Rails Of The Altar (late from the time of bishop Andrewes, who calls them "wainscot banisters," and Laud, who intended to preserve the altar from profanatiou by their use. They are, in fact, the cancelli moved eastward, resembling the medieval "reclinatorium," and answer to the primitive altar-veils and Greek "'iconostasis." At Leamington Priors, St. German's. and Wim. borne they are covered with a white linen cloth at the time of holy communion, a relic of the custom lor communicants to hold the houselling-cloth (dominicale, for the Lord's body) below their chin for the purpose of retaining upon it any portion of the sacrament which might fall during the administration. The custom was disused at the coronation of William IV. St. Augustine and Caesarius of Arles mention a linen cloth (lintearmen) used by women for the same purpose.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More