\n1884 “Christening service”<\/a> including the term “dedication”<\/p>\n
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———<\/a><\/p>\n 1893 “Service of flowers and christenings”<\/strong><\/p>\n By the 1890s, Unitarian churches in the Western Unitarian Conference were combining a flower service with a mass christening service. The following “service of flowers and christenings”, published in the 13 July 1893 number of Unity<\/em>, vol. XXXI no. 20, (Chicago: Unity Publishing, 1893), p. 222, is particularly notable because it uses some gender-inclusive language. Note also the reference to a “church home,” a characteristic phrase and idea of Unitarian women ministers of the day; one wonders if this anonymous service came from a church with a woman minister. Also notable is that the father’s only role in this service is as an onlooker; the mother does the naming alone.<\/p>\n A CHRISTENING SERVICE.<\/p>\n The following service, daintily printed, comes to us from one of our parishes. It is designed to give one to the parents of the child after the name has been inserted in the proper place. It may be too late for others to copy this service of flowers and christenings; but it will surely be interesting reading to many who are doubtful about the possibility and feeling in connection with natural religion. The rational faith has large place for the sentiments.<\/p>\n The People sing:<\/em><\/p>\n MOTHER AND CHILD. My child is lying on my knees; I also am a child, and I For all behind the starry sky, Lo! Lord, I sit in thy wide space, George Macdonald<\/p>\n The Pastor reads:<\/em><\/p>\n Then were there brought unto Jesus little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n And again the disciples came, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?<\/p>\n And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven; and whoso shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.<\/p>\n And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.<\/p>\n The Children come for flowers and remain clustered around the table.<\/em> Lead us, Heavenly Father. Welcome by the Pastor:<\/em><\/p>\n Dear friends, amid the beauty of the new-born flowers we welcome these, your new-born children, to the family of God upon the earth. By bringing them to be given their names in our Church Home you bear witness to your grateful joy that they are yours in God. We share with you that sacred joy. and greet as kin of ours your little ones who will to-day receive their names among us.<\/p>\n Mothers, fathers, you can scarcely deepen here, or at this moment, the consecration which your children have already laid upon you by their birth. By that birth which you, not they, invited, you stand alreadv pledged to them, and pledged to God who gave, to make them pure and beautiful and holy, as far as in you lies,— pure like this clear water, symbol from old time of baptismal purity; beautiful in their unfolding, like these flowers; happy as child-life can be made by prayer-led love. Behold in us the witnesses of your consecration to the duties, the dignities, the joys of parentage.<\/p>\n Mother, by what name shall this, your child, be known upon the earth?<\/p>\n The Mother answers.<\/em><\/p>\n Thus shall it be. Henceforth thou shalt be called __________, the name thy parents give thee now. May thy name be blessed to thee, and be honored among men!<\/p>\n May the Father’s holy spirit, which is in thee, keep thee noble, keep thee pure!<\/p>\n May God, the Mother and the Father of us all, be dear to thee, as thou art dear to God.<\/p>\n After each christening the Pastor gives a flower, and the children softly sing:<\/em><\/p>\n Hallelujah, Amen!<\/p>\n As the Parents withdraw, the Choir sings:<\/em><\/p>\n O beloved little children, The People sing:<\/em><\/p>\n THE LITTLE ONES. All hidden lie the future wavs To us beneath the noonday heat, Within us wakes the childlike heart: O little ones, ye cannot know F. L. Hosmer.<\/p>\n Benediction.<\/em><\/p>\n ———<\/a><\/p>\n 1884 “Christening service”<\/strong><\/p>\n The above christening was made a part of a “Flower Service.” The “Flower Service” was an innovation of Western Unitarian Conference churches in the 1870s and 1880s — an intergenerational worship service in late June where children brought flowers into the church. A typical Flower Service is printed in Unity Festivals<\/em> by James Vila Blake (Chicago: Western Unitarian Sunday School Society, 1884). Unity Festivals<\/em> also has a christening service, which is reprinted below. Of particular interest is the last formula for christening, which doesn’t use the word “christen” at all; instead, the minister “dedicates” the child\/ren.<\/p>\n Christening Service.<\/p>\n The children and parents being assembled before the pulpit, the Minister makes a brief address: after which—<\/p>\n The Minister.<\/em> Do you bring your children hither in this spirit? (One or both parents repeat the name.)<\/p>\n The Christening by the Minister [see below].<\/p>\n After the christening of each child, let the children of the Sunday school, or the choir, sing this<\/p>\n CHANT.<\/p>\n
\n(Marlow.)<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe signs of heaven she reads;
\nMy face is all the heaven she sees,
\nIs all the heaven she needs.<\/p>\n
\nAm ignorant and weak:
\nI gaze upon the starry sky,
\nAnd then I must not speak.<\/p>\n
\nBehind the world so broad,
\nBehind men’s [sic] hearts and souls doth lie
\nThe infinite of God.<\/p>\n
\nMy child upon my knee;
\nShe looketh up unto my face,
\nAnd I look up to thee.<\/p>\n
\nThe Parents enter with their little ones, the Children singing:<\/em><\/p>\n
\nLead us, Shepherd Kind!
\nWe are only children.
\nWeak and young and blind.
\nAll the way before us
\nThou alone dost know;
\nLead us, Heavenly Father,
\nSinging as we go.<\/p>\n
\nBlessings upon you fall!
\nHeavenly peace and blessings
\nGather on your way!
\nYe are all weak and helpless;
\nBut the good Father guards,
\nWatches and shields you always,
\nWith merciful love and care.
\nO beloved little children.
\nBlessings and light descend
\nOn the dear love parental,
\nWhich hath offered you here!
\nHallowed and consecrated
\nBy holy song and prayer,
\nMay love be filled with wisdom
\nTo guide the feet of the child.<\/p>\n
\n(Manoah.)<\/p>\n
\nTheir little feet shall fare!
\nBut holy thoughts within us stir,
\nAnd rise on lips of prayer.<\/p>\n
\nDust-stained and travel-worn,
\nHow beautiful their robes of white,
\nThe freshness of their morn !<\/p>\n
\nBack rolls the tide of years;
\nThe silent wells of memory start
\nAnd flow in happy tears.<\/p>\n
\nThe power with which ye plead,
\nNor why, as on through life we go.
\nThe little child doth lead.<\/p>\n
\nThe Parents.<\/em> We do.
\nThe Minister.<\/em> By what name shall this child be known on the earth?<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.danielharper.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/BlogFeb1210chant-300x156.png\" "\\"Chant")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.danielharper.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/BlogFeb1210song-300x86.png\" "\\"Song")
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