2. The word was used at an early period as a general expression for a teacher of Christian doctrine, and later it was applied (before it became a special academical title) to men eminent for their knowledge in theology, and for their skill in teaching it Pre-eminently the title Doctors of the Church (doctores ecclesise), was given to four of the Greek fatthers, viz. Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and Chrysostom; and to three of the Latin, viz. Jerome, Augustine, and Greg- ory the Great To a few g;reat men among the scho- lastics it was given with an additional epithet to des- ignate some special intellectual quality in gift ; thus, in the 12th and Idth centuries, the following doctors of the Church were thus honored : Thomas Aquinas, Angelicus; Johannes Bonaventura, Seraphicns; Jo- hannes Duns Scotus, Subtilis ; Raimundus Lullus, II- Inminatus ; Alanus de Insulls (de I'lsle), Universalis ; Dnrandus de S. Pour9ain, Resolutissimus ; Gregorius de Rimini, Authentioas; Johannes Taulerus, lUumi- natns; Johannes Gersonus, Christianissimus ; Alex- ander Hales, Irrefragabilis ; Roger Bacon, Admirabi- lis ; William Occam, Singularis.
8. The academical degree of doctor seems to have arisen in the 12th century [see Degree], when Ir- nerius of Bologna has the credit of originating the cer- emonial of investiture for the doctorate of laws. The University of Paris almost immediately followed in the footsteps of Bologna, the first reception of doctors having taken place in the year 1145, in favor of Peter Lombard and Gilbert de la Porr6e, the greatest theo- logians of the day. Subsequently to this period the emperors were accustomed to confer upon the uni- versities the right of appointing doctors of laws by their authority and in their name. The example of the emperors was speedily followed by the popes, who conferred corresponding rights with reference to the canon law. From the 11th to the lIHh century there seems reason to believe that, both in Italy and France, the terms master and doctor were pretty nearly synon- ymous. According to Spelman, the degree of doctor was not given in England until the time of king John, A.D. 1207.
4. In modem times, the title Doctor of Theology is conferred by universities and colleges, and also by the Pope. In France it is bestowed, after suitable exam- ination, on any ecclesiastic who has taken the degree of doctor in 4 faculty of theology and in some univer- In the faculty of theology in Paris, the time of
necessary studies is seven yean : two of phSaB^fcr a^r which they commonly reortre tbe cap «f of arts ; three of theology, whkfa lead to ^di^3»< bachelor in theology; and two of licetitHle, ~ which the bachelors are contiaiially exerdatd m t» ses and argumentations npoo the aacred So^qr the scholastic theology, and eodesuutical tairtoiT. i^ ter further examinations, the doctorate m f«B m fi» ferred. In Grermany, Great Britain, mud ^bt Ui States, the degree b now generally oonftned aa c honorary one (homoris catf«a)» without I'Twaitn upon men having distingoished themaclvca as teacte of Christianity by writing or speecli. In ^e sim- sities of Oxford and Cambridge (Kngland) tbe acaia- ical degree of doctor is still, however, given mpw a- amination (formal, if not real) to maatiys dmad eleven years' standing ; in Cambridge, to aaitflB c twelve years* standing, or to bachelorB in (fiviaitT i five-
Docton Commons, formerly the coik^i «f ik doctors of civH law in Lcmdon, wherein tbe Coet • Admiralty and the principal eedesiaatical oosti ve* held. It was founded by Dr. Henry Harrey, dcaa rf the Arches, previous to which time tbe dodoo hd lived in Paternoster Row. The original bnO^^n bnmed in the great fire in 1666, when the lioctai a- moved for a time to Exeter House. Alter sne g» the Commons was rebuilt, and tbe doctors ictswd tt their former quarters. The ooorta wfaiefa have b«a wont to hold their sittings at Docton Cimiiiai r the Court of Arches, the Archdeaoon^a C<niit, ^ Fh- rogative Court, the Faculty Court, the Covrt ^D^ gates, and the Court of Achniralty. The PianftaLw Court is now amalgamated in the Probate Govt (^ rX and the Court of Delegates (q. v.) ia trsnalctrBd to tk judicial committee of the privy connciL At te tin when these courts were all in Ml (^teratkm, thortaaa of session were regulated by terms, as in the eesutf equity and common law, a certain day in the week be ing assigned to each court for hearing its caaasi Tk Court of Arches, the ArchdeaooQ*8 Coort, tbe fkdrr Court, and the Court of Admiralty, are now the ee!j courts which continue to exercise their functiii is this once fionous spot. The Court of Arches (so oMd from having sat in Aratbut, or under the arcto « bows of Bow Church, Cheapside) la the oooit titfftd belonging to the archbishop of Canterbnry. Ihe^ifi in this court is styled Dean of the Arcfaea, md be bs jurisdiction, as the archbishop's principal official, ia li ecclesiastical causes within the pio^rittce of CmiB- bury.— Chambers, EncjfdopaSa, a. t.
Dootrinal Theology. See Dooxiixic Tsmi- ogt; Theolooy. Doctrine. See Dogma.
Doctrine, Christian, MosAano Cosiaae^ TION8 OF (Doctrimdrea, Doctrmariamy, 1. Pfiantf the C^irigtiem Doctrine^ a congregatioo of secalar pnc«, the chief object of which was to inatr«ct tiM jaB and the ignorant. Their founder, Csaar de Bml w born February a, 1544, at Cavailkm, ia F^aoct. & took orders tar the purpose of obtatning a rich be» fice, and for some time led a disacdnte Dfe in Pbv: but on his return to the quiet CavaiDoii he cka^ his mode of life, and devoted himaelf witii greet mI to the care of the poor and the sick. laofdcr tecs- tend his philanthropic activity, he muted wtt ke other priests of Cavidllon, and now added to his featf labors that of catechising poor people and the < In 1598 the association obtained a apecial \ tion from the Pope. When tbe number of i had increased to twelve, they elected Ctemt de Bhc their superior. The new superior wished te csaiJ date the association by introdncfaig the aispk voei. Thb induced a number of membere to quit; hoik 1597 pope Clement Till sanctioned the aseodataaa a socie^ of secular priests. The founder eoen de