The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-08-04
FaOm the Pittsburgh Gazette.
THE HISTORIANS.

Professor Stowe, Of Cincinnati, delivered
an address on Sunday evening, July IL,
at New York, upon the history and
character of the HISTORIANS; and as the
subject is one Of very general interest, and
closely connected with present events Of
decided importance, our readers will
peruse with pleasure brief outline of the
historial sketch given on that occasion,
which we take from the Courier and En-
quirer.
Nestorius, the founder Of the sect,was
Christian preacher at Antioch, and in the
year 42S was made Bishop of CONSTANT
nople by the Emperor Theodosius. He
was a very jealous advocate Of the doc
trines he embraced; and soon rendered
himself abnoxious TO certain persons who
accused him of uphoiding heresies, a.
mong which they specified, l. the doc
trine tina Mary should not be wOrshipped
as the mother Of God; 2, that Christ sui-
fered, died and rose in his human nature
only; and 3, that celibacy should not be
required Of the clergy. The accusation
excited great commotion, and Cyril, the
Bishop Of Alexandria, came forward as
his principal accuser. The Emperor
summoned council at Ephasus in 43l
TO try the case; many of the friends of
Nestorius were prevented from attending
at the opening of the Council, and his
enemies had it all their own way. His
friends, upon their arrival, called an op-
posing Council: but after some wavering,
the Emperor sided with the original
Council, and sanctioned the condemna-
ton of Nestorius, who was deposed, inn
prisoned and finally banished to Egypt
where he died. Luther was the first to
defend Nestorius, and he referred to this
transaction, in his book on Councils, as a
proof that Councils, are not infallible.
The followers of Nestorius separated
and formed themselves into distinct re-
ligious community They adopted a
simple mode Of worship and gave their
attention to the missionary work in the
East, beyond the bounds of the Roman
Empire The centre of their operations
was in the upper valley of the Tigris and
Euphrates, where Mosul now stands
Before the wear 500 all the Christian
churches of Persia and the East had be-
come connected with them in these labors;
but of their results all authentic record is
lost In 500 their missionary field ex-
tended from India on the South TO Samar
cand on the North, and TO Cashgar on
the East; and in 625 they had penetrated
even 10 the heart of China. In 1925 a
marble tablet was dug up IN one of the
provinces OF China, upon which were a
variety of inscriptions. 1t was stated
that Ne missionaries had arrived there IN
636-that they suffered two prosecutions,
in 699 and 7l3-ihat after this, new mis-
sionaries arrived, and then follows the
date of the monument itself, 7S2. A full
account Of this very remarkable tablet may
be found in the work of Professor Ritter.
Timothy, who was Patriarch Of the
HISTORIANS from 77S to $40, devoted HIM
selfto the missionary works in the East
Indies and in China. Two missionaries
were ordained and penetrated far to the
East and South, and made many converts.
Ii soon became necessary 10 have third,
and as it required three bishops TO ordain,
they made the Bible take the place of the
third and so completed the ceremony;
their proceedings received the entire sane
ton Of their Patriarch.
When the Mahometans carried their
military conquests into the heart OF ASIA,
many Of the HISTORIANS accompanied
them as scribes, surgeons, &C., and took
occasion thus to spread the knowledge oi
Christianity. In 1912 the King oil the
Caryites, on the west Of China, the cele-
brated Prester John, became lost in the
snow and was saved by HISTORIAN, on
condition that he should become Chris
tian. He did SO and about 100000 of
his subjects followed his example They
enioyed about two centuries of peace,
when in 1912 they were attacked by the
famous Ghcngis Khan, who destroyed the
whole Of the royal family except one
daughter, whom his son married, and
who continued faithful TO her religion.
The successor 10 the throne, through her
Influences became Christian.
This Western Empire soon became
the object of the ambition of the Church
oi Rome. In I245 Father Assellin with
two other mrnks, travelled and labored
yer" zcalocslv amon~ them, but without