entance," "Prayer," "The number of
the Sacraments," "The Right Use of the Church," etc. The Books of
Homilies are received in the American Church so far as they are an
explication of Christian Doctrine and instructive in piety and
morals. The list of subjects treated of in the Second Book is given
in the XXXVth Article of Religion.

Hood.--An ornamental fold hanging down the back, denoting the
academical degree which the person officiating has taken in College
or University. It is made of silk, the color indicating the degree
according to the University usage. The Church of England {139} by
canon enjoins that every minister, who is a graduate, shall wear his
proper hood during the time of divine service. The hood is quite
commonly worn in the United States by both Bishops and Clergy.

Hosanna.--A Hebrew word, meaning, "Save, we beseech Thee."

Hours of Prayer.--(See CANONICAL HOURS.)

House of Bishops.--The upper House of the General Convention in
which all Diocesan, Coadjutor and Missionary Bishops have seats,
representing their own Order. The term is often used as a collective
name for all the Bishops of the American Church. (See GENERAL
CONVENTION.)

House of God.--The Church building is so called because it is set
apart for the worship of God. That it is something more than a mere
lecture hall, or concert room or auditorium, as it is commonly
regarded by modern religionism will appear from the following taken
from the Annotated Prayer Book: "The Church is the _House of God_,
not man's house; a place wherein to meet with Him with the closest
approach which can be made in this life. Hence, if Jacob consecrated
with the ceremony of unction the place where God made His covenant
with him, and said of it, 'This is none other but the House of God,
and this is the Gate of Heaven'; so should our churches be set apart
and consecrated with sacred ceremonies making them holy to the Lord.
So also, because they are to be in reality, and not by a mere
stretch of the imagination, the Presence chambers of our Lord, we
must regard them as the nearest to {140} Heaven in holiness of all
places on earth by the virtue of that Presence. And lavishing all
costly material, and all earnest skill upon their first erection and
decoration, we shall ever after frequent them with a consciousness
that 'the Lord is in His holy Temple,' and that all which is done
there should be done under a sense of the greatest reverence towards
Him."

Ho