Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-12-18

that these became the cradle places, the
refuge of the first converts to the new
faith.
Detection was almost impossible. Occa-
sionally, however, even here the hatred
and vengeance of paganism followed the
poor people. In the time of Cyprian,
Stephen, bishop of Rome, was traced by
the soldiers to his underground chapel.
They allowed him to conclude his services,
and then, throwing him back in his chair,
behe a led him.
There is an inscription over the grave
of martyr, which shows that while pray
ing, be was surprised by the emissaries of
Antonine. A part of the epitaph as
follows: "Genna e1sjm fectenS zero deO
sacritfcaturus ad SuDpiicia ducitur. O
temPora, infausfa quibuS inter sacra ct
Uota ne IN cagerniS quidem SGloari
p0SSamuS.' That is to say: "For while
on his knees, and about to sacrifice to the
true God, he was led away to execution.
., sad times, in which sacred rites and
prayers, even in caverns, afford no protec-
tlon to US -
Once an emperor decreed that these
resorts should DO longer be frequented by
the Christians but the decree was not
needed. Again, il was decreed that they
should be destroyed, but the order was not
executed. La time. however, free entrance
and exit were allowed and, later still,
they were glanted to the Christians as
their own property. Lord Lindsey, in a
work on Christian art, says of the jewellers
10 the Catacombs: 80 our classic asso-
citations, indeed Rome was still under
Trajan and the Antonnes, the city of the
Caesars, the metropolis OF pagan ldolatry.
But all this while there was living,
beneath the visible aud invisible Rome, a
population unhee led, unreckoned, of quick
impulses, nerved alike to suffer or die !;
and In numbers, resolution, and physical
force, sufficient to have hurled their
oppressors from the throne Of the world,
had they not deemed it their duty to kiss
the rod, to love their enemies, to bless
them that cursed them, and to submit for
their Redeemer's sake Here, in these
dens and caves of the earth, they lived !;
here they died, a spectacle IN their lifetime
to men and angels, and IN their death a
! triumph to mankind-a triumph OF which
the echoes still float around the walls of
Rome, while those that once thrilled the
Campania ale slIenced, and the walls that
returned them have long since crumblOd
into dust"
Thus passed three centuries of persecu-
ton. But after the Christian religion
received the favor and protection of the
State, and Christians were free as other
Romans, the Catacombs began to be visit
ed as places Of sacred memories, revered
and honored. 1t became a favorte place
Of buriaI for the great, and bishops, princes,
and kings dying, ASKED that this might be
the final re,tlug-piace Of their bodies.
Time passed on, and the barbaTlans Of
the North began to pour IN upon the luxuri-
Gus city The Huns, under AttlIa, came
and scourged the city. Toe G1ths, with
AttIla to lead them, swept over the lend
rne L1Dgbearda came down Ike the bosom
OF destruction from their northern homes
Cities were piuudered, fertile fields laid
waste, temples burned, the very graves OF
the dead torn open aud ransacNcd for
punder. The Catacombs did not escape
their ravages, but became 30 Insecure, that
their inhabitants sought elsewhere safer
abodes. Gradually the worship IN them
ceased, the chapes were ne ected, and
bats, obscure birds ana beasts, took up
their lodging IN them. The peasantry, on
their way to the city, feared to pass by
them even by day.
Then came the fearful times Of the
VI lddle Ages, wnen every ,tole, hedge, and
palace became fort ticItlon. Every
mans house was his castle. Toe streets
became battle-ground; passion ia ed, and
humanity almost ceased to have an * =
ence. La these times, scenes of conf CT
took place, even among the Catac0mbs.
The vassal, and retatners Of the mobiles met
IN their narrow confines, and struLg ed for
life or death.
When peace came, the Catacombs were
forgotten, their walls caved in their pas
sage clogged up with rubbish, the entrances
were hidden by RANK weeds and tall grass.
In the sixteenth century they were dlscov-
cred again. and found to contain many
relics Of great interest to the Christian
world. Their relics have been, to a great
extent, removed for better preservation.
T0eir paintings. aud the fresco work on
their walls, have become the study of
artists aud autiquarians. Their ways nave
been repaired, their passages secured from
darger; and to-day, ev-ry traveller that
visits Rome esteems a visit to them OF
equal interest to any which the ancient or
modern city affJrds.-I1 lana ASbltry
University, Noe. II 1872.