Religious Orders.--In the American Church there are many religious orders composed of men or women who have separated themselves from the world that they may devote themselves by associated effort more unreservedly to the Church's work. Some are bands of Priests, like the "Society of the Mission Priests of St. John Evangelist," or the "Order of the Holy Cross," this latter also including laymen; others are bands of laymen alone, such as the "Order of the Brothers of Nazareth"; and others are Sisterhoods, composed of women who have devoted themselves for life to the work of the Church, such as the "Sisters of St. Mary," "Sisters of St. Monica," etc. Members of the Sisterhoods do work in schools, hospitals, and among the wretched, the poor and neglected. These religious orders have proved to be very efficient aids in the Church's work in many parts of our land and are highly commended for the sacrifice they display and for the admirable methods of their work. Reproaches, The.--In the ancient observance of Good Friday there was used a service called "The Reproaches." This consisted of certain striking passages read from Micah 3:3 and 4, as well as other Scriptures, with the respond, "Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy upon us." {229} They are called "Reproaches" from the character of the first passage read, namely, "O my people what have I done unto thee, and wherein have I wearied thee? Answer me;" this being read also as a respond to the other passages. The Reproaches are now frequently used in many churches on Good Friday as a separate service and are very solemn and impressive. Reredos.--A carved or sculptured screen of wood or stone placed above and back of the Altar, The word is a compound of the old English _rere_, the same as "rear," and the French word _dos_, derived from the Latin _dorsum_, meaning "back." Responds.--In the old system of reading Holy Scripture in Divine Service, short selections from different books of the Bible were read successively, with short Anthems being sung after each, which were called "responds." This responsory system of reading Holy Scripture is still retained in its old form in the case of the Ten Commandments when read in the Communion service. One of the principal changes made in revising the Prayer-book in 1549 was the setting forth of longer Lessons with responsory canticles sung at the end only. Thus the respond to the First Morning Lesson is the Te Deum, and the respond to the Second Lesson is the Benedictus, etc. Responses.--The name given to the answers made by the people in the Church services as in the Versicles, the Litany, after the Ten Commandments, etc.