a chain and weight like one in Ashe Bocking, Suffolk, restored, together with the font in 1842. See plate v. fig. 2. I have said that plain varnished Oak looks very well. So would Sissoo, Teak, Toon or Bijessar, which latter is particularly well adapted from its rich color. If painting and gilding be preferred, then the colors must be the same as in all screenwork; viz. vermilion, cobalt, prussian blue, burnt sienna and gold. The vermilion sets off the gold best. The gilding of most of these kind of works is done either on the bare first coat of color, on the wood, or with a very thin touch of body color: the gilding remains as fresh after centuries as when new :-Eye-rood screen and Ufford font cover to wit. I have said that the reason that the font is placed at the entrance, is, that we enter the church by baptism. The next arrangement is the STREET UP THE CENTRE OF THE NAVE, To the pulpit and desk, by which straight path "we proceed to hear the word" therefrom. On this account the seats should not, as they are in many buildings, be placed in the centre, doing away in fact with this free passage from the font to the pulpit; which is an unsightly arrangement, to say the least. The excuse in this country is, that the punka is not felt sufficiently. If proper arrangements for the punkas are made, namely a double row endways with the building, no other will be found more advantageous; therefore the proper order or arrangement should be insisted on. I now come to THE LECTERN OR DESK AND PULPIT, "From whence the word is preached to us." The former should be placed in advance of the Chancel arch and on the north side, the latter exactly opposite on the south. They should only be so far removed from the walls as to admit of the puukas being felt properly, and never so near each other as to intercept the view of the Holy Table and reredos from end to end of the church. The position is nevertheless various; occasioned by that general neglect in former years of all order and rule which has led to so much mischief, and which it is now so difficult to restore. I believe there can be no doubt that the above mentioned positions of lectern and pulpit, (now generally adopt ed) is the best in every respect; and not the arrangement to be found still, in many churches, of placing clerk's desk, reading desk and pulpit right in the centre, cutting off the view of the East Window, Altar screen and Holy table-great unwieldy affairs upon which large sums of money have been wasted, that might have been applied to more useful purposes. In Braintree, Essex, for instance, the pulpit is fixed right in the centre, under the chancel arch, and supported on four large arcs of iron springing from the pews on either sidelooking like a huge spider more than anything else. * * * * * 66 The 83d canon simply requires that "in every church" a comely and decent pulpit be set in a convenient place;" * * * * "and to be there seemly kept for the preaching of God's word." Tastes differ in most things, particularly as to what is comely and decent;" taste is often regulated by the purse. string; hence the variety in shape and style of this article of church furniture, often a monument of bad taste. For a Gothic church, it should be made in keeping with the building: any style, (as in the case of fonts) is allowable. Either "Late" or" Early Perpendicular" is most showy; and more easily executed, generally at a lesser cost than "Decorated" or "Early English." "Norman" would be seldom if ever needed. Many fine examples of early pulpits are to be found in England, both of wood and of stone. The former, however, are generally much mutilated; very many have been totally destroyed, even up to a late date, when the revival of the arts of the middle ages put a stop to such vandalism. For an "Early English" pattern, the stone pulpit in Beaulieu church, Hants, is excellent: the like could be executed in wood. See plate vi. fig. 1, and Weal's Quarterly Papers. There are many specimens of a later date, both in stone and wood, the former in Somersetshire and Oxfordshirethe latter in Suffolk-instance, Creeting St. Peters, Thwaite and others; they are mostly hexagonal and of moderate size. The greater number in Norfolk and Suffolk are of the time of Elizabeth and of James 1st, together with the Communion tables; and were no doubt set up in consequence of the injunctions issued at that period. Some are very rich, tho' a jumble of all styles of ornament. I recommend the hexagonal as the best shape, it costs less than an octagon and but little more than a pentagon, which figure can likewise be used, but it looks rather meagre when standing detached from a wall or from a pillar. A square is inelegant, except for " Norman" where it is appropriate. For this warm climate the panelling should be open or pierced work, to allow of a free circulation of air. In England the reverse is the case. Great nicety of workmanship is needed in the construction of a pulpit. I propose entering into details of construction in a chapter on the ways and means of executing different works, therefore need not now be more minute. The woods best adapted for fine work, are Sissou, Toon, Bijessar and Teak; the 1st 3d and 4th are the best. In the hills any of the darker colored cedars and firs would answer well. If painting and gilding be contemplated, any soft wood, not liable to attacks from insects is preferable. Nimb and Ber are by no means bad woods. The former is of a good color. The In connection with the pulpit there is an item the use of which might not be inappropriate in these days, and in this country in particular, where the heat is so very oppressive and it is so difficult to fix one's attention to the most eloquent discourse for any length of time. I allude to