THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
Bibliography: ASB, Feb., i. 771-776; Aldhelm, De laudibus virginitalis. ed. J. A. Giles, pp. 62-63, Oxford, 184.3; Dom Fea, Breve vita di S. Dorotea, Turin, 1889.
2. Dorothea the Recluse was bom at Montau, near Marienwerder (45 m. s.s.e. of Danzig), 1347; d. at Marienwerder 1394. She lived in Danzig with her husband until she was forty-four, and had nine children. Then she devoted herself to a solitary ascetic life, inhabiting a cell adjoining the cathedral of Marienwerder in 1393 and 1394, and following a rule which she said was divinely revealed to her. Miracles occurring at her grave and the universal veneration induced the grand master of the Teutonic Order and the clergy of the neighborhood to begin proceedings for her canonization; but these were stopped when it came out in 1404 that she had sharply criticized the Order and predicted its downfall. The people, however, continued to revere her and regarded her as the patron saint of Prussia.
(J. J. HERZOGf.)
Bibliography: Karly Vitm by different authors are collected in ASB, Oct., xiii. 493-575. Consult F. Hipler, Meister J. Marienwerder und die Klausnerin Dorothea von Montau, Leipsic, 1865.
DORT, SYNOD OF: The largest and, next to the Westminster Assembly, the most imposing of all synods of the Reformed Churches, convened by the States General of the Netherlands at the instance of the Calvinists to try to settle the disputes between the latter and the " Remonstrants," or followers of Jacobus Arminius (see Arminius; Remonstrants). It met at Dort (Dordrecht, on an island in the Meuse, 10 m. s.e. of Rotterdam)
Nov. 13, 1618, and adjourned May 9, Constitution 1619. The Dutch churches of the and Or- provinces sent thirty-five clergymen ganization. and a certain number of elders; the
States General were represented by six deputies; the academies by Gomarus and Polyander of Leyden, Thysius of Harderwyk, Lubbertus of Franeker, and Walajus of Middelburg. Foreign countries had been invited to participate, and twenty-seven delegates were present from the Palatinate (Abraham Scultetus and others), Nassau, Hesse (Georg Cruciger), East Friesland, Switzerland (J. J. Breitinger and Jean Diodati), England, and Scotland. [The English representatives appointed by King James I. were George Carleton, bishop of Llandaff (afterward of Chichester) ; John Davenant, bishop of Salisbury; Samuel Ward, professor at Cambridge; Joseph Hall, afterward bishop of Exeter and Norwich (who left during the sessions and was replaced by Thomas Goad); and Walter Balcanquall, a Scotchman and chaplain of the king.] Anhalt was not invited, Brandenburg declined to be represented, and four delegates chosen by the National Synod of France were forbidden to leave the country by Louis XIII. Jan Bogerman, pastor at Leeuwarden, was elected president, H. Faukelius and J. Rolandus were appointed assessors, and F. Hommius and S. Damman secretaries. The Remonstrants had chosen sixteen clergymen and the Leyden professor Simon Episcopiu to represent them. As they were late in arriving the first ses-
sions were devoted to a discussion of a new translation of the Bible, and it was agreed that three members should undertake the Old Testament, and three others the New; it was then declared that the Heidelberg Catechism should be expounded in sermons in all the churches.
Not until Dec. 6 and the twenty-second session was the main business of the gathering reached. The Remonstrants were told that they could merely express their opinions and the Synod would pronounce judgment. Against this they immediately protested. Episcopius in an eloquent speech said that they had all come of their own accord, and that they should not be accused of heterodoxy; while they were ready Proceed- to discuss the dogmas in question, ings, and they would not submit to any human Expulsion power or belief, but only to the word of the Re- of God in the Holy Scripture. Their monstrants. status in the Synod was discussed for many days, but finally the delegates of the States General decided that they had nothing to do but to defend their beliefs; the Synod must decide at the end. The Remonstrants then submitted successively written statements in defense of each of the Five Articles (see Remonstrants). They were asked to put in writing their objections to the Confession, at first refused to do so, but finally complied. The members of the Synod and of the States General sometimes addressed them very bruskly. Matters grew worse when the question arose whether the Remonstrants could speak against the convictions of their opponents. They unanimously refused to go on if they should not be allowed to do so, and it was decided to submit the question to the States General; in the mean time the Remonstrants must remain in Dort. Thus ended the year 1618. On Jan. 3, 1619, the Remonstrants were informed of the decision, which sustained the majority of the Synod, and they again declared that they could not accept it. It was decided to proceed without them. They tried to bring about a reconciliation by offering to answer any question submitted to them in writing, but the president rejected their proposal. On Jan. 18 (the fifty-seventh session) they were finally asked if they would submit, and answered decidedly " no." Bogerman delivered a passionate speech, exclaiming, " You have begun with lies and you end with lies," and concluding " Dimittimini, ite, ite." The net result of six weeks' time was that the Remonstrants were expelled, while they were commanded not to leave Dort.
The Synod now divided in groups which met in the morning to formulate their opinions about the doctrines of the Remonstrants, while they met in the afternoon for discussion. In the 125th session it was voted that the Five Articles of Decision the Remonstrants were contrary to of the the doctrine of the Reformed Church, Synod. and tluit their objections to the Confession and the Catechism were not supported by the authority of Scripture. A committee was appointed to express the final decision in the form of canons, which were adopted and