Chapter I: R. R

_Separation of the Sexes in Church._--It was the custom a few years ago (and I have every reason {567} to believe it to be so at present), for the men to sit on one side of the aisle, and the women on the other, in the church of Grange, near Armagh, in the north of Ireland. No one remembered the introduction of the custom.

ABHBA.

_Standing while the Lord's Prayer is read_ (Vol. ix., pp. 127. 257.).--The congregation of the English Episcopal Chapel at Dundee stood during the reading of the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Song of the Angels at the birth of Christ, when these occur in the order of morning lessons. This congregation joined that of the Scottish Episcopalians several years ago, and whether the practice is continued in the present congregation I cannot say.

In St. Paul's Chapel, Edinburgh, York Place, the congregation stand at the reading of the Ten Commandments in the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy, and they chant "Glory be to thee, O God," on the giving out of the Gospel, and "Thanks be to thee, O God," &c., after the reading of it. In the Communion they sit during the reading of the Exhortation, "Dearly Beloved in the Lord;" and it is but very lately that they have stood when repeating "Glory be to God on high," &c., in the Post Communion.

HENRY STEPHENS.

In Durham Cathedral, on Sept. 5, 1850, at the Anniversary of the Sons of the Clergy, the congregation rose simultaneously on the occurrence of the Lord's Prayer in the lesson. I remember also that the same custom was observed at Trinity Church, Chelsea, during the incumbency of the Rev. Henry Blunt. Where the Bidding Prayer enjoined by the 55th Canon is used (that, by-the-way, being the only authorised pulpit prayer), it is usual I believe for the people to stand during the Lord's Prayer; the preacher then teaching us to pray as our Lord taught His disciples. The short doxology at the end of the Gospel, to which MR. ELLACOMBE refers at p. 257., is common in the north of England.

E. H. A.

This custom prevails generally in the Episcopalian churches in Scotland; and our congregations also stand up while the Commandments are read in course of the lessons. We have also the practice of singing, after the Gospel: "Thanks be to thee, O Lord, for this thy Holy Gospel!"

BALIVUS.

Edinburgh.

This is the practice on the reading of this prayer in the second lesson at the parish church of Edgbaston, near Birmingham. It is probably a remanet of the ancient practice in the Church, not only to stand up during the reading of the Gospel, but throughout the whole service, as symbolic of the resurrection of Christ--the Lord's Day; which still exists in the Greek Church, and may be witnessed any Sunday in London, on visiting the recent edifice in London Wall.

T. J. BUCKTON.

Birmingham.

The custom is observed in St. Thomas' Church.

W. HAZEL.

Portsmouth.

At Exeter Cathedral the people _kneel_ whenever the Lord's Prayer is read in the lesson.

J. W. HEWETT.

_Tolling the Bell on leaving Church_ (Vol. ix., pp. 125. 311, 312.).--In this parish a bell is always rung on the conclusion of the morning service, to give notice that a sermon will be given at the evening service. This bell, which a very respectable old man, who was parish clerk here for fifty-four years, called the "sermon bell," is never tolled unless there is a second service. If at any time the morning service is not performed, the bell is tolled at twelve o'clock at noon to inform the parishioners that an evening service will take place. A bell is also rung at eight and nine o'clock on Sunday, or any other morning when morning prayer is said.

The custom of ringing the church bell on Shrove Tuesday, as mentioned by NEWBURIENSIS (Vol. ix., p. 324.), is observed here too, and is generally called "the pancake bell."