CONGREGATIONALISM, the ecclesiastical system which regards each congregation of believers in Christ a church complete in itself, and free from the control of the other Christian communities, and which extends to each member equal privileges as a member of Christ’s body.  It took its rise in England about 1571, and the most prominent name connected with its establishment is that of ROBERT BROWN (q. v.), who seceded from the Church of England and formed a church in Norwich in 1580.  The body was called Brownists after him, and Separatists, as well as “Independents.”  The several congregations are now united in what is called “The Congregational Union of England and Wales.”

CONGRESS is a diplomatic conference at which the representatives of sovereign States discuss matters of importance to their several countries, the most celebrated of which are those of Muenster and Osnabrueck, which issued in the treaty of Westphalia in 1648, at the end of the Thirty Years’ War; of Rastadt, at the end of Spanish Succession War, in 1797; of Vienna, at the end of Napoleon’s wars, in 1815; of Paris, in 1856, at the end of Russian War; and of Berlin, in 1878, at the end of Russo-Turkish war; but the name has come to be applied in federal republics to the legislative assembly which directs national as distinct from State concerns.  In the United States, Congress consists of the Senate, elected by the State legislatures and the House of Representatives, elected directly by the people.  It meets on the first Monday in December, and receives the President’s message for the year.  It imposes taxes, contracts loans, provides for national defence, declares war, looks after the general welfare, establishes postal communication, coins money, fixes weights and measures, &c. &c., but it is prohibited from preferential treatment of the several States, establishing or interfering with religion, curtailing freedom of speech, or pursuing towards any citizen, even under legal forms, a course of conduct which is unjust or even oppressive.

CONGRESS, the Belgian Constituent Assembly, 1830-1831.

CONGREVE, RICHARD, author of political tracts, was a pupil of Dr.
Arnold’s, and a disciple of Comte in philosophy; b. 1818.

CONGREVE, WILLIAM, English comic dramatist, born near Leeds; entered a student of the Middle Temple, but soon abandoned law for literature; the “Old Bachelor” first brought him into repute, and a commissionership of substantial value; the production of “Love for Love” and the “Mourning Bride,” a stilted tragedy, added immensely to his popularity, but his comedy “The Way of the World” being coldly received, he gave up writing plays, and only wrote a few verses afterwards; he was held in great esteem by his contemporaries, among others Dryden, Pope, and Steele (1670-1729).

CONGREVE, SIR WILLIAM, an English artillery officer, inventor of the rocket which bears his name (1772-1828).

CONINGSBY, a novel by Disraeli.