Sponge (^Spongia ojjicintdis} consists, in the state in
I which we are familiar with it, of an irregular network of minute fibres of a clear horny substance, branching and anastomosing at minute intervals, and in every di- rection, so as to form a highly porous and elastic mass, the general form of which is that of a cup with thick walls, but not unfrequently rounded or ovate without any cavity. These fibres were during life clothed with a glair which possessed vitality, and were furnished with cilia, by whose movements currents were produced in the water which everywhere occupied the cavities of the mass, thus insuring oyxgen for respiration and nutritive matter for increase. This particular species grows on rocks in deep water in the Levant, and espe- cially in the seas that wash the Grecian isles, where, from remote antiquity to the present time, there has existed an active fishery for it. The inhabitants of many of the isles are dependent for a living on sponge- diving. — Fairbairn.
SPONGE, Holy, is a sponge used in the Greek Church to gather the various "portions" in the disk under the holy bread, and to cleanse the chalice in the sacrifice of the holy eucharist. It was used in memo- ry of the Crucifixion, and was carefully wrapped in a linen cloth.
Sponsa Christi (bride of Christ) are the first words of a hymn for AU-saints'-day, an English version of which is as follows :
"Spouse of Christ in arms contetiding
O'er each clime beneath the sun, Mix with prayers for help descending,
Notes of praise for tritnnphs won. As the Church to-day rejoices
All her saints in one to join. So from earth let all our voices
Rise in melody divine."
— Lee, Gloss, of Liturg. Tet-ms, s. v.
Sponsage, Token of, is that which is given and received by the witnesses or contracting parties in the case of espousals, as a token of such act or witnessing to such act. See Ring.
Sponsalia was the general name in the earh' Church for espousals or betrothing, consisting of a mu- tual contract between the parties concerning the future marriage. When the contract was made, it was cus- tomary for the man to bestow certain gifts upon the woman as earnests or pledges. The contract was usual- ly confirmed also by a ring, a kiss, a dowry, a writing or instrument of dowry, and a sufficient number of witness- es to attest it. See Bingham, Christ, Anfiq. bk. xxii, ch. iii, § 1 sq.
Sponsalitiae Donationes (espousal gifts) were given as earnests or pledges of future marriage. They were also called arnii et pignoru, earnests and pledges of future marriage, l)ecause the giving and receiving of them was a confirmation of the contract, and an oljliga- tion on the parties to take each other for man and w-ife unless some reason gave them liberty to do otherwise. See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. bk. xxii, ch. iii, § 3. See Betrothal.
Sponsel, JoHANN Ulrich, superintendent at Burg- bernheim, in Baireuth, was born Dec. 13, 1721, at Mug- gendorf,and died Jan. 5, 1788. He wrote, I'arerga Theo- logico - exegetica (Coburg, 1752, pt. i; 1753, pt. ii): — Philologisch - exegetische Abhandlung iiber verschiedene Stellen der keiligen Schrift (Anspach, 1761, pt. i) : — Ex- ercitationes Philologico-eregetico! in Dirersos iScriptui-CB Locos (ibid, 1764): — Vo7i der Gvttlichkcit der Hiicher der Chronik und Esiri (Schwabach, 1775): — Ueber die Verwirrung der Sprachen bei dem bubylonuchen Thurm- bau (ibid. 1776): — Abhandlung iiber den I'ropheten Je- saias (Nuremberg, 1779-80, 2 pts.). See Winer, H(md- buch der theol. Literatur, ii, 786 ; Fiirst, Bibl. Jud. iii, 376. (B. P.)
Sponsors. At an early period of the Church, cer- tain persons were re<piired to he jjresent at the baptism of its members, to serve as witnesses of the due |)erform-
SPONSORS
962
SPONSORS
ancc of the rite, ami t<> become sureties for the fulfilment of the enj^ap'inents ami [(roniises then made. Tiiere is no mention of sponsors in the New Test., though there is mention of the " ijuestioning" (t7r*<)(ur»;//a). The mention of thetn lirst occurs in TertuUian— for infants in tlie Ik Hnptismo (c. 18); for adults, as is supposed, ill the l)v Coromi MilUui (c. 3: " Iiide suscepti lactis i-t mellis concordiam pra^fiustamus." See Suieer, s. v. tivuCt\o^ai). In the Jewisli baptism of jiroselytes, two or tliree sponsors or witnesses were required to be pres- ent (^see Lifjhtfoot, On Mutt, iii, t>). It is so improbable that the .lews should have borrowed such a custom from the (.'lirisiians that tiie coincidence can hardly have arisen but from the Christians continuing the usages of the .lews.
I. T/itir Appellations. — These persons were called at first .■7»(iH.<f>rM, sponsors, especially when they responded f'lT an infant. They were called also Jidejussores, sure- ties (Augustine, Utrm. 1 IG, l)e Temp.). The title is bor- rowed from the Homan law. The Cireek term th'a^o- Xoi corresponds to the Latin ojjlrente^ and .lusceptores, and refers to the assistance rendered to the baptized immediately before and after the ceremony. The ap- lnUation pctpTvpttj, tenlcs, witnesses, which became a favorite in later times, was unknown to the ancient (.'hurch. The more modern terms computres, etc., ffod- J'lithrrs and ijodmolhers, are derived from the practice of early times, in which the parents, or in their absence the nearest relatives, took the child out of the baptis- mal water.