lpful organization
exists in the American Church known as "The American Church
Building Fund Commission." It was established October 25th, 1880,
by the General Convention and consists of all the Bishops, and
one clergyman and one layman from each Diocese and Missionary
Jurisdiction appointed by the Bishop thereof, and of twenty
members-at-large appointed by the Presiding Bishop. Its object is
to create by an annual offering from every congregation, as
recommended by the General Convention, and by individual gifts,
a Fund of One Million Dollars, portions of the principal to be
loaned, and of the interest given, to aid the building of churches
wherever needed. In order to hold property and carry on the work
of loaning money on mortgage in a safe and legal manner, it was
necessary to organize a corporation and this was done under the
laws of the State of New York, the title of the organization being
that given above. This commission is one of the most efficient
agencies in Church extension; many a mission through its aid being
enabled to erect a House of Worship, which otherwise would have
had to give up in despair and abandon all hopes of having the
Church's worship and administration of the Sacraments.

Church Catholic, The.--The kingdom of Christ, partly visible here
on earth, partly invisible behind the veil. The Church Catholic
embraces three great divisions:

I. THE CHURCH MILITANT, here on earth, struggling, fighting
(which militant means) against sin to overcome it. {57}

II. THE CHURCH EXPECTANT where the soul abides after death in a
state of expectancy of the final Resurrection; called, also, the
INTERMEDIATE STATE (which see).

III. THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT in Heaven where the soul reunited to
the body has its perfect consummation and bliss in God's eternal
and everlasting glory.

Church Chronology.--Under this head may be given certain dates
and events which may be regarded as "Turning Points" in the history
of the Christian Church:

EVENT. DATE.

Day of Pentecost, Birthday of the Church A.D. 33

Death of St. John at Ephesus 97

The Ten great Persecutions of Christians 64-313

I. General Council, at Nicea 325

II. General Council, at Constantinople 381

III. General Council, at Ephesus 431

IV. General Council, at Chalce