This section is from the book "The Home Cyclopedia Of General Information", by Charles Morris. Also available from Amazon: Home Cyclopedia of Necessary Knowledge.
[L. incensum.] The perfume produced by the burning of spices and gums. It is the symbol of prayer in churches. The powder, made up of benzoin, storax, and other resins, cascarilla bark, etc., is placed in a silver vessel hung by chains. As it burns, the smoke escapes through little holes, and fills the church with sweet odors.
 
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