history, on account of the horrible
massacre of Protestants in Paris in 1572. Thirty thousand persons
were put to death in France, and this with the deliberate consent
of the Pope and the authorities of the Roman Church!

BELFRY. Originally and properly, a watch-tower. That part of a
church where the bells are hung.

BELLS. Bells have been used in churches in England from the 7th
century. Their various uses are well summed up in the following
monkish distichs,--

"Laudo Deum verum, plebem voco, congrego clerum,
Defunctos ploro, pestem fugo, festa decoro."

"Funera plango, fulgura frango, sabbata pango,
Excito lentos, dissipo ventos, paco cruentos."

In the Roman Church they are "baptized," with a certain ceremony;
in the English Church they are merely consecrated, that is, set
apart for a sacred purpose.

The "passing bell" is the tolling of a bell while anybody is dying,
or _passing_ out of this life, in order that the faithful may offer
prayers on his behalf. It is ordered by Canon 67.

BENEDICITE. The apocryphal ending of Daniel iii. It is a
paraphrastical exposition of Ps. 148; it was commonly sung in the
Christian Church in the 4th century. In 1549 it was ordered to be
sung during Lent instead of the _Te Deum_. It is now generally used
when the lessons speak of the Creation. The "three children" are
Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, who are better known by their
Chaldean names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

BENEDICTION. A solemn act of blessing performed by Bishops and
Priests of the Church. A certain form was given by God Himself for
the use of the Jewish Priests, Num. vi.22-27. In our Church
several forms are used agreeing with the Office of which they form
a part. The ordinary benediction at the end of the Communion
Service is from Phil, iv.7, and Num. vi.23.

BENEDICTUS. The song of Zacharias, the father of the Baptist,
Luke 1.68-79. The alternate Psalm, called the _Jubilate Deo_, was
inserted in 1552 to be used when the _Benedictus_ happened to be
read in the second lesson. The song of Zacharias has always been a
hymn of the Church.

BENEFICE or LIVING. A church endowed with a revenue for the
performance of Divine Service; the holder of which is called a
Rector, or Vicar, or Incumbent, or Perpetual Curate (see under each
head). Heresy, Simony, and other grave offences, disqualify a man
from holding a benefice.

A clergyman can only be deprived of his benefice for want of
capacity,