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A Key to the Calendar: Archbishop

Low Sunday is so called because it was the custom to celebrate the Sunday next after

Easter as a feast of the same kind, but somewhat lower in degree. 19. St. Alphege was stoned to death on the spot where a church is built and dedicated to his memory at Greenwich. He was an Englishman of noble family, and was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1006. In 1012 the Danes invaded and ravaged Canterbury, took the good Archbishop prisoner, and after seven months'

imprisonment, finding that he would not pay the heavy ransom which was demanded, they took away his life. 23. St. George. The history of this redoubtable warrior-saint will not bear too close an examination. He is the patron saint of England, and has ever been held in great honor; his deeds are fully recorded in the "Veritable History of the Seven

Champions of Christendom." The Church of Rome commemorates one who should have been the patron saint of England instead of St. George-St. Joseph of Arimathea. The "Episcopal Almanac" for 1764 thus describes "the British Apostle":"St. Joseph of Arimathea, who entertained the body of Christ into his tomb and His doctrine into his heart, was a ruler amongst the Jews, who for his faith so hated him that, as reported, he was banished his country, and came over into Britain in the time of King Arviragus, with eleven others, his associates, where they found such entertainment that, thongh the king himself would not be persuaded from his idolatry by their preaching, yet he allowed them twelve hides of ground in a desolate island full of fens and brambles, called the Ynis-Witrinsince, by translation, Glastonbury. Here they built a small church, made of rods wattled or interwoven, living there many years, devoutly serving God by watching, praying, fasting, and preaching; having high meditations under a low roof, and large hearts betwixt narrow walls. Many were converted by them to the Christian faith, which doctrine was so rooted in their hearts that it was in great force when Austin the monk first came over into England. St. Joseph is said to have died and been buried there, as is witnessed by divers learned authors." Other "learned authors" also have described the dry-thorn walking-staff of St. Joseph, how he struck it into the ground, how it grew, and how it still blossoms every year at Christmas. 25. St. Mark, one of the four Evangelists, is supposed to be the same as John Mark, mentioned Acts xii., xv. He was a disciple of St. Peter, and founded a church at Alexandria, where, unable to look on quietly while the heathens were worshipping Serapis, he denounced their idolatry, and so incensed them that he was immediately seized, bound with cords, and dragged through the streets till he died, A. D 68. St. Mark is the parton saint of Venice, and is usually depicted with a winged lion by his side. There is a superstition in some parts of the country that if persons sit in the church porch from eleven o'clock at night, on St. Mark's Eve, till one o'clock in the morning, they will see the ghost of such of their neighbors as will die during the next year. In order to see the ghosts it is necessary to watch three years successively, and sometimes they who watch will see their own, and thus, be warned of their impending fate. MAY.