Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-26
Fourth Lecture on ROme-The Cata.
 cOmbs and the Churches.


 Rev. MT. Spaulding gave the last but one of his course of lectures on Rome in the Grand Opera House last evening, dwelling mostly on the catacombs and the early Christian churches. In opening his remarks he referred to the diff fculty he had in investing these ancient bu- rial places with the interest that is attached to the splendid structures of the old pagan city. He expressed qualification that this branch of archaeology is now pursued by men who, be- longing to different branches of the Christian church. display a commendable love of truth and zeal for learning.
 He referred to some great historical ques- tions and discussed the relations of Pagan Rome to the development of Christianity, de- claring that philosophical and truthful ac count of the. introduction of the new religion is specially needed-a task for which no writer, least of all Gibbon, has shown himself compe- tent. The catacombs sprang from the burial customs of the ancient Romans. Several tombs upon the Appian Way, including the splendid old mausoleum of Cecilia Metella, were shown to illustrate this point. The tombs of the Romans were sacred and those | belonging to the noble families were built | large enough to contain 8 room in which to I02SCS, Versarles were celebrated much birthdays are at present The old Roman burial clubs | proved favorable to the introduction of Chris | tian burial customs. The Roman rulers were averse to large public gatherings, but made ! an exception in favor of burial clubs. three miles outside the walls of the city. They consist of subterra- mean galleries excavated in the hills | of the Campagna. They cross each other in at regular angles and present much the same ap- pearance as 8 city with streets leading from | the main avenue, The views presented gave a very good idea of these underground gal leries which were excavated into the soft and porous rock. In times of persecution the Christians held their meetings in these gal leries, which were often made one above another, and served as temporary abodes.
 It was at one time believed that the cata- combs were made for the sake of the earth thereby removed and forming 8 kind of con crete much used in the construction of large buildings. But this theory has long since given way, and the catacombs are now re- garded as made primarily for the dwellings of the dead, though they were used at different periods as places of worship and conceal ment.
 The lecturer illustrated early Christian art by number of views, some of which were de- signed to give us an idea of the figure and countenance of Christ. The contrast between
 
 Raphael and Michael Angelo was most strik- ing, causing sentiment of gratitude to be awakened that our lot is cast in these latter days.
 The concluding part of the lecture was de- voted to an explanation of some of the church. es and basilicas of Christian Rome. Some views were presented that brought clearly to our minds many wondrous specimens of Chris tian architecture with which that-city is fla vored. St. John in Laterano, St. Clement, St. Paul Outside the Walls, San Pietro in Vim was finely illustrated and probably as much instruction was gained by some persons from this one lecture as frequently results from visit to the eternal oity. The next and last lecture of the course will be given next We'd nesday evening, and will be devoted mainly to description of St. Peters church at Rome when one of the most profitable and delightful of this admirable series of entertainments may be expected.