CONGREGATIOlir
474
CONGREGATION
(I Kings ^, ,20), Jouh (2 Kingi zl, 19), Joaiah (2 Kings xzi, 2^, Jehoahas ^ Kings zxiii, 80), and Uz- ziah (2 Cbron. zxvi, 1). In the later periods of Jew- ish history the congregation was represented by the Sanhedrim; and the term synagogue (owayiayii), wliich in the Sept. is applied ezdosiyely to the con- gregation itself (for the place of meeting ^919 ^HM is invariably rendered i) aiaivii rov fAoprvpiov, taber- nacukm testimomi, the word ^9is being considered = n!l^9), was transferred to the places of worship estab- lished by the Jews, wherever a certain number of fam- ilies were collected. — Smith, s. v. See Assekblt.
M0U2«T OP THE COMGBEOATIOH (^"^yO ^IH, mOtOI-
tain q/*the Qitembly^ Isa. xiv, 18 [14] ; Sept. opoc v^- \6v, Vulg. mont UsktmetUi), usually supposed to refer to Mount Moriah as the site of the Temple (comp. Isa. xzxiii, 20). But the untenableness of this interpre- tation has long since been shown by Biichaelis (BtbU- oth. Orient, v, 191). The name designates some place of religious ceremony among the Babylonians, and has hence been compared with the sacred hill of the gods (q. d. mount of their meeting), such as the AUbcrj named in the Zend-Avesta as situated in the north of the earth (comp. Rhode, HeU, Sage, p. 280 sq.). We may also compare with this the Mount O^ftnput of the Greek mythology, and the Meru of the Indian. In- deed all pagan systems seem to point to the north of the respective regions as the locality of the highest mountains, natundly assumed as the abode of the gods ; possibly having a vague reference to the great Caucasian range (see Gesenius, Jeta, ii, 816 sq. ; Ro- senm&ller, AUerth, I, i, 164 sq. ; Henderson, CommenL in loc.). See Momrr. '
CONGREGATION, (1.) an assembly, or gathering together of persons, more particularly ibr divine service. This word is used, in die Rubrics of the Church of England, in the same sense as ** people*' is used, to mean that portion of the Church of the nation who are assembled in any one sacred edifice for the purposes of worship (Eden).
(2.) Monastic Congregatumi, — (a) In a wider sense, all ecclesiastical associations of laymen in the Roman Catholic Church, for contemplative, ascetic, or practi- cal purposes, are called congregations. (5) In a more special sense, eedesiaatical congregatioiu are associa- tions which, Uke monastic orders, lead a common life, and are bound by vows. They diflfbr from the mo- nastic orders by not demanding from their members the vow of poverty, by binding them to less stringent or to no rules of retirement from the world, and fre- quently by prescribing only the simple vow of chastity (see Vow). The number of congregations of this class is very large; among them are the Oratorians, the Priests of the Mission, the Doctrinarians, the Piarists, the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the Mechitarists, Bedemptorists, all of which are treated of in special arti- cles, (e) The name is also applied to several branches of reformed Benedictines. In these " congregations*** each monastery has its own abbot or prior, but all were subordinate to the head of the chief abbey. The most noted of these congregations were those of Clugny, Yallambrosa, Camaldoli, the Cistercians, Carthusians, and Maurines (see these articles).
(8.) In CEeumenical Synods.— At the CEcumenical Synod of Constance, it was resolved to take the vote, not by heads, but by nations, of which there were at first four (German, French, Italian, English), and sub-' sequently five (Spanish). Each nation was to cast one TOte. In order to establish the vote of a nation, its members held separate sessions, which were called ** congregations. *' In these congregations, every mem- ber, without distinction of rank, had an equal vote. When the vote of each congregation had been estab- lished, all the congregations met as a general congre- gation, and the resolutions, for which a majority of
the nation voted, were declared the BeeolniioBS of tbt (Ecumenical CounciL See Wetzer a. Welte, Gnskm- JLsx.ii,794.
(4.) Congregation ofCardmab^—A. t^^mnni*^ of ca^ dinals, prelates, and others, met for the dicpalidi ef some particular business, and deriving its naiBe froa the particular business it has to dispatch. The foOov- ing account will be found to indude the nunea of tfes chief of these congregations, and the p*Ttfa*niT bw. nessofeach:
1. The Consistorial Congregation, instituted ia ISBS by SiztuA y. They prepare the most jIHU^'wH beMi> daiy matters, afterwards debated in the Conflktiaiy m the presence of the pcqie. Such matters are the ^fn- bation of new religious orders; the erectioB of nev episcopal sees; the separation, union, or rappressisi of benefices of the higher grade ; the o-*-*— f*^*»iin of newly-appointed or elected bishope ; the appointao^ of coadjutors. The number of *»^wi?tfif y ^g^ fixed.
2. The Congregation of the H<^ Office^ or Tmjwi^ABn, instituted in 1542 by Panl HI, at the desire of ^f- dinal Caraffa, who afterwards became Paul TV. "Die privileges were enlarged by the addition of statutes 1^ Sixtus y, by which this tribunal became so fonnidahk that the Italians were accustomed to say, ** Pope Sx- ^ tus would not pardon Christ himself.'* It takea cog- nizance of her^ies and all novel opinions, aa wcH as of apostasy, magic, witchcraft, abuse of the saen- ments, and the circulation of pemidoua booka. The pope himself is prefect of this congregation. It ooo- sists of 12 cardinals, a number of tbeologiaaa and can* onists as *' consultors,'* of several ** qualificators" wb» give their opinion in special cases, of a defender of the accused, and several other persons. See Ikquki-