STUDIES IN CEREMONIAL ESSAYS ILLUSTRATIVE OF ENGLISH CEREMONIAL BY THE REV. VERNON STALEY, AUTHOR OF "THE CEREMONIAL OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH," etc. A. R. MOWBRAY & CO. 1901. MAR 31 1919 PREFACE. IN N a former work, The Ceremonial of the English Church, (A. R. Mowbray & Co., Oxford,) allusion is made, with disapproval, to certain ornaments and ceremonies which, within the last fifty years or so, seem to have been introduced without adequate authority into many English churches. These questionable things have unfortunately come to be regarded in certain quarters with approval. On this account, I have felt it desirable to investigate fully, scientifically, and historically, the matters in question. The results of such investigation, which tend to confirm the disapproval expressed in my earlier work, are placed before the reader in the following pages. An exception to this line will be found in the articles entitled, "Bowing at the Name of Jesus," and "Bowing towards the Altar." These articles are included in the present work, because of the widespread neglect which prevails in regard to these particular practices, in the face of their authorization by the English Church. My thanks are due to Dr. J. Wickham Legg, and Mr. F. C. Eeles, for considerable help in preparing this work for the press. This volume is sent forth in the hope, that it may be of some service in promoting uniformity of ceremonial, based upon true English principles, and in accordance with the authority of the English Church in this matter. V. S. SOUTH ASCOT, June 1, 1901. |