OLDCASTLE 16 OLDHAM OLDCASTLE, SIB JOHN, LORD COBHAM, as English reformer; born in the 14th century, in the reign of Ed- ward III., and obtained his peerage by marrying the daughter of Lord Cobham. He excited the resentment of the clergy by his zealous adherence to the doctrines of Wyclif, whose works he collected, transcribed, and distributed among the people. Under Henry V. he was accused of heresy; but the king, with whom he was a favorite, delayed the prosecutions against him, and tried to convince him of his alleged errors, but in vain. He was then cited before the Archbishop of Can- terbury (1413), condemned as a heretic, and committed to the Tower, whence he escaped into Wales. Four years after- ward he was retaken and burned alive in St. Giles' Fields, in December, 1417. He wrote "Twelve Conclusions," addressed to the Parliament of England. OLD CATHOLICS, the name assumed by a body of German priests and laymen who refused to accept the dogma of Papal Infallibility, and, in consequence of its definition, formed themselves into a separate body. It was essentially a university movement, for the German bishops who had left Rome to avoid vot- ing — Hefele among the number — after- ward submitted. Van Schulte, a pro- fessor at Prague, published a formal pro- test; then came the Nuremberg protest of "Catholic professors" (August, 1870). Father Hyacinthe's "Appeal to the Bish- ops" followed in "La Liberta" early in 1871, and (March 28) Dr. Bollinger set forth his reasons for withholding his as- sent. Dollinger and Friedrich were im- mediately excommunicated. In Septem- ber following, a congress was held at Munich, when it was resolved to seek re- union with the Greeks. In 1872 a second congTess was held at Cologne. On Aug. 11, 1873, Dr. Reinkens was consecrated at Rotterdam by Dr. Hey de Kamp, Jan- senist Bishop of Deventer, and, in 1876, Dr. Reinkens consecrated Dr. Herzog. The first synod (1874) made confession and fasting voluntary; the second (1875) reduced the number of feasts, and ad- mitted only such impediments to mar- riage as were recognized by the State; the third (1876) permitted priests to marry, but forbade them to officiate after marriage. This prohibition was an- nulled by the fifth synod (1878), and, in consequence, Friedrich, Reusch, and some others withdrew. Congregations of Old Catholics exist in Austria, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, and Mexico, but their numbers are small. OLD DOMINION, Virginia. In co- lonial days acts of Parliament relating to the Virginian settlements (which at that time included all the British dominions in North America) always designated them as the "Colony and Dominion of Virginia." In the maps of the time this colony was described as "Old Virginia," in contradistinction to the New England settlements, which were called "New Vir- ginia." OLDENBTJRG, a republic since 1918, formerly a Grand Duchy of North Ger- many, between lat. 52° 8(K and 53° 43' N,, Ion. T 35' and 8" 50' E., having N. the North Sea, E. the territory of Bre- men, S. and W. Hanover; area, 2,417 square miles. The surface is level, and so low on the coast as to render neces- sary the formation of dykes, as in Hol- land, to prevent inundations of the sea. The soil is rich on the banks of the rivers, but in other parts sandy or marshy. The principal rivers are the Weser, Hunte, Haase, Leda, and Jahde. Of the lakes, Drummersee is the princi- pal. The productions include flax, hemp, hops, rape seed, corn and potatoes. Horses and cattle of superior breed, and sheep, are extensively reared. Its com- merce is principally carried on in small vessels of from 20 to 40 tons, along the coast with Denmark, Holland, Hanover, etc. The duchy of Oldenburg was formed in 1773 by Joseph II., of the counties of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst. It joined the Confederation of the Rhine in 1808, incorporated with the French empire by Napoleon I. in 1810, and was restored to the duke in 1814. Augustus first assumed the title of grand duke in 1829. Kniphausen was added to the grand-duchy in 1854. Oldenburg en- tered into an alliance with Hanover against Prussia in 1865, and after the defeat of the Austrians, submitted to Prussia, with which it signed a treaty of alliance in 1866. Capital, Oldenburg. Pop. about 500,000. OLD FORGE, a borough of Pennsyl- vania, in Lackawanna co. It is on the Lackawanna river and on the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western railroad. It is the center of an important anthracite region and its principal industries are the mining and shipping of coal. There are also silk mills. It has an excellent high school, and other public buildings. Pop. (1910) 11,324; (1920) 12,237. OLDHAM, a town of England, in Lancashire, 6 miles N. E. of Manches- ter. The spinning and weaving of cot- ton are the staple industries of the town, and employ within it and in its vicinity about 250 mills; and there are several large machine shops, foundries, tanner-
