022 a.s.sociate members. A monthly magazine, the G. F. S. A. _Record_, is published as the official organ of the Society. Headquarters, the Church Missions House, New York City.

Gloria in Excelsis.--Meaning "Glory in the Highest," the t.i.tle of the final hymn in the Communion Office. It is called the "Greater Doxology," and also, the "Angelic Hymn" as it is based on the song of the angels at Christ's Birth, which forms its opening words. The _Gloria in Excelsis_ is the oldest and most inspiring of all Christian hymns. Its author and the time of its composition are unknown, but it was in use in the very earliest ages of the Church as a daily morning hymn. Its introduction into the Liturgy appears to have been gradual. The first words of it are found in the Liturgy of St. James, from which fact we learn that the germ of it was evidently used in Apostolic times. It is interesting to note that in ancient Liturgies the _Gloria in Excelsis_ was placed at the beginning and not at the end of the Communion Office. It occupied such a position in our own Liturgy until A.D. 1552, when it was placed after the Thanksgiving. By the rubric permission is {123} given to use a hymn instead of it, and this is often done during Advent and Lent, thus reserving the _Gloria in Excelsis_ for use in more joyous seasons such as Christmas, Easter, etc.

Gloria Patri.--Meaning "Glory to the Father," the first words of the short anthem used after each Psalm and elsewhere in the services, viz. "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen." It is often called the "Lesser Doxology." The _Gloria Patri_ has been used in Christian wors.h.i.+p from the beginning and is traceable to the Baptismal formula. Its frequent use in our services is not a vain repet.i.tion, as some suppose, but is very devotional and helpful to increased earnestness in wors.h.i.+p, drawing our thoughts from man, his wants and experiences, and directing them to the Triune G.o.d, the Author and Giver of every good and perfect gift. Sung after the Psalms it gives to them a Christian meaning and interpretation. In accordance with the ancient usage _the Gloria_ is said with bowed head as an act of wors.h.i.+p and of faith, and is also said facing the Altar or East. (See EAST, TURNING TO.)

Gloria Tibi.--The Latin t.i.tle of the words of praise sung when the Holy Gospel is announced in the Holy Communion, viz. "Glory be to Thee, O Lord." This _Gloria_ also comes down to us from the ancient usage of the Church. It is said with the bowed head as an act of wors.h.i.+p.

G.o.dfathers, G.o.dmothers.--(See SPONSORS.)

Golden Number.--The Golden Number is that {124} which marks the position of any given year in the Lunar Cycle, which is a period of nineteen years. Meton, an Athenian philosopher, discovered that, at the end of every such period, the new moons take place on the same days of the months whereon they occurred before its commencement. This discovery was considered to be so important, it became the custom to inscribe the rule for finding the moon's age on a tablet in _golden_ letters and placed in the market-place at Athens; hence arose the term _Golden Number_. The Golden Number may be found by adding one to the year of our Lord, and dividing the sum by 19, when the remainder, if any, is the _Golden Number_.

If there be no remainder, the Golden Number is 19. _One_ is added to the year of our Lord because the first year of the Christian era was the second of the Cycle. The time of Easter may be found by means of the Golden Number. (See Tables in Prayer Book.)

Good Friday.--The Last Friday in Lent on which we commemorate the Death of our Lord. It is called Good Friday from the blessed results of our Saviour's sufferings, for by the shedding of His own most precious Blood He obtained eternal Redemption for us. It is the most solemn and binding of all Fridays and should be observed as an absolute Fast in token of our sorrow for sin, and in preparation for the Easter Communion. All unnecessary work, all social engagements and pleasures are especially to be avoided by all those who reverence their Lord, and remember of what Good Friday is the solemn memorial.

It is a day of Church-going, and it will be found that the Good Friday services are very {125} impressive, solemn and soul-stirring.

The Proper Psalms are the 22d, 40th and 54th in Morning Prayer, and the 69th and 88th for Evening Prayer. Proper Lessons and three special Collects, together with the Epistle and Gospel all set forth, amid the solemnities of wors.h.i.+p, the momentous story of the Saviour's Pa.s.sion and Death. In many places, it is usual to have in addition to the appointed services, the "THREE HOURS SERVICE" (which see), held from 12 M. to 3 P. M., in commemoration of our Lord's Agony on the Cross, and consisting of special prayers and hymns with addresses or meditations. The Holy Communion is not celebrated on Good Friday, in accordance with the immemorial usage of the Church; only the introductory portion of the service is used. The Altar is entirely stripped of its hangings and ornaments, except the cross, and is sometimes covered with black hangings. The observance of Good Friday is inwoven into the very texture of the Christian Religion, having been kept from the very first age of Christianity with strictest fasting and humiliation. The mind of the Church seems always to have been, "this day is not one of man's inst.i.tution, but was consecrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when He made it the day of His most Holy Pa.s.sion."

