Oi'us, See Horus,
Orvis, Samuel, a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, was born at Denmark, Lewis County, N, Y,, Dec, 5, 1813; was converted in 1829; commenced preaching in 1839 ; joined the Black Kiver Conference in 1842, and died at Carthage, N, Y,, Sept, 14, 1850, Mr, Orvis was one of the brightest ornaments of his conference. His sermons were digested, symmetrical, and powerful, his scholarship respectable and sound, and his ardor for study intense. His pastoral labors were full of affection and success, and all his efforts were by his fervent piety made very acceptable and useful. See Minutes of Conferences, iv, 616 ; Black River Coif. Memorial, p, 280, (G, L, T,)
Oryx, a species of antelope held in high estimation among the ancient Egyptians, Sir John G, Wilkinson says: "Among the Egyptians the oryx was the only one of the antelope tribe chosen as an emblem, but it was not sacred ; and the same city on whose monu- ments it was rei)resented in sacred subjects was in the habit of killing it for the table. The head of this ani- mal formed the prow of the mysterious boat of Pthah- Sokari-Osiris, who was worshipped with peculiar hon- ors at Memphis, and who held a conspicuous place among contemporary gods of all the temples of L^pper and Lower Egypt, This did not, however, prevent their sacrificing the oryx to the gods, or slaughtering it for their own use, large herds of them being kept by the wealthy Egyptians for this purpose, and the sculpt- ures of Memphis and its vicinity abound, no less than those of the Thebaid, with proofs of this fact. But a particular one may have been set apart and consecrated to the deity, being distinguished by certain marks which the priests fancied they could discern, as in the case of oxen exempted from sacrifice. And if the law^s permitted the oryx to be killed without the mark of the pontifTs seal (which was indispensable for oxen pre- vious to their being taken to the altar), the privilege of exemption might be secured to a single animal when kept apart within the inaccessible precincts of the tem- ple. In the zodiacs the oryx was chosen to represent the sign Capricomus, M. ChampoUion considers it the representative of Seth, and HorapoUa gives it an unen- viable character as the emblem of impurity. It was even thought to foreknow the rising of the moon, and to be indignant at her presence, Pliny is disposed to give it credit for better behavior towards the dog-star, which, when rising, it looked upon with the appearance of adoration. But the naturalist was misinformed re- specting the growth of its hair in imitation of the bull Basis, Such were the fables of old writers; and judg- ing from the important post it held in the boat of So- kari, I am disposed to consider it the emblem of a good ratlier than of an evil deity, contrary to the opinion of the learned ChampoUion,"— Gardner, Faiths of the World, s. v. See Antklope.
Orzechowski, Stanisi.Ms (better known to learned Europe under his Latinized name of Orzirhn- riiis), is one of the most noted of Polish thcdlogians of the Reformation jieriod. He was born in (Jalicia in 1513, pursued his elementary studies at Przemysl, and
ORZECHOWSKI
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O SAPIENTIA
then went to the universities of Vienna and Witten- berg. At tlie latter place he became intimately ac- quaintcil with Luther and Melancthon, and adopted their opinions ; not, however, from a sense of piety and love of truth, but because his reckless character craved novelty, " Having been sent to (Germany," he says himself, "I became enamoured of innovation. I con- sidered that it would be very honorable to me if, by in- troducing some German doctrines, I should be distin- guished from my equals in age, as, for instance, such principles as to disobey the pope ; to have no respect for laws ; to revel always, and never to fast ; to seize the Church property; to know nothing about God; to ex- terminate the monks. After three years of study I ar- rived at the truth that all which is old, which is paternal, is not just. I wished to advance further, and I passed to Carlstadt, of whom it was said that all that he has taken from Luther he has made still worse. To the guidance of such leaders I intrusted myself, and who- ever made more and bolder innovations, him I consid- ered belter and more learned." This description of the particular tenets which he confessed, expressed in the most coarse and abusive language, was written at a time when he had joined the Komanists and attacked the Protestants; and although the account which he gives of his connection with the Reformers was written in order to throw odium on the Protestant doctrines, he gave at the same time a true picture of his passion- ate character, which rendered him through all his life equally dangerous as a friend or as an enemy. After having finished his studies at the tJerman universities, Orzechowski visited Rome, and returned to his native land in 1543, thoroughly imbued with the opinions of the Reformers. He began openly to broach them in his country; but he soon perceived that they could not afford him any worldly advantages, while the Roman Catholic Church could dispose of wealth and honors in favor of its defenders. He therefore entered into orders, and was, after some time, promoted to tlie canonry of Przemysl. But, although a member of the Roman Catholic clergy, he could not entirely conceal his real opinions, being continually excited by his relative, Rey, of Naglowice, one of the first Protestant writers of his country. Afraid of losing, by an overt attack on the Roman Catholic Church, the advantages he derived as one of her dignitaries, he did it in an indirect manner. Thus he opened a discussion in several writings on the councils of Ferrara and Florence, questioning the su- premacy of the pope over the Eastern Church, although ostensibly professing a great respect for those councils, and thereby provoking an inquiry into the relation of the Polish Church, which was of Eastern origin, to the Church of Rome as its siip7-eme (?) head. He also open- ly defended the matrimony of the priests. Having been cited before .the ecclesiastical authorities for attempt- ing innovations dangerous to the repose of the Church and the purity of its doctrines, Orzechowski made a re- cantation of his opinions, and the book which contained them was condemned to be burned. This submission of Orzechowski to the authority of his Church was not, however, of long duration ; and when the rector of Kryczonow married a wife, Orzechowski took his part violently against the clergy. Soon afterwards he him- self pid)licly married Magdaline Cheltnicki ; and when the bishop of Przemysl cited him on that account be- fore the tribunal, he arrived in company with such nu- merous and jiowerful friends that the bishop dared not open the court, but, affecting to judge him by default, signed a decree of excommunication, iufiicting upon him the penalty of infamy and confiscation of property. Orzechov/ski, not in the least intimidated by these pro- ceedings, gave a public justification of his conduct be- fore his congregation. He complained at the same time before the tribunal of the province of the violent and cruel proceedings, and made an appeal from the episcopal sentence to the archbishop. Public senti- ment favored Orzechowski, and, though the highest