Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-21
the auihoritie. Of the State 10 spar,

I HUNN VI Us SBFAflA IfAQANHFs 70 IfClfTO-
cate in IT'S trading intercourse. They
sSeTfbed 10 then the most didboiicGl
proceedings at heir seeret meetings.;
iHJdaticide, a eGn'libut feast, and, The
lights eItiHQtIiShed, q sequel Of proHais-
eEOHs incest. They imputed to the
Christians all the calamities which
befell the State, enemies as they were
TO the gods. An overflow Of the Tiber
drought in the Nile. an earthquake
or a plague caused the mob 70 cry:
Away with the Christians to the
lionsr"
Read these words in italic care
fully. Are they not identical with
certain paragraphs in Governor
Thomas last report? Are they not
the charges which Judge Anderson
held to be proved against the Nor
mons? Is not this sufficient to prove
the identity between Foriner-day
aud Latter-day Saints?
Let us glance at the story OF one
Of these primitive Saints. Let US
take POlycarp. He was appointed
Bishop Of Smyrna by st. John the
Apostle. He was the personal
friend in his youth Of many of the
Apostles and very first Christians.
Some calamities befel the eastern
countries during the reign Of
Aurelius, and the blind pagans
charged it to the wrath Of Jupiter
for tolerating the Christians. The
cry was raised for Polycarp, he be-
ing the most learned and influential
among the early Christians.
Polycarp was brought before the
Procons1l, who was visibly i'm
pressed by the venerable, dignified
and respectable bearing Of the aged
Saint, and fain would have con
nived at his Christianity If any
grounds presented n means for so
doing. The Proconsul then said to
Polycarp:
Swear by the fortune OF Cpsar-be
obstinate no longer-cry Away with
the Christians'-one reproach Of Christ
and | will let you CO."
The aged Former-day Saint as
suming an attitude, erect, majestic
ami defiant, said in reply to the Pro-
consul:
"Eighty and six years have i served
Him, and no harm hath He done me:
how, then. can blaspheme my King
and my Savior7 II you vainly imagine
that ] shall swear by the fortune Of
Cesar, as. pretending that you know
not what l am, be assured once for all
thai ] am a Christian; and il you de-
sire TO be informed what it is to be a
Christian, give me day and you shall
hear"
The Proconsul, proud Roman,
and one who could i'll brook indie !
pendence in an enemy or in n
subordinate, said, in menacing
tones;
81 will cast you to the wild beasts il !
you do not change your mind"
Polycarp, rendered still more de-
fiant, said:
Bring the wild beasts hither, for |
change my mind from the better TO the |
worse / will not"
The reply so ifTitated tile domi-
nant Roman that he said:
"Hold your scorn OF the wild beasts.
l will subdue your spirit by the
flames"
The aged Polycarp, with courage
more than heroic, because 1t was d.
vine, and with counteuance BEAM
ing with grace, sanctity and purity,
said in reply:
''The flames with which you men
ice me endure but for time, and are
soon eXtinguished, but fire there is
reserved for the wicked, whereof you
know not. the fire Of judgment TO
,ome, and Of punishment everlasting.
Why do you tarry? Do with me as
Eou list"
The Proconsul, now maddened by
he absolute contempt in which
Polycarp held him and his fuiser-
IDLE, cOwardly, fiendish threats, or
Tered the herald TO announce that
pOlycarp had defiantly proclaimed
himself Christian. The vast multi
ude in the Stadium heard the an
with insane delight,
md with one voice cried aloud,
'Polycarp TO the lions"
POlycarp WIS known throughout
Asia rs fierce and effective de-
lOuncer Of plganism and its concOm-
iant evils, hence the desire on the
art OF the moband rIbble to see him
lie. The keepers Of the wild beasts
aid 1t was too late to bring out the
ions, ard wanted the execution
But the multitude
ried for Polycarp's death, and called
Or fire. Execution by fire was tn, n
greed on. People ran in all direc-
ions for fuel, the Jews most espec-
ally collecting food and straw. The
ews Wanted 10 spike Polycarp to n
'ost on the pyre, but the old Saint
old them the faggots hal no terrors
or him. They then contented them
elves with tying his hands.
Polycarp, with hands tied and
be flames ascending around him
made the following prayer:
40 Father Of Thy beloved Son Jesus
'hrist, by whom we have received
Of Thee. o God OF angels
nd powers, aud Of all created things,
nd OF all the geneistioas OF tho just
Tho live in Thy sight, give thanks
D Thee that Thou has thought me
Torthy Of this day and hour; oftaking :
part in the number Of martyrs, and
n the cup Of Christ, unto the resurrec-
on for life eternal both Of soul and
ody. in the interruption Of the Holy
host; amongst whom may be adj
litted 10 appear Before Him this day.
goodly and acceptable sacrifice which {
hon hast prepared beforehand and
God faithful and true. For
his. therefore, and for all things,
raise Thee, / bless Thee. / glOrify
hee, through the Eternal High Priest,
esus Christ, Thy beloved Son;througb
HON be unto Thee, together with
linn in the noly Ghost, glory, both
ow and forever. Amen
Several writers relate that the {
ames refused to devour POlycarp, /
nd that though enveloped in fire ,
lere was not a SINCE appeared on i
is person. Whether this was the q
suit Of miracle or Of some defect I
a the fuel, which some maintain Z
tight have been vet; one thing is I
Polycarp had TO be /
illed with the axe Of the execu- a
oner. The Jews would not permit q
is body to be taken away {
v the Christians. They placed C
ne dead body on the pile
,cond time 20 that none Of IL would
2 left for the Christians to take
way. Thus preached Polycarp, the {
lpil of st. John The Apostle, the |
Dushty bishops OF Smyrna, the CON- '
Getting link between the days Of the
postles and the fathers Of the Sec
nd century. This was one Of the :
Saints, and one worthy I
imitation by his brethren and sue
.ssors, the Latter-day Saints.
JUNIUs-