etual obligation. And they condemn all war, even in
self-defence, as unlawful for Christians.

The _Society of Friends_ consists of about 12,000 members, 254
recorded ministers, and about 400 unrecorded; and in England and
Wales they have 317 places of worship. As a rule their moral
character is excellent, and they are very valuable members of
society.

QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY. The _fiftieth_ day before Easter, reckoning
in whole numbers.

QUESTMEN. The same as Synod's men, or Sidesmen. (See _Churchwardens_.)

RATIONALISM. There are two ways by which the human mind can attain
to a knowledge of the truth; first by receiving a divine revelation
of it, and secondly by means of observation and reasoning. The name
of _Rationalism_ is given to that school of thought which believes
that the latter of these two ways is of itself fully sufficient for
the attainment of all truth.

READING DESK, _see_ Desk.

READING IN. Every incumbent upon entering his living is obliged
to read the Thirty-nine Articles, and to give his assent thereto
publicly, in Church, on some Sunday nearly following his appointment.
He must also read the Morning and Evening Prayer, and declare his
assent to the Prayer Book. A certificate to that effect has to be
signed by the Churchwardens. The whole ceremony is known as that
of "_reading in_."

REAL PRESENCE, _see_ Presence, Real.

RECTOR. A clergyman who has charge of a parish, and who possesses
all the tithes. The distinction between a Rector and Vicar is that
the former has the whole right to all the ecclesiastical dues within
his parish, whereas the latter is entitled only to a certain portion
of those profits, the best part of which are often absorbed by the
impropriator.

REFORMATION. The great revolt in Europe in the 16th century against
the Papacy. The rescue of our Church from the usurped dominion of
the Pope, and its restoration from the corruptions of Popery to
primitive purity was then effected. (See _Church of England_.)

REFRESHMENT SUNDAY The fourth Sunday in Lent is so called probably
because the Gospel for the day relates the miracle of the feeding
of the five thousand. It is also frequently called Mid-Lent Sunday.
In several parts of England it is known by the name of _Mothering
Sunday_, from an ancient practice of making a pilgrimage to the
Mother Church, usually the Cathedral, of the neighbourhood on this
day. The comparatively modern and local custom of young men and
women goi