Historical Notes 



23 



made of sedge and rushes, " the which manie i:i the 

 countrie doe use m somer-tyme to strewe their parlors 

 or Chirches, as well for coolness as for pleasaunt 

 smell." The species preferred was, doubtless, the 

 Calamus aromaticiis or Acorus calamus, which when 

 bruised gives forth an odour somewhat resembling 

 that of the myrtle. The sweet cane, and the Calamus 

 mentioned in Scripture (Jer. vi. 20, and Exod. xxx. 

 23), are probably the same as the Calainis a7'o- 

 maticus. Inferior kinds were also used for the same 

 purpose, when the sweet-scented rush was not to be 

 obtained. 



The custom of decorating the Church with flowers 

 and boughs is ancient and laudable ; and probably 

 based upon the words of Isaiah (Ix. 13), "The glory 

 of Lebanon shall come unto thee ; the fir tree, the 

 pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place 

 of My sanctuary and S. Paul says, that " every 

 creature of God is good^" AVhatever there is most 



2 I Tim. iv. 4. 



