To bring order out of religious chaos, the English Parliament convened an assembly of Protestant divines at Westminster Abbey, 1642. To win over the Scots, Parliament, 1643, ordered the Assembly to frame a suitable Confession of Faith as a common basis of agreement. Dominated by Calvinists, the Assembly submitted the complete "Westminster Confession" to Parliament, 1646. After revisions it was ratified by Parliament, 1647, and by the Scottish Church, and regarded by Presbyterians generally as authoritative. A Larger and a Shorter Catechism were also compiled and approved. These three documents supplanted the earlier standards in the Reformed Churches of English speech. The Confession is the latest and most elaborate of the Reformed creeds. The Westminster Confession, and Catechisms are adopted by the Presbyterians of Scotland, Ulster, and America; and are accepted with modifications by Congregationalists, Regular Baptists, and other newer sects.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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