Romulus, a prime character in Roman mythology; but which of the legends concerning this alleged founder and earliest king of their city was regarded as genuine by the Romans is wholh* uncertain, since our informa- tion is based on very modern sources. The following tradition had, however, become quite generally estab- lished in the flourishing period of Roman literature: Two brothers belonging to the royal family descended from jEneas and reigning in Alba, who were named Numitor and Amulius, divided their inheritance so that Numiior received the throne and Amulius the treasure. Amulius, however, soon dethroned his brotlicr, and made a vestal of his daughter Ilia, or Rhea Silvia, in order to
The Capitolme Wolf Suckling Romulus and Keuuis.
guard against offspring on her part. She was, how- ever, approached by the god Mars, and gave birth to the twins Romulus and Remus, whom Amulius caused to be exposed by means of a servant on the overflowed banks of the Tiber. They were nourished by a she- wolf and a bird, until found b}- the shepherd F^austulus, who bore them to his house and reared them with the assistance of his wife, Acea Larentia. On arriving at manhood, the}' dethroned and killed Amulius and rt- instated their grandfather Numitor. After this they founded a new city (Rome) ; but in the progress of the work a (juarrel broke out between them, and Remus was slain by his brother's hand. Romulus now reigned alone in the new state, and after his death was venerated as a god under the name of Qiiirhms, because of tlie declara- tion of Julius Proculus that Romulus had appeared to him in superhuman form. A bronze group of the wolf suckling the twins is still preserved in the Capitoline Palace, and constitutes one of the most eminent relics of ancient Roman art. — Vollraer, Worterb. d. Mylhol. s. V. See Smith, Diet, of Class. Biog. s. v.
Rom.us, in Greek mythology, was the son of Ulysses and Circe.
Ronde, Lajibertus dk, a minister of the Reformed (Dutch) Church in America, was colleague with Jo- hannes Ritzema in the Collegiate (Dutch) Church of New York, and successor to the venerable Gualterus du Bois from 1751 to 1784. With his associate Ritzema he was thoroughly educated in one of the universities of Holland, and brought to his pulpit ample preparations. When driven from New York during the Revolutionary war, he supplied the Church of Schaghticoke, near Al- bany, where he resided during the rest of his life, being too old to resume his labors. He preached onlj' in the Dutch language, and was the leading spirit in opposi- tion to the introduction of English preaching, and in the lawsuit which resulted in favor of the consistory and against '' the Dutch party," who had to paj' in costs £300. Notwithstanding all this, his character was always venerated, and he died in a good old age at Schaghticoke, his place of voluntary exile, in 1795. The consistory of the Church in New York gave him an annuity of ,£200 for life after he left their active service, and the same was given to his aged colleague Ritzema, who died at Kinderhook, N. Y. Mr. de Ronde was a man of respectable attainments and abilities as a preach- er, but was not so eminent for these things as he was for his part in the ecclesiastical controversies in that transi- tion period of the Dutch Church. See De Witt, Hist. Discourse, p. 70; Gunn, Life of Livingston, p. 88, 164; Corwin, Alanual of the Ref CLp. 70. (W. J. R. T.)
Roney, IMoses, a minister of the Reformed Presby- terian Church, was born in Washington County, Pa., Sept. 20, 1804. In his fourteenth year he entered the grammar-school of Jefferson College, and graduated from the college in 1823. He spent some time in teach- ing in Baltimore, and then pursued his studies under Dr. Wilson, receiving his license June 8, 1829. He was ordained and installed pastor in Newburgh, N. Y., June 8, 1830. In the great controversy concerning the rela- tions of the Church to the authorities of the United States he opposed the proposed changes. In 1836 the Synod chose him to be editor of a contemplated maga- zine, which first appeared in March following as The R(formed. Presbi/terian, ami which he conducted, with the exception of a single j'ear, until it reached the mid- dle of the eighteenth volume. In 1848, on account of ill-health, he resigned the editorship, and the next year took charge of the literary institution in Allegheny, Pa., which he retained until nearly the time of his death (July 3, 1854). See Sprague, Annuls of the Amer. Pul- pit, ix, 79.
Rongala, in South -Sea Island mythology, is the name of the supreme being or highest god among the inhabitants of the Caroline Islands, in the Pacific Ocean.
RONSDORF SECT
120
ROOD
Ronsdorf Sect. This name has been given to the clique of fanatics founded by Elias Eller (q.v.) at Elberfeld, and subsequently transferred to Pionsdorf, in the duchy of Berg, Germany.
Rood (Saxon), a cross or crucifix. The term is more particularly applied to the large cross erected in Roman Catholic churches over the entrance of the chancel or choir. This is often of very large size, and when com- plete is, like other crucifixes, accompanied by the fig- ures of St. John and the Blessed Virgin, placed one on each side of the foot of the cross; but these are often omitted. Lights are frequently placed in front of these roods, especially on certain festivals of the Church. — I'arker, Gloss, of Architect, s. v.