This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1922. Not illustrated. Excerpt: … SECTION X Low Celebration [Any ceremonies not explained in this section must be sought for in the next, on
High or Solemn Celebration. ] 274. What do you mean by Low Celebration? I mean the administration of the Holy Communion without the adjuncts of assistant ministers and choir. It is wont to be thus administered in the early mornings and on weekdays. 275. Originally the Holy Eucharist, as the chief service of the Church, was invariably offered with the full ceremonial, as it still is in the Greek Church; but as the number of communicants increased it was found necessary to multiply celebrations; and the number of clergy being insufficient for the solemn performance of all, the custom arose of Low or simple celebrations, with the priest and a server. 276. Why is the priest attended by a server? Partly in honour of his office, partly to avoid the unseemly necessity of leaving the altar to take journeys backwards and forwards to the credence-table. 377. For the first of these reasons a bishop has two servers at a low celebration. 278. What are the duties of the server? I. To make the responses; in which sense he represents the choir, and thus as it were by his presence protests that it is only under stress of circumstances that the Church permits her highest act of worship to be solemnized without the aid of music. 2. To minister to the priest. This he does by bringing the bread and wine from the credence; by collecting or receiving the alms; by holding up the edge of the chasuble when the priest kneels; and by bringing the wine and water for the ablutions. In these functions he represents the ministers, i.e. the deacon, subdeacon, and acolytes, at a High Celebration. He also assists the priest to vest and unvest in the vestry. 279. How is the…