Felix III., a native of Beneventum, was raised to the papacy on the death of John in 526, the imperious mandate of Theodoric over-riding the conflicting suffrages of the senate and people. The king promised, however, that in future elections the choice of the people should be freely exercised, subject only to his confirmation. Felix was a person of a most holy life, and in every way worthy of his elevation. He died, after a pontificate of three years, in 529.—T. A.
Felix, Antipope, sometimes called Felix II., archdeacon of the Roman church, was placed by Constantius in the see of Rome after the exile of Pope Liberius in 355. He adhered to the Nicene faith, but communicated with the Arians. When Constantius visited Rome in 357, a deputation of Roman ladies asked him to restore the banished Liberius to his flock. The emperor replied that they had already a pastor, meaning Felix. But the ladies answered that no one would enter the church while Felix was there, on account of his holding communion with the Arians. Constantius then proposed to commit to Liberius and Felix jointly the government of the church; but this offer was scouted and ridiculed by the Romans, who compared such a representation of two ecclesiastical parties to the distinguishing colours assumed by the rival factions in the circus. Liberius returned to Rome in 358, and Felix was forced by the clamours and menaces of the people to leave the city. Constantius again interposed, and again endeavoured to introduce his system of double government, but in the end he was forced to give way. Felix retired to a small estate which he had near Porto, and lived there till his death in 365, asserting to the last his claim to episcopal dignity. The blundering Platina ranks him among the popes, but neither St. Optatus nor St. Augustine enumerates him in the series of Roman bishops.—T. A.
Felix V. See Amadeus VIII.
FELIX, Antonius, was originally a Roman slave, but was manumitted by the Emperor Claudius, and raised by him to great wealth and political power. In the eleventh year of the reign of Claudius, according to the testimony of Eusebius, being the year 51 a.d., Felix was sent to Judea as governor of the province, and there he indulged to a frightful extent in lust and cruelty. Among his crimes may be mentioned the seduction of Drusilla the wife of Azizus king of Emesa, with whom he was living in adulterous connection when the Apostle Paul was accused before him by the Jews. Felix knew that no criminal charge could be substantiated against Paul, but under the expectation of receiving a bribe for his liberation the governor kept the apostle in prison; and when he was superseded by Festus he left Paul bound, being "willing to show the Jews a pleasure," and indifferent about committing an act of gross injustice. After his retirement from the government of Judea an accusation was brought against Felix on account of his tyrannical exactions while in Palestine; but he was saved from punishment through the influence of his brother Pallas, who was the favourite of Nero.—J. B. J.
FELIX, M. Minucius, a learned and eloquent father of the early christian church, was born about the end of the second century. Some peculiarities in his style, together with the fact that he makes use of the writings of Tertullian, have led to the supposition that he was an African by birth. That he was a lawyer at Rome is stated by Lactantius and Jerome, and the opinion is strengthened by the phrase, "ad vindemiam feriæ judiciariam curam relaxaverant," which occurs in his own writings. The book by which Felix Minucius is chiefly known is "Octavius"—a dialogue in Latin concerning the falsehood and absurdity of paganism, and the truth and excellence of christianity, between Octavius Januarius a christian, and Cæcilius Natalis, a pagan, Felix Minucius himself sitting as judge. Lardner thinks that the work was first published about 210. As the author was a christian, the apologist of the christian faith has, of course, the best of the argument; and at the end of the discussion Cæcilius admits the folly and wickedness of idolatry, and the falsehood of the vile charges which had been brought against the christians, and expresses his determination to become a follower of Jesus, whereupon all are filled with joy. "Post hæc," says the concluding paragraph, "læti hilaresque discessimus—Cæcilius quod crediderit; Octavius gaudere quod vicerit; ego et quod hic crediderit et hic vicerit." In the "Octavius" there is not a very distinct statement of the peculiar doctrines of the christian religion; but the arguments in favour of idol worship are refuted, and the calumnies against christianity are repelled with much vivacity, while the whole is marked by good sense and pervaded by lively christian feeling. For a long time the "Octavius" was ascribed to Arnobius, and was printed as part of his works; but it was proved to be the work of Felix Minucius by Balduinus, who prefixed a learned dissertation to an edition of the dialogue published in 1560. Several translations have been made into English of the "Octavius;" one by Sir David Dalrymple (Lord Hailes) was published at Edinburgh in 1781.—J. B. J.
