TIOK.
8. The Congregation de Propagandd Fide, instxtoted by Gregory Xy in 1622, consists of 24 cardinals, oae of the secretaries of state, an apostolical protbcmotarj, a referendary, an assistant or lateral jndge, and the secretary of the Holy Office, See Pbopao aitda.
4. The Congregation <^the CouneU, for explaining the Council of Trent. When the council dosed its ses- sions, Pius ly deputed certain cardinals, who had as- sbted in it, to put an end to all doubts which nu^ arise concerning its decrees. This congregation neets once a week. ** Its decisions from 1789 to 1848 fill 103 vols, ^o.*' The prefect is chosen by tiie pope, and has a salary.
5. The Congregation of the Index, instituted in 1570 by Pius y. This committee is deputed to examine all books. It is composed of several cardinals, and hss s secretaiy of the order of Dominic. The pope geaflr- ally presides himsdf.
6. The Congregation qfEcdesiasticallnmumig. This was established by Urban yill in order to obviate the disputes which arose in the judgment of such suits as were carried on against churchmen for various mst- ters, whether criminal or dvil.
7. The Congregation of Bishops and Begulart. Sx- tus y, in the beginning of his pontificate, united two congregations under this name. It has power to reg- ulate all disputes arising between bishops and regulsr or monastic orders.
8. The Congregation for the Election, Escamination, and Residence qf Bishops, Thb was instituted by Clement yill, to examine into the qualifications of all such churchmen as are nominated to bishoprics. The examiners are chosen by the pope. It has the power of enjoining or dispensing with the residence cf bishops, and obli^g all abbots to reside hi thdr sev- eral communities.
9. The Congregation qf Religious DiadpUne. This has the right to inquire into the state <tf Italian moo- asteries, and to suppress those whose temporalities sxe so far diminished that the remainder is not snffidsot for the maintenance of six monks.
10. The CongregatUm of Apostolieal Visitation, Its
CONGREGATIONAL LECTURES 476 CONGREGATION AUSTS
boaiziew is to Tisit, in the name of the pope, the six bisbopricfl, suflfhigans to the metropolis of Rome.
U. J%eC(mgreffaaionofIndulffmceiaHdSaertdJidi^ InstitDted in 1689 hy Clement IX. Its business is to superintend the relics of ancient martyrs, which are frequently said to be fbond in catacombs and other subterranean places in Bome, and to disttngnish their bones, shrines, and tombs from those of the heathen. After the congregation has pronounced sentence on the validity of any lelics, they are consigned to the cardi- nal-vicar and the pope's sacristan, who distribnte them to applicants. This congregation also investigates the causes and motlTes of those who sue for indulgences. The registrar sends the minutes and conclusions of pe- titkMis to the secretaiy of briefii, who dispatches them under the fisherman's seaL
12. The OmgregatUm qf Soared HUes, Sixtus Y founded this congregation to regulate all matters re- lating to ceremonies and rites in worship, and espe- cially to take the chief part in the canonisation of saints. It has anthcnity to explain the rubrics of the Mass-Book and the Breviary when any difficulties are started in reladon thereto.
18. The Cfmgr^atkn of the Be9erei%d Fabric of St, Peier. This was founded to superintend the building of St. Peter's, and is now employed in repairing and beautifying it This congregation has the peculiar privilege of altering the last wills of those who be- qaeath numey to i^us uses, and to apply it to the sup- port of the fieibiic of St. Peter's.
14. The Congregation qfthe Sacred Comatdta. This has supreme civil and criminal jurisdiction over the subjects of the papal states. It was instituted by that fiunous founder of congregations, Sixuts Y.
15. The Congregation of Good Government. Tins watches over the conduct of the magistrates through- out the states, and works in concert with the ConnUta,
16. The Congregation of Prieont. This couslBts of the governor of Uie city, and other ecclesiastics bear- tng civic and Judiciary offices. They dispose of cases relating to the numerous occupants of secret prisons, galleys, etc*, etc., having under their Jurisdiction all that are in legal bonds ; the sufferers In the Inquisi- tion and in the monasteries excepted, whom it is not within their province to visit, pity, or release. — Far- rar, Bed, Diet. s. v. ; Herzog, Meal-Encykhp. il, 677; Broughton, Bibtiotheea Higtorico-Saera (London, 1787, vol. i) ; Meier, Die heuHge r&mitche Curie in Jacobson, Zeittchrift f d, Recht, 1847, ii; Wetzer u. Welte, Kirehen-Lex, H, 344.
CoNOREOATioN, LoBDs OF THB, a title gtvesi, in Scottish Church History, to the chief nobles and gen- tlemen who signed the Covenant of December 8, 1557. From the frequent recurrence of the word congrega- tion in the document, the adherents were called ** the Congregation," and the chief signers (such as the earls of Argyle, Glencaim, and Morton, the Lord of Lorn, Erskine of Dun, etc.) were styled ** Lords of the Con- gregation."—Hetherington, History of the Church qf Scotland, chap. IL
Congregational Leotnres, a series of lectures delivered in London by Congregational ministers of Great Britain from year to year. The following courses have been published : 1883, Christian Ethics, by Rev. Balph WardUw, D.D. ; 1834, The Causes of the Cor- ruption of Christianity, by Rev. Robert Vaughan, D.D. ; 1886, The Christian Atonement, by Rev. Joseph Gflbert; 1886, Divine Inspiration, by Rev.Ebenezer Henderson, D.D. ; 1887, Holy Scripture Verified, by Rev. George Redford, D.D., LL.D. ; 1889, Revelation and Geology, by Rev. John Pye Smith, D.D., LL.D., etc. ; 1840, The Connection and Doctrinal Harmony of tiie Old and New TesUments, by Rev. William Lhid- say Alexander, D.D. ; 1841, The Theology of the eariy Christian Church, by Rev. James Bennett, D.D. ; 1848, The Existence and Agency of Evil Spirits, by Rev. |