Lights, USE OF, IN PUBLIC WORSHIP,

Lights, USE OF, IN PUBLIC WORSHIP, a practice which prevailed in the Jewish (Exod. xxv. 31-39) and in most of the ancient religions, and which is retained both in the Roman and in the Oriental churches. The use of lights in the night-services, and in subterranean churches, such as those of the early Christians in the catacombs, is of course easily intelligible; but the practice, as bearing also a symbolical allusion to the 'Light of the World' and to the 'Light of Faith,' was not confined to occasions of necessity, but appears to have been from an early time an accompaniment of Christian worship, especially in connection with the sacraments of baptism and the eucharist. The time of the service in which lights are used has varied very much in different ages; but eventually it was extended to the entire time of the mass. In other services, also, lights have been used from an early period; e.g. lighted tapers were placed in the hand of the newly baptised, a usage still retained in the Roman Catholic Church. Two candles are de riveur at mass, and four at high mass; but the most profuse use of lights is reserved for Benediction, and other services connected with the Exposition of the Host. The usage of blessing the Paschal Light is described at HOLY WEEK. The material used for lights in churches is either oil or wax; the latter in penitential seasons, and in services for the dead, being of a yellow colour. An oil lamp always burns in a Roman Catholic church to indicate the presence of the Host in the tabernacle on the altar. In the Anglican Church candlesticks, and in some instances candles themselves, are retained in many churches, on the communion table, but in the majority of instances they are not lighted. The use of lights, except where required for giving light, has been declared illegal more than once since 1855. In the Presbyterian and Independent churches the symbolical use of lights is rejected as superstitious.