Church, but also to indicate the _spirit of the
Church_ as well,--the spirit that pervades all her life, her
teachings and her customs, and which when once possessed makes us
deeply conscious of her continuous life from the beginning, as
having a history and glorious traditions.

Many sources of information have been drawn from, the thoughts of
many writers have been laid under contribution, but not always was
it possible to make acknowledgment, as what is here presented is
the result of the writer's general reading and study. As such the
work is sent forth with the hope that all who refer to its pages
may find it adequate to the purpose described and realize the full
meaning of St. Cyprian's word's, "_He cannot have God for his
Father, who has not the Church for his Mother_."

W. J. M.

Dictionary and Cyclopaedia

A

Ablutions.--A term used to designate the ceremonial washing of the
sacred vessels after Holy Communion, with wine and water which are
reverently consumed by the Priest. These ablutions are in conformity
with the Rubric which directs, "And if any of the consecrated Bread
and Wine remain after the Communion, it shall not be carried out
of the Church; but the Minister and other communicants shall,
immediately after the Blessing, reverently eat and drink the same."

Absolution.--The forgiveness of sins on earth by the Son of Man
through His agents, the Bishops and Priests of the Church. Their
commission is embodied in the words of the Ordination Office,
"Receive the Holy Ghost for the Office and Work of a Priest in
the Church of God, now committed unto thee by the Imposition of
our hands. Whose sins thou dost forgive, they are forgiven; and
whose sins thou dost retain, they are retained." This commission
contains our {6} Lord's own words to be found in St. John 20:22 and 23,
and they are His commission to His Ministers. Attempts have been
made to explain away these words; but it is unquestionably the
office of the Holy Ghost to invest those ordained with the power
of dispensing God's Word and Sacraments, and of performing what
is necessary "for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of
the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ."
(See KEYS, POWER OF).

Absolution, The.--The name given to the form of words by which a
penitent person is absolved. There are two forms in the Prayer
Book; the longer form being used at Morning and Evening Prayer,
the shorter one being usually