Glossary of Terms
Low, Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon
(Oct. 31, 1860-Jan. 18, 1927). Founder of the Girl Scouts. She was born in Savannah, Georgia. Low was educated at Stuart Hall and Edge Hill in Virginia, and at the Mesdemoiselles Charbonnier's in New York City. She was a lifelong member of Christ Church, Savannah. In 1911 Low met the founder of the Boy Scouts, […]
Lower Criticism
This method of scriptural analysis, most often called text criticism, focuses on the Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic text of a particular portion of scripture. It works from the conclusion that we do not have any original copies of any scriptural material. When one manuscript is not exactly the same as another, it is necessary to […]
Lowrie, Walter
(Apr. 26, 1868-Aug. 12, 1959). Kierkegaardian theologian and translator. He was born in Philadelphia. Lowrie received his B.A. in 1890, and his M.A. in 1893, both from Princeton University. He studied in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland in 1893-1894. Upon his return home he joined the Episcopal Church. Lowrie was ordained deacon on June 9, 1895, […]
Loyalists
“Toryism” in the American colonies at the time of the American Revolution was virtually synonymous with “Loyalism.” The term described those who were critical of colonial resistance to British imperial authority and remained loyal to the Crown. Evidences of such “loyalty” appeared tentatively in the pre-Revolutionary crises. After the Revolution, the term embraced those who […]
Loyalty Oath to the English Sovereign
Beginning in 1549, a person ordained in the Church of England was required to swear an Oath of Loyalty to the sovereign. In the liturgy for ordaining deacons, the ordinand had to say: “I, A. B., utterly testify and declare in my conscience, That the King’s Highness is the only Supream Governour of this Realm, […]
Lucernaria, Lucernarium
Lucernarium is the singular form and Lucernaria the plural of the Latin word for “light.” In the BOS and The Hymnal 1982 (S 305-S 320 in the Accompaniment Edition, Vol. 1), the term is used for the optional anthems which may be sung during the lighting of candles in the Order of Worship for the […]
Luke the Evangelist, Saint
(St. Luke was a Gentile, and the traditional author of the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He was a physician and is identified with the church's ministry of healing. In Col 4:14, he is described as “the beloved physician.” Many Episcopal hospitals have the name of St. Luke because he […]
Luna
A holder for the consecrated host in a monstrance, typically used for the service of Benediction. It is also known as a lunette. The luna fits into the back of the monstrance and holds the host in an upright and visible position. The host is seen through the transparent glass, but it does not touch […]
Lund Principle
An ecumenical principle set forth by the 1952 Faith and Order Conference of the World Council of Churches held at Lund, Sweden, and officially endorsed by Lambeth in 1968. This ecumenical principle was given specific shape for the Episcopal Church by the 1976 General Convention: “that the Episcopal Church at every level of its life […]
Lunette
See Luna.
Lustral Water
See Holy Water.
Lustration
This purificatory rite or sacrifice may involve the ceremonial cleansing of a person, a house, a city, an army, or a whole people. The BOS provides a form for the Restoring of Things Profaned.
Luther, Martin
(Nov. 10, 1483-Feb. 18, 1546). Founder of the sixteenth-century Reformation in Germany. He was born in Eisleben, Thuringia, Germany. Luther was baptized on Nov. 11, 1483, the Feast of St. Martin of Tours, and named after the saint. He received his M.A. in Feb. 1505 from the University of Erfurt. On July 17, 1505, he […]
Lux Mundi
A volume of theological essays edited by Charles Gore, principal of Pusey House, Oxford. It was published in 1889 in England. The collection was subtitled A Series of Studies in the Religion of the Incarnation, and it sought to interpret the doctrinal tradition of the church so that Christians could affirm new developments in scientific […]
LXX
See Septuagint.
Lych-Gate
A covered gateway to a church yard or church property where a coffin containing a corpse is set down prior to burial to await the assembly of the mourners, the pall bearers, and the officiating minister. The formation of the funeral procession and the funeral service will follow this gathering at the lych-gate. The term […]
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.