Prebendary is the name applied to a clergyman who is attached to a cathedral or collegiate church and enjoys a prebend (q. v.), in consideration of his offici-
ating at stated times in the church. See Dean and Chapter.
Precarium (from the Lat. precari, to request, be- seech), in the language of civil law, is a compact by which one leaves to another by request the use of a thing, or the exercise of a right, without compensation, but the grantor reserving to himself the power of a re- claimer. The receiver, as a rule, obtains thus the judi- cial use of the object in question; but the giver can regain possession at any time ; and he can, if the sur- render be refused, recur to the interdict Deprecario, or to the Actio prcescriptis verbis. Hence the expression, Precarie possidere, to possess precariously. In canonic law, precarium has not exactly the same meaning. Here the word is feminine (precaria, a?), and is never applied to movable goods, but always to real estate, which is not necessarily bestowed gratuitously, but gen- erally for the obligation of paying certain taxes, or ren- dering certain services, and as a consequence it cannot be taken away at pleasure. The origin of the ecclesi- astical precarice is found in the 6th century, when the custom began to prevail, especially in the country, of giving the priests the use of portions of land. Pope Gelasius, in 496, had disapproved of this custom, yet a few years afterwards we find it widely spread. This transfer of real estate to the priest at first depended on the bishop, and was entirely personal, not essentially connected with the office. The ecclesiastical usufruct- uary had sometimes to recognise its revocability by a special deed, this declaration being accompanied with the promise of paying interest. But little by little the Frankish legislation made these cessions permanent, and the possession of the land was so intimately connected with the performance of duties that it passed uninter- ruptedly from every occupant to his successor. Thus the precarice took in the course of time the character of real benefices. See Benefice. It was not of rare occurrence that ecclesiastical property of that kind was given for services rendered, or to be rendered, or against payment of a tax, even to laymen. These possessions also were called precarice, for not only did their colla- tion depend on the bishop, but the deed had to be re- newed every five years. But this also took in course of time the character of a real lease. Still another meaning given to the word precaria is that of deed— an instrument donating property to the Church, but stipu- lating for the grantor the use of it during the remainder of his life. The deed of consent given by the other side was called prcestaria. Formularies of precaries and prestaries may be found in Marculti Formal, lib. ii, no. 5, 40, and in the Append. Formal, no. 27. 28, and 41, 42. See Walter, Corp.jur. Germ, anliq.vol. iii.
Precedence, a recognition of superiority in cer- tain acts due to one person over another. Thus in the ecclesiastical order recognised in the hierarchies of Home, England, and Russia, or wherever such distinc- tions of clergy exist, priests precede deacons ; and rec- tors, vicars; and vicars, perpetual curates; and incum- bents, assistant-stipendiary curates. Rectors rank with each other according to the size and importance of their livings or the date of their induction ; bishops accord- ing to the precedence of their sees, as in the Anglican establishment, e. g. in the case of London. Durham, and Winchester, and of Meath in Ireland, when the in- cumbent bears the title of Most Reverend; or, other- wise, of the date of consecration, by the councils of Milevi (416). Braga (573). Toledo (633). and Loudon (1075), unless their sees were privileged by ancient cus- tom. Priests and deacons rank according to the date of their ordination. For a cathedral of the old founda- tion in England the order runs— dean, precentor, chan- cellor, treasurer, archdeacons, canons residentiary (sub- diiti:i, jubchanter of canons), and canons non-resident. In chapter the bishop sits with the dean, chancellor, archdeacon, and residentiaries on the right, and the pra?ceutor, treasurer, archdeacon, and residentiaries on
PRECENTOR
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PRECEPTS
the left : the rest of the canons in order of installation.
At Salisbury two extra archdeacons Bat on cither Bide of the entrance. In all processions the members walked two and two, at regular distances— dignitaries in copes.
canons priests in chasubles, canons, dea s, and Bubdea-
cons in dalmatics, with one pace between collaterals, and three paces between each rank: juniors first and seniors last in ^<>inix. bul in revers -der on their re- turn; the right-hand side is ihe place of honor. At St. Paul's the dean walked last, between two dignitaries. The parish clergy go first, then follow vicars, canons, dignitaries, the 'lean, the bishop, and last the lay per- sons. Each parish bad its cross <>r banner. Abbots took precedence according to the date of their benedic- tion; Glastonbury, St. Alban's. and Westminster at va- rious times challenged the tirst place among those who Wei,- mitred. Rural deans and honorary canons have only local precedence in a ruridecanal meeting or cathe- dral respectively.- Walcott, Sum./ Archceology, s. v.
Precentor (Gr. jrpwroi^aXnjCj Kavovapxa : '-"• domesticus cantorum; l'r. grand chantre; Sp. chanlre, or capis col) was in the ancient and mediaeval churches the person who led the singing. He generally com- menced the verse (if t lie psalm, and the people joined him in the close. The versicles were divided into two parts, and Bung alternately, the Bingers answering to one another; bul ordinarily the precentor commenced, and the people joined in the middle, and sometimes at the end of the verse. This was called singing acros- tics. See A( rostk s. The precentor was the digni- tary collated by the diocesan and charged with the conduct of the musical portion of divine service, and required on great festivals and Sundays to commence the responses, hymns, etc., to regulate processions, to distribute the cope-, to correct offences in choir, and to direct the Bingers. In 1-' ranee. England, (Jer- many, and Spain he ranked next to the dean, lie gave the note al mass to the bishop and dean as the succen- t<>r did to the canons and clerks. He superintended the