require; or better still, such invalids might receive the elements from the minister, at the stalls.

The patterns for altar rails may be of any degree of beauty -a wide range is open to the architect and decorator; for instance, small pillars supporting small semicircular scolloped arches for "Norman." The same, supporting lancet-shaped arches for "Early English." Again, trefoiled arches for "Decorated," with the addition of buttresses at every three or five arches, are not only very strong, but easy of construction; more so than " Perpendicular," as the pillars are more easily turned in the lathe, than the mullions or rails are moulded in the last named. See pl. viii.

Where expense is no object most beautiful treliced or open-work screens or panels can be fixed between uprights in the "Perpendicular" style, which admits of it; however, no pierced work should be of too minute and claborate a pattern, as it would be lost placed so near the ground. The framing should be strong and so fastened to the floor as not to give when leaned against.

ROOD SCREENS.

In connection with altar rails I have mentioned" Rood Screens." I may as well offer a few words thereon. The rood screen was intended to divide the body of the church from the chancel and "the laity from the Clergy," which the Camdenians call a "most Catholic and indispensable division." In support of their argument, they quote Bishop Beveridge they say, "It is not a Romanish innovation, "as it has been ignorantly called: for the whole Eastern "and Western Church has employed it from the earliest "times. Indeed on the continent, Rood Screens have in "late years been destroyed by the wholesale, though a low "rail or fence continues to make the division".

"Bishop Beveridge, in a sermon preached at the open"ing of his church of St. Peter, Cornhill, November 27th, "1681, (which church has a Rood screen), thus speaks: "some “perhaps may wonder why this (the screen) should be observed "in one church rather than in all the churches which have "recently been built in this city; whereas they should rather "wonder why it was not observed in all others as well as "this. For besides our obligations to conform, as much as may be, to the practice of the Universal church, and to avoid novelty and singularity in all things relating to the worship of God, it cannot easily be imagined that the Catholic Church "in all ages and places for thirteen or fourteen hundred years

VOL. III.

E

together, should observe such a custom as this, except there were great reasons for it."

"And true to this exposition of her sentiments, the Re"formed Anglican Church has from time to time erected or "restored them. Many were put up in the early part of "the seventeenth century. There is a good instance at St. "Mary's, Geddington, Northamptonshire. It was erected "by Maurice Tresham, Esq., in 1618, as an expression "* * * * of thankfulness; at least so the words on the "western side, Quid retribuam Domino? seem to imply."

I have certainly seen many examples of the retention of early screens, as well as modern ones dating as late as King Charles' day. Suffolk and Norfolk boast of several very magnificent examples, though more or less mutilated. Woolpit,* Barking, Eye, Yaxley, Dennington, Hadleigh, and Lavenham, Suffolk; Merton, Attleboro' &c. &c., in Norfolk. The sale of this last named to some London tradesman, to cover the cost of an unsightly mahogany pulpit, was happily prevented in 1842 by the late Bishop of Norwich. All the above named screens, except those of Merton and Lavenham, are Perpendicular work. The Merton screen is late "Decorated" and a beautiful specimen though incomplete. (See plate ix.) The screen at Eye is much hacked and injured, but when entire must have been most magnificent; it is richly gilt and picked out with vermilion and azure.

The screen is called "Rood screen" on account of the loft above it, and below the "beam" on which was fixed the Holy" Rood" i. e. the Crucifix, either alone, or more commonly, with the figures of John and Mary on either side: some of these it would appear, were very grand in former times. "In the ancient rites of Durham", p. 57, is written : "Also above the height of all upon the wall, stood the goodliest and most famous Rood that was in all this land, "with the picture of St. Mary on one side of our Saviour, " and that of St. John on the other, with two splendent and glittering Archangels, one on the side of Mary, and the "other on the side of John ;—

"Whenne that he to the kyrke come,
"To'ffore the rode he knelyd anon,
"And on hys knees he felle :"

Reliq. Antiq. II. 24.

* I must not lose an opportunity here offered of recording the zeal, sound judgment and good taste of the incumbent the Revd. Mr. Page who chiefly at his own cost has had the screen, benches, roof and all the wood work beautifully restored by Mr. Ringham, a self taught carver of Ipswich, whose works will perpetuate his name.

The next subject which presents itself for consideration is

THE HOLY OR COMMUNION TABLE,

As these were introduced at the Reformation in place of the stone altars which were ordered to be removed, we cannot look for very early examples.

There can be no doubt that according to the 82nd canon, a bona fide table was required and not an altar: but there would seem to be no harm in the top being of stone, pure white or black marble for instance.

In early times it would seem from the number still to be found reversed, in the pavements of churches, with the five crosses, emblematic of the five wounds of Christ, and of a peculiar kind of stone of a yellowish tinge, that altars were made very distinct objects.

