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art St. Philip is variously represented; with a basket in his hand;
with two loaves and a cross; with a tall cross and book, etc. For
notice of St. James see article on James (St.) the Less.

Piscina.--A stone basin with a drain pipe to carry off water used in
the ablutions of the sacred vessels at the celebration of the Holy
Eucharist.

Plain Song.--The name given to the ancient music with which
the Church service was rendered. Thus Blunt in the Annotated
Prayer-book, speaking of Church music says, "In the remodeling of
our English services, the great aim was not to discard, but to
utilize the ancient plain song, to adapt it to the translated
offices, to restore it to something more of its primitive
'plainness,' to rid it of its modern corruptions, its wearisome
ornaments and flourishes so that the Priest's part, on the one hand,
might be intelligible and distinct, not veiled in a dense cloud
of unmeaning notes, and the people's part made so easy and
straightforward as to render their restored participation in the
public worship of the Sanctuary at once practicable and pleasurable."

Post Communion.--The name given to that portion of the Communion
Office which is read after all have communicated, and is the giving
of thanks for the grace received.

Postulant.--The canonical name for one who {214} desires to become a
Candidate for Holy Orders and whose name is entered by the Bishop
upon the list of Postulants, as required by Canon 2, Title I of the
Digest. A Postulant having been duly received may afterwards be
recommended by the Standing Committee of the Diocese, to the Bishop
for admission as a Candidate for Holy Orders.

Postures in Public Worship.--The principles involved in the postures
to be taken in Public Worship are set forth in the article on
KNEELING (which see). While to the stranger in the Church the
various postures taken in the services seem complicated, yet the
rule for them is very simple, which is this: We stand in praise,
kneel in prayer and are seated during the hearing of the Word.

Prayer.--Prayer has been defined as the soul's converse with God,
or communion with God in devotional exercises, and may be said to
be a universally recognized necessity in the life of man. But prayer
involves much more than simply asking for certain things, which
seems to be the common conception of this duty. Properly speaking,
prayer consists of five parts, as follows:

1. Adoration \
2. Thanksgivi