see_ Burial Service.

DEADLY SIN, _see_ Sin.

DEAN. An ecclesiastic next in degree to a Bishop. He is the head of
a corporate body called a Chapter, attached to a Cathedral, and has
the direction of the Cathedral services. Deans of Peculiars have no
Chapters. The _Dean_ of a College at Oxford or Cambridge is the
officer appointed to maintain discipline.*

The _Dean_ of _Faculty_ presides over meetings of the particular
faculty of which he is Dean. It is an office in most ancient, and
some modern universities.

* _The Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, is the Head both of the
Cathedral, and the College_.

DEAN, RURAL, _see_ Rural Dean.

DEAN AND CHAPTER. The governing body of a Cathedral.

DECALOGUE, _see_ Commandments.

DECORATION of CHURCHES. It is right and fitting that churches should
be made as beautiful as possible for the worship of Almighty God,
for so God Himself directed the Tabernacle to be made. The custom of
especially decorating them with evergreens, flowers, &c., at the
chief festivals of the Church is a very ancient one.

DEGREES. A rank or grade conferred by a university on her members.
After three years' residence at Oxford or Cambridge, and after the
passing of certain examinations, a degree is conferred on the
student in accordance with the subjects in which he has passed. If,
as is the general rule, he has studied and passed in Arts,--Classics,
Mathematics, and the like--the student is made a B.A., or Bachelor
in Arts, and in about three years--not necessarily of residence--he
is able to proceed to the higher degree of M. A., or Master in Arts,
without further examination. Other degrees are in the faculties of
Divinity, Laws, Medicine, and Music; for the last it is not necessary
to reside. The highest degree conferred by a university in any
faculty is that of Doctor. A Bachelor of Oxford wears a small black
hood _trimmed_ with white fur; a Bachelor of Cambridge has a larger
hood _lined_ with white fur. An Oxford Master wears a hood of black
silk lined with _red_ silk, but the Cambridge Master's hood is of
black silk lined with _white_ silk. The difference in shape can
easily be seen by comparison. A Dublin Master's hood is lined with
_blue_ silk. Other universities have other colours; and many
theological colleges, which have no power to confer degrees, have
arrogated to themselves hoods with various linings, which bear a
close resemblance to some of the hoods worn by graduates.

DEISTS