are not warranted in concluding, as some have done \ Anniversary, in the Greek and Romish Church- so positively concerning the question, as to make it j es, a name given to the day on which a martyr or saint a point of Christian faith to interpret figuratively the is commemorated. Also, those days on which special 'death and destruction' spoken of in the Scriptures as ! prayer is made, year by year, for the souls of deceased
the doom of the condemned, and to insist on the belief that they are to be left alive forevermore."
3. The revival of annihilationism in this country seems to have begun with the publication of Six Ser- mons on the Question "Are the wicked immortal?" by George Storrs, answered by Prof. Post, in the New Englander, Feb. and May, 1856. One of the most re-
persons, and masses said and alms distributed, are in the Romish Church called anniversaries. The anni- versary office {officium anniversariwn) is a double of- fice, said only on the first anniversary day after the death. On all succeeding anniversary days, the sim- ple office is said, as in the daily office for the dead. — Landon, Feci. Diet. s. v.
ANNO
23 S
ANNUNCIATION
Anno or Hanno (St.), archbishop of Colore in the 11th century. Belonging to the Suabian family of Sonneberg, he was at first devoted to a military life ; but, after a short career of arms, he entered the church. The emperor Henry III, the Bhick, appoint- ed him to the see of Cologne upon the death of arch- bishop Hermann in 1055. He applied himself with diligence to his duties, both temporal and spiritual. He reformed many of the monasteries of his diocese, and built five or six others, among the latter the ab- bey of Siegberg. After the death of Henry III the empress made him regent. His zeal for the church outran his discretion, especially in the excessive en- ergy with which he seconded the measures of Gregory VI I (q. v.). The emperor Henry IV, though his pu- pil, was so dissatisfied with his conduct that he drove him from his see. He died December 4th, 1075, on which day he is commemorated. — Hoefer, Nouv. Bio- graphk Ginhxde, ii, 730 ; Baillet, Vies des Saints, De- cember -1.
Annual Conference, the name of the territorial synods or councils of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which are held every year, as distinguished from the general synod (General Conference) held quadrennial- \y. The Annual Conference is composed of all the ministers in full connection within certain territorial limits. Preachers "on trial" are required to attend the sessions, but are not allowed to vote. The times of holding the Annual Conferences are fixed by the bishops, the place by the Conference itself. The pre- siding officer is the bishop ; but, in case of his absence, some "member of the Conference appointed by the bishop shall preside ; but if no appointment be made, the Conference elects a president by ballot among the elders, without debate." The duties of the Annual Conference, and the limits of its authority, are pre- scribed by the Discipline. A record of its proceed- ings is sent to each General Conference for revision, if necessary. The territorial boundaries of the An- nual Conferences are fixed by the General Confer- ence. There are now (1866) sixty annual conferences (including mission conferences) of the Methodist Epis- copal Church in America, Europe, Africa, India, and China. — Discipline of the Methodist Episcojxd Church, pt. ii, ch. i ; pt. vi, ch. iv ; Baker, On the Discipline ; Minutes of the Annual Conferences (New York, 1866, 8vo). See Conferences; Methodist Episcopal Church.
Annulus, a ring. The clergy do not appear to have worn any badge of office until the fourth cen- tury ; but subsequently various insignia or emblems of office were appropriated. The ring is now given to Romish bishops on their investiture, as emblemati- cal of the bishop's espousals to the Church, in imita- tion of the ancient ceremony of presenting a ring in marriage. It was called " the ring of his espousals," annulus sponsalitius, or annulus pronubus ; but some- times, also, annulus palatii. The pope wears a ring with the device of Peter fishing; and papal briefs, stamped with this seal, are said to be given sub an- nul) pucatorio. The Usher-ring has been used for this purpose since the 13th century.
Annunciad or Annunciada, Order of, a mili- tary order, founded by Amedeus, count of Sa- voy, in 1350 or 1360, called at first the order of the hnots if lure, lie cause of a hair bracelet formed in love-knots, given to the count by a lady. Amedeus VIII, duke of Savoy (created Pope Felix III at the council of Basle), in 1494, changed the name of the
■ l.nw-kii'it" Slar.
Badge of the Order of the Annunciada.
order to that of the Annunciad. The figure of the Virgin was appended to the collar, in which the love- knots were changed into a pattern in twisted cord, and which bore the initials F. E. R. T., supposed to mean Fortitudo ejus Rhodum tenuit, in reference to the val- iant defence of Rhodes by Amedeus the Great in 1310. The cloak of the knights was first red, afterward blue, and now of the color of amaranth, lined with cloth of silver. It still exists in Sardinia as an order of merit. — Helyot, Ordres Religieux, i, 224 ; Burke, Orders of Knighthood, p. 350.