church session

Session \Ses"sion\, n. [L. sessio, fr. sedere, sessum, to sit:
   cf. F. session. See {Sit}.]
   1. The act of sitting, or the state of being seated.
      [Archaic]
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            So much his ascension into heaven and his session at
            the right hand of God do import.      --Hooker.
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            But Viven, gathering somewhat of his mood, . . .
            Leaped from her session on his lap, and stood.
                                                  --Tennyson.
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   2. The actual sitting of a court, council, legislature, etc.,
      or the actual assembly of the members of such a body, for
      the transaction of business.
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            It's fit this royal session do proceed. --Shak.
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   3. Hence, also, the time, period, or term during which a
      court, council, legislature, etc., meets daily for
      business; or, the space of time between the first meeting
      and the prorogation or adjournment; thus, a session of
      Parliaments is opened with a speech from the throne, and
      closed by prorogation. The session of a judicial court is
      called a term.
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            It was resolved that the convocation should meet at
            the beginning of the next session of Parliament.
                                                  --Macaulay.
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   Note: Sessions, in some of the States, is particularly used
         as a title for a court of justices, held for granting
         licenses to innkeepers, etc., and for laying out
         highways, and the like; it is also the title of several
         courts of criminal jurisdiction in England and the
         United States.
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   {Church session}, the lowest court in the Presbyterian
      Church, composed of the pastor and a body of elders
      elected by the members of a particular church, and having
      the care of matters pertaining to the religious interests
      of that church, as the admission and dismission of
      members, discipline, etc.

   {Court of Session}, the supreme civil court of Scotland.

   {Quarter sessions}. (Eng.Law) See under {Quarter}.

   {Sessions of the peace}, sittings held by justices of the
      peace. [Eng.]
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Church \Church\ (ch[^u]rch), n. [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche,
   Scot. kirk, from AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel.
   kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan. kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all
   fr. Gr. kyriako`n the Lord's house, fr. kyriako`s concerning
   a master or lord, fr. ky`rios master, lord, fr. ky^ros power,
   might; akin to Skr. [,c][=u]ra hero, Zend. [,c]ura strong,
   OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. {Kirk}.]
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   1. A building set apart for Christian worship.
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   2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] --Acts xix. 37.
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   3. A formally organized body of Christian believers
      worshiping together. "When they had ordained them elders
      in every church." --Acts xiv. 23.
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   4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed,
      observing the same rites, and acknowledging the same
      ecclesiastical authority; a denomination; as, the Roman
      Catholic church; the Presbyterian church.
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   5. The collective body of Christians.
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   6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church
      of Brahm.
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   7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community;
      ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array
      the power of the church against some moral evil.
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            Remember that both church and state are properly the
            rulers of the people, only because they are their
            benefactors.                          --Bulwer.
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   Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something
         belonging or relating to the church; as, church
         authority; church history; church member; church music,
         etc.
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   {Apostolic church}. See under {Apostolic}.

   {Broad church}. See {Broad Church}.

   {Catholic church} or {Universal church}, the whole body of
      believers in Christ throughout the world.

   {Church of England}, or {English church}, the Episcopal
      church established and endowed in England by law.

   {Church living}, a benefice in an established church.

   {Church militant}. See under {Militant}.

   {Church owl} (Zool.), the white owl. See {Barn owl}.

   {Church rate}, a tax levied on parishioners for the
      maintenance of the church and its services.

   {Church session}. See under {Session}.

   {Church triumphant}. See under {Triumphant}.

   {Church work}, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work
      of a particular church for the spread of religion.

   {Established church}, the church maintained by the civil
      authority; a state church.
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