THE OAK. 33 



tinued since his time by the different clergy. The 

 minister of each parish, accompanied by his church- 

 wardens and parishioners, going round the bounds 

 and limits of his parish in Rogation Week, or on one 

 of the three days before Holy Thursday, (the feast 

 of our Lord's Ascension,) and stopping at remarkable 

 spots and trees, to recite passages from the Gospels, 

 and implore the blessing of the Almighty on the fruits 

 of the earth, and for the preservation of the rights and 

 properties of the parish. The learned and excellent 

 Andrews, Bishop of Winchester, left a fine model of 

 prayer for these occasions ; and it must have been a 

 soothing sight to witness the devotional feelings of 

 the multitude, thus called forth in the simplicity of 

 patriarchal worship in the open air, and surrounded 

 by the works of God. 



Maluit umbrosam quercum : 



and it would be difficult to select a more fit object 

 than the broad oak to mark their resting place, and 

 to serve as an altar beside which to offer up their 

 prayers ; as in times of yore the worshippers of God 

 were wont to do, in their solemn groves, before 

 temples made by hands were built to Him, and the 

 place of His holy tabernacle fixed by His own divine 

 revelation. 



Many of these Gospel trees are to be found in 

 different parts of the country ; about Wolverhampton 

 in particular, the boundaries and township of the 

 parish are marked by them, and they are preserved 



