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* COMMEBCY. 212 COMMISSION. has a specialty in the manufacture of cakes known as 'madeleines.' Population, in 1901,7726. COMMEBS, kfi-mSrs' (Ger. Kommers, drink- ing-bout, from Lat. conimereium, trade, from com-, together + iiicrx, merchandise). A social gathering of German students on festival occa- sions, such as the beginning and ending of the semi-annual term {semester), the anniversary of the foundation of the university, etc. Tlie main features of these meetings consist in speeches and songs, the famous collection of German student songs, Gaudeamus igitur, being used. Several senior students are elected as officials (Char- (liertc). and have entire cliarge of the afi'air. Certain rules of etiquette in drinking must be strictly adhered to. Beer is the sole beverage used, and generally a great quantity is con- sumed. After each speech the presiding senior tails for a salamander {ad excrcitium salaman- dris, bibite, tergite). All arise, and, after hav- ing emptied their glas.ses, pound three times vig- orously with them on the tables. If a club-mem- ber dies, at the next club couuners a salamander ( T rauersala maiider) is executed in his memory, and then all glasses are dashed to pieces. Each stu- dents' club arranges a large commers on the an- niversary of its fimmdation. A great many for- mer members visit their alma mater on this occasion, and the one present who can count the most semesters since his matriculation as a stu- dent is especially honored. COMMINATION (Lat. comminatio, threat, from eomminari, to threaten, from com-, to- gether + minari, to threaten). The name given to a penitential service used in the primitive Church. In the early Churcli those who were guilty of grievous and notorious sins were put out of the Church, until, on their repentance, and after long trial, the;,' were restored to full communion. It seems that, at least from the beginning of the eighth century, there was an office of this kind for public penitents on the first day of I^ent ; but from various causes the peni- tential discipline became extinct, both in the Eastern and Western churches, and the office for Ash Wednesday (so called from the penitents formerly coming clad in sackcloth and ashes) is the only memorial of it left. The office, as used in the Church of England, is nearly the same as the older ones found in the pre-Reformation ser- vice-books of Salisbury and York. The curses contained in Dent, xxvii. against impenitent sin- ners are read, and the congregation answers 'Amen' to every sentence, as acknowledging the justice of the sentences. The penitential office of the American Book of Common Prayer is without comminatory features. Consult Bing- ham, Origines EcclesiasticoB ; or, the Antiquities of the Christian Church (10 vols., London, 1710- 22: late ed., 1838-40). COM'MISSA'BIAT (Fr., from ]ML. commis- sarius, one intrusted with a commission, from Lat. comtiiissus, p.p. of commit t ere. to commit, from com-, together + mittere, to send). A de- jjartmcnt of army supply. In the L^nited States the commissariat, under the commissary-gen- eral of subsistence, provides the food for the troops, while its transport, together with the supply of clothing, etc., is the work of the quartermaster's department. In Great Brit.nin the commissariat and army service corps are responsible for both supply and transport of food. Owing to the constant de- mands made upon it, and its peculiar importance under the present army system, tliis branch of the British Army is probably unrivaled by that of any other country. A similar .system of com- mis.sariat to that of the United States obtains throughout Europe generally. See Army Or- GANiz.vTioN ; Field Cooiking; Rations, Mili- T.iRY. COM'MISSABY (Fr. commi^saire, IVIL. com- missariiis, commissary, one intrusted with a com- mission). An officer of the Subsistence Depart- ment of the United States Anuy. This bureau is organized to provide for the distribution and expenditure of funds appropriated for the food of enlisted men, and for purcha.sing articles kept tor sale to officers and men. Tlie department comprises : one commissary-general ; two assist- ant commissary-generals, with rank of colonel; three assistant commissary-generals, with rank of lieutenant-colonel; nine commissaries, with rank of major; eight commissaries, with rank of captain; 200 commissary-sergeants, post and regimental ; making a total of 22.3, all ranks, The commissary-general furnishes lists of all articles kept for sale and gives instruction for procuring, distributing, issuing, selling, and accounting for all subsistence supplies. Pur- chasing commissaries make purchases of supplies and distribute them as directed ; and upon direct calls of chief commissaries they transfer to com- missaries of posts and stations such funds from the appropriations for the subsistence of the army and such authorized subsistence supplies as chief commissaries, under instructions from de- jjartment commandei-s, deem necessary. Com- missaries are required to make timely requisition and estimates, subject to approval by their com- manding officers, for funds and supplies for the troops with which they serve, forwarding them, through the regular militarj' channel, to the chief commissaries. Post coiinnissnni-scrgcants are appointed from the enlisted men of the army; only those being qualified who liave sened at least five years, during three years of which they must have held non-commissioned rank. The appointment is usually bestowed as a reward to faithful and well-tried sergeants. At military posts and stations and in the field, the regimental commissaries, who are officers of the rank of captain and are appointed to the regimental staff' for a tenn of four years by the commanding officer, assisted by regimental commissaiy-ser- geants, perform their duties in the subsistence department at the headquarters of their regi- ment. Regimental commissanf-sergeants of in- fantry and cavalry regiments belong to the non- commissioned staff. There is one to each regiment. The duties of the eommissarj'. in the English Army, are performed by the Army Ser- vice Corps ; and regimentally, by the regimental quartermaster, assisted by his quartermaster- sergeant. COMMISSION (Lat. commissio. commission, from coiiimittrre, to commit, from com-, to- gether + mittere, to send). The name applied to boards created for governmental purposes, generally of a temporary nature. They have proved effective agencies for dealing -with certain phases of international relations and controver- sies, and for this purpose are of two classes : ( 1 ) Commissions of a domestic character, created