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SAVIOUR with the first services of the LORD's Day, that he may give to it the freshness of his spirits, and the stillness of his soul before it has been wearied, worn, and soiled by the toils and anxieties, and earthly dust from which, even on the day of rest, he cannot keep himself altogether free." At present he considers that this spirit is strong amongst us, and that in a Christian household, before the reception of the Holy Communion, may be remarked an unusual reverence and quietness of tone and demeanour. The blessed influence of such a feeling can hardly be overestimated, both as regards the immediate result of a devout reception of the Holy Eucharist, and the maintaining a high standard of doctrine concerning it. But if evening celebrations should unhappily prevail amongst us, all this must pass away, and they would come to share in the characteristics of our later Sunday services, which are generally distinguished by drowsiness in the afternoon, and weariness or excitement in the evening. It is difficult to imagine what might be the effect upon the next generation when these influences would have been fully allowed to work.

From his own experience the Bishop affirms, that for those who are unable to be present at the mid-day celebration, the hindrance may be met by a celebration in the early morning, or some hour in the forenoon, and he strongly commends the beneficial effect of any selfdenial which might thereby be entailed upon them.

I fear that this letter is already too long, but may I venture to remind "Nemo" of the pious custom of receiving the Holy Communion fasting, not long ago so forcibly alluded to in your pages, and which is commended to us by S. Augustine, S. Chrysostom, Bishop Taylor, and others? It is evident, that in the case of evening Communions, this would be practically useless.

SIR,

I remain, sir,

Yours obediently,
M.

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

I would refer “Nemo" to a tract on "Evening Communions,” published by Palmer, Little Queen Street.

Yours, &c.,

M. C. W.

OFFICE OF PRECENTOR.

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

DEAR SIR,

The precentorship was confined to cathedrals and collegiate churches. In England in cathedrals of the old foundation, as on the Continent, the precentor always ranked as the second dignitary next to the dean, and occupied the opposite stall in choir, hence the terms Decani and Cantoris. He was invariably a priest, and collated for life by the bishop unless he resigned; under him was the succentor, his vicar, besides the rectors of choir. At S. David's he was the chief dignitary. In collegiate churches he was also a dignified priest;

but occasionally his office was regarded as a personatus, not a dignitas; that is, he was a dignitary of the second order.

In the hasty reconstruction of the conventual cathedrals at the Reformation, all the four dignities of the old foundations were represented virtually by the dean; but the actual superintendent of the musical services was made a temporary officer, elective from the number of minor canons, and removeable, and called precentor, though in point of fact discharging the duties of the succentor. He too is always a priest.

In all cases, however various the rank and precedence, the precentorship was a statutable and endowed office, held only by a priest, and the precentor of the new foundations really is the successor of the precentor of the Benedictines or Austin canons who previously discharged the same office, though the latter held it with a higher standing and greater authority.

It is quite clear that the chantership, like that of other dignitaries and "persons" was never extended to parish churches, and at no time delegated to laymen. The title of superintendent or rector of choir, or better still, the familiar term choirmaster, only is suitable in any but cathedral and collegiate churches; that of precentor would be merely a silly assumption by ignorant or vain persons.

APRIL FOOL DAY.

Yours truly,

Ex CATHEDRA.

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

MR. EDITOR,

I should be much obliged if any of the readers of the Churchman's Companion could inform me the origin of the 1st of April being called April Fool Day, and of the silly jokes that are then practised. Yours, &c.,

E. J.

ZINC CROSSES.

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,

Would any of your correspondents kindly tell me of any shop in London where they sell zinc crosses, which are made expressly for keeping flowers fresh by a grave?

Yours, &c.,

M. C. W.

REPRESENTATIONS OF MOSES.

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion.

DEAR SIR,

Will you kindly inform me why Moses is so often represented

with horns?

Yours truly,

B. D. A.

DR. COLENSO.

To the Editor of the Churchman's Companion. DEAR SIR,

How is it that Dr. Colenso has been able to resume his pastoral duties at Natal, when in denying the authenticity of the Pentateuch he must have forfeited his position as a bishop?

How was it that he gained his trial in the High Court of Arches and £20,000?

How is it that Colonial Bishops are under no Ecclesiastical jurisdiction in England?

Can any one recommend a book against Rationalism and Infidelity? Yours faithfully,

A LADY IN HAMBURG.

"THE MINISTRY OF CONSOLATION."

"Ethel" would be very much obliged to the Editor of the Churchman's Companion if he, or any of the readers of the Magazine, could inform her who is the author of that beautifully written book, "The Ministry of Consolation, a Guide to Confession for Members of the Church of England?" It has been attributed to the writing of a Romanist, but such is not her idea; and if he could kindly inform her she would feel most grateful. It is published by Masters.

Notices to Correspondents.

B. D. A. The old masters endeavoured to represent the glory shining on the face of Moses by rays projecting round his head, and this ultimately became corrupted into the appearance of horns.

O. A. A. You will see in the list of accepted contributions that we have now identified your MSS.

Accepted: "A Bunch of Physic;" "Easter Day;" "Unto you it is given;""Nightfall;""Granting us in this world;"

"The Blood and Water."

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Declined with thanks: "The Rectory Home;" "A Sketch;" "A Vision;" "Cold and dead she lies before me.' ("Good Friday," too late for this year.)

The following sums have been received in aid of the Gravesend Waterside Mission: from J. J. Charlesworth, Esq., £5. 5s.; from A Reader of the Churchman's Companion, Swansea," 4s.; besides several small contributions in postage stamps, for all of which the donors are sincerely thanked.

THE

Churchman's Companion.

PART CCXXXII. VOL. XXXIX.]

[APRIL, 1866.

CHRISTINA.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "A MAIDEN OF OUR OWN DAY."

66

CHAPTER XIX. (CONCLUSION.)

I loved you, Evelyn, all the while

My heart seemed full as it could hold;

There was place and to spare for the frank young smile,
And the red young mouth, and the hair's young gold."

"So look up, friends! you who, indeed,

ROBERT BROWNING.

Have possessed in your house a sweet piece
Of the Heaven which men strive for, must need
Be more earnest than others are-speed

Where they loiter, persist where they cease."
E. B. BROWNING.

A MONTH later a hired carriage, containing a single traveller, was traversing at its utmost speed the high road leading to Deveril; it turned in at the gates of Redlands, and, quickly as it passed, the lodge-keeper recognised her master. He had leant forward as if to ask her a question, but no words had come; he thought she looked dull and sad, and he was willing to give himself a few minutes' reprieve before hearing the terrible news which he feared awaited him. Even this torturing doubt was better than that certainty.

A few minutes more and the house was in sight. There was no funeral hatchment on its grey stone front. He began to feel a ray of hope. The driver urged his horse forward, in another moment they would be there. In the meantime Rupert was leaning eagerly out of the carriage-window; he had caught sight of something which made his heart bound with joy. Sunning itself on

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the terrace was a stately peacock, spreading its gorgeous tail, arching its burnished neck, looking the picture of splendid coquetry; but who was that at the open library-window enticing the beautiful bird to approach? that slight form with a white Cashmere folded round her, and a snowy-robed silken-hooded babe lying on her knee?

Only one person within Rupert's cognisance had just those gleaming masses of golden hair, only one had just that fair frank face that was lifted now in sudden wonder and hope as the carriage drew near. His terrible suspense was over; the smothered cry of thankfulness that left his lips had all the solemnity of a vow. He looked on her as on one given back to him from the dead, his heart would be hers henceforth, and for

evermore.

That babe recalling the lost one in its age and appearance, but larger and more healthy-looking, was a boy, his son and heir; and Christina was recovering slowly but surely, though still very delicate. He had looked for judgment and found mercy. It seemed to him then, as if his whole future life might well be one long thankoffering!

They had much to say to each other after their months of separation-this young husband and wife-yet for a good while they scarcely said anything. The nurse who had been in attendance withdrew, the pet peacock feasted contentedly on the rice which Christina had thrown to him, the baby was transferred from the mother's to the father's arms, and those great brilliant eyes of Rupert's softened into peace as they studied the placid baby-face of his little son. The room was fragrant with the perfume of Guernsey lilies, just as it had been on that festival-day on which Rupert and Christina first sat there together. The soft October sunshine was pouring in at the open window, the ineffable joy of reunion was filling the hearts of the pair that had been so long divided, and a spell of delicious silence was upon them, which at first they could not break.

By-and-by, however, Rupert began to ask questions, and Christina to answer them. She had been very, very

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