SYNCRETISM. 779 SYNONYM. cign country occurred; (2) in the sixteenth cen- tury, pliilosophically, to denote the ctl'orts made to reconcile opposing systems; (3) in the seven- teenth century, tlicologically. first hy Pereus in his Irenicoit, and afterwards to describe the views of Calixtus and his folhivvers, who sought to Ileal the schism in the Church by making the tradi- tions of the tirst five centuries of equal authoritj' with the Bible, and by adopting the Apostles' Creed as the common basis of all Christian de- nominations and a sullicicnt deiinition of true Christianity. SYNDIC (from Lat. si/ndicus, from Gk. aOv- SiKos, siiiidikos, advocate, public olliccr, from ffvv, syii, together + SIktj, (/iAr, justice, law, right). A name which has at different times and in different countries been given to various municipal and other oflicers. In Geneva the chief magistrate was formerly called the syndic. The syndics of cities in France, under the old regime, were oflicers delegated by the municipality as agents or mandatories; the various trading com- panies in Paris and the university had also their syndics ; and in the University of Cambridge the same name is applied to members of special com- mittees of members of the senate appointed by grace from time to time tor specific duties. In Italy the mayors of towns are called syndics. SYNERGISM (from Gk. (rwfpyla, si/nergia, cooperation, from cviepyds, syHC/(/os, coopera- tive, from ffi/v, si/n, together -|- tpyop, ergon, work) . The name given to a doctrine of theology which teaches that in the work of conversion the will of man is not whollj- passive, but can cooperate, through consent, with the Divine Spirit. In the time of the Reformation Jlelanch- thon and his school were inclined to this view, while the strict Lutherans opposed it and charged its advocates with favoring Pelagianism (q.v.). In 1.557 and later the question was hotly dis- cussed, Pfeffinger and Strigel taking the lead on the Synei-gistic side, Flacius and Amsdorf (qq.v. ) on the opposite. The Wittenberg divines in gen- eral favored the doctrine, the Mansfield divines opposed it. Finally it was condemned in 1580 in the third article of the Formula of Concord. See Concord. Book of. SYNE'SIUS (Lat., from Gk. Sur^o-iot) (e.370-?). A Neo-Platonic philosopher and Christian bishop. He studied philosophy in Alexandria, under Hypatia, to whom he was ever warmly devoted, and his life well illustrates the combination of Neo-Platonism and Christianity so characteristic of the fourth century. For three years (307-400) he served as envoy at the court of Areadius. in ConstantiiiO]>le, where he won popularity and inlluence. His famous speech On Kiiicisliip was delivered in the Emperor's presence, and was a bold discussion of the duties and frailties of nionarchs. Synesius was made Bishop of Ptolemais in 410, against his own de- sire, and with the apparent stipulation that he should not be obliged to give up his wife or his philosophy. He administered his see with con- scientious fidelity, notwithstanding the fact that his personal tastes were far from ecclesiastical. Neither the time nor the place of his death is known. SiTiesius's writings include about 150 letters: Egyptinn Trilrs. or on Proridrncr. a sort of historical allegory defending the idea of a providential government of tlic world: a defense of the philosophic life, entitled Dio (after Dio Vol. XVIII —50. Chrysostom) ; a humorous work, called Praise of Baldness, suggested by Dio's I'ruisc of Hair; and ten lli/mits, which are partly pagan and partly Christian, His general theological point of view and his distinctive cluiractcristics are well brought out in Charles Kingsley's novel, IJi/palia, in which Synesius figures. For his works, con- sult: Jligne, Patrologia Grwcn, Ixvi. In gen- eral, consult: Glover, lAfc and Letters in Ike Fourth Century (Cambridge, 1901); Druon, Etudes swr la vie et les oeuvres de Synesius (Paris, 1859) ; Volkniann, Synesius von Gyrene (Berlin, ISG9). SYNOD (Lat. sy nodus, from Gk. (ti/toSos, assembly, meeting, coming together, from (rii", si/«, together -f 656i, /i orfos, way, road) . A term applied almost exclusively to ecclesiastical as- semblies convoked for the discussion and decision of ecclesiastical affairs. Synods or church coun- cils are of five kinds: Ecumenical, general, national, provincial, and diocesan or local. By the law of the Roman Catholic Church the decrees of a national or provincial synod must be submitted to the Pope, and unless confirmed by him, or at least suffered to pass for two years without condemnation, are not held to he valid. The term synod has been preserved to describe courts in the Presbyterian system of church gov- ernment which rank above the jiresbytery and the synod either is subordinate to a General Assembly or is itself the supreme court of the Church. The courts above the classes in the Dutch and Ger- man Reformed churches are called synods. In the organization of the Lutheran churches the synod is the highest representative body. Two of the Eastern churches have preserved the synod. The Holy Governing Synod of All the Russias is the highest ecclesiastical authority for the estab- lished Church of the Russian Empire. It con- sists of several metropolitans and other prelates and officials — the Cliief Procurator of the synod representing the Czar. It was instituted by Peter the Great in 1721, to take over the juris- diction formerly exercised by the Patriarcli of JIoscow. The orthodox national Church of the Kingdom of Greece is also governed by a synod of archbishops and bishops independent of the jurisdiction of any patriarch. For other con- ciliar organizations, see Council. SYNODIC (Lat. synodieus, from Gk. o-uroSi- k6s, synodiK-os, relating to a conjunction, from ffivoSo!, syiiodos. assembly, meeting, coming to- gether). In astronomy, the epithet applied to the period of time which elapses between two successive conjunctions (q.v.) of a planet with the sun, as seen from the earth. In the case of the moon, the synodic period is therefore the time elapsing between two successive new moons. See IIOON. ■SYNONYM (Lat. syiwnymum. from Gk. o-u^ci- vvfiov, siiiiijiiyiiion, neu. sg. of trvfuivvnos, syndny- inos, having the same name or meaning, from ffif, st/ii. together +' 6ro;ua, onoma, name). A word which nearly coincicles in meaning with an- other, as clear, trans])arent; bright, limpid; fair, cloudless: serene, plain: lucid, perspicuous; patent, obvious; visible. e'ident. Tlicre is, however, in nearly every case a slight indi- viihinl shade of meaning in each synonym. The development of synonyms is one first, of con- vergence and then of divergence. That is, the meanings are originally quite distinct.
