THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
logne, 1824); Die vorziiglichsten Denkwiirdigkeiten der christ-katholischen Kirche (7 vols., Mainz, 1825-41); Die katholische Kirche, ein Gegensatz des Rationalismus und Aftermysticismus (Diisseldorf, 1827); Die alte und neue Erzdiiicese Koln (4 vols., 1828—30); Ueber die zweckmdssige Einrichtung des uralten katholischen Gottesdienstes und den heilsamen Gebrauch der lateinischen Sprache bei demselben (1832); Ueber den Gebrauch des Christenblutes bei den Juden (1834); Pragmatische Geschichte der deutschen Concilien (7 vols., 1835-49); Der katholische Bruderund Schwesterbund zu cincr rein katholischen Ehe (1838); De proepiscopis sire suffraganeis Coloniensibus extraordinariis (Mainz, 1843); Zeugnisse fur die Echtheit des heiligen Rockes zu Trier (3 parts, Diisseldorf, 1845-46); Die geistlichen Gerichte vom 12.-19. Jahrhundert (2 parts, 1849); Der heilige Hilarius (Leipsic, 1851); Hermann II., Erzbischof von Koln (Diisseldorf, 1851); Ueber den Hoslienhandel in Deutschland und Frankreich (2d ed., 1852); and Die geheimen Vorschriften der Jesuiten {Monita Secreta), ein altes Lilgenwerk (1853).
For his life consult: ADB, vol. ii; K. Werner, Geschichte der katholischen Theologie seit dem Trienter Konzil bis zur Gegenwart, pp. 391-393; KL, ii, 848-854 (in considerable, detail).
BIRCH, THOMAS: Church of England clergyman and author; b. in London Nov. 23, 1705;. d. there Jan. 9, 1766. He was ordained priest in 1731, although of Quaker parentage and without a university education; was an ardent Whig and, having influential patrons, received many good preferments, holding at the time of his death the rectories of St. Margaret Pattens, London, and Depden, Suffolk. He was an indefatigable writer, and his works have been criticized as showing more industry than judgment; they include a number of volumes relating to English history; lives of Robert Boyle (London, 1744), Archbishop Tillotson (1752), and others, as well as most of the English biographies in the General Dictionary (10 vols., 1734-41); editions of Milton's prose (1738), Sir Walter Raleigh's works (1751), and the works and letters of Lord Bacon (1765); History of the Royal Society of London (4 vols., 1756-57); numerous communications in the " Philosophical Transactions" and other periodical publications. Bibliography: J. Nichols, Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, i, 585-637, ii, 507, iii, 258, v, 40-43, 53, 282-290, London, 1812-15; DNB, v, 68-70.
BIRD, FREDERIC MAYER: Protestant Episcopalian; b. at Philadelphia June 28, 1838; d. in South Bethlehem, Pa., Apr. 3, 1908. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1857) and Union Theological Seminary (1860). He was ordained to the Lutheran ministry in 1860, and after serving as an army-chaplain in 1862-63, held several pastorates. In 1870 he became Protestant Episcopal rector of Spotswood, N. J., from 1870 to 1874. Seven years later he was appointed professor of psychology, Christian ethics, and rhetoric in Lehigh University, remaining there in this capacity, as well as in that of chaplain, until 1886. He was also acting chaplain there in 1896-98, and from 1893 to 1898 was editor of Lippincott's Magazine. In the latter year be became associate editor of Chandler's Encyclopedia. In addition to numerous contributions to periodicals and encyclopedias, including most of the American matter in Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology (London, 1892), he has edited Charles Wesley Seen in his Finer and Less Familiar Poems ( New York, 1 867 ) ; the Hymns of the Lutheran Pennsylvania ministerium (Philadelphia,
1865; in collaboration with S. M. Schmucker); and (Songs of the Spirit (New York, 1871; in collaboration with Bishop W. H. Odenheimer). He made a noteworthy collection of hymnology, now in Union Theological Seminary, New York City.
BIRETTA. See Vestments and Insignia, Ecclesiastical.
BIRGITTA, ST., AND THE BIRGITTINE OR- DER. See Bridget, Saint, of Sweden.
BIRINUS, SAINT: First bishop of the West Saxons; d. Dec. 3, 650. He was a Benedictine monk at Rome and was given a missionary commission by Pope Honorius I. After being consecrated bishop at Genoa by Astenus, archbishop of Milan, he landed in Wessex about 634. He baptized its king, Cynegils, in 635, Oswald of Northumbria standing as sponsor. He fixed his see at Dorchester (now a small village, 8 m. s.e. of Oxford), and gained influence in Wessex and Mercia. Cwichelm, the son of Cynegils, was baptized in 636; Cuthred, Cwichelm's son, in 639; Cenwalh, the brother and successor of Cynegils, in 646. Bibliography: Bede, Hist, eccl., iii, 7.
BISHOP: A spiritual overseer in the Christian Church. The origin of the office, its historic development, and theories of its relative dignity will be found discussed in the article Polity; for views of different communions concerning the office, see Episcopacy; this article will deal mainly with the selection of bishops and their duties.
In the Roman Catholic Church the bishop holds the first place in the hierarchy, not as belonging to a separate order, but as having the fulness of the priesthood. Conditions for consecration are the following: legitimate birth, the age of thirty years, eminent learning, and moral probity. In the ordinary case the candidate is supposed also to be a native of the country and acceptable to the government. The choice of the person belongs, on the curialist theory, to the pope; but in practise it is generally left to the chapter, either by election, or when there are canonical impediments to be removed, as when translation from another see is required, by Postulation (q.v.); or
Election it may occur through nomination and by the government. The candidate
Consecra- must then receive the papal contion. firmation, after examination as to his fitness. This is made first by a papal delegate in the place of the election (processus informativus in partibus electi), after which a second investigation takes place at Rome, by the committee of cardinals appointed for the purpose (congregatio examinis episcoporum) ; this second examination is called processus electionis definitivus in curia. If both prove favorable to the candidate, he is confirmed, preconized, and put in possession of his powers of jurisdiction, though not, of course, of those pertaining to orders until his consecration, which is supposed to occur within three months. It is administered by a bishop designated by the pope, with the assistance of two other bishops or prelates, in the cathedral of the new bishopV diocese. The candidate takes the ancient oath