BIBLE CHRISTIANS. Sometimes called Bryanites. They are the followers of a Mr. William O'Bryan, a Wesleyan local preacher in Cornwall, who, in 1815, separated from the Wesleyans, and began himself to form societies upon the Methodist plan. In doctrine they do not appear to differ from the various bodies of Arminian Methodists. The forms of public worship are of the same simple character. But in the administration of the Lord's Supper "it is usual to receive the elements in a sitting posture, as it is believed that that practice is more comformable to the posture of body in which it was first received by Christ's Apostles, than kneeling; but persons are at liberty to kneel, if it be more suitable to their views and feelings to do so." Members of this sect are nearly all Cornish people. _Ministers_. _Lay Preachers_. _Members_. 173. 1,442. 24,238. _On_ _Sunday_ _Probation_. _Chapels_. _Scholars_. 822. 574. 37.361. BIDDING PRAYER. The Prayer before the Sermon. Before the Reformation it was called the _Bidding of the beads_. The people were bid to pray for certain objects as the preacher successively named them. The canonical form of the present prayer is given in the 55th Canon. The ordinary practice of using a collect is now sanctioned by custom. An extempore prayer, however, from the preacher is quite unauthorized. At the University sermons, and also on occasions of more than usual solemnity, the Bidding Prayer is always used. In Borough towns it is appropriately repeated on the Sunday next after November 9th, when the Mayor is elected. BIER. The carriage on which the coffin is carried to the grave. BISHOP, _see_ Orders. BOUNTY, QUEEN ANNE'S. Before the Reformation, the _Annates_ or _First-fruits_, being the profits for one year of every vacant benefice, were paid to the Pope. In Henry VIII.'s reign they were paid to him instead. Queen Anne, however, instead of receiving them for her own use, established a fund for the benefit of the poor clergy. This fund has since been called Queen Anne's Bounty. Money was granted to it also by Parliament, and many generous individuals increased the sum. BOWING AT THE NAME OF JESUS. This pious custom is ordered by the 18th Canon of our Church, in supposed accordance with the idea of the Apostle in Phil. ii.9. In many churches the custom is now observed by bowing at the Sacred Name in the Creed only; but the Canon orders "due and lowly reverence to be done" whenever the "Name of the Lord Jesus is mentioned in the time of Divine Service." BOWING TOWARDS THE ALTAR. This reverent custom is still practised in many of the Royal Chapels, and in some churches and Cathedrals, _e.g._, in Christ Church, Oxford, in many village churches where the custom, once universal, has not died out, and it survives in some College Chapels.