Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 01.djvu/684

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ANSDELL.
590
ANSON.

Dogs" (1879), "Returning from the Fair at Seville" (1882).


ANSE DE PANIER, ;Ls de pa'nyfi' (Fr., handle of a basket). The equivalent of basket handle arch. An architectural term for three-centred arches.


AN'SELL, Mary. An English actress, who after two years of theatrical experience made a success in 1893 as Nannie O'Brien in Walker, London. The next year she retired from the stage to marry the author of the play, J. S. Barrie, the novelist, at Kerriemuir (July, 1894).


AN'SELM OE CAN'TERBURY, St. (1033- 1109). A scholastic philosoplier, born at Aosta, in Piedmont. He led at first a dissipated life, and, like Abelard, wandered through France, after the fashion of the scholars of those days, disputing wherever he could find an adversary. Attracted by the reputation of Lanfranc, he went, in 1000, to study at the monastery of Bee, in Xormandy. Three j-ears later, he became prior, and in 1078, abbot of this monastery, which under him became famous as a seat of learning. Lanfranc, who in the meantime had gone to Eng- land, and become Archbishop of Canterbury', died in 1089; and the archdiocese remained four years without a successor, till, in 1093, Anselm was ap- pointed. He was distinguished as both a church- man and philoso])hcr. His numerous embroil- ments with William Rufus and Henry I., and the unbending spirit which he displayed in these, even when subjected to banishment, indicate the vigor and resoluteness of his character, as much as his writings exhibit the depth and acuteness of his intellect. In 1720 Clement XL expressly placed him in the list of Church authorities. Anselm was a second Augustine, superior to all his con- temporaries in sagacity and dialectical skill, and equal to the most eminent in virtue and piety. Embracing without question the doctrines of the Church, inostly as stated by Augustine, and holding that belief must precede knowledge, and must be implicit and undoubting, he yet felt the necessity of a religious philosophy, urged the duty of proceeding irom belief to knowledge, and sought to reduce the truths of religion into the form of a connected series of reasonings. It was for this purpose he wrote his Monolor/ium sive Exeinpliim Mcditandi dc Ratione Fidci. In his Proslociium, otherwise entitled Fides Qutcrens Intellectum (faith seeking intellect), he strove to demonstrate the existence of God from the conception of a perfect being. This ontological proof, however, has never been held satisfactory. His writings. Cur IJeus Homo, and Dr Concordia Pra-acienliw ct Prcrdestinaiionis, made an epoch in Christian philosophy. Anselm may justly be reckoned the earliest of the schoobnen, although Alexander of Hales (q.v.) was the first who completely systematized in the scholastic aianner the doctrines of the Catholic Church. He died in Canterbury, April 21, 1109, and was buried there. The day of his death is observed in the Roman Catholic Church. His works are in lligne. P. L.. 1.58, 159, and a few pieces since dis- covered in Mai, Aor. liihl. I. For his lite and teachings, consult: F. R. Hasse (Leipzig, 1843- 52) ; De Rr-musat (Paris, 1S5S) ; R. W. Church (London, 1870) ; M. Rule (London, 1883), who also edited two lives of Anselm by Eadnier for the Rolls Series (London. 1884) ; J. M. Rigg (Lon- don, 1S9G) ; A. C. Welch (London, 1900). In Knglish are his BooA: of Meditations and Prayers

(London, 1872); Cur Deus Homo, with selections from his letters and life (London, 1889).


ANSELM OF LUC'CA. See Alexander II. (Pope).


AN'SERES (Lat. nom. plur. of anser, goose). An order of birds, including the ducks, geese, and swans (q.v.), and, by some systematists, the screamers, and characterized mainly by the fact that the edges of both mandibles are provided with a series of tooth-like projections, those of the upper alternating with those of the lower mandible. The Anseres are found in all parts of the world, and about two hundred species are known, mostly of large size. With few exceptions, they are essentially swimming birds, and are never found far from water. They breed near the water, lay numerous eggs, and the young are able to care for themselves almost as soon as they are hatched.


ANSGAR, äns'gär (Anskar, or Anscharius) (801-865). A French prelate, styled “the Apostle of the North,” on account of his labors to introduce Christianity into Denmark, Sweden, and northern Germany. He was born near the monastery of Corbie, in the vicinity of Amiens, France. In this monastery and that of Korvei, in Westphalia, an offshoot of the former, he was educated, and in the latter he subsequently became preacher. His family belonged to the Frankish nobility, and under the patronage of Louis le Débonnaire he went, with his colleague Autbert, to preach the doctrines of Christianity among the heathen Northmen of Schleswig, where he suffered many persecutions, but had, nevertheless, such success that in 831 the Pope established an archbishopric in Hamburg, and Ansgar was appointed the first archbishop. Here he passed through many difficulties, being compelled to save his life by flight in 845, when the Northmen and Danes under Eric I. plundered Hamburg. He afterward made several missionary tours in Denmark and Sweden, and died February 3, 865, at Bremen, where a church was named after him. The Roman Catholic Church has canonized him. For his life, consult: G. H. Klippel (Bremen, 1845); Tappehorn (Münster, 1863).


AN'SON, George, Lord (1697-1762). An English admiral and famous circumnavigator. He was born at Shugborough, Staffordshire, April 23, 1697. From an early period he manifested a predilection for a sea-life, and entered the navy at the age of fifteen. In 1716 he served as second lieutenant under Norris; next under Byng in 1718, against the Spaniards; and was made a captain in 1723. In 1739, when war with Spain broke out, he was recalled from the Carolina station, on which he had been placed since 1724, and received the command of the fleet in the South Sea. He sailed from England in September, 1740, with instructions to inflict whatever injury he could on the Spanish commerce and colonies. The preparations for this cruise had been made in the most slovenly manner. Both vessels and stores were bad and the sailors were old Chelsea pensioners; yet Anson, in spite of these disadvantages, achieved a brilliant reputation by the heroism, prudence, diligence, and humanity he displayed. After his little fleet of seven vessels had been scattered by a storm in doubling Cape Horn, he landed at Juan Fernandez, where he was soon joined by three of his ships, which arrived in a dismantled condition.