The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-01-05
rur srmrxx OF DIANA


in part 10 testify 20 the iGsuse which
declared il one Of the eye wonders
Of the world
Ephesus. the setting sun, and tbe
Ephesisns pouring from al points
upon Via Sscrs-the Sacred Road
20 see the strange = Christians
pass
To all inieDts and purposes the
Ephesians we're Romans ia their re-
ligious ideas and habits They were
perfectly liberal, and, a. il Rome
Scraps. the fsvorite divinity Of The
Egyptians, had m9rs than once be-
come the fashion.
Bot whether the wretcbed man
Nero (still young. for be died, scarce
~ 30, il The following year wss or
was no; mad, it is certain that be was
the first of the Roman EmPerors
consistently and systematically 10
persecate the Christians.
But the Romans, a. 8 rule, did not
persecute the Christians 50 much be-
cause Of their faith s. because they
would not fight
Now, the Roman was bound 70 fight
for bis country, if called npoD, AID
he was frequently required to do 50;
bat the Christian quite refused, cor
scientiouzly, to Gghi, and be prefer
red, before doing 50, 70 Re condemn
ed 70 death a. g coward.
But Romans, however, appear At
. very early period to have seen that
the men who could die for their faith
were no towards, while. by their
very msrtyrdom, they demonstrated
that they ought not 70 have been
msrtyred.
Hence, the Roman judges found
themselves in the dilemma Of eilbel
letting the Christians live. and there
By encourage their faith among a.
those who had no desire 70 fight fol
the Roman power, or Of eondemning
them to death-not as towards, bu.
as men who denied the recognized di
whites.
Christians, however, were submit
ted to but a very simple ordeal ]
thew desired 10 reaonnce CHRISTIAN
". All they had 70 do was to burr
a pinch Of incense in the fame risini
from the altar before the statue Of
given liety, and they were thereb.
reconstructed Roman citizens
The greater number were true t
their aew faith, and died-chiehy /
the a-eas, where, as al example
their fellow citizens, they wer
thrown TO the wild beasts, and viii
out arms, that they might not has
the honor, if they wished it, Of d.
tending themselves against the fan
ishiDg, wild, hungry, fe%rocioas beasts
Bot, in Ephesns, Christians ha
scarcely been known. The deity (
that city was Diana-ihe Diana
the Ephesians Diana, the godde;
Of purity; Diana, whose yesta.
were ever clothed 10 silver and Whit
who sang 70 Diana's glory unces.
ingly. and TO touch whom, as the
passed through the streets. was 4 seI
tence Of death.
Unquestionably, the Ephesiau
we're a comparatively pure peoplC
and il is little 10 be wondered al thai
when tbey did embrace Christianity
they became ardent disciples Of tn.
new faith.
But that was long after. W. ar
in the year A. d. 81 and great il
Diana Of the Ephesians.
The strange seven Christians ar
TO be sacrificed for the safety Of Eph
esns.
To the cast Of the town, four day.
since, a sudden gap appeared in th'
hillside. and q sound as Of NGtur,
moaning appeared to issue from il.
The augurs had been ~consulte,
and they declared that the Epbesian
had offended Diana-tbat q sacrihc
must be offered a. a Precipitation.
Whether or not the OWNERS exert
ed themselves TO ind hidden Christ
ians, il came about that on the ev
OF the day upon which they declare.
the viii Of the o~racles, seven Ephe
sian Christians were found, seye.
hidden Christians living 10 the cit
dedicated TO pure Diana.
The people recognize with acclair
that this is the ofense-that the bill
side has opened and the earth ba
groaned because Of the ofense {
seven Christians in the silver city {
Diana.
As the sun rises on The followin
morn, the great arena, the circular {
~open-air amphitbeater. where Il
giadiators contested, is filed with II
Ephesians, come to see the trial an
death Of the seven Christians.
Now and again, above the chatte
ing and laughter of the people,
savsge roar, followed Immediately |
other strange, savage sounds may
heard. These angry complain
come from the wild animals confn,
in cages in the arcades Of the aren
and but half fed, that, when the vi
tins are thrown to them, they SD,
not balk the Ephesians Of their day
pleasure-that of seeing the wi
beasts devour the perverts.
As usual, the Pro-Consul sits
tribune, some ten or twelve feet abo'
the floor OF the arena, bis breast lev
with the coping of the marble WI
which forms the round wall of arc
itectur surrounding the arena.
Below, in the arena, stands {
altar; before it a flaming tripod al
near at hand a supply of pc xderr
incense.
The silver trumpets have sounde
come nearer, and the Pro-Consul b
taken bis seat. The eyes Of all Ep
esus are now fixed upon the aren
about which move several heav
numbering slaves-6erce, remorsele
brutes.
Suddenly a loud murmer az {
seven criminals are led into {
arena.
They are weakly looking men q
the strong did not at FIRST willing
accept Christianity, but there is
general sanity beauty in their
pect, which is common to all men W
resign life through the strength
any conviction.
Very short and prompt is the tr.
Of shn EnUnn man F. H. .1.E