illegal. Notice
of the meeting must be affixed on or near the door of the Church
three days previously. The Incumbent is _ex-officio_ chairman of the
meeting, and all persons rated to the relief of the poor are
entitled to attend and vote.

VIA MEDIA. The middle road. This position is occupied in the
Christian world by the Anglican Church. On the one side there is
the Church of Rome; on the other, the ultra-Protestant Sects. The
phrase is also used of any middle way between two extremes.

VIATICUM. A provision made for a journey. In the ancient Church both
baptism and the Eucharist were called _Viatica_, because they are
equally necessary for the safe passage of a man through this world
to eternal life. More particularly, however, the term is used of the
Eucharist given to persons in immediate danger of death. The 13th
Canon of the Council of Nice ordains that none "be deprived of his
perfect and most necessary _viaticum_ when he departs out of this
life."

VICAR, _see_ Rector.

VICARS CHORAL. The assistants or deputies of the canons or
prebendaries of cathedrals and collegiate churches, in the
discharges of their duties. They are not necessarily all in Holy
Orders; those who are so are now generally called "Minor Canons,"
(which see) and the others are "Lay-clerks."

VICAR GENERAL. An officer whose duties are much the same as those of
the Chancellor of a Diocese (which see.)

VIGIL. The night or evening before certain holy-days of the Church.
The word means a _watching_, and is derived from the custom of the
primitive Christians, who used to spend the whole night previous to
any great festival in watching and fasting. The Collect for those
holy-days which have vigils is read at the Evening Service of the
day before. Festivals occurring in seasons of joy as a rule have
no vigil preceding them.

VIRGIN MARY, _see_ Mary.

VISITATION. Once in three years a Bishop goes through his diocese,
calling together the Clergy at different centres, and delivering to
them a _charge_, (which see.) An Archdeacon does the same for his
Archdeaconry once a year. It is at this latter visitation that
Church-wardens are admitted to their office.

VISITATION OF THE SICK, _see_ Sick.

VOLUNTARY. A piece of Music played on the organ at the beginning and
close of Divine Service. Formerly a Voluntary was played after the
Psalms, sometimes after the Second Lesson. The name implies that its
performance is optional. Lord Bacon approved