by this outward ceremony and gesture a due acknowledgment that
the Lord Jesus Christ, the true and eternal Son of God, is the only
Saviour of the world." This act of reverence is not restricted to the
Creeds, but the same honor is shown to the Holy Name at its mention
also in the _Gloria in excelsis_, and in hymns, in lessons, and in
sermons.

At the words, "And was incarnate," in the Nicene Creed, the head and
body are inclined (or the knee is bent) "to show humble and grateful
recognition of the stupendous mystery of the Incarnation," and at the
words "Worshiped and glorified," to signify belief in the divinity of
the Holy Ghost. The head is bowed also at the name of the Blessed
Trinity. This sign of reverence and honor is made at the _Gloria
Patri_, at "Holy, Holy, Holy" in the _Sanctus_ of the Communion Office,
at the same words in the _Te Deum_, and at the various forms of the
doxology, thus "recognizing the divine glory of each of the three
Persons, and in imitation of the angels, who veil their faces with
their wings when singing the glory of the Holy Trinity." Bowing {106}
at the _Gloria_ came into use about the year 325, as a protest against
the heresy which denied the divinity of our Lord.

The head is reverently bowed toward the Altar on coming in and going
out of the church or chancel, in accordance with what one of the canons
of the English Church says was "the most ancient custom of the
primitive Church in the purest times." It is an act of honor and
reverence for the house of God, and for the Altar as the place of such
holy associations as attach to it from the celebration there of the
Holy Eucharist.

_Turning to the East._--The practice of turning to the east, or to the
Altar, at the Creed and at every _Gloria_ (as a brief form of Creed)
"probably originated in an old custom at Baptism. The catechumen
turned his face toward the west in renouncing the devil and all his
works, and to the east in making profession of his Faith. The early
Christians were accustomed to turn to the east in their devotions, just
as the Jews turned their faces toward Jerusalem when they prayed."
Many churches, whenever it is possible, are built for this reason "east
and west," as was the ancient custom. When not so placed, the chancel
is considered to be constructively, if not in fact, "the east," and the
clergy and choir {107} turn toward the Altar. It is an act expressive
of faith in Christ "as the light of the wo