5,250,000
Lutherans, etc 2,800,000
Unitarians 2,600,000
Minor religious sects 5,500,000
Of no particular religion 17,000,000
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English-speaking population 124,130,000
Anglo Catholic--The Historic or Catholic Church exists to-day in
three main branches or Communions, viz.: The Eastern or Greek Church,
the Roman Church, and the Anglican. The term "Anglo Catholic" is
used to describe the Historic Church of the {22} English-speaking
people as being Catholic and Apostolic, and as having an unquestioned
descent from the Church founded by Christ and His Apostles. (See
ANGLICAN CHURCH; ANGLICAN COMMUNION, and also AMERICAN CHURCH).
Anointing the Sick.--The anointing of the sick with oil as
recommended in St. James 5:14 and 15, has generally prevailed in
the Universal Church and came to be called "Extreme Unction." There
was an office for its use in the Prayer Book of 1549, but it was
omitted in subsequent revisions because its use in most parts of
the Church had become mechanical and confined to dying persons. The
rite has been restored in some places on the authority of individual
Bishops as a Scriptural practice. A Scottish Bishop calls it "the
lost pleiad of the Anglican firmament," and says, "one must at once
confess and deplore that a distinctly Scriptural practice has ceased
to be commanded in the Church of England, for no one can doubt that
a sacramental use of anointing the sick has been from the beginning."
Annunciation, The.--A Feast of the Church held on March 25th, to
commemorate the visit of the Angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin
Mary, to announce to her the Incarnation of the Son of God, his
message to her being, "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor
with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring
forth a Son, and shall call His Name Jesus." The Feast of the
Annunciation has been observed from the very earliest times, sermons
being still extant which were preached on this day as early as A.D.
446. It is still observed with great {23} solemnity; Proper Psalms
are appointed, being the 89th, 131st, 132d, and 138th, also Proper
Lessons, as well as Collect, Epistle and Gospel. The Church color
for Altar and other hangings is white. It is to be noted that the
Feast of the Annunciation is placed among the DAYS OF OBLIGATION
(w
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