e Gospel. The last
should be announced to the people, turning the face towards them.
Custom has also established, from the days at least of St.
Chrysostom, the practice of ending the sermon with an ascription
of praise, which may properly be pronounced turning to the East.

101. Then shall the Priest return to the Lord's Table, and begin
the Offertory, saying one or more of these Sentences following, as
he thinketh most convenient in his discretion.

The words 'Return to the Lord's Table' point to the Priest having
left the table, either for the purpose of preaching, or to take
his seat in the sedilia.

In the impoverished condition of the churches at the time of the
last revision, it was well to be content that one or more of the
sentences should be said by the Priest, not sung by a choir. But
now that clerks and choirs have been restored to many churches, it
seems reasonable that the sentences may be sung as of old, and as
was prescribed in the Prayer-Book of 1549: "Where there be clerks,
they shall sing one or many of the sentences above written,
according to the length and shortness of the time that the people
be offering."

102. Whilst these Sentences are in reading, the Deacons,
Church-wardens, or other fit person appointed for that purpose,
shall receive the Alms for the Poor, and other devotions of the
people, in a decent bason to be provided by the Parish for that
purpose; and reverently bring it to the Priest, who shall humbly
present and place it upon the holy Table.

The rubric mentions but one bason, to which originally the people
brought their alms, instead of putting them into the poor man's
box. This one bason is wholly inefficient for making a collection
by several persons, and from a large congregation; and therefore
is to be used for receiving alms collected in other receptacles.
It is seemly that these should be formally given out to the persons
by whom the collection is to be made, and afterwards received from
them in the 'decent bason' by the 'deacon, churchwarden, or other
fit person appointed for that purpose, who 'shall reverently bring
it to the Priest.'

The words 'humbly present' obviously indicate some action beyond
the mere placing on the Table, but do not mean a kneeling posture;
for neither here nor in any other part of the Service should the
Priest kneel, unless when ordered to do so.

103. And when there is a Communion, the Priest shall then place
upon the Table so much Bread