More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Adventists
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a sect in the United States, founded by William Miller, and sometimes called Millerites, which believed that Christ's second coming would occur in October, 1843. When their hopes were not realized, the number of believers decreased. The Adventists still look with certainty for the coming of Christ, but not at a fixed time. They are now divided into the following bodies: Evangelical, Advent Christian, Seventh Day, Church of God, Life and Advent Union, and Churches of God in Jesus Christ. The largest of these is the Seventh Day Adventists, with (in 1919) 4,181 churches, 162,667 members, 1,102 ordained ministers, 5,610 Sabbath schools, 1,446 young people's societies, 41 publishing houses printing 142 periodicals, 32 sanitariums, and total contributions amounting to over $6,985,000. Of the 77 educational institutions connected with The the church 16 have college courses. other four branches had a total membership (1919) of about 45,000, with 850 churches and 970 ministers.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: Second Adventists, or Millerites, a sect founded by William Miller in 1831, on a belief in the speedy coming of Christ to reign on the earth. The idea of Christ's second coming is not original with the Adventists. The sect baptizes by immersion. One branch of the church called Seventh Day Adventists observes Saturday, or the seventh day, instead of the Hebrew Sabbath as a day of rest. The six branches of the church have in all about 2,283 churches, 1,505 ministers, and 92,505 communicants. See Sabbath
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Aeacus
1000 Classical Characters: Son of Zeus ( Jupiter ) and Aegina, a daughter of the river-god Asopus, was born in the island of Aegina, which derived its name from his mother. Aeacus was renowned 'in all Greece for his justice and piety, and after his death became one of the three judges in Hades.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: e'a-kus. See Aegina
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Aegis
Aiton's Encyclopedia: e'jis, the shield of Jupiter. Among ancient writers the word sometimes designates the rushing stormcloud, enveloping the thunderbolt which was Jupiter's special weapon. Others apply the word to the skin of the goat, Amalthea, which Zeus used as defensive armor in his war with the Titans. Later writers regard the aegis both as a buckler and as a breastplate. In ancient art it frequently appears as a sort of mantle fringed with serpents, worn over the breast or left arm to serve as a defense in time of need. Jupiter permitted both Apollo and Minerva to wear the aegis. The word aegis is used figuratively for any protective power or influence. In the Iliad, Homer (Bryant's translation) describes Minerva prepared for conflict: Her shoulder bore The dreadful aegis, with its shaggy brim Bordered with Terror. There was Strife, and there Was Fortitude, and there was fierce Pursuit, And there the Gorgon's head, a ghastly sight, Deformed and dreadful, and a sign of woe When borne by Jupiter.
1000 Classical Characters: The shield of Jupiter . He gave it to Pallas, who placed Medusa 's head on it, which turned into stones all those who gazed at it.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Aesculapius
Aiton's Encyclopedia: es-ku-la'pi-us, in classic mythology, the god of medicine. He was the son of Apollo. He had wondrous skill in the healing art. On complaint of Pluto that mortals were prevented by him from dying, and that Hades was becoming depopulated, Zeus slew Aesculapius with a thunderbolt, but at Apollo's request placed him among the stars. In art he is represented usually as an aged, bearded man carrying a staff, around which a serpent, an emblem of wisdom, wraps its coils. His temples were placed usually without the city walls in some healthful spot, possibly near a fountain. The sick were wont to sacrifice a cock or goat to Aesculapius. In case of recovery a votive tablet recording the cure was hung up in the temple. Physicians are sometimes called "disciples of Aesculapius." In Homer Aesculapius is not spoken of as a god, but simply as "the blameless physician."
1000 Classical Characters: Known to the Greeks as Asclepius . Son of Apollo and Coronis, or as some say of Apollo and Larissa, daughter of Phlegias, was the god of medicine. He married Epione and they had two sons, famous for their skill in medicine, Machaon and Podalirus; of their four daughters, Hygeia , goddess of health, is the most celebrated .
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Aeson
1000 Classical Characters: Son of Cretheus, was born at the same birth as Pelias . He succeeded his father in his father in the kingdom of Iolchos, but was soon exiled by his brother. He married Alcimeda , by whom he had Jason , whose education he entrusted to Chiron . When Jason reached manhood he demanded his father's kingdom from his uncle, who gave him evasive answers, and persuaded him to go in quest of the Golden Fleece . On his return Jason found his father very infirm, and at his request Medea drew the blood from Aeson's veins and refilled and refilled them with the juice of certain herbs, which restored the old man to the vigor of youth.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: e'son. See Medea ; Jason
Covered by 1000 Classical Characters and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Agincourt
Collier's New Encyclopedia: now AZINCOURT, a small village in the center of the French department of Pas-de-Calais, celebrated for a bloody battle between the English and French, Oct. 25, 1415. Henry V., of England, had landed at Harfleur, had taken that fortress and was marching to Calais, in order to go into winter quarters. But a French army, vastly superior in number, intercepted the English march to Calais, near the village of Agincourt. The invading army, weakened in numbers, and suffering from want of provisions, was still 14,000 strong; the French, under the Constable d'Albret, numbered 50,000,
Aiton's Encyclopedia: aj'in-kort, a French village about thirty miles from the English Channel . It is noted as the scene of a victory won by the English over the French October 25, 1415. Fifteen thousand English under Henry V routed 50,000 French under Constable d'Albret. The French horse fell into the mire. The battlefield became a scene of butchery. Six dukes, many lords and knights, and 10,000 men-at-arms fell. Agincourt is called sometimes the "French Flodden." 2026 Editor's Note: Agincourt lives now mainly through Shakespeare — Henry V's St Crispin's Day speech , 'we few, we happy few, we band of brothers.' Modern historians think the article's lopsided numbers are inflated; the English longbow and a rain-soaked, muddy field did most of the work. The popular tale that the battle gave us the rude two-finger salute is folklore. (Ed: BR 2026-07-20)
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and Aiton's Encyclopedia