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Pre-Existence – Pribram

Pre-Existence

existence previous to or before something else. Also, existence in a previous state; existence of the soul previous to its union with the body. Pre-existence was a doctrine of the Pythagoreans, and several others of the old philosophers, and is still found in many of the Eastern religions.

Pregnancy

the quality or state of being pregnant or with child; the state of a female who has conceived or is with child.

Prelate

an ecclesiastical dignitary of the highest order, having authority over the lower clergy, as an archbishop, or patriarch; a dignitary of the church.

Prelude

something introductory or preparatory to that which follows; an introductory or preparatory performance; an introduction. In music, a movement played before, or an introduction to a musical work or performance; a short introductory strain preceding the principal movement, performed on the same key as, and intended to prepare the ear for, the piece that is to follow.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Presbyter

an elder, or a person advanced in years who had authority in the early Christian Church (I Peter v: 1). Also, in the Presbyterian Church, a member of a presbytery; specifically, a minister. gov eceding the

Presbytery

in the Presbyterian Church, a court of judicature above the session and beneath the synod. The presbytery supervises all the congregations within its bounds, hears appeals from the decisions of sessions, examines candidates for the ministry, licenses probationers, and ordains ministers by laying on of hands. Appeal lies from it to the synod.

Prester John

PRESBYTER, or

Presumption

in law, in the absence of direct evidence that which comes nearest to the proof of a fact. Presumptions are of three degrees: Violent, in which those circumstances appear which necessarily attend the fact; probable, arising from such circumstances as usually attend the fact; and light (without validity).

Pretender

one who made claim to a throne under a pretense of right (as Perkin Warbeck, Lambert Simnel, in English history); specially applied to the son and grandson of James II., the heirs of the House of Stuart, who laid claim to the throne of England.

Pretoria

the capital of the former South African Republic (Transvaal), since 1910 the seat of government of the Union of South Africa. Pretoria was founded in 1855 by the Boer leader Pretorius. It owes its prosperity chiefly to the gold mines of Johannesburg, 30 miles distant. Pop. about 65,000.

Pribilof Islands

a group of islands on the coast of Alaska, in Bering Sea. The largest are St. Paul, St.

George, Walrus, and Beaver Islands.

They are frequented by numbers of fur seals. The natives are Aleutians.

Pribram

a mining town of Bohemia, 48 miles S. S. W. of Prague, with important lead and silver mines, and various manufactures. There is a mining academy, and a church much frequented by pilgrims. Pop. about 14,000.