is the following note: "January
1st was never in any way connected with the opening of the Christian
Year; and the religious observance of this day (New Year's Day) has
never received any sanction from the Church, except as the Octave of
Christmas and the Feast of the Circumcision. The spiritual point of
the season all gathers about Christmas. As the modern New Year's Day
is merely conventionally so (New Year's Day being on March 25th
until about 150 years ago), there is no reason why it should be
allowed at all to dim the lustre of a day so important to all
persons and all ages as Christmas Day." The Feast of the Circumcision
is designed to be observed with great solemnity. There are Proper
Psalms, being the 40th and 90th for Morning Prayer, and the 65th and
103d for Evening Prayer, also Proper Lessons and Collect, Epistle
and Gospel, these last to be used every day until the Epiphany. The
Church color is, white, and the Feast is placed among the DAYS OF
OBLIGATION (which see).

Clergy.--A collective name for the Bishops, Priests and Deacons of
the Church. The Priesthood and the {64} People are generally
distinguished from each other by the titles _Clergy_ and _Laity_.
The term Clergy is derived from the Greek word _Cleros_, meaning
a lot or portion, either because the Clergy--_clerikoi_--are the
Lord's portion, as being allotted to His service; or because God
is their portion and inheritance. The Laity are so called from
the Greek word _Laos_, meaning people, as being the chosen and
peculiar people of God.

Clerical.--Pertaining to the work and office of the Clergy.

Cloister.--A covered walk about a Cathedral or Church or Collegiate
building, oftentimes forming a portion of the quadrangle.

Coadjutor.--(See BISHOP COADJUTOR).

Collect.--The name given to the prayers set forth in the Prayer Book
and especially to the short prayers used in connection with Epistles
and Gospels. The origin of the name is uncertain and various meanings
have been given to it. Some have connected it with the _collected_
assembly of the people; others have interpreted the name as
indicating that the prayer so-called, _collects_ together the topics
of previous prayers or else those of the Epistle and Gospel for the
day. Another interpretation is that which distinguishes the Collect
as the prayer offered by the Priest _alone_ on behalf of the
people, while in the Litanies and Versicles the Priest and people
pray alternately. As of Commo