Fall (Term used of the first sin)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

THE, a term used of the first sin of Adam, and hence often called "the fall of Adam," with which "original sin" his posterity are held to have had mysteriously to do; on which account we often meet with the term "the fall of man." The verb "to fall" is often used in a generic sense in Scripture for a lapse into sin (Ezek. xliv: 12, Rom. xiv: 13, I Cor. x: 12, Rev. ii: 5. The substantive is not used equivocally in the "The Fall" is therefore a same sense. theological rather than a scriptural term. According to the Biblical narration, God created man in His own image (Gen. i: 27), like the rest of creation "very good" (i: 31). In the midst of the garden of Eden, in which the first parents of our race were placed, was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This they were forbidden to eat on pain of death, all other trees being freely granted them for food (ii: 16-17). Beguiled by the serpent, Eve first yielded, and then, at her persuasion, Adam ate the forbidden fruit (Gen. iii: 1-6); after this they Vol. IV-Cyc-G FALLIÈRES feared to continue communion with God (8-10), had sentence pronounced against them (16-19), and were expelled from the blissful garden (24). In the New Testament it is indirectly hinted that the devil used the serpent as a mouthpiece, whence he is called "that old serwhich deceiveth the whole pent world" (Rev. xii: 9), and "the dragon that old serpent" (xx: 2), and is said by our Lord to have been "a murderer from the beginning" (John viii: 44). FALLIÈRES, ARMAND, 8th President of the French Republic. He was born at Mézin, Lot-et-Garonne, in 1841, and after his preliminary education took up the study of law. His first prominent public position was as mayor of ARMAND FALLIÈRES Nérac, following on which he was in 1876 elected as member of the Chamber of Deputies, where he sat with the republicans. His career in the chamber showed him to be possessed of much solid talent, and in 1880 he was appointed to act as Undersecretary in the Ministry of the Interior, holding that position during the Ferry administration till the beginning of 1882. After an interval he becar became , toward the end of the same year, head of the department under Duclerc, becoming in 1883 Minister of Public Instruction in the Ferry administration. When in 1887 Rouvier succeeded, he became Minister of the Interior, and was later (1887-1889) Minister of Justice and Public Instruction under Tirard, holding that position later under Freycinet, who was head of the administration from 1890 to 1892. In 1890 Fallières entered the Senate and gained much distinction in that chamber. In 1899 he was elected President of the Chamber, being re-elected eight times in succession. In the elections of 1906 he was put forward by the Socialists and Republicans as their candidate for President to succeed Loubet, easily winning over Doumer, who had the support of the Conservative elements. In January of the same year he was elected by the National Assembly by 449 votes to 371, assuming office as President in February. He held the office till succeeded by M. Poincaré in 1913. As President he gave support to the same principles and tendencies that had secured his adhesion during his public life, favoring the radical elements, and opposing the royalists and conservatives. The first year of his presidency was signalized by much public excitement, due to the resistance of religious associations to conform their organization to certain rules issued by the Government, which as a result compelled the evacuation of many churches, convents, and monasteries. In 1909 Fallières, in conjunction with the Cabinet, formed a separate Ministry of Labor. FALLING STARS. See METEOR.