the HOUR GLASS, Which used to be fixed to the wall beside every pulpit, till late even in the last century. When the Sermon commenced the glass was turned, and its length appears to have been regulated thereby. We find an allusion to this in Gay's pastoral: "He said that Heaven would take her soul, no doubt, A half hour glass would however suffice. It is supposed that these glasses were introduced by the Puritans; but this is doubtful, for one in Merton church in Norfolk has the floriated Cross on the frame, which like all others is of wrought iron and turns on a pivot. THE LECTERN OR READING DESK, Is our next consideration. In the 82nd canon: it is enjoined "that a convenient seat be made for the Minister to read service in." In carly works it is called "Reading Pue." The first mention we find of it is in the last revision of the canons &c. in 1661 (see Glossary). Its position I have pointed out in a preceding page. The patterns for this piece of furniture are various, and may be selected according to fancy. The ordinary form appears to have been a desk resting between two tall "poppy headed" ends or uprights like those of the benches, with panelling in front, of from three to five compartments between them, it is the strongest and least expensive. (fig. 1. pl. vii.) There are many other more elegant forms to be found; that of Detling, Kent, (see vol. 1. p. 225 of Glossary and fig. 2. pl. vii.) is a good example for copying it turns on a pivot, so that any one of the four sides may be brought in front, as required. The Old and New Testaments, the Book of Common Prayer, the psalms and hymns, and banns and notices are appropriately read therefrom. The Eagle desk is another and most elegant form. The eagle with expanded wings stands on an orb which rests on a polygonal stem like the desk of Detling. They are usually of brass, like that in St. Paul's Cathedral London, which originally belonged to Coggeshall, Essex, and was sold many years ago by avaricious churchwardens. There are two fine examples in Lynn Regis, Norfolk, one in St. Margaret's, the other in St. Nicholas. Several excellent copies have been cast in iron and bronzed by an iron founder in that town. Wooden Eagles are also found; one in Kersey church, Suffolk, is a good example though mutilated. A new one after the same pattern, rather more highly ornamented, was placed in Ashewicken church, Norfolk, in 1844. See fig. 3. pl. vii. Some may perhaps object that the use of the Eagle for the Lessons and prayers is incorrect-not being according to rule, unless a "litany stool" be added. In the "Few words to Church Builders" we are told that in lieu of the "Reading-pue" "we ought in its stead, to adopt two things: the Litany-stool (improperly called by many, the fold-stool) and "Eagle" or "Lectern." Para. "86 and 87. "The Litany-stool, whence the Litany ought "to be offered, and the other prayers may be read, is a small "desk at which to kneel: it is to be turned to the East." "* * * "Its proper place in a parish church is at the "entrance of the chancel." Speaking of the lectern, at Para. 88, they say it "may be made either of brass or wood. "It may be described as a desk on the top of a stand, about "five feet in height." ** *Eagles are, however, the "most beautiful ornaments; they are sometimes represent"ed as trampling on a Serpent, and the stem is supported "on three or four Lions." It is certain that the Eagle alone does not afford room for more than one book at a time; some addenda, such as the desk or Litany-stool, would be necessary. THE CLERK'S DESK, If such a thing must be had, (though there would seem no need for either clerk or desk); it should be no more than a small fald-stool on a slender stem, and be moveable, not a fixture. See plate vii. fig. 4. The Canons point out with whom should rest the appointing of a clerk, but no mention is made of desk or position where he is to be placed. Of late years the psalms and hymns have been given out by the minister in many churches. Having "heard the Word" we are prepared and proceed to receive the Holy Sacrament at the COMMUNION RAILS. These should stretch right across the chancel from wall to wall, and be of sufficient height only for the communicants to rest their elbows on when kneeling. This will be about two feet six inches, more or less; not that they were originally intended for such purpose. Rails set in the form of a small semi-circle, or of a square, are unsightly and incorrect. They may be placed, (where much room is needed), in the form of an arc, resting, however, upon the side walls. deed, in a wide chancel and large church, the effect is very fine, particularly where the dais is well raised. In We Altar rails appear to have been introduced after the Reformation, and the destruction of the rood screens. Still in some churches where the screens have remained uninjured, there are no rails, nor are they needed in such case. learn from the "Words to Church Builders" p. 23, that "they "gradually made their appearance after the Reformation, "but were not general till Archbishop Laud's celebrated "injunction concerning them. The horrible profanations "which occasioned that injunction having now ceased, there seems no reason why we should not return to the primitive "arrangement, leaving the altar rather to be defended by "the reverence of the worshippers than by so ugly and in"convenient a fence." There can be no doubt that the effect is much finer where there are no rails, for the steps in such case being clear, allow of a handsome carpet being evenly spread over them. The only drawback to there being no rails is, that aged and sickly people require something to rest upon. But this could be provided for by having moveable resting stools to be used as occasion might |