Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VI.djvu/535

 ELIJAH features of no less than 95 systems of moun- tains ; and the facts he collected added largely to the geological knowledge of the day. A de- cree of 1868 appointed him to direct a geologi- cal survey of France. ELIJAH (in the New Testament called ELI- AS), a Hebrew prophet, whose history is given in the later chapters of the first book of Kings, and in the opening chapters of the second. He suddenly appeared before King Ahab, declar- ing that as a punishment for the king's iniqui- ties neither dew nor rain should fall for years, until he himself announced the change. He took refuge from the wrath of the monarch in the desert, by the brook Cherith, where he was miraculously fed by ravens; and after the dry- ing up of the brook he proceeded to Zarephath, where he was supported by a poor widow, for whom his presence was a source of blessings during the distresses of the time. After drought and famine had desolated the country during three years, he reappeared before the king, offering to demonstrate the vanity of the worship of Baal. He requested Ahab to as- semble on Mt. Oarmel the idolatrous priests, 850 in number, who had followed in the train of Queen Jezebel, and there defied them to make fire fall from heaven to consume their sacrifice. The long prayers of the Baalites were without success, but in answer to Elijah's short prayer the fire came down and consumed not only the bullock but the altar. The people instantly massacred the priests, and then Elijah prom- ised an end to the famine, and there was an abundant rain. But Jezebel swearing revenge for the destruction of the priests, Elijah again fled to the wilderness of Mt. Horeb and hid himself in a cavern. Then he was commanded to return and anoint Hazael king over Syria and Jehu over Israel, and appoint Elisha as his own successor. On his way he found Elisha and made him his disciple, and as he appeared again before Ahab, who was guilty of the blood of Naboth, the king humbled himself and re- pented. Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, who suc- ceeded to the throne, fell ill, and Elijah an- nounced to him through his agents that his sickness would end in death. Ahaziah sent a captain and 50 armed men to seize Elijah ; but fire from heaven consumed the band. A sec- ond company met with the same fate. At length Elijah appeared personally before the king and repeated his announcement. His mission was now accomplished. He made a visit to the school of the prophets at Bethel, and having in company with Elisha crossed the Jordan, the waters of which he divided by smiting them with his mantle, he was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind, in a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire. The date of the termination of his career is fixed in the begin- ning of the 9th century B. 0. In the New Testament Elias is mentioned as appearing with Moses to Christ at his transfiguration on the mount. He has been canonized in both the Greek and Latin churches. Among the Chris- 290 VOL. vi. 34 ELIOT 527 tians in the East Mar Elias is the patron of ele- vated places, and many conspicuous summits are called after his name. Two convents in Pales- tine are dedicated to him, one near Jerusalem, and the other on Mt. Carmel. His day is July 20, under which date the traditional account of him will he found in the Acta Sanctorum. The Mohammedan traditions respecting him are given in the introduction to Lane's " Ara- bian Nights." ELIOT, Charles William, an American educator, born in Boston, Mass., March 20, 1834. His father was Samuel Atkins Eliot, the author of a "History of Harvard College," a member of congress in 1850-'55, and for 11 years trea- surer of Harvard college. At the age of 15 the son entered Harvard college, and graduated in 1853. Immediately afterward he was ap- pointed a tutor in mathematics, and held that position till 1858, when he became assistant professor of chemistry. In 1863 he resigned his professorship and went abroad, in order to perfect himself in chemical research and to study the various methods of scientific and literary education in England and on the con- tinent. Keturning home in 1865, he was ap- pointed professor of chemistry and metallurgy in the Massachusetts institute of technology. In the spring of 1869 he was chosen presi- dent of Harvard university, as the successor of Dr. Thomas Hill, and was inaugurated on Oct. 19. President Eliot has been a frequent contributor to the u Atlantic Monthly," " Jour- nal of Science," and other periodicals ; and he is the joint author of a " Handbook of Chem- istry" (Boston, 1868). In 1869 he received the degree of LL. D. from Williams and Prince- ton colleges, and in 1870 from Yale college. ELIOT, George. See LEWES, MARIAN EYANS. ELIOT. I. John, commonly called the " Apos- tle of the Indians," born at Nasing, England, in 1604, died at Eoxhury, Mass., May 20, 1690. He was educated at Cambridge, and in 1631 came to Boston, Mass., where he preached to the church of Mr. Wilson, who was then in England. In 1632 he was settled as teacher of the church in Roxbury. Being impressed with the benighted condition of the Indians, whom he fancied to be the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, he commenced preaching to them in their own language at Nonantum, now a part of Newton. He had acquired their language through the assistance of an Indian servant in his family who had learned English. The first service was held Oct. 28, ( 1646. After prayer he stated the leading doctrines of Chris- tianity, and applied them to their condition, inviting his hearers at the close to ask any questions. One asked whether God could un- derstand prayers in the Indian language; an- other, how could there be an image of God since it was forbidden in the second command- ment ; another, how the Indians could differ so much from the English in their views of religious truth if they all at first had but one father; another, how came the world so full