The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-07

the Greek and Roman merchants in Axum.
He then went to Alexandria and was con-
secrated by Athanasius, Bishop of Alex
andria. The king was baptized and Axum
became the see of a metropolitan, with
seven suffragans. In the fifth and sixth
centuries the monophysites controlled the
patriachal see of Alexandria,
SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY.
Subsequent TO this Christianity spread over
Nubia and Abyssinia and continued to
spread until the Mohamrnedans overran the
country and planted the faith of Moslem
wherever they appeared. Through the fright
full days of the seventeenth century Abys-
sinia remained faithful in a large sense TO
Christianity, and Rome, through the Por-
tuguese, made vigorous efforts to bring the
AbyssiniaR Christians beneath the papal
rule. The effort was not successful for any
length of time any more than was the ef-
fort to establish the Anglican Church there
when AndraoS was consecrated abuna. or
metropolitan, of Abyssinia by the Coptic
Patriarch of Alexandria. i'm lS4l.
The church has always been monophysitic
and has many peculiar features in its ritual
the Jewish Sabbath was observed as we'll as
the Christian; circumcision preceded bap-
tism; dancing was In the services just as
1t was in the Jewish Temple; baptism among
the Coptic Christians was by immersion,
and communion was administered daily 10
the laity.
ginning OF the monastic life was in the des-
erts Of Egypt. and the Coptic Christians
gave the impulse to the development OF
Christian asceticism. which later resulted
in monasteries and converts. The most eel
ebrated converts in Abyssinia are Debra
Gibanos, in Sliso: St Stephen. on Lake Haik:
Zebra Denus and Axum Thion, in Tigre, and
Lahbela, in LaSta.
Each church has a talbot. or ark of the
covenant, behind the curtain of its own
holy of holes, which may have lent some
color TO the tradition that the ark of the
covenant from the temple had been trans
Mene.ek when it was imperiied. But. as
Mr.. Kipling points out, that Is another
story"
At present this articles purpose is to show
that this barbarian MeneIek is not such
a barbarian after all. and that he really
may be. and very likely is, the custodian of
Christians and the orthodox Jews One
thing Is quite certain. 1t is that the Coptic
Christians were the first of the great Chris
tians. and that Africa was not so dark a
Coptic were the principal sect of Christians
in the valley OF the Nile. and were and still
are descendants of the inhabitants of Egypt
in the days of the Ptolemies. There is an
cestral greatness
few additional peculiarities in Abys-
Pres hav nowe, 10 are siv wDrehy and OF
ried man can cast his matrimonial gives
and throw the support of his children on TO
The Bible is in eighty-one books and is
written in the ancient language OF Axum
and contains the Roman Catholic canon
any many other books.
Thus Il will be seen that Christendom.
through these wars and strifes now raging
in the Valley of the Nile, may acquire in
formation hitherto hidden from ali but
Abyssnian and Coptic fanatics eyes for
centuries.
1t is asserted that in many OF the mon
asteries valuable documents and manu-
scripts have been saved for ages. just as
were manuscripts in the Middle Ages in
Europe. 1t has even been suggested and pub
lshed that tones, parchments and volumes
believed to have persisted with the library
at Alexandria were in reality secreted in
Coptic converts and sanctuaries throughout
Ethiopia, Abyssnia and Nubia, TO be res
directed shortly by means OF these bitter
conflicts and annihiations OF armies.
Abyssinia and Ethiopia-once the Ethiop-
ian empire-are the repositories of secrets
vital to history and 10 progress. Shall they
be revealed by force of arms or by moral
suasion and courtesy TO a monarch who has
hitherto been proclaimed "barbaran?'