Arcae Custodes
keepers of the chest, a name occasionally given in the early church to the archdeacons (q.v.). The bishop was not required to care personally for the widows, orphans, and strangers, but to commit them to his archdeacon, who had the keys of the church's treasures, and the care of dispensing the oblations of the people. The ordinary deacons were the actual dispensers of the money; but from the archdeacon, who was the chief manager, they received their instructions and orders. — Bingham, Orgy. Eccles. bk. 2, ch. 21, § 5; Farrar, Eccles. Dict. s.v.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More