Your most obscure book

[Stephen Palmer]

What's the most obscure book you own? Photos please!

 

[.matthew.]

I adore how that comes with CDs... That's cool.

I have way too many random ones to choose from and while my choice here isn't the most obscure I'm choosing it because of the insert and a mention I made to Pratchett in a thread just a minute ago.

I give you: The Compleat Discworld Atlas

Compleat with a massive map

 

[Brian G Turner]

Possibly Beyond the Edge of Empire - Caledonians, Picts and Romans by Fraser Hunter, which is based on a lecture he gave at the little Rosemarkie Museum in Scotland, and only appears available to order from there.

 

[Joshua Jones]

I'm going to go with my analytical lexicon on Koine Greek... or back issues of The Philosophical Quarterly. Kind of a toss up between the two.

 

[Astro Pen]

The Mystery and Lure of Perfume 1927

Backstory:
I bought it to send to Brian Eno after his lecture on Perfume at Saddlers Wells in 1992.
However his agent complained about forwarding books to him so, sorry Brian, I still have it

 

[Extollager]

Great topic, Stephen.

I don't want to give too much thought to this. I'll select this 1913/1926 Everyman's Library release, a novel on a Byzantine theme by the industrious and admirable Rev. John Mason Neale. Even the non-religious might appreciate his mid-Victorian crusade against pews. He was disgusted by the box pews in which the wealthy, who paid pew rent, sequestered themselves against others. I have seen a anecdote in this connection that went something like this: there was a squire who, during the service, was in the habit of having himself served refreshments by livered servants while he sat within a high-walled box pew on a cushioned seat. Neale scornfully referred to pews us "pues" and even "pens," as I recall.

Anyway, along with translating hymns, preparing a mystical commentary on the Psalms, etc., Neale wrote several works of fiction, of which I think Theodora Phranza (The Fall of Constantinople) is the longest. I haven't read it yet, but his Exiles of the Cebenna was pretty good, as I recall. His Unseen World was a fun read, a propagandistic work in the form of a symposium, about apparitions, etc.

 

[Extollager]

Another pew anecdote I seem to remember is that some squire, if he didn't like what the pastor was preaching, would rap loudly with his cane against the inner side of the box.

 

[Joshua Jones]

Another pew anecdote I seem to remember is that some squire, if he didn't like what the pastor was preaching, would rap loudly with his cane against the inner side of the box.

@Parson, have you been telling pulpit stories again?

 

[hitmouse]

Great topic, Stephen.
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I don't want to give too much thought to this. I'll select this 1913/1926 Everyman's Library release, a novel on a Byzantine theme by the industrious and admirable Rev. John Mason Neale. Even the non-religious might appreciate his mid-Victorian crusade against pews. He was disgusted by the box pews in which the wealthy, who paid pew rent, sequestered themselves against others. I have seen a anecdote in this connection that went something like this: there was a squire who, during the service, was in the habit of having himself served refreshments by livered servants while he sat within a high-walled box pew on a cushioned seat. Neale scornfully referred to pews us "pues" and even "pens," as I recall.

Anyway, along with translating hymns, preparing a mystical commentary on the Psalms, etc., Neale wrote several works of fiction, of which I think Theodora Phranza (The Fall of Constantinople) is the longest. I haven't read it yet, but his Exiles of the Cebenna was pretty good, as I recall. His Unseen World was a fun read, a propagandistic work in the form of a symposium, about apparitions, etc.
View attachment 67654

Pews like that are pretty standard in
Wales, especially in the old Baptist and Methodist chapels. Quite common throughout the uk in churches where Victorian furniture is still in use, though not all have doors.

Do you see them in the USA?

 

[hitmouse]

Frederick the Noble by Sir Morell Mackenzie.

Being an account of the fatal throat cancer of Frederick, emperor of Prussia. Written by his surgeon, trying to defend himself after Fred had died, his treatment having been generally cocked up. Which basically involves blaming everyone else involved in the case.

 

[Joshua Jones]

Pews like that are pretty standard in
Wales, especially in the old Baptist and Methodist chapels. Quite common throughout the uk in churches where Victorian furniture is still in use, though not all have doors.

