The American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia

by William James Miller

Spirit, Fruits of the.—In the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians St. Paul sets forth the Fruits of the Spirit as nine in number, viz: (1) Love, (2) Joy, (3) Peace, (4) Longsuffering, (5) Gentleness, (6) Goodness, (7) Faith, (8) Meekness, (9) Temperance. In this enumeration it will be found that the arrangement is threefold, corresponding to the three great aspects of life. For example, the first three, "Love, Joy, and Peace," have reference to the life of a Christian in his intercourse with God. The next four, "Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness and Faith," describe the qualities which should characterize the Christian in his bearing towards his fellow-men—(Faith, it is to be understood, in this enumeration means trust, belief in man, and not the Theological Virtue, which is regarded as a root rather than a fruit). In the remaining Fruits of the Spirit we have a description of the Christian Life in respect of self viz., "meekness and temperance"—"meekness," by which is meant a due estimate of the place which self ought to hold, and "Temperance," the rigorous determination to see to it that self is kept in place. It is interesting to note that the Fruits of the Spirit form the subject of one of the petitions in the Litany.

Spirit of Missions, The.—The official organ of {243} the American Church by which knowledge of her missionary work at home and abroad is made known. It is published monthly, is well edited and filled each month with very readable and valuable information which all should possess. The publication office is in the Church Missions House, 281 Fourth Ave., New York City. (See DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.)

Sponsors.—It would be difficult to say with any degree of certainty at what period the office of Sponsors was established, but it appeared in the very earliest ages of the Christian Church. It is supposed that persecution and the presence of heresy led to its institution. During the time of those early persecutions it stands to reason that the heads of the Church must have been aware of the probability of some at least of those who had been baptized of receding from their vows and thus sinning away their Baptismal grace. It was but natural that they should adopt every precaution to ascertain the character of those whom, by Baptism, they admitted to the Christian covenant. They required, therefore, that some of their own body answer for the real conversion of the presumed neophyte, and should also be SURETIES for the fulfilment of the promises then made. Then there were the probabilities during persecution that the parents might not outlive the violence of the times and be enabled to watch over the moral and religious education of their baptized children. The Church was anxious not to lose these lambs of the Flock, and so it was a wise and godly provision that there should be some one who, in default of their parents, surviving or {244} in case of their apostasy, might see to it that their godchildren were "brought up to lead a godly and a Christian life." The advantages arising from this ancient institution of Sponsors were so great that it has been continued throughout all ages of the Church. And even in this present time, if all Sponsors would fulfil their duties, many a child now lost to the Church, might have been saved to it and brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In the case of Baptism of Infants, the significance of Sponsors is very great, in that Baptism is a covenant, in which God on the one hand is represented by His Minister, and the child is represented by his Sponsors, who answer for him and agree to see to it that this child shall be virtuously brought up and so trained that it shall lead the rest of his life according to this beginning. The Sponsors are called Godfathers and Godmothers because of the spiritual affinity created in Baptism, their responsibility for the training of the child being almost parental. (See BAPTISM, HOLY; INFANT BAPTISM; also NAME, THE CHRISTIAN.)

Stalls.—Seats in the choir (i.e., chancel) for Clergy and
Choristers, commonly called Choir Stalls.

Standing Committee.—The general Canons of the American Church provide that in every Diocese there shall be a Standing Committee (usually composed of not less than three Clergymen and two laymen who shall be communicants) to be appointed by the Convention thereof, whose duties, except so far as provided for by the Canons of the General Convention, may be prescribed by the Canons of the respective Dioceses. In every Diocese where there is a Bishop the {245} Standing Committee acts as his Council of Advice. It recommends to him persons to be admitted to Holy Orders or as Candidates for Holy Orders, etc. As the representative of the Diocese, it gives its consent to the consecration of a Bishop elected by any other Diocese. When there is no Bishop, the Standing Committee becomes the ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese for all purposes declared in the Canons.

State of Salvation.—By Holy Baptism we are admitted into Christ's Church, His Kingdom of grace, which in the Church Catechism is declared to be a "State of Salvation," i.e., a Christian condition in which it is quite certain the salvation of God is within our reach and in which as we are responsive to all its overtures of grace we may grow into the likeness of God's dear Son. Our final salvation is dependent on our continuance in this state of Salvation by God's grace unto our life's end.

Stephen, Festival of Saint.—A Holy Day of the Church observed on December 26, in memory of St. Stephen the Proto-martyr, i.e., the first Christian martyr. The position of the three Holy Days after Christmas is remarkable. We have here brought into immediate nearness to the Birth of Christ the three kinds of members who are joined to Him by martyrdom, viz., those who are martyrs both in will and deed, as St. Stephen; those who are martyrs in will but not in deed, i.e., escaped with life as St. John; and lastly, those who are martyrs in deed, but had no wills of their own to sacrifice to God, as the Holy Innocents. The Festival of St. Stephen dates as far back as the Fourth Century. The reason for its institution is thus {246} given by an ancient writer, "Christ was born on earth that Stephen might be born in heaven." Nothing is known of St. Stephen before his selection for ordination as a Deacon, but in the 6th and 7th chapters of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles is given a very full account of his being made a Deacon; of his doing "great wonders and miracles among the people," because he was "full of faith and power"; of his accusation and eloquent defense, and finally of his martyrdom by stoning, in the midst of which, like his Divine Master, he prayed for his murderers. In ecclesiastical art, St. Stephen is represented as a Deacon holding stones in a napkin or in his robe or in his hand.

Stir Up Sunday.—A popular name given to the Sunday next before Advent, from the first two words with which the Collect for the Day begins, viz.: "Stir up, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the wills of Thy faithful people," etc. This Sunday is the end of the Christian Year, and consequently a time of review, gathering up the fragments that remain, that so with renewed strength and stronger purpose—stirred up wills, we may enter on the new year which begins on the following Sunday.

Stole.—A long band or scarf of silk worn by the Priest around the neck and hanging down in front to about the knees. It is one of the Altar vestments and should be worn when administering any Sacrament. The stole should be of the proper color of the Church Season and may be white, green, red, violet or black. It is intended to symbolize the ropes or bands with which our Lord was bound to the pillar when He was {247} scourged. It also signifies the yoke of patience which the Minister of Christ must bear as the servant of God. When worn by a Deacon, it is placed on the left shoulder and fastened under the right arm. (See VESTMENTS; also KISSING THE STOLE.)

Subdeacon.—In former times the name given to him who assisted the Celebrant at the Holy Communion was Deacon, and the name Subdeacon to one who waited on the Deacon as the Deacon waited on the Celebrant, and he was permitted to read the Epistle. In time, however, these attending clergy came to be called by names characteristic of the most conspicuous parts of their duties, viz.: the Gospeler and Epistoler.