P. 438, c. 2—“Măr´a-năth´a.” The word was used in anathematizing persons for great crimes. As much as to say, says Calmet, “May the Lord come quickly to take vengeance on thee for thy crime.”
P. 439, c. 1—“John Wesley.” (1703-1791.) A religious reformer and the founder of Methodism. By the advise of his mother he undertook to make religion the work of his life. At Oxford he was known as a superior classical scholar. In 1727 he received the degree of Master of Arts, and having become a priest of the Church of England, he went, in 1835 as a missionary to Georgia, where he remained three years. Upon his return, through the influence of certain Moravians, he became convinced that a deeper religious experience was possible, and after his conversion he became an evangelist. He organized the first Methodist Society, in 1739, and for more than fifty years was its leader. His energy and industry were perfect; he is said to have traveled two hundred and fifty thousand miles in his itinerant ministry, and preached forty-two thousand sermons. At his death the society which he organized had five hundred and eleven ministers and a membership of one hundred and twenty thousand.
P. 439, c. 2—“Id´i-om.” Here signifies the mode of expression peculiar to the language.
P. 440, c. 1—“Assembly’s Catechism.” The Assembly appointed by the Long Parliament for the settling of doctrine, liturgy, and church government, sent out among other things the Shorter and Longer Catechisms.
P. 440, c. 1—“Thomas à Kempis” (1379-1471). An Augustinian monk whose whole life seems to have been spent in the cloister. His character was famous for sanctity. He is best known to us by his work on “The Imitation of Christ.”
EVANGELINE.
PART I.
“Primeval,” prī-mē´val. Belonging to the first ages, primitive.
“Drū´ids.” Ministers of religion among the Celts in Gaul, Britain, and Germany. They were both priests and judges among the people, and were divided into three classes—prophets, priests, and bards.