to bury the dead, that, if he have done well, he may go forthwith into blessedness; if evil, unto hell-fire." No signs of excessive grief, no tears, nor lamentations are allowed, as it is the duty of a good Mussulman to acquiesce without a murmur in the will of God. On arrival at the burial place, the body is committed to the earth, with the face turned towards Mecca.

In Turkey deceased persons are buried naked. A procession is formed, and the deceased is carried to his grave, with solemn ceremony. The Turkish burying-grounds are shaded with cypress trees, and neatly kept it is common to see females in them placing flowers around the graves. A turban, rudely carved on a stone, is placed over the grave of a male, and a vase over that of a female. On the tombs of unmarried females, instead of a vase, is a rose.

IV. CHRISTIANITY.

It is doubtless the tendency of the Bible, especially of the New Testament, the acknowledged foundation of Christianity, to unite all who enjoy the study of it in one faith, and one practice. But owing in part to a real or supposed ambiguity of certain passages, and the consequent various interpretations of commentators-but more, perhaps, to the pride, ambition, and selfishness of the human heart, the professed Christian world is now, and has long been divided, into a multiplicity of sects. Between some of these, the differences both as to doctrine and practice are few and comparatively unimportant. Between others, they are many and apparently radical.

It is not the object of these pages to enter into any discussion as to modes of faith or practice; or to attempt any thing by way of praise or censure upon different denominations of Christians. Our aim is briefly to exhibit some of the peculiarities of different sects, especially of those which may be supposed to be less understood by the common reader; and to this partial survey of an extended field our prescribed limits imperiously oblige us to submit.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

1. ELECTION OF A NEW POPE.-The election of a new pope is always attended with much ceremony. The duty devolves upon the cardinals, who are seventy in number, when the sacred college, as it is called, is complete. They reside in different countries; but, on the demise of the incumbent of the papal chair, they are assembled at Rome, for the purpose of a new election. A place called the Conclave is fitted up in the Vatican palace, where the important service is to be performed. A number of cells or chambers, equal to the number of cardinals, are formed, with a small distance between every two, and a broad gallery before them. A number is put on every cell, and small papers, with corresponding numbers, are put into a box: every cardinal, or some one for him, draws out one of these papers, which determines in what cell he is to lodge. The cells are lined with cloth; and there is a part of each one separated for the conclavists, or attendants, of whom two are allowed

!

to each cardinal, and three to cardinal princes. They are persons of some rank, and generally of great confidence; but they must carry in their master's meals, serve him at table, and perform all the offices of a menial servant. Two physicians, two surgeons, an apothecary, and some other necessary officers, are chosen for the conclave by the cardinals.

On the tenth day after the pope's death, the cardinals who are then at Rome, and in a competent state of health, meet in the chapel of St. Peter's, which is called the Gregorian chapel, where a sermon on the choice of a pope is preached to them, and mass is said for invoking the grace of the Holy Ghost. Then the cardinals proceed to the conclave in procession, two by two, and take up their abode. When all is properly settled, the conclave is shut up, having boxed wheels, or places of communication, in convenient quarters; there are, also, strong guards placed all around. When any foreign cardinal arrives after the inclosure, the conclave is opened for his admission. In the beginning, every cardinal signs a paper, containing an obligation, that, if he shall be raised to the papal chair, he will not alienate any part of the pontifical dominion; that he will not be prodigal to his relations; and any other such stipulations as may have been settled in former times, or framed for that occasion.

We now come to the election itself; and, that this may be effectual, two thirds of the cardinals present must vote for the same person. As this is often not easily obtained, they sometimes remain whole months in the conclave. They meet in the chapel twice every day for giving their votes; and the election may be effectuated by scrutiny, accession, or acclamation. Scrutiny is the ordinary method, and consists in this : every cardinal writes his own name on the inner part of a piece of paper, and this is folded up and sealed; on a second fold of the same paper a conclavist writes the name of the person for whom his master votes. This, according to agreements observed for some centuries, must te one of the sacred college. On the outer side of the paper is written a sentence at random, which the voter must well remember. Every cardinal, on entering into the chapel, goes to the altar, and puts his paper into a large chalice.

When all are convened, two cardinals number the votes; and if there be more or less than the number of cardinals present, the voting must be repeated. When this is not the case, the cardinal appointed for the purpose, reads the outer sentence, and the name of the cardinal under it ; so that each voter, hearing his own sentence and the name joined with it, knows that there is no mistake. The names of all the cardinals that are voted for are taken down in writing, with the number of votes for each; and when it appears that any one has two thirds of the number present in his favor, the election is over; but when this does not happen, the voting papers are all immediately burnt without opening up the inner part. When several trials of coming to a conclusion, by this method of scrutiny, have been made in vain, recourse is sometimes had to what is called accession. By it, when a cardinal perceives that when one or very few votes are wanting to any one for whom he has not voted at that time, he may say that he accedes to the one who has near the number

of votes requisite; and if his one vote suffices to make up the two thirds, or if he is followed by a sufficient number of acceders, or new voters, for the said cardinal, the election is accomplished. Lastly, a pope is sometimes elected by acclamation; and that is, when a cardinal, being pretty sure that he will be joined by a number sufficient, cries out in the open chapel, that such an one shall be pope. If he is properly supported, the election becomes unanimous; those who would, perhaps, oppose it, foreseeing that their opposition would be fruitless, and rather hurtful to themselves. When a pope is chosen in any of the three above-mentioned ways, the election is immediately announced from the balcony in the front of St. Peters, homage is paid to the new pontiff, and couriers are sent off with the news to all parts of Christendom. The pope appoints a day for his coronation at St. Peter's, and for his taking possession of the patriarchal church of St. John Lateran; all which is performed with great solemnity. He is addressed by the expression of holiness and most holy father."*

BAPTISM. The public baptism of infants, by dipping, or pouring, in the Roman Catholic Church, is conducted in the following manner. The company, with the child, wait without the church door. The priest, having previously prepared, by due consecration, water, and all the other materials to be used in the ceremony, goes to the door and inquires, who is there? The godfather in the name of the child, answers Stephen such an one. The priest asks, what he wants? the godfather tells him, to be admitted into the church. The priest demands, what end he proposes in coming into the church? He is answered, to obtain salvation. Then the priest exorcises the infant, and the devil is solemnly adjured to depart, and never to return. Next, he puts salt into the mouth of the infant; signs him with the sign of the cross on several parts of his body; and with spittle on his finger touches his nostrils and his ears, pronouncing at each part, sentences, prayers, and benedictions. All this is performed in the porch. Then the priest gives the godfather hold of the bottom of his surplice, and turning him about introduces him in that manner into the church, saying as he walks, "Enter into the church of God, that you may partake of eternal life with Christ." At the font, the godfather renounces Satan, professes his belief of the articles of the creed; and on being asked whether he desires to be baptized, answers he does desire it. Then the priest takes the child, if he dips him, and immerses him once in the font, pronouncing the baptismal words. If he pours water on his head, the godfather holds the babe bareheaded over the font, and the priest pours on the water. Rituals differ: but an old ritual of Venice seems to speak the general sense, when it says; "Let the priest baptize him in the name of the Holy Trinity by trine immersion; or according to the custom of the country or place, let him pour water on the head." Then the priest anoints him with chrism, and in some places puts on him a white garment, and gives a lighted wax taper into the hand of the godfather, who all along is considered

* Buck's Theological Dictionary, vol. ii.