FELL, John, an English bishop, son of Dr. Samuel Fell, was born at Longworth in Berkshire on 23rd June, 1625. In his eleventh year he was entered a student of Christ church, Oxford. He espoused the cause of King Charles I., and after some training in garrison at Oxford became an ensign. In 1648, being then in holy orders, he was ejected by the parliamentary visitors. In 1660 he was appointed prebendary of Chichester; canon, and afterwards dean of Christ church; and one of the royal chaplains in ordinary. He set himself to the outer adornment and to the moral elevation of the college. He restored discipline, to the great advantage both of learning and religion. He repaired ruinous edifices, and raised new and extensive buildings, for the most part at his own expense. Several of the improvements made by Dr. Fell had been begun by Cardinal Wolsey; such as the north side of the great quadrangle, and the stately tower over the principal gate of the college. From 1666 to 1669 Dr. Fell was vice-chancellor of the university. He reformed many abuses, personally visited the chambers of the students, and marked their progress. He took a lively interest in printing, and carried out the unfulfilled design of Archbishop Laud. He was a bold and zealous defender of the rights and liberties of the university. On the translation of Dr. Henry Compton to the see of London in 1675-76, he was elected bishop of Oxford, and retained in his deanery for the interests of the university. He rebuilt the palace at Cuddesden in Oxfordshire, and contributed munificently to the rebuilding of St. Oswald's hospital at Worcester, and of the church of Banbury. Some of the best rectories belonging to his college were his own private purchase, and he left it an estate for the support of ten or more exhibitioners in perpetuity. As vacancies occur, the election is made on the first day of November, when a public speech is made in the refectory in commemoration of the founder. It has been supposed that Fell's excessive labours, and his dread of a change of religion under James II., shortened his days. He died in July, 1686, to the great loss of learning, the university, and the Church of England. He was a keen observer of men and their merits; a painstaking overseer of his clergy; and a zealous defender of the church. Of his works we need only mention "The Life of Dr. Henry Hammond," and his edition of the Greek Testament.—J. L. A.
FELL, John, a dissenting minister, was born in 1735, at Cockermouth in Cumberland. His parentage was humble, and in his early boyhood he was apprenticed to a tailor. By the assistance of friends he was sent to the Mile End dissenting academy. For a time he preached to a congregation at Beccles in Suffolk. He afterwards became the pastor of a church at Thaxted in Essex, where he established a boarding-school for young gentlemen, and published several tractates which established his reputation as a scholar. Subsequently he accepted the appointment of resident tutor. Differences, however, arose between him and the students, and without a fair trial he was denuded of his situation in 1796. His friends raised for him an annuity of one hundred pounds, and encouraged him to deliver a course of lectures on the evidences of christianity in the academy in which he was educated, then removed from Mile End to Homerton. He had delivered only four of his lectures when he became seriously ill, and died on 6th September, 1797. The lectures were afterwards published, along with eight by Dr. Henry Hunter, who completed the promised course. Mr. Fell's publications were—"Genuine Protestantism;" "The Justice and Utility of Penal Laws for the direction of conscience examined;" "Demoniacs"—in reply to Rev. Hugh Farmer; "The Idolatry of Greece and Rome distinguished from that of other heathen nations"—also in reply to Mr. Farmer, &c.—J. L. A.
FELL, Samuel, an English divine, was born in London in 1594. He was at an early age elected a student of Christ church from Westminster school. After taking the degrees of M.A. and B.D., he became minister of Freshwater, in the Isle of Wight. In May, 1619, he was installed canon of Christ church, and shortly after domestic chaplain to James I. In 1626 he was appointed Margaret professor of divinity, and had a prebend of
