The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-21
VIEWING THE CATACOMBS.
The Strange, Silent City Under and
Outside of Rome.
The Burial Place of the Early Chris
tians, Who Were Prosecuted by
the Romans.

Rev. A. c. Herrick gave another OF his
interesting illustrated lectures last even
ing at the Congregational Church.
His subject was the 'Catacombs OF
Rome''-the silent city under and out
side of Rome.
When the lights Were turned out some
views were first shown through the
stereopticon of the great aqueducts OF
Rome, built many, many centuries ago.
There are fourteen of these aqueducts,
one of which is sixty miles long and is
still used for furnishing the city with
water. These aqueducts are built upon
a series of stone arches, the hight of some
of which is $50 feet. Some of them are
known to have been built 500 years be-
fore the birth of Christ.
Modern or Christian Rome is about the
size of San Francisco, and is situated on
the west side Of the river Tiber. Ancient
or pagan Rome, is on the east side Of the
river. Capital Hill was shown on the
canvas, with its many handsome statues,
including a grand one of Marcus Au-
relius, mounted upon his war horse.
Some of the 300 churches of Rome
than which no grander ones are known in
the world-were also shown.
Then the lecturer took his audience into
pagan Rome, showed them the grand and
costly driVeways with the rows OF monu-
mentS on each side. Next, to the cata-
combs. The catacombs are simply an
underground city OF the dead, built by
the Christians of the first three centuries.
AT the end of the sixth century the cata-
combs were sealed and were not opened
for thousand years. a grand church
marks the entrance to the underground
city, and from here it is reached by a long
stairway, The visitor must light his way
with torches, and at best it is most un-
canny sight. The streets are quite mar
row, yet the buildings and tombs are
splendid in their architecture.
Thousands of early Christians are
buried there. The inscriptions on their
tombs have furnished a grand study,
both from religious and historic view.
Many small churches are interspersed
where the first Christians worshiped,
because on account of the persecution OF
the Roman Emperors they dared worship
nowhere else. There is nothing vindic-
tive in any of the inscriptions, all eX-
pressing hope, faith and peace-quite the
reverse with the inscriptions found upon
the pagan tombs IN OLD Rome. These are
prolific with complaints against the gods.
Leaving the catacombs, the lecturer
took his audience to see the famous Coli
scum where the gladiators fought; and
to the Pantheon, which was changed
from pagan to a Christian church, and
where the remains of Victor Emanuel
are deposited; the marble arch of Titus,
which is one of the best preserved of all
the ancient structures and under which
no Jew will pass; and to the arch of Con-
stantine, with its wonderful carvings.
Then across the Angelo bridge over the
Tiber again into new Rome, where the
great st. Peters Church was seen, the
Vatican, the wonderful statues, and many
other wonderful sights.
In conclusion, a few views of Alaska
were shown, the best of which were those
of the famous Muir glacier. Mr.. Herrick
lectures on Yellowstone Park next We'd
nesday evening.