Cylchgronau Cymru

OTTSTLI DPBEIjY W®%2W * No. 90. Vol. VIII. JUNE, 1900. Price One Penny. THE FABRIC OF THE CHURCH AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. (continued.) The Pulpit. We may trace the origin of Pulpits in the Brazen Scaffold which Solomon "set in the midst of the Temple," and " The Pulpit of Wood from which Ezra read the Book of the Law." The earliest Pulpits which remain in Eng¬ land are those in the refectories of Monasteries from which the Scriptures were read at meal-times. Fine examples of these., of the 14th century, are found at Shrewsbury, Chester, and ■Chicester, and one of the same type in the outer court of Magdalene College, Oxford, and in Coombe Church, Oxon, built of ston^. Very few Pulpits remain in our Churches of a date earlier than the Reformation. In the year 1603, the Canons required " That a Pulpit should be placed in every Church not already provided with one." They were often richly carved and many were provided with a 'Sounding board ' suspended <,v3r them probably to assist the Preacher's voice. The old Pulpit in Llanidloes (our own) Church had one of these sounding boards. Some Pulpits still have the horologium or hour glass by which the preacher regulated the length of his sermon. The big Cushions or Pillows, once so common on Pulpits have been discarded and replaced by the more hand¬ some pulpit frontal. If Pulpits could speak, what interesting information they could give of the differtnt preachers who have occupied them, and the various styles of Sermons, that have been preached in them from time to time. That we may -estimate correctly the importance of the Pulpit and its uses, I would briefly refer to the somewhat exaggerated notions enter¬ tained by many good people with regard to it. The idea toe frequently prevalent in the minds of many in these days, is that they go to Church to hear, (gwrando) or to sit under Mr. So and So, and if a man is not a good preacher, he is thought very little of. That is certainly not the correct idea of public worship. We should go to Church to worship—to pray to God, and praise Him, as well as to hear His Holy Word read and preached On the other hand, we must beware of esteem¬ ing too lightly the office of the preacher. To preach the Word of God is one of the solemn duties laid upon a Clergyman at his ordination, and a heavy responsibility rests on him who ueglects it. The Nave, from the Latin navis, a ship, is that part of the Church Westward from the Chancel, in which the -congregation assembles for public worship. The name seems to be derived from the very early symbolism which likened the Church to a ship, the Ark in which Noah and his family found salvation, or the ship which carried our Lord and His Apostles over the stormy Sea of Galilee. The inside walls of many Churches lean outwards and look very much like the interior of a vessel. The usual type of Nave is a centre alley and aisles, sometimes it is a kind of double Nave, having a row of pillars down the middle sometimes it has only one aisle on the north as in our own Church, or the aisle may be on the south side, or there may he a north and south aisle. Formerly there were no seats in Nave, people stood during the service as they now do in some Eastern Churches, or supplied themselves with stools. In the ?4th century, the Nave began to be seated with permanent benches, with vacant spaces in the West End. These were replaced by Pews of various shapes and sizes, and the right to which has often led to much illfeeling and litigation in many parishes, while the shameful deeds often done in those closed high boxes, during Divine Service, would shock Church-going people of the present day. Happily these old fashioned Pews are fast disappearing, and seats of an uniform pattern are pro¬ vided, free and open to all, where rich and poor may meet together on an equality to worship in God's House. In the Nave too is placed the Litany Desk or Faldstool where there is one and the Lectern from which the Lessons are read. These are sometimes made of wood, and sometimes of brass, iind exceedingly handsome as in Llangurig Church. RURIDECANAL CHAPTER. A meeting of the Chapter was held at Llangurig Vicarage on Wednesday, May 16th, when the follow¬ ing clergy were present.:— Revs. M. Jones, R D., K. Edwardes, Trefeglwys, T. E. Jones, Carno, E. (X Jones, Llanidloes, T. H Hughes, Llangurig, W. L. Richards, Penstrowed, J. Jones,, Llanwnog, W. D. Roberts, Llanidloes. After prayers had been said and the minutes read I. Timothy 1 v. 1 to 7 were read, followed by an interesting disenssion, It was decided to hold the Choral Festiral on Wednesday July 25th. The next meeting will be held at Llanwnog. W. DAVID ROBERTS, Chapter Clerk. SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Association was held in the Chnrch House, Llangurig, on Wednesday, May. 16th, when a considerable number of Sunday School Teachers and others were present, the Rural Dean presiding. After a short opening service, the minutes of the former meeting were read in the regrettable absence of the Secretary, Mr. J. Da vies, L. & P. Bank, by Mr. Roberts, Llanidloes, and passed. The Rural Dean introduced Mr. Forester-Addie of Welshpool, who delivered a most interesting address on Sunday School work, full of valuable suggestions whicli were much appreciated by the audience. The Rev. T H. Hughes, Vicar of the Parish. Mr. Jno. Davies, Parisli Clerk, Llanidloes, and Rey. E. O. Jones took part in the discussion which followed. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Forester-Addie "for his excellent address. Arrangements were made for catechising the Schools on the following dates, subject to the