Collier's New Encyclopedia

A complete general encyclopedia of 1921 — the world as it was understood just after the Great War, from Aachen to Zwingli, across twelve volumes and six thousand pages.

HomeT › Texas (State in the South Central)

Texas (State in the South Central)

a State in the South Central bounded bounded by Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, the States of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Tamaulipas in Mexico, and the Gulf of Mexico; admitted to the number of counties, 253; area, 265,780 Union Dec. 29, 1845; capital, Austin; square miles; pop. (1890) 2,235,527; (1900) 3,048,710; (1910) 3,896,542; (1920) 4,663,228. is covered with mountains, which, in pro- Topography The surface in the N.W. ceeding S. E., subside into hills and undulating plateaus, succeeded on approaching the Gulf of Mexico, by. low alluvial plains. These extend inland from 20 to 80 miles, are furrowed with deep ravines, and consist for the most part of rich prairie or forest land. The hilly region behind this is formed chiefly of sandstone and limestone ridges, separated by valleys of considerable fertility. In the mountainous region many of the summits are lofty, and covered with snow several months of the year. The general slope of the country gives all the rivers Rio Grande, rising in Colorado, forms the a more or less southerly direction. The W. and S. W. boundary of the state, from the 32d parallel to the sea. The Red river, which has its source in the Staked Plain, forms the greater part of the N. boundary. The other important rivers Jacinto and Trinity, and the Sabine, are the Colorado, the Brazos, the San which, during the greater part of its and Louisiana. A long chain of lagoons course, is the boundary between Texas stretches along the Gulf of Mexico. taceous, and Carboniferous periods are Geology-The Alluvial, Tertiary, Cre- TERTULLIANUS TERTULLIANUS the Montanist sect. According to Jer- can sufficiently extol the eloquence of pugnance to the laxity of the Roman clergy in their reception of the Lapsi, is among the Latins what Origen is thought, every sentence is a victory. He rinum; "almost every word conveys a Church," but the chief causes were thought, every sentence is a victory. He doubtless the uncompromising character is among the Latins what Origen is of his natural disposition, and his re- among the Greeks-the greatest of all." pugnance to the laxity of the Roman Like Origen, Tertullian was a man of clergy in their reception of the Lapsi, great genius, sincerity, and zeal, a vigorand very probably the favor shown to ous ascetic, and an indefatigable worker, the Patripassian heresy by the Roman and, though wielding great influence over دو bishops Zephyrinus and Callistus. He which is rendered less likely by the fact old age" (Jerome). Augustine says that he at last withdrew from the M and "propagated conventicles of his own, which is rendered less likely by the fact Montanists, that the Montanist sect survived in threw all his great gifts of learning, imname of "Tertullianists." ligious controversies of his time for 30 agination, eloquence, and wit into the reand vehement disposition" (Jerome), who threw all his great gifts of learning, imlove for substantiality and strength, he years (190-220). Along with the Roman ligious controversies of his time for 30 years (190-220). Along with the Roman love for substantiality and strength, he had the "bitter, stern, and harsh temper" which Plutarch ascribes to the Carspeculative thought that distinguish the harmonious form, and the instinct for sonableness and calmness, the feeling for greatest Greek fathers of the Church. speculative thought that distinguish the greatest Greek fathers of the Church.

He had the heart of a Christian with his contemporaries, was never more than a presbyter. Like him, too, this champion of the Christian faith against all opthe Christians of his time. Both show was himself a heretic to the majority of ponents, Jews, heathens, and heretics, the same contempt of the world and enthusiasm for martyrdom. But in the was himself a heretic to the majority of tween them is as striking as in their natural temper and their literary style. tendency of their views the contrast beleanings toward materialism, Origen a Tertullian is an intense realist, with pure idealist. Origen, like Justin, holds that Greek philosophy was "a prepara- pure idealist. Origen, like Justin, holds Tertullian is an intense realist, with tion for the Gospel," "a fragment of eternal truth from the theology of the everliving Word." Tertullian thinks that nal truth from the theology of the ever- tion for the Gospel,' "a fragment of eter- "philosophers are blockheads when they knock at the gates of truth," and that "philosophers are blockheads when they "they have contributed nothing whatever that a Christian can accept." "The eloquence of the one," says Presensé, "is broad and transparent like his genius: tribune of the people passionately haranguing the crowd in the forum or at the of the other is a turbid mountain tor- it is a noble, full, majestic river; that cross roads; he is the ancient orator, images, his grandiose pathos." the adroit intellect of an advocate. His it is a noble, full, majestic river; that aim is always to make his adversaries of the other is a turbid mountain torstream of strong argument and satire, pours unsparingly on stream of strong argument and satire, style is most vivid, vigorous, and con- and hyporboles of a special pleader. His mixed with the sophisms, insinuations, them a fiery and hyporboles of a special pleader. His style is most vivid, vigorous, and concise, abounding in harsh and obscure extransitions, with here and there bursts transitions, with here and there bursts Lamennais. What appear to be African er at one time of Carlyle, at another of of glowing eloquence, reminding the reader at one time of Ca Lamennais. What appear to be African Carlyle, at another of provincialisms Niebuhr contends are only words and expressions taken from the ancient Latin writers.

He was the first to give such words as persona, liberum arbitrium, trinitas, He was the first to give such words satisfacio, sacramentum, substantia, etc., the place they hold in Christian theology. example, "the blood of the martyrs is Many sentences of Tertullian's, as, for the place they hold in Christian theology. example, "the blood of the martyrs is etc .. the seed of the Church"; "Christ is truth, not custom"; "It is absolutely credible because absurd-it is certain because im- not custom"; "It is absolutely credible possible"; "the human race has always deserved ill of God"; "the unity of here- possible"; "the human race has always tics is schism"; "it is contrary to religion to compel religion"; "how wise an arguer does ignorance seem to herself religion to compel religion; "how wise to be" have become proverbial. "Who for the Times." Most of them are short.

They are a rich mine of information as His writings have been called "Tracts heathens in his time. Though perhaps to the relations between Christians and not the first of the Latin Christian writers, Tertullian was the creator of ecclesilanguage a new character, as he bent it to the service of Christian ideas. His heathens in his time. Though perhaps to the relations between Christians and works are divided into three classes: language a new character, as he bent it to the service of Christian ideas. His 1891), addressed to the Roman authori- (1) Controversial writings against ties, is an attempt to establish the Christian's right to toleration. A popular edition of this work is presented in his two ties, is an attempt to establish the Chris- Hauck believe, of earlier date. In his "Concerning the Testimony of the Soul" he acutely develops the thought that Christianity responds to the religious necessi marcom In 1901 Tesla discovered that the capacity of the electrical conductor is variable, ity of the electrical conductor is variable, In 1901 Tesla discovered that the capacfor tific research. In 1906 he was forced thus opening up a new field for scienhis patents, but won his case.

← Tewkesbury (Old market town)Tessellated Pavement →