POSTURES, the name given to the attitude observed in worship, whether private or public, but especially the latter. They are the natural expressions of the feeling which accompanies or characterizes the particular devotion in which they are employed, and are used by suppliants to man as well as to God. Four postures arc found to have been used by the ancient Christians in their prayer—the standing, the kneeling, the bowing or inclined, and the prostrate. Of these the ordinary one was kneeling; but for it was substituted, durinp. the Easter-time and on the Sundays, a standing posture, which was understood to symbolize the resurrection of our Lord. To this usage we find allusions as early as the time of Justin the martyr. In the paintings of the catacombs, and on the ancient enameled glasses found therein, the standing posture in prayer is accom panied by outstretched and upralsed hands. The bowing posture was rather a special act of reverence accompanying a particular address or a particular part of an address than a sustained posture. 'It occurred at frequent intervals in the ancient liturgy, and
is still used in the Roman mass as well as (even more profusely) in those of all the vari ous rites, Greek, Syrian, Coptic, Armenian, and Russian. The prostrate posture was the attitude of the deepest humiliation, and was mainly used by the penitents (q.v.), especially in that grade of public penance which was known under the name of "pros tration." It is also used still in the solemn ordination of subdeacons, deacons, and priests, as performed in the Roman Catholic church. The question as to the use of particular postures was a subject of much controversy between the Puritans and the church of England; and has recently been revived m the Presbyterian church of Scotland.