Altars though used for the celebration of the Holy Communion, were in reality in very many cases, tombs of Saints, or in other words, reliquaries-but not so in all cases.

The Communion Table may either be placed in the centre of the chancel, and as far back as the screen, or a little in advance of it, so as to admit of the minister passing behind it. In the 82nd canon [referring to the position of the Communion table at the celebration of the Lord's supper] we find it enjoined that "At which time the same shall be placed in so good sort within the church or chancel as thereby the minister be more conveniently heard of the communi"cants in his prayer and ministration, and the communicants " also more conveniently and in more number may communicate "with the said minister."

66

In the reign of King Edward the Sixth, all stone altars were taken down by royal command and wooden tables substituted, Bishop Ridley setting the example in his own Cathedral of St. Paul's. But Day, Bishop of Chichester refused to comply, pronouncing such alteration unjustified by Scripture and the Fathers of the Church, for which contumacy he was committed to the Fleet prison. Altars were again set up by order of Queen Mary, and again removed by Elizabeth, who commanded "that the Parish provide a decent "table standing on a frame for the Communion table." Glossary, p. 15, Text. Again we are told "the Holy table to "be decently made and set where the altar stood; and the Com"munion to be placed in good sort within the chancel, and afterwards, where it stood before." Injunctions by Queen Elizabeth, 1559.-By the foregoing it is evident, as I before said, that a table and not an altar is intended.

See

In 1843-44 much ill feeling was created through the unwise conduct of those members of the Cambridge Camden Society who directed the restorations of the Round Church at Cambridge, and persisted in setting up a stone Altar, in lieu of a table, which altar they were compelled eventually to remove upon the decision of Sir H. J. Fust.

As a general rule it would seem unadvisable to introduce ornaments against which a popular prejudice may exist; not that we should readily give way to unreasonable clamour, brought about by perhaps some one or two ill-disposed individuals in a community, but certainly, it is more than indiscretion for a clergyman to alienate his flock merely to satisfy what is equal to a childish taste, for some questionable object, as in the case above quoted.

In 1843 a design was made, and every arrangement for constructing, a very elegant Reredos, in a church at Ipswich; but the object was defeated by the incumbent, under the advice of the Secretary of the Camden Society, persisting in his wish to have a stone altar, which all his parishioners objected to, as a Romanist innovation.

There are two appurtenances of the altar independent of Sedilia which remain to be mentioned; the first is the

- CREDENCE TABLE,

Which was evidently in common use till very late years. It

was a small table which used to stand on the north side of the Communion Table, on which the elements were placed previous to consecration, as implied in our Rubric. They are of common occurrence in the vestry of many churches. The re-introduction of them might be a matter for consideration. They may be reckoned however among the Non Essentials, together with the

PISCINA.

This is a niche on the South side of the altar with a basin having a perforation, and beneath it a passage or drain down the wall into the ground. This was used for emptying the spare wine, for washing the chalice and patens and the priest's hands after celebration of the eucharist. Some of these are of very early date, and many are very beautifully worked, with canopies. When we reflect on the solemnity of the rite and the reverence and decency which should be observed, we can scarcely pronounce a piscina to be needless, though its introduction might probably give as much cause for scandal as a stone altar.

III.

SONGS OF CHILDHOOD.

NO. IV.-MUSING.

Let the child be! Yes, leave it quite alone

To it's own mystic mood

Of musing solitude.

Let the child be! That mood is childhood's own.

Yes, let it be! but look thou on, and see

The marvel of it's bliss;

For now,-full well I wis,

Playmate nor toy it needs, nor me, nor thee.

Behold the mimic world all put to rout!

A panoply of toys,

Fancy's real joys,

In a bright chaos lying all about!

Midst these, but now, it was a-scheming

With a vague earnestness;

Of manhood's business

Unconsciously a-dreaming.

'Tis wrapt, now, as rose-bud on lonely stalk.—

Say, hath some Angel brought

An all absorbing thought

From the bright realm where children's spirits walk?

The Angel that, e'en now, in Heaven,

'Beholds it's Father's face,'

"On errand of high grace"

Hath brought it thoughts;'-to these 'tis given.

Silent, and soft alighting, like dew-drops,

They sink into it's soul;

Refresh it, and control,

With charm beyond sweet music's softest stops.

"Tis hence that childhood gains it's wondrous lore

And learns deep questionings,

To abash our reasonings,

And sting our conscience to it's deepest core.

Oh blessed child! If but in after days

It thus apart can dwell,

And list the distant swell

Of comrade Angels' heavenly lays!

Oh that our manhood knew such solitude,

On which should aught intrude,

Unwelcome 'twere, and rude!—

Oh that it knew but childhood's mystic musing mood!

23rd Sept. 1849.

* Wordsworth.