The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-12-02
SIGHTSEEING.
On Talmage ooe. to Ephesus by
Special Train,
And Into "One Of the Eyes Of Asia" Looks
Sermon by Rev. T. De witt
Talmnge, u. ID.

Talmnge. d. ID.
DR.. Talmage's sermon last Sunday
was: Acts xix, "a, Great is Diana OF
the Ephesians."
We have landed this morning at
Smyrna, city of Asiatic Turkey. One
of the seven churches OF Asia once
stood here. You read in Revelation,
"To the church in Smyrna write"
1t is city that has often been shaken
BY earthquake, swept by confagration,
plaques and butchered by war, and
here Bishop Polycarp stood in a crowd
ed amphitheater, and when he was
asked to give up the advocacy of the
Christian religion and save himself
from martyrdom. the pro-consul say
ing: "Swear and I release thee; re-
proach Christ" replied: "Fighty and
six years have I served him, and He
never did me wrong; how then can l
revile my King and Saviour" When
he was brought to the fires into which
he was about to be thrust, and the Off
Gals were about to fasten him to a
stake, he said: LET me remain as am,
for He who giveth me strength to sus-
tain the fire will enable me also with
out your securing me with nails to re-
main unmoved in the fire."
History says the fires refused to con-
sumo him, and under the winds the
flames bent outward so that they did
not touch his person, and therefore, he
was slain by spears and swords. One
cypress bending over his grave is the
only monument to Bishop Polycarp
But we are on the way to the city of
Ephesus about fifty miles from
Smyrna We are advised not to 60 to
Ephesus; the bandits in that region
have had an ugly practice OF cutting off
the ears of travellers, and sending these
specimens of ears down to Smyrna, de-
handing ransom. The bandits sug-
gest to the friends of the persons from
whom the ears have been substracted
that if they would like to have the rest
of the body they will please send an ap-
propriate sum Of money. If the money
Is not sent the mutilated prisoners will
be assassinated.
One traveller was carried off to the
robbers den, and $500 was paid for
ais rescue The bandits were caught
and beheaded, and pictures of these
chastity heads are on sale in the shops
IT Smyrna for any persons who may de-
ire to have something to look at on
Saeir way to Ephesus. There have
been cases where ten and twenty and
thirty and forty thousand dollars have
been demanded by these brigands. We
lid not feel like putting our friends to
Mch expense, and it was suggested
MAT we had better omit Ephesus. But
shat would have been disappointment
from which we would never recover.
We must see Ephesus-associated with
the most wonderful apostolic scenes.
We hire a special railway train, ard in
about an hour and half we arrive at
the city of Ephesus, which was called
1.-THE Great Metropolis of Asia" and
zone of the Eyes of ASIA" and "The
Empress of Ionia," the capital of all
learning and magnificence.
Here, as I said, was one of the seven
churches of Asia, and first of all we
visit the ruins of that church where
once an Ecumenical council of 1000
ministers of religion was held Mark
the fulfillment of the prophecy Of
the seven churches of Asia, four were
commended in the Book of Revelation,
| and three were doomed. The cities
having the four commended churches
still stand; the cities having the three
doomed churches are wiped out. 1t oc.
Cured just as the Bible said it would
occur. Drive on and you come to the
theater, which was ego feet from wall
to wall, capable of holding SO, 100 spec.
tators. Here and there the walls arise
unbroken, but for the most part the
building is down. Just enough of it is
left to help the imagination build it up
as it was when those audiences shouted
and clapped at some great spectacular.
Their huzzas must have been enough to
stun the heavens.
AS I took my place at the center Of
this theater and looked around at its
broken layers of stone, gallery upon
gallery, gallery upon gallery, and piled
UP into the bleak skies of that winter
day, and thought that every hand that
swung a trowel on these walls, and
every foot that trod those stairs, and
every eye that gazed upon that amphi.
theater, and every voice that greeted
the combatants in that arena had gone
out of hearing and sight for ages and
ages, felt thrill of interest that al.
most Frustrated me amid the ruins
Standing there, we could not forget that
in that building once assembled riot.
GUS throng for Paurs condemnation
because what he preached collidet
with the idolatry of their national god
dess.
Paul tried to get into that theater anc
address the excited multitude, but hi.
friends held him back, lest he be tori
in pieces by the mob, and the recorder
OF the city had to read the riot act
among the people, who had shrieket
for two mortal hours till their throat.
were sore and they were black in the
face: Great is the Diana of the Ephe
SLAMS Now, we step into the Stadium
Enough of its walls and appointment.
are left to show what stupendous plac,
1t must have been when used for foo
Faces and for fights with wild beats.
was building $50 feet long by 200 fee
wide. Paul refers to what transpiret
there in the way of spectacle wher
he says: 1--WE have been made spec
tacle."