confined to use in the Communion
Office.

Absolve.--To loose, to set free from the bondage of sin. (See
ABSOLUTION, also KEYS, POWER OF).

Abstinence.--The Church makes a distinction between _abstinence_ and
_fasting_. Abstinence is the reduction of food for the sake of
self-discipline, while fasting is going without food of any kind
as a more severe act of discipline. Abstinence is to be exercised
on "Other Days of Fasting" _i.e._, other than Ash Wednesday and
Good Friday which are absolute Fasts. (See FASTS, TABLE OF; also
FASTING).

Acolyte.--A word derived from the Greek, and used to designate one
who serves the Priest in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
His chief duties are to arrange the elements on the Credence, to
light the candles, receive the offerings and present them, and
also the Bread, Wine and water, to the Priest at the proper time
in the Celebration. {7}

Adult Baptism.--The rule of the Church is Infant Baptism. She
brings children even in their tenderest years within her Fold and
there trains them up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
But when in England the Puritans and Anabaptists arose and prevailed,
then there grew up a generation that reached maturity without having
been baptized, and then it was that there arose the necessity for
"The Ministration of Baptism to such as are of Riper Years and able
to answer for themselves." To meet such cases the present service
in the Prayer Book for the Baptism of Adults was prepared and set
forth in A.D. 1661. That the Church of England had no form for
the Baptism of Adults previous to the year 1661 is not only an
interesting fact, but it is also one of those historic side-lights
which brings into bold relief what was the custom of the Church
from time immemorial.

Advent.--Derived from the Latin, and means _coming_. The word is
used of the first coming of Christ at His Birth, and of His Second
Coming to judge the world. These are commemorated in the first
Season of the Church Year, the _Season of Advent_, which begins
on the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day (Nov. 30) whether before
or after, and continues until Christmas Day. The Advent Season is
intended to be a preparation for the due observance of Christmas,
is penitential in character and a time of increased devotions both
public and private. The Benedicite is sung instead of the Te Deum;
the Benedictus is recited in full, and the Collect for the First
Sunday in Advent is used d