Do you see them in the USA?

From my experience, yes and no.

Basically, there are three major approaches to this. First is the traditionalist approach, where pews, pulpit, etc. are held onto for primarily nostalgic reasons, and this usually leads to older congregations which slowly die off. Second is the seeker sensitive approach, which focuses on comfort and trendiness of the church in order to attempt to draw in people, especially younger people, and this usually uses individual chairs or theater style rows of self folding chairs. Third is what I call an anti-seeker sensitive approach, where, in an attempt to differentiate from the more trendy church models by deliberately using more "traditional" furniture.

Then there's Catholic and Orthodox churches which nearly always have pews and traditional furniture.

 

[Extollager]

Then there's Catholic and Orthodox churches which nearly always have pews and traditional furniture.

Don't Orthodox usually stand during the Liturgy?

 

[Extollager]

Pews like that are pretty standard in
Wales, especially in the old Baptist and Methodist chapels. Quite common throughout the uk in churches where Victorian furniture is still in use, though not all have doors.

Do you see them in the USA?

Really? Box pews in the Methodist chapels? I'd have thought the association of Methodism with working folk (farm workers, miners) would have precluded that. Maybe there'd be some in the Anglican churches? But I've never been to the UK, and I think that's where you live!

In my experience, "pews" are long benches, sometimes cushioned, sometimes not. I don't remember ever seeing box pews, that is, pews with walls, opened by doors. I wonder if there are some in historic New England churches. I would tend to doubt it, as these wouldn't seem in line with Puritan notions. Perhaps in some very old Episcopal churches in the South -- ?

 

[Joshua Jones]

Don't Orthodox usually stand during the Liturgy?

To be fair, my experience with Orthodox churches is limited to a couple in the Chicago area, and not during a service, but those had pews. Were I to guess, it would be that ADA requires some form of seating available, and as such, they included pews should a parishioner need it.

But, I believe you're correct that Orthodox liturgy is traditionally experienced standing.

 

[Extollager]

To be fair, my experience with Orthodox churches is limited to a couple in the Chicago area, and not during a service, but those had pews. Were I to guess, it would be that ADA requires some form of seating available, and as such, they included pews should a parishioner need it.

But, I believe you're correct that Orthodox liturgy is traditionally experienced standing.

Were the pews (benches) along the side of the sanctuary? I think it's just some Greek Orthodox churches that have pews in the familiar sense of rows of benches facing the chancel. (I think some of them also have organs for music, which in general is unheard of in orthodox churches.)

 

[Joshua Jones]

Were the pews (benches) along the side of the sanctuary? I think it's just some Greek Orthodox churches that have pews in the familiar sense of rows of benches facing the chancel. (I think some of them also have organs for music, which in general is unheard of in orthodox churches.)

Yeah, the two I'm thinking of were forward facing, so I'm thinking they were exceptions to the rule.

So, to revise my statement, Catholic churches nearly always have pews, and Orthodox sometimes do, but this isn't the rule.

 

[hitmouse]

Really? Box pews in the Methodist chapels? I'd have thought the association of Methodism with working folk (farm workers, miners) would have precluded that. Maybe there'd be some in the Anglican churches? But I've never been to the UK, and I think that's where you live!

In my experience, "pews" are long benches, sometimes cushioned, sometimes not. I don't remember ever seeing box pews, that is, pews with walls, opened by doors. I wonder if there are some in historic New England churches. I would tend to doubt it, as these wouldn't seem in line with Puritan notions. Perhaps in some very old Episcopal churches in the South -- ?

Ah right. This may be my misunderstanding of terminology. Pews with a gate or door yes. Pews with a wall for privacy, no. These are often quite austere chapels, and definitely egalitarian. Older high Anglican churches much less so.

 

[Danny McG]

*fights temptation*
("No Danny, don't do it, no!)

 

[Astro Pen]

*fights temptation*
("No Danny, don't do it, no!)

Is it, er, illustrated.

 

[Mouse]

I have a few, but you asked for one. So I give you two. (I am a poet, look).