Watchers a class of monks who are said to have performed divine service without intermission, by dividing themselves into three classes, and taking their turns at the service at stated hours. SEE ACOEMETAE. The term is applied to the keepers of the Easter sepulchre. Usually there were two or three who sang psalms and maintained the watch. The term is also used to designate the keepers of the Church who went the rounds at night.
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