CHURCH PHRASES. 345 



every head is bowed down. I have frequently thought that 

 here we have just the Oremus of the early church deacons, as 

 they called upon the congregation to join in the prayers about 

 to be offered. Then, again, as soon as the benediction is pro- 

 nounced, our native officials are equally forward in calling to 

 the people, Mirava ! (" Break up !" or "Disperse !"), which is 

 very much the Malagasy form of the words, Ite, missa est, of 

 the deacons in early times, when the morning prayer was 

 ended, and the catechumens were bidden to retire before the 

 celebration of the Holy Supper. 



It may be also noted here that in Madagascar the Lord's 

 Supper is commonly called ny Famakia-mdfo, an exact equi- 

 valent of the apostolic church phrase, " the breaking of 

 bread" (Acts ii. 42, 46 ; xxi. 7); and the man who presides, 

 ny Mpamaky mbfo (" the breaker of bread ") ; although the 

 sacrament is also as frequently called ny Fandraisana (" the 

 taking," i.e., of bread and wine), and the communicants, ny 

 Mpandray ("the takers," or receivers, of the ordinance). 

 Further still, as names are always worthy of notice, it is a 

 significant fact that the Christian religion has, from a very 

 early period after its introduction into Madagascar, been known 

 all over the island as Ny Fivavaliana, i.e., " the praying." 



It is evident from the New Testament that from the 

 very earliest times there was something of a responsive 

 element in the public worship of the Church, an element 

 doubtless retained from the Jewish practice (see ISTeh. viii. 6 ; 

 v. 13); for the Apostle Paul reproved the praying in an un- 

 known tongue, from the inability of the congregation to 

 intelligently respond to such prayers by saying the " Amen " 

 at the thanksgiving ( 1 Cor. xiv. 1 6). In our Malagasy con- 

 gregational worship this audible response is also usual, although 

 much less general now than it was formerly, when a loud and 

 universal " Amen " used to show the assent of the worshippers 

 to the prayers offered. 



Eeaders of ecclesiastical history will remember that in the 

 days of the " golden-mouthed " preacher and bishop, John 

 Chrysostom, his congregation showed their approval of his 

 eloquent periods by vociferous applause, a practice which he 

 frequently sternly reproved. Our Malagasy hearers are accus- 