Good Shepherd, Sunday of.--The name given in the Western Church to the Second Sunday after Easter. The French know it as the Sunday of the _Bon Pasteur_. The name is suggested by the Gospel for the day which sets forth our Lord as "the Good Shepherd," and who in the Epistle is called the "Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls." {126}

Gospel.--The word "Gospel" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon _G.o.dspell_, signifying "good news"; founded originally on certain words used by the angel in announcing the Saviour's Birth, viz.: "Behold, I bring you _good tidings_ of great joy" (St. Luke 2:10).

The word is greatly misunderstood and frequently misapplied, the idea seems to be that "Gospel religion," "Gospel sermons" and "preaching the Gospel," mean certain doctrines such as individual election, calling, justification, sanctification and the like.

These are regarded as being very Scriptural, and in accordance with the Scriptural method. When, however, we turn to the Scriptures we find that such doctrines are not "the Gospel" at all, but simply deductions from it. In the New Testament the word "Gospel" is applied _exclusively_ to the announcement of certain events, certain outward facts connected with the Second Person in the Blessed Trinity, namely, the Incarnation, Birth, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension of the Son of G.o.d. Such was the "good tidings"

announced by the angelic choir, such is the purpose of the New Testament Scriptures, and that Gospel religion or Gospel preaching which brings these sublime facts to bear on the hearts and lives of men, as living realities and guiding motives, alone can be Scriptural and truly Gospel. This being the case, we can understand how the Church's Year with its changing seasons of joy and penitence, setting forth so clearly all these facts in our Lord's Life, preaches the very Gospel of Christ and in accordance with the Scriptural method. (See CHRISTIAN YEAR.)

Gospels, The.--The four canonical records of the {127} Life of our Lord written by St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John. The first three are called the "Synoptic Gospels," because they all look at the events they describe from the same point of view; while the standpoint of St. John is quite different. His purpose was not to give the history of our Lord as did the other Evangelists, but to teach the mysteries arising out of that history. For example, St.

John says nothing about the circ.u.mstances of our Lord's Birth, but he sets forth the _mystery_ which those circ.u.mstances embraced,--the Incarnation of the Word, or eternal Son of G.o.d. For this reason, the Fourth Gospel is called by ancient writers a "Spiritual Gospel,"

because it contains less of historical narrative than the others and more of Doctrine.

Gospel, The Holy.--The t.i.tle given to the pa.s.sage from the Gospels read at Holy Communion, commonly called "the Gospel for the Day."

During the reading of the Holy Gospel the people are to stand as required by the rubric. This custom is intended to show a reverent regard to the Son of G.o.d above all other messengers.

Gospel Side.--The north side of the Altar (the left side as we face the Altar) at which the Holy Gospel is read. (See EPISTLE SIDE.)

Gospeller.--The Priest or Deacon appointed to read the Holy Gospel at a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, is so, called.

Government, Church.--(See EPISCOPACY.)

Gown, The Black.--An Academical gown; an official or distinctive dress worn by students and officers of a College or University, and also by officials of a {128} Court of Justice. It is not an ecclesiastical garment, although it was customary during a time of great spiritual decadence in the Church for the gown with bands to be worn during the preaching of the sermon in the service. This, however, has long since been given up; the surplice is more properly worn.

Grace.--The word "grace" means a _special favor_, and is applied to the whole obedience, merit, Pa.s.sion and Death of our Lord and the benefits that flow from them,--justification, wisdom, sanctification, Redemption. The Church, which is the Body of Christ, is called the _Kingdom of Grace_, for in it we become members of Christ and partakers of His grace and heavenly benediction. The Sacraments, as well as other ordinances, are called "means of grace," because they are the appointed instrumentalities whereby G.o.d gives grace to His faithful people, to help them in living faithfully and in obtaining Salvation.

Gradine.--A name sometimes given to the shelf at the back of the Altar and attached to the wall or reredos, upon which are placed the candlesticks, flowers and other ornaments. There may be two or more such shelves.