CANON. A name applied to part of the Roman Office of Mass, and it was also made use of in first Prayer Book of Edward VI. The name is given to the more solemn part of the Eucharistic Service, from just after the Preface till the final close. CANON OF SCRIPTURE, _see_ Bible. CANONICAL HOURS. At a very early date special hours of prayer were appointed by the church. In the Church of Rome the Canonical Hours begin with _vespers_, or evening prayer, about 6 o'clock, or sunset; next follows _compline_, a service at bedtime; at midnight the service of _nocturns_, or _matins_, was held; _lauds_, an early morning service of praise, was held at cock-crow. Then came the "Little Hours," _prime_ at 6 o'clock, _terce_ at 9, _sext_ at noon, and _nones_ at 3. CANTATE DOMINO. Psalm xcviii, used occasionally at Evening Prayer in place of the Magnificat. CANTICLES. Songs, especially also the Song of Solomon. The sacred songs appointed to be sung or said in the Order for Morning and Evening Prayer. These are the Venite, Te Deum, Benedicite, Benedictus, Jubilate, Magnificat, Cantate, Nunc Dimittis, and Deus Misereatur; each of which see. CASSOCK, _see_ Vestments. CATECHISM. From a word meaning to _instruct by word of mouth_. The insertion of this elementary exposition of Christian Faith and Practice into the Prayer Book is a feature of the Reformation. The Catechism, as drawn up in 1549, finished with the explanation of the Lord's Prayer. The explanation of the Sacraments was not added until 1604. Bishop Overall is believed to have written it. The Catechism formerly stood in the Confirmation Service, but was placed in its present position in 1661. The first rubric at the end of the Catechism has for a long time been rendered practically obsolete by the institution of Sunday Schools and Children's Services. CATHEDRAL. The chief church of every diocese is called the Cathedral, because in it is the _cathedra_, or _seat_, of the Bishop. Every Cathedral has a body of clergy belonging to it of various degrees of dignity. (See _Dean_, _Dean and Chapter_.) CATHOLIC. A Greek word, meaning _universal_ or _general_. The Holy Catholic Church is the visible Church of Christ throughout the world, of all ages, all whose branches have retained unbroken the Apostolical succession in the Ministry. There may be erring Branches of the True Church. Art. xix. declares, "As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred, so also the Church of Rome hath erred...." It is improper to speak of the _Roman_ Catholic Church simply by the name of Catholic; in England, members of the Church of England are _Catholics_. CEMETERY. _A sleeping place_. The beautiful name given to places of burial by Christians.