his act may bring a
blessing to the person baptized. His act cannot be undone, but it
ought not to have been done.

Layman.--One of the LAITY (which see).

Lay-Reader.--A layman who reads the Church service in the absence
of the Priest. Usually he is licensed to do so by the Bishop of the
Diocese. The American Church has a canon on the subject, setting
forth the method of appointment and regulating his work, from which
it is learned that the lay-reader is very much limited in the
service he renders being permitted to use only those portions of
the service which do not belong properly to the Ministry. When the
Priest is present a laymen may read the Lessons in the Daily Morning
and Evening Prayer, and also the Litany as far as the Lord's Prayer.

Laying on of Hands.--The ceremony by which one is ordained to the
Sacred Ministry by the Bishop, and by which he administers the Rite
of Confirmation, (See IMPOSITION OF HANDS.) {166}

Lectern.--The desk or stand from which the Scriptural Lessons in
Church are read, and is so called from this fact. The term "lectern"
is derived from the Latin word _lecturni_, meaning a pulpit or from
the Greek _lektron_, a couch or rest for a book. Lecterns as used
in our churches are sometimes constructed of wood or stone,
but frequently of polished brass, in the form of an eagle with
outstretched wings, (on which the Bible rests) to symbolize the
flight of the Gospel message throughout the world.

Lectionary.--The Tables to be found in the Prayer Book setting forth
the portions of Scripture to be read daily in Public Worship
throughout the year, also the Proper Lessons for Sundays and the
Holy Days of the Church. The word is derived from the Latin _lectus_,
from _lego_, to gather, to read. From this origin we have the word
_lection_, meaning a reading or lesson read; he who reads was called
_lector_, a name given to one of the minor orders in the ancient
Church. _The Lectionary_ as found in the Prayer Book contains most
ample provision for the reading of God's Holy Word. By this
appointment the Old Testament is read once during the year, and
some portions of it more frequently. The New Testament is read
three times, while the Book of Psalms is read twelve times or once
a month. No other religious body makes so large provision for the
public reading of the Scriptures, and the Episcopal Church has been
appropriately called a "Bible Reading Church." The Lectionary as it
now stands was set