The primary meaning of Chapel was a chest containing relics or their shrine. Now it is a place of worship subordinate to a cathedral or large church, or connected with a castle, university or other institution.

Though often treated as a proper name by the translators, Belial is really an abstract term meaning "that which is without use or profit," hence "wickedness." "Sons of Belial" is one of the commonest forms in use.

The staff, terminating in a cross, carried before archbishops, is known as the crozier; it was used as early as 500 a. d. The crozier of an archbishop differs from that of a bishop in having a cross instead of a crook on the top.

Canonization is the act by the Pope of declaring a deceased person to be a saint. The deceased's name is then put in the Canon or Litany of the saints, and a day dedicated to his honor. Canonization cannot take place within less than fifty years of the death of the person to be canonized.

The Cartesian doctrines, founded on the principle "I know, therefore I am," were first promulgated by Rene Descartes of Touraine in 1837. He held that thought proceeded from the soul, so that man was not entirely material, and that the soul must be from some being not material - i. e. God.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the reception of the tonsure, a bare circle on the crown of the head, precedes admission into orders, and is administered by the bishop. The Greek priests also bear the tonsure. The earliest ecclesiastical precept on the tonsure occurs in a canon of the Council of Toledo (633 a. d.).

All travelers in India have seen the Bonze, which is the European name for Buddhist priests, who in many respects resemble monks in the Christian Church, doing penance and praying for the sins of the laity. There are also female bonzes.

There are three religious systems in China: That of Yu, restored by Koun-fou-tse (Confucius); the State religion, in which the emperor acts as the priest and intermediator; and the third is Buddhism. There are, however, Moslems, Christians and even a few Jews in China.

The name of Buddhists (i.e., "the enlightened,") is applied to the followers of Gautama Siddhartha, the Sakya Muni, generally called Buddha, a prince of Central India. Founded about 500 B.C. Buddhism is the chief religion in India beyond the Ganges, China, Japan and Ceylon.

In the National Museum at the City of Mexico is the stone head of an idol which, until its discovery by some missionaries a short time ago, was still being worshipped by the Indians in the State of Morelos. The head was on a statue of immense size, covered with a crocodile's hide.

The Swedehborgians, or "The New Jerusalem Church," are the followers of Dr. Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772). They hold peculiar views respecting salvation, inspiration, and the Trinity. In regard to the Trinity, they believe it to be centred in the person of Jesus Christ.

The purgatory of the Islamites is called Al Araf, and it is supposed to be located half way between hell and paradise. Mohammed is believed by the whole sect of Islam to be the only person who has ever gone to paradise without being forced to go through a preparatory course at Al Araf.

Among curious copies of the Scriptures is one known as the Breeches Bible, printed in 1577 by Whittingham, Gilby, and Sampson. So called because Gen. iii. 7 runs thus: "The eyes of them bothe were opened and they sewed figge-tree leaves together and made themselves breeches." It is also called the "Geneva Bible."

Dies irce (day of wrath) are the opening words of a Latin hymn which describes the judgment of the world. Ascribed to various authors, among others to Pope Gregory the Great (590) and St. Bernard, but more generally to Tommaso da Celano (fifteenth century); c. 1385 adopted into the Roman Catholic Church liturgy.

The Zendavesta is said to have been written by Zoroaster in letters of gold on twelve thousand skins of parchment, and to have been deposited by Darius Hystaspes in the Castle of Persepolis, about b. c. 500. " Zend" is the language and "avesta"=text. The compound word means the sacred books of Zoroaster in the Zend tongue.

Gehenna is the place of everlasting torment. Strictly speaking, it means the Valley of Hinnom (Ge Hinnom), where sacrifices to Moloch were offered, and where refuse of all sorts was subsequently cast, for the consumption of which fires were kept constantly burning. There was also a sort of aqua tofana, called liquor Gehenna.

Kulturkampf is the term applied to the ecclesiastical controversy with the Church of Rome in Germany, arising from an effort of the State to vindicate its right to interfere in the affairs of all religious societies. The contest began in 1872 with the expulsion of the Jesuits, and ended with Prince Bismarck's concessions in revisions of the politico-ecclesiastical legislation in 1886 and 1887.

Taouism is the name given to a religious system in China founded by Lao-Tseu, who was born b. c. 604. It has degenerated into a sort of polytheism. Its priests, who are looked on as magicians and astrologers, are consulted about the sites of houses, burial grounds, fortunate days, and other responses of the fortune-teller's character.

The Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States holds a general conference once in four years, which is the highest legislative body in that Church. The Wesleyan-Methodists also hold an annual conference in Great Britain, at which the business of the body is transacted and arrangements for the circuits made for the year.

The Agapemone (abode of love), is a conventual establishment near Bridgewater, England, instituted 1859, by Henry J. Prince, formerly a clergyman. Its members profess to devote themselves to spiritual recreation, and maintain spiritual marriage. The sect, which had fallen into obscurity, has recently come again into prominence.

The religion of the followers of Mahommed (570-632) is embodied in the Koran. It includes belief in one God, in angels, in good and evil spirits, in a general resurrection and judgment, with future rewards and punishments, in predestination, and in a Paradise where the faithful spend their time in the society of beautiful women (houris).