Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 12.djvu/713

 RAMADAN

637

RAMEAU

and professor in the episcopal seminary at Mechlin. In order to stay the spread of Protestantism in the Netherlands he collaborated with a movement for the publishing of religious works, bringing out "Levens von de voomaemste Heyligen en roemweer- dige peersonen der Nederlanden" (Lives of the most prominent saints and celebrities of the Netherlands). His chief studv for many years was hagiography, and he published an edition of Butler's "Lives of the Saints" (Louvain, 1828-3.5). Between 1828 and 1858 appeared the "Sj-nodicon Belgicum", a collection of unpublished documents upon the ecclesiastical history of the Netherlands since PhUip II (Louvain, 4 vols., in quarto). These books met with a warm appreciation and showed remarkable ability. His position as keeper of the records facUitated his researches to a great extent.

Then came the Belgian Revolution of 1830. Noth- ing need be said of the political and philosophical opinions of de Ram, as they are but secondary fea- tures of his career. He is best known as a prolific writer upon history and the restorer and first rector of the Catholic University of Louvain. He showed a remarkable talent for organization and administra- tion during his tenure of office. He still continued his historical researches, and the history of the university was treated by him in numerous monographs. For this purpose he had at his disposal the material in the National Archives at Brussels. Upon the reorganiza- tion of the BoUandists, de Ram ceased his work upon hagiography, but still continued to produce works upon ecclesiastical and University history. De Ram was an active member of the "Aoademie Royale de Belgique" and a foreign associate of the Bavarian Academy. The complete list of his works given in the "Bibliographic del'L^niversiteCathohque de Louvain" (Louvain, 1880) comprises 20.5 volumes. Many of these are of considerable length, and the majority con- tain hitherto unpubUshed papers of great value. Among the many tributes paid to the historian, that of Gachard, the renowned keeper of the national records, is remarkable for its sincerity and warmth. No complete biography of de Ram has as yet ap- peared, although such, considering his influential position and important work, would awaken no incon- siderable interest.

Revue Calh., XXIII (Louvain. 1865),' 317-30; DE Buck, Mgr de Ram (Paris, 186.5); Thorrisben in Annuaire de l' Acadimie royale de Belgique (Brussels. 1866); NAMi:cHE in Annuaire de VVniversite de Louvain (Louvain, 1866).

Victor Brants.

Ramadan. See Mohammed and Mohammedan- ism.

Ramatha, a titular see in Palestine, suppressed in 1884 by the Roman Curia. It was never an episcopal see properly so called, but, in the Middle Ages, the crusaders estabUshed the Diocese of Lydda and Rama, the titular of which was generally called Bishop of Rama, i. e. of Ramlet, a town near Lydda, but more populous than the latter. Later this was forgotten and there was a titular see of Lydda, as well as of Rama or Ramatha; the mistake has been discovered and rectified (see Ltdda).

S. Vailh£.

Rambler, The, a Catholic periodical (not of course to be confused with the older "Rambler", published a centur>' earlier by the famous Dr. Johnson), has an importance in the history of English Catholicism during the nineteenth centurj* which is not to be measured by its mere duration as a journal. Closely associated with the names of Sir John (afterwards Lord) Acton (q. v.), Richard Simpson and, for abrief period, Newman himself, it represented a phase of convert thought which was in opposition to the ex- treme ultramontanism of W. G. Ward and Manning, and which eventually led to increasing friction with

the leading members of the newly established Eng- lish hierarchy. The chief external facts in the history of the periodical are recounted in an announcement which appeared in the last number published under the old name (May, 1862) headed "Enlargement of the 'Rambler' ": "The Rambler was commenced on 1st of January 1848 as a weekly magazine of home and foreign literature, politics, science and art. Its aim was to unite an intelligent and heartj- acceptance of Catholic dogma with free enquiry and discussion on questions which the Church left open to debate and while avoiding, as far as possible, the domain of tech- nical theology, to provide a medium for the expression of independent opinion on subjects of the day, whether interesting to the general public or especially affecting Catholics". Before the year 1848 was over the new venture succeeded so well that it was found necessary to increase the size of the magazine and to issue it in a monthly form. It continued to be pub- lished as a monthly serial from 1 Sept., 1848, to 1 Feb., 18.59. "During this period of ten years and a half", says the same announcement, "we at first en- deavoured to restrict it to topics of social and literary interest, without entering directly into the graver problems of moral or political philosophy, but the events of the time and the circumstances of English Catholicism — compelled us more and more to open our pages to investigations of a deeper and more com- plex nature."

In view then of the fact that "The Rambler" had thus "assumed a less ephemeral character than ordi- narily belongs to a monthly periodical", a new series was started in May, 1859, of which the numbers, in a slightly enlarged form, appeared onl}' every two months. This came to an end in May, 1862, and, in accordance with the announcement above quoted, a quarterly journal, "The Home and Foreign Review", under the same editorial management, appeared in its place in July. For some time before this "The Rambler" had contrived to give considerable offence to the Catholic authorities in England and particularly to Cardinal Wiseman. Before June, 1861, we find Manning writing confidentially to Rome that he hoped soon to be able to announce the cessation of "The Rambler" (Purcell, "Life of Manning", II, 384). The change from a monthly to a two-monthly form had really marked a crisis in the journal's historj', for in May, 1859, at the intervention of Cardinal Wise- man, Simpson had withdrawn from the editorship and Newman had consented to take it over, though his connexion with the periodical was to prove a verj' brief one. Acton then succeeded to the direction, Simpson, however, continuing to write a great number of the articles. Amongst the other leading contrib- utors were Wetherell and H. N. Oxenham. "The Home and Foreign Review", which was supported by the same staff of writers, soon came into conflict with the authorities, notably both with Cardinal Wiseman and Bishop UUathome, and it lasted only until April, 1864.

G.4SQCET, Lord Acton and his Circle (London. 1906). consisting mainly of letters written by Acton as editor of The Rambler, and its successor; Ward, Life of Cardinal Wiseman (London, 1897). XXIV; Idem. IF. G. Ward and the Catholic Rental (Lon- don. 1893). X; GlLLOw. Bibl. Diet. Eng. Cath.. s. v. Simpson, Gillow, etc.

Herbert TntiRSTON.

Rameau, Jean-Phioppe, musician, b. at Dijon, Burgundv, 25 Sept., 1683; d. at Paris, 12 Sept., 1764. His father, himself an organist, was his first master. At the age of seven he was able to perform every kind of music. For his further education he was sent to a Jesuit college: but even during class he was either singing or writing music. Excepting a short stay in Italy, he always lived in France, was twice or- ganist at Clermont, and from 1723 remained con- stantly in Paris, where he was organist in several churches. Rameau waa very tall and extraordinarily