ter of the architectural features will al- ways decide their date. — Parker.
Piscis, Pisciculi, and Vesica Piscis. The fish is a hieroglyphic of Jesus Christ, very common in the re- mains of Christian art, both primitive and mediaeval. The origin of it is as follows: From the name and title of our blessed Lord, 'lt)aovQ Xpurrog, Beov Yioc, Swrqp — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Saviour — the early Christians, taking the first letter of each word, formed the name 1 XBl'i, piscis, a fish. See Inscriptions. Hence Christians came to be called JHs- ciculi, little fishes, with reference to their regeneration in the waters of baptism. The Vesica Piscis, which is the figure of an oval, generally pointed at either end, and which is much used as the form of the seals of religious houses, and to en- close figures of Jesus Christ or of the saints, also has its rise from this name of Christ, though some say that the mys- tical Vesica Piscis has no reference except in its name to a fish, but represents the almond, the symbol of vir- ginity and self-production. Clement of Alexandria, in writing of the ornaments which a Christian may con- sistently wear, mentions the fish as a proper device for a ring, and says that it may serve to remind the Chris- tian of the origin of his spiritual life. See Riddle, Christian Antiquities, p. 185; Siegcl, Christl. Alterthii- mer (see Index in vol. iv). See Ichtiius.
Pise, Charles Constantine, D.D., an American Roman Catholic divine of note, was born at Annapolis, Md., in 1802. He was the son of an Italian gentleman of ancient and noble family. His mother was an Amer- ican lady, a native of Philadelphia. At an early age Charles was placed in the Georgetown College, that fa- mous institution being then as now under the control of the Order of the Society of Jesus. Graduating there most creditably, he went to Rome to pursue his theo- logical studies, but returned after two years, and com- pleted his preparation for the ministry under the tute- lage of the Rev. Dr. Bunti, the preceptor of the late archbishop Hughes. On his return to this country Pise taught rhetoric and poetry in the Seminary of Mount St. Mary's, Emmettsburg, Md. He was ordained priest in 1825, and commenced his labors in Frederick, Md., but subsequently removed to Baltimore, where he
forms and decorations are very various, but the charac- I officiated at the cathedral. The labors of his position,
together with the performance of a large amount of religious liter- ary work which he attempted, im- paired his health, and he again visited Rome for a respite. While there he was honored with the ti- tle of Knight of the Roman Em- pire. Upon his return to Amer- ica he settled in Washington, and through the influence of Henry Clay and other warm personal friends he was elected chaplain to the senate of the United States. On the invitation of Dr. Dubois, then bishop of New York, he after- wards removed to New York City, and officiated at St. Peter's, in Bar- clay Street, till 1849, when he went over to Brooklyn, ami purchased the church in Sydney Place, with which he was connected at the time of his death, in 1866. Dr. Pise was acknowledged to be one of the most eloquent and learned *J divines of bis Church in America,
Cumnor, c. 1356. Tackley, c. 1450. as he was one of the most indus-
PISGAH
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trious and faithful laborers in it. Aside from his la- bors with his spiritual charge, be was eminent both as a preacher and a lecturer. II'- devoted much time
to literary pursuits. He was tin- author of Letters <•?/ the Truths of Catholic Doctrines : <i Uisto Church from its Establishment to tin Reformation (1830, 5 vols. 8vo): The Acts of the Apostles in Verse: — The Lives of St. Ignatius and his Companions; and many other volumes in prose and verse. He also edited, main- years ago, in company with the late father Felis Yarella. I U>.. an influential magazine published in New York City, and known as the Catholic Expository, In the volumes of this work will be found many of his
happiest efforts both in verse and prose. A ng the
latter may be mentioned flora Vagabundce, & series of deeply interesting litters descriptive of his travels in Europe. They were eagerly sought after at the time of their publication. (J. II. W. )
Pis'gab. (lleh. Pisgah', ttabB, always with the art. |, the name of a mountain of Moab. It isinfacl an ancient topographical name found, in the Pentateuch and Joshua only, in two connections: 1. The top, or bead, of the l'is- gah ( CH ^N" I. from which Moses took his dyinir sur- vey of Canaan (Numb. XXI, 20 ; xxiii, 14; Dent. iii. 27; xxxiv, 1 1: 2. Ashdoth bap-Pisgah, perhaps the springs, or roots, of the PLsgah (Dent. iii. 17; iv, 49; Josh, xii, ;>; xiii. 20). See Ashdoth-Pisgah. The word hap- Pisgdh, nSDSfl, literally is tin section, from 303 = pOE, to divide, and hence it maj mean an isolated hill or peak. The rendering of the Sept. is not uniform. In Deut.iii. 17; xxxiv, 1 ; Josh. xii. .'1 ; xiii. 20, it is <baoya : but in Numb. xxi. 20; xxiii. 14; and Dent. iii. 27. the phrase nscsn rxi is rendered iropu^r) too XtXaZiv/itvov, which is a translation of the Hebrew, top ofthe cut moun- tain. The Vulgate has everywhere Phasga. The ref- erence to the scene of Most b's death l>v Josephus (Ant. iv, 8, 18) affords no additional light