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EPERNAY lived in retirement in Paris. In 1765 he first began to occupy himself with the education of two deaf and dumb sisters; and invented a language of signs, by which persons thus afflicted might be en- abled to hold intercourse with their fel- low-creatures. At his own expense he founded an institution for the deaf and dumb, which was first publicly examined in 1771, and from 1778 received an annual subsidy. He died in 1789. EPERNAY, capital of an arrondis- sement, in the department of the Marne, on both banks of the river Marne, about 12 miles S. from the city of Rheims. It is the center of a rich champagne wine producing district. Important railroad shops are located there. The population before the World War was about 21,- 000. It was captured by the Germans during the first German advance toward Paris, after the beginning of military operations, in August, 1914, and held by them until, driven back during the battles of the Marne, their lines were established from ten to fifteen miles to the north- ward. EPHEMERIS, in astronomy, a table giving the position of a heavenly body from day to day, so that observers may know where to find it. The name is also applied to an astronomical almanac con- taining a collection of such tables. EPHESIANS, THE EPISTLE TO THE, a canonical epistle addressed by the Apostle Paul to the Church which he had founded at Ephesus. It was written during his first captivity at Rome, im- mediately after he had written the Epistle to the Colossians (a. d. 62), and was sent by the hands of Tychicus, who also bore the message to the Church at Colossse. EPHESUS (ef'e-sus), a famous city of Asia Minor, now in ruins, about 38 miles S. S. E. of Smyrna. It was the ancient capital of Ionia, and had one of the seven Christian Churches founded by the apostles. Its temple, dedicated to Diana, was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Its dimensions were 425 feet long and 200 broad. The roof was supported by 127 columns, 60 feet high, which had been placed there by as many kings. Of these, 36 were carved in the most beautiful manner, one of which was the work of the famous Scopas. This celebrated building was not completed till 220 years after its founda- tion. Ctesephon was its principal archi- tect. The riches which were in the temple were immense, and the goddess who presided over it was worshiped with the most awful solemnity. It was burnt on the night that Alexander was born, H EPICURUS but soon after it rose from its ruins with greater splendor and magnificence. EPHESUS, COUNCILS OF, two ec- clesiastical assemblies held at Ephesus. The first was the third ecumenical council, summoned by Emperor Theo- dosius II., in 431, to settle a compli- cated controversy, involving among other things the fate' of Nestorius (g. v.), Bishop of Constantinople. The second was the so-called "robber synod," con- vened by Theodosius (449), to consider again the case of Nestorius. In the proceedings of this council no opposition to the will of the president, Dioscurus, Bishop of Alexandria, was allowed; the bishops were overawed by monks, sol- diers, and brawny servants, and were compelled to sign blank papers, to be filled up as the leaders chose. These law- less methods, as well as the violent measures carried through by their aid. hastened a crisis in the Eastern Church, and greatly fui'thered the advancing power of the Bishop of Rome, by com- pelling an appeal to him against oppres- sion and wrong. EPHRAIM, the younger son of Joseph, and the founder of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. When the Israelites left Egypt the Ephraimites numbered 40,500, and their possessions in the very center of Palestine included most of what wat afterward called Samaria. EPIC, a poem which narrates the his- tory, real or fictitious, of some notable action or achievement, or series of ac- tions or achievements, accomplished by some distinguished hero. The most cele- brated epic poems are in Greek litera- ture, the 'aiiad" and "Odyssey" of Homer; in Latin, the "^nid of Vergil"; and in English, the "Paradise Lost" of Milton. EPICTETUS (ep-ik-te'tus), a Greek Stoic philosopher; born in Hierapolis, Phrygia, about a. d. 50. A slave and then a freed-man at Rome where he taught philosophy there till 94, when all philoso- phers v,^ere banished by Domitian;^ he apparently returned later and lived into Hadrian's reign. The essential tenets of Stoicism are nowhere more clearly or feelingly set forth than by him. No writing'^ of his are kn-^wn; but his maxims were gathered ana published in the "Encheiridion," or handbook, and the "Commentaries." EPICURUS (ep-i-kii'rus), a famous Grecian philosopher; lived from about 341 B. C. to 270 B. C He was a teacher of philosophy rather as a rule of life than as a system of knoAvledge, and began to teach when he was about 32 years old.