Difference between revisions of "Convocation"

<p> An assembly of persons for the worship of God, &nbsp;Leviticus 23:1-44 : Numb. 28: &nbsp; Exodus 12:16 . An assembly of the clergy for consultation upon matters ecclesiastical. As the parliament consists of two distinct houses, so does this convocation. the one called the upper house, where the archbishops and bishops sit severally by themselves; the other the lower house, where all the rest of the clergy are represented by their deputies. </p> <p> The inferior clergy are represented by their proctors; consisting of all the deans and archdeacons; of one proctor for every chapter, and two for the clergy, of every diocese </p> <p> in all, one hundred and forty-three divines, viz. twenty-two deans, fifty-three archdeacons, twenty-four prebendaries, and forty-four proctors of the diocesan clergy. The lower house chooses its prolocutor, who is to take care that the members attend, to collect their debates and votes, and to carry their resolutions to the upper house. The convocations is summoned by the king's writ, directed to the archbishop of each province, requiring him to summon all bishops, deans, archdeacons, &c. The power of the convocation is limited by a statute of Henry VIII. they are not to make any canons, or ecclesiastical laws, without the king's license; nor, when permitted, can they put them in execution but under several restrictions. </p> <p> They have the examining and censuring all heretical and schismatical books and persons, &c; but there lies an appeal to the king in chancery, or to his delegates. The clergy in convocation, and their servants, have the same privileges as members of parliament. In 1665, the convocation of the clergy gave up the privilege of taxing themselves to the house of commons, in consideration of their being allowed to vote at the election of members for that house. Since that period they have been seldom allowed to do any business; and are generally prorogued from time to time till dissolved, a new convocation being generally called along with a new parliament. </p>

<p> CONVOCATION, n. L. </p> 1. The act of calling or assembling by summons. 2. An assembly. <p> In the first day there shall be a holy convocation. &nbsp;Exodus 12 . </p> 3. In England, an assembly of the clergy, by their representatives, to consult on ecclesiastical affairs. It is held during the session of parliament, and consists of an upper and lower house. In the upper house sit the archbishops and bishops in the lower house sit the inferior clergy, represented by their proctors, consisting of all the deans and arch-deacons, of one proctor for every chapter, and two for the clergy of every diocese, in all one hundred and forty-three divines, Twenty-two deans, fifty-three arch-deacons, twenty-four prebendaries, and forty-four proctors of the diocesan clergy. 4. An academical assembly, in which the business of the university is transacted.

<p> 'A calling together,' and always called 'holy.' The occasions called 'holy convocations' are specially given in &nbsp;Leviticus 23 when the [[Feasts]] are recorded; they included the Sabbath, and ended with the Feast of Tabernacles. "These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord." &nbsp; Leviticus 23:37 . It occurs also in &nbsp;Exodus 12:16; &nbsp;Numbers 28:18,25,26; &nbsp;Numbers 29:1,7,12 . The same [[Hebrew]] word is translated 'assemblies' in &nbsp;Isaiah 1:13; &nbsp;Isaiah 4:5 . </p>

<p> '''Convocation.''' This term (with one exception) - &nbsp;Isaiah 1:13 - is applied, invariably, to meetings of a [[Religious]] character, in contradistinction to '''congregation''' . </p>

<p> (מַקְרָא, mira', from קָרָא, ''Kara''' , to [[Call]] ; comp. &nbsp;Numbers 10:2; &nbsp;Isaiah 1:13), applied invariably to meetings of a [[Religious]] character, in contradistinction to [[Congregation]] , in which political and legal matters were occasionally settled. (See [[Government]]). Hence it is connected with קֹדֶשׁ, [[Holy]] , and is applied only to the Sabbath and the great annual festivals of the [[Jews]] (&nbsp;Exodus 12:16; &nbsp;Leviticus 23:2 sq.; &nbsp;Numbers 28:18 sq.; &nbsp;Numbers 29:1 sq.). In this sense, with one exception (&nbsp;Isaiah 1:13, "assembly"), the word is peculiar to the Pentateuch; but in &nbsp;Isaiah 4:5, it denotes the [[Place]] of gathering ("assemblies"), and in &nbsp;Nehemiah 8:3, it signifies the public "[[Reading]] " of the law in the synagogue service. The Sept. treats it as an adjective (κλητός, ἐπίκλητος; ''Called'' ); but there can be no doubt that the A. V. is correct in its rendering (Smith, s.v.). (See Congregation). Like the Greek πανηγυρις or mass-meeting (Smith's ''Dict. Of Class. Antiq.'' s.v. Panegyris), it signifies "a meeting or solemn assembly of a whole people for the purpose of worshipping at a common sanctuary." The phrase "holy convocation" is applied, </p> <p> '''I.''' To the FEASTS: </p> <p> '''1.''' To the Sabbaths, all of which were "holy convocations" (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:2-3). </p> <p> '''2.''' To the [[Passover]] . </p> <p> '''(a.)''' ''Its First Day'' (&nbsp;Exodus 12:16; &nbsp;Leviticus 23:7; &nbsp;Numbers 28:18); </p> <p> '''(b.)''' ''Its Last Day'' (&nbsp;Exodus 12:16; &nbsp;Leviticus 23:8; &nbsp;Numbers 28:25). </p> <p> '''3.''' ''To The Pentecost'' (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:21). </p> <p> '''4.''' ''To The Feast Of [[Trumpets]] On The 1St Of Tisri, The New Year'S Day Of The Civil Year'' (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:24; &nbsp;Numbers 29:1). </p> <p> '''5.''' ''To The Feast Of [[Weeks]] Or First-Fruits'' (&nbsp;Numbers 28:26). </p> <p> '''6.''' ''To The Feast Of Tabernacles'' : </p> <p> '''(a.)''' ''Its First Day'' (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:35; &nbsp;Numbers 29:12); </p> <p> '''(b.)''' ''Its Last Day'' (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:36). </p> <p> '''7.''' ''As Introductory To The Enumeration Of These Feasts'' (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:4), and as closing it (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:7). </p> <p> '''II.''' To the one great FAST, the ''Annual Day Of Atonement'' (&nbsp;Leviticus 23:27; &nbsp;Numbers 29:7). To the deep solemnities of "the Holy Convocation," whether of joy or of sorrow ("afflicting the soul," as in the last passage), one great feature was common, marked by the command, "Ye shall do no servile work therein" (see all the passages); or more fully in &nbsp;Exodus 12:16, "No manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you." (Such as are curious about the Rabbinical opinions of what might be done, and what might not, on these occasions, may find them in Buxtorf's Synagoga Judaica, especially ch. 19; the joyous celebrations are described in ch. 21, and the expiatory in ch. 25, 26; see also Ugolini Thesaur. 4:988-1052). With this may be compared Strabo's statement (bk. 10), "This is a common practice both of [[Greeks]] and barbarians, to perform their sacred services with a festive cessation of labor." (See [[Sabbath]]). </p>

<p> '''''kon''''' -'''''vō̇''''' -'''''kā´shun''''' : A rendering for מקרא , <i> '''''miḳrā'''''' </i> chiefly in the frequent "Holy Convocation"; but the word is sometimes used alone, e.g. &nbsp;Numbers 10:2; &nbsp;Isaiah 1:13; &nbsp;Isaiah 4:5 . On a holy convocation no work could be done. The phrase differs from "solemn assembly," which in the [[Pentateuch]] is only applied to the concluding festivals at the end of Passover and Tabernacles, while "Holy Convocation" is used of the Sabbath and all the great holy days of the [[Mosaic]] legislation. </p>