'Waitana (or Vaitana), in Hindiiism, is a cere- mony by which water is made holy.
Waite, Clarendon, a Congregational minister, was born in Ilnbbardston, Mass., Dec. 12, 18oU. Alter gradu- ating from Brown University in 185"2, he devoted one year to business, and then spent three years in the Andover Theological Seminary. For six months he was a student at tbe University of Halle, Prussia, when he was sud- denly called home by the death of his father. His first pastorate was that of the Church in Rutlanti, Mass., where he was installed Feb. 25, 1858, and remaineil eight years. He was very much interested in the freedmen in the South, and for six months was superintendent of them at Newbern. N. C. In that same year he was installed pastor of Crombie Street Church, Salem, ]Mass.. where, in the midst of his work, he was stricken down, lie visited Cuba in the winter of 180(1-67, and returned strengthened. In the fall of 18ti7 he was asked to temporarily fill the chair of Eng- lish literature and belles-lettres in Reloit Col- lege, and consented, but before arriving there was attacked with typhoid fever, <if which, soon after his arrival, he died, Dec. 10, 1807. His sermons were carefully prepared, and were eartiestly directed towards the salvation of the jK'ople. See ('(inr/. Qiiar, 1808, p. 280.
Waite, John James, an English Con- gregational minister, was born at (iloucester, Feb. 23, 1808. Mr. Waite's thirst for knowl- edge in all departments led him to pursue his stiuiies with such avidity as ultimately to im- pair his e^-esight, of which faculty he was en-
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tirelv deprived at tlie age of eighteen. This severe affliction served, under the blessing of Cod, to develop the more rapidly his intellectual and moral character. For ten years he was engaged entirely in ministerial labor, anil at the end of this period Mr. Waite com- menced his important life-work, tlie reformation of the Psalmody. For several years he had the oversight of the Church at Ilminster; but so great was the growing appreciation of ttie value of his labors, and of the sim- plicity and general application of his system of teaching, thai it became necessary for him to accede to the request of his ministerial brethren in London, and devote him- self exclusively to his great work. Mr. Waite recognised the necessity for a purer taste and for a higher standard of music in the services of the sanctuary, and with the co-operation of the larger churches he was able to do much towards laying the foundation for a more exten<l- ed knowledge of musical science. He died Oct. 25, 18G8. See (Loud.) Cong. Year-book, 1869, p. 291.
Waite, Thomas, LL.D., an English clergyman, was born in 177G. lie became curate of Wellington ; was principal of the grammar-school at Lewisham Hill from 1815 to 1833; rector of High Halden in 1833; of Great Chart in 1835; and died in 1841. He published several Sermons, Ea-planatorrj and Critical, on the Thirty- nine Articles (\H-H\).
"Waite, William, a minister of the Congrega- tional Church, was born at Idle, England, Jan. 6, 1825. His tirst religious impressions were received under the ministry of Kcv. J. Stringer, of Idle, whose Church he joined, and by whom, with the concurrence of the en- tire Church, he was sent to Airedale College, in Jan- uary, 1847. He spent five years there in the acquisi- tion of knowledge and in preparation for the work of the ministry. He left college at Christmas in 1851 ; settled at i?acup, Jan. 1 ; was ordained in May ; and died in September, 1852. During a ministry of a lit- tle over one year the Church grew rapidly. His death was greatly regretted. "A most pious, devoted, la- borious, intelligent, faithful man ; he was a truly seri- ous, earnest, and energetic preacher of the Gospel." See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1853, p. 232.
Waith, William, a Presbyterian minister, was born in the parish of Preston-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England, April 17, 1790. He received his education in the country schools ; became an attorney in the Mayor's Court; emigrated to the United States in 1832; was licensed to preach by the Buffalo Presbytery in 1835; and ordained as an evangelist in 1836. He preached as follows : in Burton, Napoli, Ellington, Silver Creek, and Kipley, N. Y., and died at the last-mentioned place, Jmic 4, 1860. He was a good preacher, a laborious and faithful pastor, and a true Christian, See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1861, p. 165.
Waits were anciently minstrels or musical watch- men who sounded the watch at night. They have now degenerated into itinerant musicians, who give notice of the approach of Christmas. The term is also applied to angelic musicians with horns, represented on corbels and ceilings.
Wai-wassaden (or Vaivassaden), in Hindil mythology, is the father of Nirkuuden and grandfather of Budalshedi, a powerful monarch of India born in the dynasty of the Children of the Sun.
Waivras-wata (or Vaivasvata), in Hindil my- thology, is the son of the god of the sun. He was saved by Vishnu as a fish, prior and subsequent to the great Flood. He, a son of the sun, gave his daughter to Buddha, a son of the moon, in marriage. Thus he is the progenitor of the mighty dynasties the Children of the Sun and the Children of the j\Ioon.