Verge (Lat. viigya) is a staff of wood or metal, surmounted with a figure, emblem, or device, borne before a bishop, dean, rector, or vicar, in entering or leaving church, and on other public occasions. Several specimens of verges of the period of the Restoration, made of precious metals, exist in some of the churches of London. The term is also used for a rod or staff carried as an emblem of authority; also a stick or wand with which people are admitted tenants, by holding it in the hand and swearing fealty to the owner.
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