CATECHISM, a form of instruction by question and answer, especially in Christian doctrine by that method; and not the instruc tion only, but the book in which the questions and answers are contained. The catechetical school of Alexandria was an institution de signed to instruct pagans in the doctrines of the Christian Church (2d century). Its founder, Pantenos, was a Greek convert deeply learned in the Grecian philosophy and in the Hebrew Scriptures. Among his disciples was Titus Flavius Clemens, who became his suc cessor as head of the school; and to Clemens (Clement of Alexandria) succeeded the illus trious Origen, who, at the early age of 18, was deemed worthy to be named to so respon sible a post.
The catechetical instruction given by these masters of the Alexandrine school was con veyed rather in the form of lectures than in that of question and answer. The more familiar instruction given to catechumens in the early Church was of the same nature, but more simple and elementary. In the latter half of the 4th century Saint Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, composed 23 lectures, or in Greek katacheseis, of which 18 were addressed to postulants for baptism (catechumens) and five to the neophytes after their baptism. These latter he called mystagogic catacheses, or in struction in the mysteries of Christianity. They are of a more popular character than the catacheses of the Alexandrines and are believed to be the first example of a popular compen dium of the Christian doctrines.
In the Roman Catholic Church the Cate chism of the Council of Trent, or Roman Catechism or Catechismus ad Parochos (Cate chism for Parish Priests) is addressed espe cially to pastors and others having cure of souls, suggesting to them the manner of ex pounding Christian doctrine and of enforcing the precepts of Christian morality in their sermons from the pulpit and in conveying re ligious instruction to the young. It is also
designed as a basis and model in composing short expositions of Christian doctrine for popular use among the laity. The Catechism of the Council of Trent was first published in 1566 in Latin and formed a considerable vol ume, 500 pages 8vo. A decree of the Council of Trent ordered all bishops to "take care to have the Catechism faithfully translated into the vernacular language and expounded to the people by all pastors)) Translations were ac cordingly made into Italian, French, Spanish and German. The first English translation was not published till 1829. It is a large octavo, closely printed, of over 400 pages. The work possesses high authority, but not the highest; it does not rank with the creeds of the Church or with the canons and decrees of councils or the dogmatic definitions of Popes.
All the principal divisions of Protestantism — the Anglican Church and its offshoots, the Lutheran and Calvinistic Churches, the Pres.: byterians, Methodists and Baptists — have cate chisms. Many of these Protestant catechisms, as the catechism of Luther, the Calvinist of Geneva, the Westminster Larger and Shorter catechisms, the Catechism of the Church of England, possess in their several Churches an authority equal or comparable to that of their several creeds or confessions of faith.