n."
And so, again, we pray in the Litany, "That it may please Thee to give
to all Thy people increase of grace to hear meekly Thy Word, and to
receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the
Spirit." This is the way the Church teaches us to think and to pray
concerning our duty and privilege in reference to the instruction and
exhortation which divine love sends to us from the pulpit.

The pulpit stands, then, for something God's love does for us: "Preach
the gospel." It stands also for something God's love demands from us:
"Take heed how ye hear."

_The Choir- and Clergy-Stalls._--It will be observed that the stalls
for the clergy and choristers are generally placed on the two sides of
the choir and face each other. The south side is called the {48}
"decani side" and the north the "cantoris side," as being, in
cathedrals, the respective sides of the dean and the cantor (or
precentor).

By this arrangement proper provision is made for the clergy as leaders
of the worship of the congregation and for the choir as leaders of its
praise in song. The singing in our churches is intended to be "common
praise," and this arrangement of the choristers marks their office as
simply to lead it. They do not sing _to_ the congregation; they sing
_with_ or _for_ them _to_ Almighty God. The people should sing with
them, and not listen merely, as if attending a concert. Even when, as
in a _Te Deum_ or anthem, the music is too difficult for the
congregation to join in it, the singers are still rendering to God the
praises of all present, and all should take part in it in thought and
in heart.

Because of this ministry as leaders of praise the choir are vested.
Their vestments are the cassock and the cotta--a modification of the
surplice worn by the clergy.

Of the _Litany-desk_ we have already learned in the section in
reference to the nave.

_The Bishop's Chair._--In many churches there is found a "Bishop's
Chair." It has been felt as proper, in view of the dignity of the
office of the {49} Bishop, to provide a special seat for him, and to
have it occupied by no one else. In parish churches it is placed
within the sanctuary at the north or "gospel" side of the Altar, facing
the people. In cathedrals it is called a "Throne," and its place is
just without the rail on the decani side of the choir, facing like the
choir-stalls.

Wherever placed, it is a reminder of the highest order in the Christian