Rac(c")ovian Catechism was a Polish Protes- tant compilation stating the different articles of the Slavic Reformers. It was published in 1605 at Racova, a city in the Polish palatinate Sandomir, which owed its origin to the Reformer John Sieminsky, and by his son's (Jacob) acceptance of the Socinian doctrines be- came the headquarters of this branch of the Polish Re- formed Church. Racova became the seat of a theologi- cal school. The general synods were held there, of which those of 1580 and 1603 are of historic importance; and, the printing of the Socinians being done there, the catechism came to be known as the Raccovian. It was prepared by Schmalz, Morkorzowsky, and Yijlkel, and was based on the theological writings of F. Socinus. A Latin edition was published in 1609, dedicated to King James I. of England; a German edition in 1608, dedi- cated to the Wittenberg Universitv. In 1818 Rees
made an English version of the Raccovian Catechism. An abridgment was published in Polish and German in 1605, 1623 ; and in 1629 in Latin. See Krasinski, Hist. of the Ref. in Poland, ii, 370 ; Gieseler, Ecclt ■••■. Hist. vol. iv; Mosheim, Eccles. Hist. vol. iii ; Liddon, Dioinity of Christ (see Index) ; Farrar, Critical Hist. «f Fr< e Thought, p. 391; Waterland, Works, vol. vi; Hallam, Mr. to Hist, of Lit. i, 554 ; ii, 335. (J. H. W.)
Race (prop. "ITO, Eccles. ix, 11; cpo/iog, "course;" but in the A. V. the rendering, likewise, of !"HX, a path, and in the New Test, only of aywv and otuSioc'). Races were evidently known to the Hebrews (Eccles. ix, 11). In the New Test, there are allusions to the various gymnastic sports and games celebrated by the Greeks. So the term "race" is often used in compari- sons drawn from the public races and applied to Chris- tians, as expressing strenuous effort in the Christian life and cause; and we are exhorted to strive after the rewards of the Gospel as strenuously as the athletes did in the public games (1 Cor. ix, 24-27 ; Gal. ii, 2 ; v, 7 ; Phil, ii, 16 ; iii, 14 ; 2 Tim. ii, 5 ; iv, 6-8 ; Heb. xii, 1). Among the principal public games noticed by the his- torians are the Olympic, which were celebrated every fifth year, the Pythian, Nemean, and the Isthmian. These exercises principally consisted in trials of strength and skill — in running on foot, wrestling, leaping, throw- ing the dart and discus, also in the horse-race and char- iot-race. See Game.
The stadium in which they took place was an oblong area terminated at one end by a straight line, at the other by a semicircle having the breadth of the stadium for its base. Around this area were ranges of seats rising above one another in steps. After the Roman conquest of Greece, the form of the stadium was often modified, so as to resemble the am- phitheatre, by mak- ing both its ends semicircular, and by surrounding it with seats supported by vaulted masonry, as in the Roman am- phitheatre. The Ephesian stadium still has such seats around a portion of it.
The most strict and laborious prepa- ration was made for these agonistic con- tests, and the whole course of prepara- tion, as well as the contest, was gov- erned by strict and established rules. The athletes who contended for the prize were divested of clothing ; every impediment was re- moved ; the prize was placed on a tri- pod in the middle of the stadium, in the full view of the com- petitors; and the crown was placed upon the conquer- or's head the mo- ment the issue was proclaimed by the The Stadiurn at Ephesus, as restored
judges. Those per-
by Ki
RACE
RACE
Ancient Greek Chariot-race.
sons who designed to contend in these games were obliged to repair to the public gymnasium at Elis ten months before the solemnity, where they prepared them- selves by continual exercises. No man who had omitted to present himself in this manner was allowed to con- tend for any of the prizes; nor were the accustomed re- wards of victory given to such persons, if by any means they introduced themselves and overcame their antago- nists. No person who was himself a notorious criminal, or nearly related to any such, was permitted to contend : and, further, if any person were convicted of bribing his adversary, a severe fine was laid upon him. Nor were these precautions alone though! a sufficient guard against evil and dishonorable contracts and unjust practices, but the contenders were obliged to swear that they had spent ten whole months in preparatory exercises; and both they and their fathers, or brethren, took a solemn oath that they would not. by any sinister or unlawful means, endeavor to stop the fair and just proceedings of i lie games i Potter, Greek .1 niiq.).
The races themselves were (1) the foot-race, (2) the hora -race, (3) the chariot-race, | 1 i the torch-race, either (a) on foot or (6) on horseback. Of all these the (irst was the simples! and the besf tesl of personal capacity. Hence the exercise of running was in great I'M cei n among the ancient Grecians, insomuch that those who prepared themselves for it thought it wortb their while to use means to hum or parch their spleen, be- cause it was believed to be a hindrance to them and to retard them in their course. Homer tells us that s\\ ift- ness is one of the mosl excellent endowments a man can be blessed withal: