Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 9.djvu/76

66 F E L F E L FELIX II. (1), pope or antipope, was in 356 raised from the archdeaccmate of Borne to the papal chair, when Tiberius was banished by the etnperor Constantius for refusing to subscribe the sentence of condemnation against Athanasius. His election was contrary to the wishes both of the clergy and of the people, and the consecration ceremony was performed by certain prelates belonging to the court. In 357 Constantius, at the urgent request of an influential deputation of Roman ladies, agreed to the release of Tiberius on condition that he signed the semi-Arian creed. Constantius also issued an edict to the effect that the two bishops should rule conjointly, but Tiberius, on his entrance into Home in the following year, was received by all classes with so much enthusiasm that Felix found it necessary to retire at once from Rome. Regarding the remainder of his life little is known, and the accounts handed down are con tradictory, but he appears to have spent the most of it in retirement at his estate near Porto. He died in 3G5, and, on what grounds it is impossible to determine, was enrolled amongst the number of martyrs, his day being the 22d of July. In the reign of Gregory XIII. the claims of Felix to rank among the popes was discussed, and in order to dis cover whether any miraculous help was to be found to aid in the decision of the question his sarcophagus was opened, when it is said the words "Pope and Martyr" were found inscribed on his body ; but this supernatural testi mony is in contradiction to the earlier authorities of the church. FELIX III. (or II.) was descended from one of the most influential families of Rome, and succeeded Simplicius in the papal chair 2d March 483. His first act was to repu diate the Henoticon, a deed of union, originating, it is supposed, with Acacius, patriarch of Constantinople, and published by the emperor Zeno with the view of allaying the strife between the Monophysites and their opponents in the Eastern church. He also addressed a letter of remon strance to Acacius ; but the latter proved refractory, and sentence of deposition was passed against him. As Acacius, however, had the support of the emperor, a schism (the first on record) arose between the Eastern and Western churches, which lasted for 34 years. Felix died in 492. FELIX IV. (or III.), a native of Beneventum, was, on the death of John in 526, raised to the papal chair by the emperor Thcodoric in opposition to the wishes of the clergy and people. His election was followed by serious riots, which were only quieted by the explanation of Theodoric that he had merely interposed his authority on account of the strifes of the ecclesiastical factions, and by his promise that in future the election should be vested in the clergy and people, although the confirmation of the emperor should also be required to render it valid. Felix, after an un eventful pontificate of four years, died in September 530. FELIX V. (or IV). See AMADEUS VIII. FELIX, of Urgel. See ADOPTIAN CONTROVERSY. FELIX, of Valois (1127-1212), one of the founders of the monastic order of Trinitarians or Redemptionists, was born in the district of Valois, France, 19th April 1127. Not long after he reached manhood he became a hermit in the forest of Galeresse, where he remained till his sixty-first year, when his disciple Jean de Matha suggested to him the idea of establishing an order of monks who should devote their lives to the redemption of Christian captives from the Mahometans. With this view they arrived at Rome about the end of 1197, and obtained the sanction of the pope for the establishment of the new order. On their return to France they founded the monastery of Cerfroi in Picardy, Felix remaining to govern and propagate the order, while Jean de Matha superintended the foreign journeys. A sub ordinate establishment was also founded by Felix in Paris near a chapel dedicated to St Mathurin, on which account his monks were also called St Matlmrins. Felix died at Cerfroi 4th November 1212, and was canonized. FELIX, ANTOXIUS, a Roman procurator of Judiea, Samaria, Galilee, and Persea, entered upon his office in the llth or 12th year of the emperor Claudius. Both he and his brother Pallas were originally slaves, and, it is said, owed their freedom to Antonia, wife of the emperor, on which account it is probable that Felix received the surname Antonius. By some writers he is also called Claudius. Felix was cruel and licentious, and his accessibility to bribes led to a great increase of crime in Jud;ca under his govern ment. The apostle Paul, after being apprehended in Jeru salem, was sent to be judged before Felix at Caesarea, and so reasoned before him of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come that Felix trembled. He nevertheless retained Paiil in custody for two years, hoping that a bribe would be offered to secure his liberty, but at the end of this time Felix was succeeded in the government by Festus, and in order to gratify the Jewish people left Paul bound. On returning to Rome Felix was accused of having taken advantage of a dispute between the Jews and Syrians of Csesarea to slay and plunder the inhabitants, but through the intercession of his brother Pallas, who had great influence with the emperor Nero, he escaped unpunished. FELIX, MINUCITJS. See MINUCIUS FELIX. FELL, JOHN (1625-86), bishop of Oxford, was the son of Dr Samuel Fell, dean of Christ Church, and was born at Longworth, in Berkshire, June 23, 1625. He passed from the free school of Thame to Christ Church, Oxford, at the age of eleven, took his degree of B.A. in 1640, and three years later that of M.A. He served in the royal garrison of Oxford, and attained the rank of ensign. He afterwards took holy orders ; and being ejected by the parliamentary visitors from his student s place, he lived in retirement at Oxford during the Commonwealth, privately keeping up the services of the Church of England, and administering the sacraments to many Royalists. At the Restoration he was made in rapid succession prebendary of Chichester, canon and dean of Christ Church. He had already obtained his degree of D.D., and was also chaplain to the king. In 1666 he was appointed vice-chancellor of the university, and he filled this post for several successive years. Dr Fell set himself diligently to reform his college, to clear it of all remains of what he regarded as Puritan " hypocrisy and nonsense," to promote learning of all kinds, and to re-establish strict discipline. He did much for the improvement of the university press, therein carrying out the designs of Archbishop Laud. He zealously maintained the privileges of the university, and in so doing made him self unpopular with the townsmen. He also distinguished himself as a benefactor to the college by making and pro moting many important additions to its buildings. Having shown himself a good scholar, and an earnest upholder of the Church of England, he was nominated in 1676 bishop of Oxford. He was allowed, however, still to hold his deanery of Christ Church in commendam. Fell, as a good Aristotelian, was alarmed at the institution and inno vations of the Royal Society, and encouraged Stubbe to write against it, making very grave charges against its members. Among his numerous publications were a Life of Dr Henry Hammond (1660), a Latin translation of Wood s History aiul Antiquities of the University of Oxford (1674), and a critical edition of the Greek Testament with many various readings (1675). This edition was twice re printed at Leipsic, and at Oxford in 1703. It was followed in 1707 by the more important edition of Mill. When he had held the see of Oxford for ten years, Fell s health failed him, and anxiety about the changes attempted in the church by James II. hastened his end. Ho died at Oxford, July 10, 1686, and his remains were interred in the cathedral.