Zirkoff B. - Appendix (BCW vol.10): Difference between revisions

'''Adalbert of Magdeburg'''. Allegedly a Bishop-impostor, whose activities took place in the eighth century. The so-called pagan doctrines still exercized a considerable influence at the time over the Christian population of the Empire of the Francs. It was St. Boniface who denounced Adalbert, together with some other ecclesiastics, and lodged a complaint against them with Pope Zachary. The latter declared Adalbert to be unworthy of his clerical status, as he confused the people and turned them away from God. It does not seem to be clear as to just exactly what Adalbert was doing at the time, but it has been said that he was erecting crosses and little chapels in the fields, and was looked upon as a saint by the people. He was said to possess special knowledge concerning the names of the Angels, and this was the main reason why he had been compared by the Pope to Simon the Magician (Jaffé, Monum. Moguntina, p. xlviii). Adalbert was condemned for the first time at the Synod of Soissons, 744; and again at a Council of the Francs, 745. As no results ensued, the affair was brought up before a Roman Synod, in 745, presided by Pope Zachary himself. An alleged biography of Adalbert was displayed at the deliberations of the Synod; Adalbert was supposed to be a native of Gaul, who had had angelic visions in his early youth and had decided to lead a religious life; he had somehow or other obtained the rank of a Bishop in a non-canonical manner; a legend was current to the effect that he had been specially sanctified and dedicated even before his birth (Jaffe, op. cit., p. 142); that a letter from Christ himself had fallen down from heaven at Jerusalem and was being spread around by Adalbert; and that he had composed a special prayer which was introducing his cult of Angels, and invented new names for them (Jaffe, op. cit., p. 144 et seq.). A considerable battle ensued between Boniface and Adalbert, which eventually led to a severe pronouncement on the part of the Pope who anathematized Adalbert, and removed him from the exercise of all his functions. At a later date, Adalbert became active once more and the controversy flared up again. We have no definite information concerning this period, but it is known that Adalbert was finally detained at Fulda, and eventually killed by some shepherds (Jaffe, op. cit., Ixiii; Pertz, Monum. Germ. Hist. Script., Vol. II, p. 355).

Consult also: C.J. von Hefele, Conciliengeschichte, Freiburg i. B., 1855-74; Seiters, Bonifacius, der Apostel der Deutschen, Mainz, 1845.

'''Addison, Joseph'''. English essayist, poet and politician, b. in his father’s rectory of Milston in Wiltshire, May 1, 1672; d. June 17, 1719. After attending several schools, entered Queen’s College, Oxford, at the age of fifteen. Most skilful in writing Latin poems for which he received various distinctions. Travelled on the Continent, 1699-1703. The next ten years of his life were spent in government service and in writing various essays in {{Page aside|411}}defence of the Whigs. He is best known for his daily paper called the Spectator, which ran for about two years and in which he wrote a large number of essays in faultless English. On the accession of George I, Addison was appointed secretary to the lords justices entrusted provisionally with the conduct of the government; he then became chief secretary for Ireland. He was later one of the commissioners for trade and the colonies.

A complete edition of Addison’s works is included in Bohn’s British Classics. It is not definitely known what particular essay or article of Addison’s H. P. B. quotes from.