Nomophylax, keejjer of the bools of the law, a Greek Church otticcr, whose function is indicated by his name.
Nomos was the name of a personification of law among the ancient Greeks, and described as exercising authorit}' over gods and men.
Non (Heb. id, "3, Sept. Nowi'), a different form (1 Chron. vii, 27) of the name elsewhere given as Nun (q. v.), the father of Joshua.
Nona was the name of one of the Fates among the ancient Romans. See also Nones.
Non- Adorantes and Adorantes are classes of Unitarians, and their peculiar views and history are so intimately connected with that branch of heretical Chris- tianity of which thej' constitute a part, that we defer their treatment to the articles Socinians and Unita- rians (q. v.).
Nonant, Hugh de, an English prekte of the Ro- man Catholic Church, flourished in the second half of the 12th century. He was bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1188 to 1198. He died about the opening of the 13th century. Bishop Nonant is noted for his substitution of secular canons for monks at Coventry in October, 1189, an action which found but little favor, and was reversed in 1198 by Herbert, archbishop of Canterbujv. See Inett, Hist, of the English Church, II, xviu, 3, n^ 2, § 5, n. 2.
Non-Catholics is the name applied by Romanists to all those who refuse to accept the papal primacy. It includes even those whom it acknowledges as properly constituted ; as, e. g. the Eastern Church, etc.
Nonconformists, a term which has come into use in quite recent times as a general designation of Protestant Dissenters (q. v.). It is sometimes given in a general sense to all sectaries who, at any period in English history since the establishment of Protestant- ism, have refused to conform to the doctrine and prac- tices of the Episcopal Church. It is, however, more frequently used in a restricted sense to denote the two thousand clergymen who, in 1662 — two years after the Restoration — left the Church of England, rather than submit to the conditions of the Act of Uniformity, See Nonconformity.
Nonconformity is a relative term, which supposes some previously existing system of observances, estab- lished either by political authoritj' or general consent, and denotes a practical secession or non-communion, on grounds conceived by the parties to require and justify it. Like the term Protestantism, it is general and com- prehensive. It applies to the various grounds of seces- sion from a national establishment of religion, and in- cludes different systems of ecclesiastical polity. Sec Dissenter. No wise man would choose tt) differ from those around him in reference to matters either civil or religious, unless, in his own estimation, he had good reasons for that difference ; and in such cases it is the obvious dictate of duty to investigate the questions at issue with calmness and deliberation ; so that conviction and not caprice, principle and not passion, may regulate the inquiry and form the decision. Many regard the subject of nonconformity as very unattractive, a mere
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debate about words and names and questions, which gender strife rather than godly edifying. Assuming either that there is no authority or standard in such matters, or that the authority of certain ecclesiastical superiors ought to be submitted to without murmur or dispute, they pronounce their disapprobation on all dis- cussions of such subjects, and on the parties who engage in them. High-Churchmen are offended that the doc- trine of conformity should be called in question at all. Those who profess high spirituality look on the subject as unworthy of their regard, and as tit for those only who mind the carnal things of the kingdom of God. Dis- senters, as well as others, frequently speak of it as being among non-essential matters, and scarcel)' deserving of profound consideration ; and while they luxuriate in the privileges which their forefathers purchased for them at so dear a rate, almost pity and condemn the measures which procured them. Yet it is impossible for any one to form a correct view of English history for nearly three hundred years without an acquaintance with the controversy which the question of conformity has provoked, and with the characters and principles of the men who engaged in it. We therefore give space here to a historical treatment of English noncon- formity.
Nonconformity in the Anglican fold is almost coeval with the English Reformation. Nonconformists of Eng- land may be considered under three heads. 1. Such as absent themselves from divine worship in the Established Church through total irreligion, and attend the service of no other persuasion. 2. Such as absent themselves on the plea of conscience ; as Presbyterians, Indepen- dents, Baptists, etc. 3. Internal Nonconformists, or un- principled clergj'men, who applaud and propagate doc- trines quite inconsistent with several of those articles which they promised on oath to defend.
Before the Reformation, and for some j-ears after the beginning of queen Elizabeth's reign, there was no or- ganized body of separatists from the Church of Eng- land. In many respects the Lollards closely resembled the Puritans of Elizabeth's time; and it is probable that, notwithstanding the check received from the san- guinary law of Henry IV, many held the principles of Wickliffe down to the time of Henry VIII. But Lol- lardism, though it had its conventicles and schools, did not secede and organize itself into a sect. The Chris- tian Brethren (see Blunt, Hist, of the Reformation, p. 525) and the Cambridge party (ibid. p. 527), who, if not Lollards ia name, no doubt sprang from the Lol- lards, were still parties in the Church. Yet Lollardism, which contributed largely to form in England the state of the public mind that produced the Reformation, exerted also that influence to which must be ascribed much of the revolutionary spirit and zeal which engen- dered nonconformity. Again, the followers of the Ana- baptists cannot be considered as by themselves an or- ganized body of separatists. After the taking of Mini- ster, in 1535, Anabaptists found their way through Hol- land into England. The first notice of them in English history is in 1538. The English who joined them were treated by Elizabeth just as she treated the foreigners themselves — being ordered to depart the realm. Not- withstanding the order, several remained and joined the French and Dutch congregations in London, and in towns near the coast. From these there can be little doubt sprang the sect of Baptists, who may be distinguished from their parent stock in 1(520, when they presented a petition to Parliament, disclaiming the false notions of the Anabajitists, and who first became an organized sect under Henry Jessey in 1(540. Nonconformity proper first begins with the refugees from Frankfort and Ge- neva. They brought back with them (ienevan doc- trine, discii)line, and worship, and gradually the spirit they introduced leavened the dissatisfied ones in the establishment, until nonconformity resulted.