The HISTORY OF DOGMAS OR DOCTRINES has been raised in Germany to the rank of a distinct branch of sacred science. In this country, the facts with which it deals have received only passing notice in treatises on systematic theology, and in ecclesiastical history have been considered as the "internal history.of church." The pursuit of this branch of inquiry is , characteristic of Protestantism; in the Catholic church it is considered as endangering the unity of the faith. Many Protestants even dislike the idea of a "development " of Christian doctrine, which seems to,be involved in its having a history. It is not necessary, however, to believe that doctrines hitherto absolutely unknown or denied. came from time time to be embodied in the orthodox creed of• Christendom. See DEVELOPMENT. Though this may be denied, it remains an indis putable fact that the several doctrines came one after the other into prominence in the consciousness of the church; and that in each period of her history there is some one leading doctrine which assumed an importance, as if it were the mainstay of Christi anity. To depict this succession or evolution of views with their struggles and modifi
cations, and trace the different ways in which the several doctrines were at'different periods formulated and embodied in the creeds, is the object of a history of doctrines (Ger. Dogmengeschic)zte). There is, of course, room for great variety in the method of treating such a subject. Among the most important works on this subject is Neander's, edited by J. L. (English trans. 1858), and that of F. C. Baur (1847), whose name marks an era in this branch of study. ? DOGS, 'six OF, or Poplar Marshes, a small penihsula in the co. of Middlesex, Eng land, formed by a circuitous winding of the Thames, is situated in the vicinity of Lon don, distant 31 m. e.s.e. from St. Paul's cathedral. It is about a mile long, and three quarters of a mile broad. In what may be called the isthmus of the peninsula are situated the West India docks. It is said that the isle of Dogs derives its name from the circumstance that the king's hounds were formerly kept here.