The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-25
ORIGIN. POWERS, DUTIES.
Meaning Of tho Word OF Bishop and
Divine Institution of tho Office.


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The word bishop IS derived from the
Greek episcopos. which was used by
writers or the earliest age In the gen.
eral sense OF "overseer," and was spe-
clal!y applied In later Greek to the Of
ncers whom the Athenians sent to sub
Ject states. In the Ink (t'. &. Num-
XXxi. ~; Far. xxx, ID episcOpos Is
used Tor an officer or prefect OF any
kihd. christians adopted the word as
the title or an ecclesiastical dignitary,
chief pastor. 1t is therefore evident
that bishop is superior to ordinary
priests and as defined by the council Of
Trent, his superiority Is Of divine insti-
tuition.
The divine institution of the episco-
pacy was the belief Of the Anglican
church. as we'll as the Catholic. for a
long period of time. and never has the
former formally cast Off this belief
Protestants, generally. do not pretend
to have bishops, or. if they have clergy
men officiating In similar capacity, they
do not attribute to them any authority
further than that bestowed by the
church
The word episkopos Is first used in the
Acts OF the Apostles. Xxx. 2S where st.
Paul says to the clergy Of Ephesus:
TAKE heed to yourselves and to the
whole flock. In which the Holy Ghost
made you bishops" The contention of
Protestant writers is that the Greek
episkopos or bishGp and presbyter, were
In the days of theAapostles synonymous
terms. and that they corresDonded In
grade OF ecclesiastical dignity to the
ministers or clergymen of the present.
and therefore conclude that there were
no bishops in the modern sense Of the
term.
RIsuOp O7 IEpIrcArr>,
,r,
me IolioWlns argument Is advanced
y! Na'moIc writers 10 snow tnat st.
,aI'.es .ne Less was pisnop OF Jerusa-
ie"i' ~ 'he year H. When 81. feter
Mss ieeaseu from prison' ne desired
,iio,iia,Iui ,hn ,, u pe given 10 James ana
,ne ore,n!en. Al the apostoiic councll
'a,lIes .. ueii.erS Juasnlent wherefore L
Juust. 81. raui; III MS epistie 10 the
Tala.Iahs, I, uescriDes Judaizefs from
Je.usa,e,Ii Je y, as certain VINO came from
atn, mus iallihs the cnurch py its
oIsnop, III AUS ANi, Is. 81. Patl is said
W na>e maui -" loLniai WISH 10 St.
o., ~ '''u '., W nis piSsuy .ers opeahins
Jn Yn .e uue".ion "he'her or not ot'
Ian..s = ,n,', was pi'Iop VI Jerusalem. Or.
,ha ah,o,t ',.,. u,snop " nurnani, PIopaDiy
ane ', ao,ss' writer VINO ever attacked the
po'' .hat e. o,ls III VI ..e episcopacy, says
ne. .n.. a. '"!nes was the precedent ana
MI" MI u y, ..u ias'eT episcopate.
,,.,. i Va iie"t says that u
Ir'. S"p 20 'he su,'IesoS vi the aPostieS.
ms t"e sicrah'eht ol Or
uoi -, al il' iu''iess' ne cai IKE the
apoe'ies' coii,'th', oIuaih priests ana
cohsecia.e otheI pishops. WIN reier-
ence 10 orueI' n'shop Is as hisn as the
pope hiniseH. IL Is ihcuinDeft upon
olsnop 10 Dear witness 10 the 1aith anu
.lau'',on VI MS predecessor anu ol MS
hoch. ,ose,her wiz. many other uuties'
uii VI Mnic" TIGHTS ne eAerc'ses III UNION
WIN anu suph''ss'oh 10 'he see ol
refer.
rNery p.lest ,.rousnou, t!e u,ccese,
Wheh saying mass, prays ior ,he pishop
w bs 1. m.ns addressed Id @ " ns Most Hniy @ Mos, ninst
Blessed, Lord (dominus), Your Holi-
ness (sanctitas tua). These titles are
now reserved to the pope. A bishop Is
addressed by the pope as venerable
brother"
The ornaments and insignia of the
office of bishop are the pectoral cross,
small tunic. daImatic. ring. mitre, cro-
zier, gremial. gloves. stockings. slip
pers. episcopal throne and pontitical
vestmcnts. The pectordl cross is worn
by the bishop on the breast and recalls
to mind the custom of the first Chris
tians. who always wore u cross sus-
pended from the neck. The slnan tunic
and dalmatic are the two ornaments
peculiar to the sub-deac0n and deacon
and are worn by the bishop to show
that he is clothed with the plenitude of
the priesthood. The ring signifies the
alliance which the bishop contracts
with his church in his conservation.
and the mitre is an ornament the orl-
gin of which dates back to the ancient
law and signifies the royalty of the
priesthood: the two pieces which hang
down on the shoulders signify the old
and new testaments. with both OF
which the bishop must he perfectly
conversant. H-'
THE RISHOP'S ScEpTER
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