CHORION, in anatomy, the exterior 
membrane which invests the foetus in the 
uterus. 
CHOROGRAPHY, the art of deline- 
ating or describing some particular country 
or province: it differs from geography as a 
description of a particular country differs 
from that of the whole earth ; and from to- 
pography, as a description of a country dif- 
fers from that of a town or district. 
CHOROIDES, in anatomy, an epithet 
of several membranes, which on account of 
the multitude of their blood-vessels resem- 
ble the chorion. 
Ciioroides denotes the coat of the eye 
placed immediately under the sclerotica. 
It is very full of vessels, and coloured 
black. 
CHORUS, in dramatic poetry, one or 
more persons present on the stage during 
the representation, and supposed to be by- 
standers witiiout any share in the action. 
Tragedy in its origin was no more than a 
single chorus, who trod the stage alone, and 
without any actors, singing dithyrambics or 
hymns in honour of Bacchus. Thespis, to 
relieve the chorus, added an actor, who re- 
hearsed the adventures of some of their he- 
roes j and Aischylus, finding a single per- 
son too dry an entertainment, added a se- 
cond, at the same time reducing the sing- 
ing of (he chorus, to make more room for 
the recitation. But when once tragedy be- 
gan to be formed, the recitative, which at 
first was intended only as an accessory part 
to give the chorus a breathing time, be- 
came a principal part of the tragedy. At 
length, however, tlie chorus became insert- 
ed and incorporated into the action ; some- 
times it was to speak, and then their chief, 
whom they called Coryplimus, spoke in be- 
half of the rest : the singing was performed 
by the whole company; so that when the 
Ckrryphmus struck into a song, the chorus 
immediately joined him. 
The chorus sometimes also joined the ac- 
tors in the course of the representation, 
with their plaints and lamentations on ac- 
count of any unhappy accidents that befel 
them : but the proper function, and that 
for w hich it seemed chiefly retained, was 
to show the intervals of the acts : while the 
actors were behind the scenes, the chorus 
engaged the spectators ; their songs usually 
turned on what was exhibited, and were 
not to contain any thing but what was suit- 
ed to the subject, and had a natural connec- 
tion with it ; so that the chorus concurred 
■with the actors for advancing the action. 
In the modern tragedies the chorus is laid 
aside, and tlie music supplies its place. 
Chorus, in music, is wlien, at certain 
periods of a song, the whole company are 
to join the singer in repealing certain cou- 
plets or verses. 
CHRISTIANITY, the religion of Chris- 
tians, who derive their name from the 
founder, Christ, so denominated from the 
Greek W'ord ypiui, I aTioint, from the cus- 
tom of anointing persons in the sacerdotal 
or regal chai'acter, as a public signal of their 
separation to important offices. After the 
death of Jesus, his disciples were for some 
years called Nazarenes, from Nazareth, 
where he was brought up. This name af- 
terwards became the designation of a parti- 
cular sect ; and we learn from a passage in 
the Acts of the Apostles, that about the 
year 4f, they who adopted the principles 
and prolessed the religion which Jesus had 
taught, and for the salve of which he cheer- 
fully laid down his life, were distinguished 
by the name of Christians at Antioch. 
Hence the system itself is called Chris- 
tianity. The foundation of a Christian’s faith 
and practice, his ultimate, and, in truth, his 
only appeal, imist be to the facts, tlie doc- 
trines, and the precepts of the Scriptures, 
particularly those of the New Testament. 
Other formularies, other confessions of faith, 
from whatever motives dictated, and from 
whatever reasons recommended, should ever 
be regarded with a suspicious eye ; lest, by 
laying stress upon what is human, we sliould 
overlook that which comes recommended 
upon divine authority. The careful reader 
of tlie New Testament will find a detail of 
instructions given, of wonders performed, 
and of future events revealed. He will 
also be struck with a very particular ac- 
count of (he sufferings, death, resurrection, 
and ascension of Jesus tlie founder. The 
history containing these things appears to 
be fairly written, and to cai-ry with it as, 
substantial proofs of its authenticity, as any 
history that has gained credit in the W'orld. 
Is the Christian called upon for the reason 
why he believes in the antiquity of the 
writings of the New Testament ? lie may 
reply, “ For the same reason that I believe 
the antiquity of Virgil’s poems, Ciesar’s 
Comnientaries, or Sallust’s narrations : and 
that is, the concurring testimony of all in- 
tervenin,-!: ages. Do any ask, 'IVhy I believe 
that the several books were written by the 
persons whose names they bear i' I answer. 
For the same reason that I believe the 
Georgies to be the production of ^'irg^l ^ 
