Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 10.djvu/555

* IMAM. 481 IMBERT DE SAINT-AMAND. given in general to teachers among the Moham- jncdans, as loaders whose example is to be fol- lowed. It is commonly employed to designate any of the persons belonging to the Mohammedan ulema (q.v.) or 'learned' body. They are distin- guished from the laity by a turban somewhat higher than usual, and are held in great reverence by the people. Besides this general use, there are also certain specific applications of the term. Among the Shiites (i.e. the followers of ,li) the term imam is applied to the twelve legitimate successors of Ali. Among the orthodox Moham- medans the imam is properly the caliph, or leader of the entire body of Mohammedans, but the name is also extended to any authority whose views on theology and law are followed. In the course of time every Mohammedan community came to have its imam, whose chief function it was to lead the congregation in prayer. He takes his stand in front of the group of worshipers, who take up a position behind him arranged in fixed rows and imitate the genuflections and attitudes assumed by the leader in the course of the pre- scribed prayers. IMAMITES, e-miini'its. A Mohammedan sect wlicise members recognize the twelve imams, de- scendants of Mohammed's son-in-law Ali, whom they consider the first real imam or caliph. They are commonly known as Shiites. IMAZIGHEN, e'ma'zp'gaN'. The designation of all the Berber tribes of the Atlas Moun- tains, in Algeria and Morocco, comprising the KaVjyles, Shulluhs, and Haratin. The Kabyles, wlio call themselves Imazighen, are furthest north, and more mi.xed with Semites and Euro- ])oans; the Shulluhs (Shluhs) are to be found on the northward sloping valleys of the Atlas Mountains, while the Haratin Berbers are on the southern slopes and mixed with negroes. (See ]jVByLE; Shulluhs; Hahatin.) They are Hamites fundamentally in blood, but have long been accultured with Arab speech and religion. Their mountain retreats have enabled the Ima- zighen Berbers to preserve their ancient patri- archal mode of life, so that many hundreds of clans and families keep up their small organiza- tions at the same time that they are united into larger nations. A similar social structure exist- fd in America, where, within the powerful con- federacies and nations of Indians, were innu- meralilc minor divisions. IMBATTLED. See Embattled. IMBECILITY (from Lat. imbecillitas, weak- ness, from imf)('ci7/»s, weak). (1) Mental weak- ness or defect. Imbecility and idiocy are compara- tive terms. They are both states due to similar ])rocessps, consisting of imperfect development of the brain, and due to congenital influences or acquired injury or disease. (See Idiocy.) Thus it is almost impossible to determine the dividing line that separates an idiot from an imbe<'ilp, and such differentiation may entail much study and careful following of the mental development. In general understanding, an idiot is unable to at- tend to the simple primary aflfairs of his organi- zation. An imbecile is able to attend to these. At the other end of the scale the imbecile shades into the normal average human mind by imper- ceptible gradations, and it may be just as diffi- rult to separate the imbecile from weak-minded, dull, and stupid individuals as it is to separate the idiots from imbeciles. There are large num- bers of weak-minded, useless persons in every ccjnununity who diller from the more robust in- tellects solely in degree. But the more marked and recognizable imbecility is characterized by many of the following signs: The vacant expres- sion, dull senses, small head, deformed body, vacil- lating and restless gait; pendent, thrown back, or agitated head; escaping saliva, limited and infantile language. The ideas may be few, and consist of mere sensuous impressions; the temper, timid, facile, and vain; and the jjassions are little susceptible of control. The all'ection has been regarded as general, or involving the whole mind; or as partial, when the intellect only, or the .sentiments only, or a particular faculty, may be feeble and ineducable. (2) As a generic legal term, a weakTiess of mind falling short of idiocy (q.v.) on the one hand and full mental capacity to contract or to distinguish between right and wrong on the other. The victim of imbecility, using tlic word in this sense, is not absolutely incapable of binding him- self by contract or of committing crime. If his weakness is taken advantage of by another, any contract or conveyance so secured may be set aside, but the mere fact that a man is of weak understanding, or that his intellectual capacity is below the average of mankind, if no fraud, or no undue advantage be taken, is not of itself an adequate ground to set aside a transaction. It should be added that a lower degree of intelli- gence is required for a valid will than a business contract or conveyance. In various jurisdictions imbeciles are more or less protected against the fraud of others or their own acts of indiscretion by placing them more or less under the control of others, as in Scotland b.y interdiction, or by the appointment of a committee or guardian. See Interdiction; Committee; Guardian; also see Idiocy; Insanity; Lunacy; and the au- thorities there referred to. IMBER, Naphtali Herz (18.5fi— ). A He- brew poet and Cabbalist, born of poor parentage at Flochow in Galicia. He received a thorougl training in the Talmud, and after the age o' fourteen led the life of a wandering scholar visiting in turn Constantinople, Egj'pt. an." Palestine. There he studied the Oriental Ian guages, and especially Hebrew. From Palestint he went to England, where he worked for some time in collaboration with Israel Zangwill. In 1892 he came to America, and made his home at different times in New York City, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. In addition to many volumes of poetry and Cah- l)alistic lore, he wrote extensively for the Hebrew press. In his mastery of the ancient language of the Bible he takes rank with the leading scholars of Europe and America. His poetical works in form and thought are modeled to a great extent upon the songs of .ludah llalA-y (q.v.), whose fervent love for and hope in Zion Imber more than echoes. Among his works are: Austria, a poem; The Mi/xter;/ of the Golden Calf: The Ket/note to Mystic Science; The Treas- ures of Ancient Jerusalem : The Letters of liahbi Ahibah: The Education of the Talmuil. printed by the LTnited States Government; Music of thu Psalms. His "Hope of Zion" has become the hymn of the Zionist party the world over. IMBERT DE SAINT-AMAND. aNTiflr' d« siN'ti'miiN', Arthur LfioN, Baron (18341900).