Decretum (or Decretale) is the letter of the clergy and people of a city, sent to the metropolitan and the comprovincial bishops, signifying the election cf a bishop of their city, whom they required to be consecrated. Gregory of Tours says that in the choice of Mauritius the electors could not come to one decretum. The name is also given to a form to be read by the deacon when a bishop is "designated." The difference between this and the foregoing decretum appears to be that the one was sent by the hands of some official of the vacant see immediately on the election of the bishop; if, thereupon, the pope gave his assent, the bishop became technically designate, and the deacon of his church read the decretale or petition for consecration.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More