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* fl RULE BRITANNIA. 344 RULES OF THE ROAD. RULE BRITANNIA. One of tlie national antlieni^ of Great Britain. Its original appear- anee was in a mask entitlod Alfred, the words by James Thomson and David ilallet. the nmsic by Dr. Arne. it was lir.st jjerformed in 1740. The composer afterwards changed the mask into an opera (1745). Beethoven wrote five variations on the theme of "Rule Britannia." The words were certainly written by Thomson, though claimed by Mallet. Lord Bolingbroke wrote three additional but unsuccessful verses. RULED SURFACES. See Surface. RULE NISI (Lat., unless). In English prac- tice, a rule or order that the thing applied for be granted, unless the person against whom the relief is asked, upon being served with a copy thereof, shows cause on a certain date why the rule should not be made ahsolute, or final. The word 'rule' is used in the sense of 'order.' The English practice acts now' confine the use of this form of an order to cases where the court has summary jurisdiction. A rule nisi is obtained on an ex parte ajiplication. See Motion. RULE OF FAITH. One of several names given in the ancient Church to the statements of belief which constituted the standard of or- thodoxy against prevalent errors, and which were solemnly committed to catechumens at their bap- tism. Other designations were Rule of Truth, Canon of Truth. Ecclesiastical Canon, etc. With slight variations they were current from the latter part of the second century onward, in Rome, North Africa. Gaul, Asia Jlinor. and Alexandria. The Rule of Faith was regarded as of Apostolic origin, being based upon the baptismal confession, or perhaps in some cases, like the baptismal con- fession itself, directly upon the formula of bap- tism (cf. Matt, xxviii. 19, and Didache 7). This statement of belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit received short additions, mostly of a de- scriptive nature, and served the purpose of a creed, in the later sense. After the fourth cen- tury the Xicene Creed gradually dis])laccd the earlier and shorter formulas, especially in the Eastern Church. Since the sixteenth century a new interpretation of the phrase 'Rule of Faith' has come into use among Protestants, according to which it means the Scriptures, a.s the sole authority in religion. This is asserted by them again.st the Roman Catholic appeal to the con- current authority of Church, Scripture, and tra- dition. These two applications of the term should be carefully distinguished. On the va- rious forms of the Reqiiia. consult: Hahn, Bihlio- thek der Symbole (3d'ed., Breslau, 1897) : Sehaff, Creeds of Christe^idom (New York. 1884) ; in general. Burn. Introduction to the Creeds (Lon- don, 1899) ; McGiffert, The Apostles' Creed (New York, 190'2) ; Allen, Christian Institutions (New York, 1897). See further the article Creed, with the literature there cited. RULE OF THREE. See Proportion. RULES OF THE ROAD. Regulations, pre- scribed either by custom or by statute, to be observed by travelers cither on land or water. Rules for Travel on Land. The fundamental rule for travelers on land higlnvays is that each must so use his right of passage as not to inter- fere unduly with another in the exercise of that other's coordinate right of passage. Accord- ingly he is bound to use reasonable skill and care, not only in directing his movements as a pedestrian, but in his selection and management of animals or vehicles. In case of travelers who.se courses cross, the one first reaching the crossing is entitled to pass on without stopping, while the other should moderate his speed or halt, as occa- sion may require. This rule applies to pedes- trians crossing a city thoroughfare in front of teams. Driving at an inunoderate rate of speed, where other vehicles or persons are on the high- way, or leaving horses unhitched and unattended, is evidence of negligence, which may render the person who is responsible 4,herefor liable to dam- ages. In England the rule prevails that vehicles going in opposite direction shall pass to the left when meeting; but in this country they must pass to the right. Statutes enforce this rule in many of our States. If vehicles are traveling in the same direction, it is the duty of the foremost traveler to permit any one behind him, who wishes to go more rapidly than he is driving, to pass. In England the rule seems to be that the passing vehicle should bear to the right, while the other bears to the left. In this countrv the practice in cities is for the passing vehicle to bear to the left; and this has been enjoined by statute in a few States. Rules fob Traveling on Water. The rules of the road for water craft are for the most part quite modern. Those relating to sea-going ves- sels were formulated, in their present shape, as the result of a maritime conference held in Washington during 1889. They were not entirely new, although they contained some important modifications of existing regulations. In Eng- land they are set forth in an Order in Council of November '27. 1890, pursuant to an act of Parliament (.57 and 58 Vict., ch. 00). In this country they are embodied in several acts of Congress and a Presidential proclamation (see 28 Statutes at Large 82, 672; 29 ibid. 381, 885). The object of these rules is not onl.y to prevent col- lisions, but to minimize the efTects of those which happen. English courts treat them as a part of the municipal law of each country adopting them. Our courts, however, have declared that, as they have been adopted by all maritime nations, they form a part of the international or general mari- time law of the world. In the United States a separate set of rules has been enacted by Con- gress for the guidance of vessels along our coasts, in our harbors, and on waters connected there- with. (See 30 Statutes at Large 96; 31 ibid. 30.) Still another regulates navigation on the Great Lakes and their adjacent streams. (See 28 Statutes at Large 645.) A fourth applies to vessels navigating the Mississippi River and its tributaries as well as the Red River of the North. Rules of the Road at Sea. The rules of tlie road are of four classes, concerning (a) lights, (b) fog signals, (c) steering and sailing, and (d) distress and other signals. Lights. Steam vessels are required to carry the following lights: a white light on the middle line, at a height of 20 to 40 feet, visible at .a distance of 5 miles, and which may be seen from directl.v ahead to 22%° abaft the beam on each side; a green light on the starboard (right) side and a red light on the port (left) side which are visible at a distance of two miles and may be seen from right ahead to 221^° abaft the