les.
In the Greek Church their festivals are observed separately. Of St.
Philip we have notices only in St. John, and early tradition speaks
of his preaching in Pamphylia. Of St. James the Apostle, the son of
Alphaeus, sometimes supposed to be the same as "James the Less," or
the Little, of Mark xv. 40, we know nothing except his name in the
Apostolic catalogue. In the Epistle for this day he is identified
with James, the brother of the Lord, surnamed the Just, and author
of the Epistle bearing his name. But this identification is very
uncertain.

PISCINA. A drain for water, usually accompanied with decorative
features, near the altar on the south side. It was formerly used
to pour away the water in which any sacred vessel had been washed.
In many churches the Piscina is the only remaining trace of where
an altar has been.

PLYMOUTH BRETHREN. The name is a misnomer. They call themselves
merely "Brethren," and instead of originating in Plymouth, their
principal source was near Dublin. They date from 1827, and their
existence is a protest against all sectarianism, they holding that
there should be a _visible_ unity among Christians. They decline
to be looked upon as one of the many sects into which Christianity
is divided, and refuse to be identified with any.

They hold in great esteem the primitive constitution of the Church,
and trust largely to the power of prayer for the supply of their
temporal necessities. They have no recognised ministry, but any
one believing himself to be inspired of the Spirit may address
their meetings.

POLITY, ECCLESIASTICAL. The constitution and government of the
Christian Church, considered as a society. The great book on this
subject is Hooker's immortal work.

POPE. From _Papa_, Father, a title anciently given to all Christian
Bishops; but at the end of the 11th century it was assumed
exclusively by Gregory VII., Bishop of Rome, whose successors'
peculiar title it has ever since continued. (See _Papists_.) There
are but few instances of the exercise of the papal power in England
before the Norman Conquest, nor has the Church of England ever
wholly submitted to papal rule. (See _Church of England_.)

POSITIVISM, _see_ Comtism.

PRAYER-BOOK, _see_ Liturgy.

PREACHING. Proclaiming the truths of religion. The term is not
necessarily to be limited to what are called sermons, as we see by
Acts xv. 21, "Moses of old time hath in every city them that
_preach_ him, being _read_ in th