CONSISTORIES
Noun
consistories
plural of consistory
Source: Wiktionary
CONSISTORY
Con*sis"to*ry ( or ; 277) n.; pl. Consistories. Etym: [L.
consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's
council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See
Consist.]
1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any
solemn assembly or council.
To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark
tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. Milton.
2. (Eng. Ch.)
Definition: The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his
chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere.
Hook.
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Definition: An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals
at Rome.
Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon.
4. A church tribunal or governing body.
Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a
consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual
church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in
others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers
and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries
it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign
to superintend ecclesiastical affairs.
5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Con*sis"to*ry, a.
Definition: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold
consistory session." Strype.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition