The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-21

saying they be no gods which are made
with hands; and not only is there dan
ger that this our trade come into disre-
pute, but that the temple of the great
goddess Diana be made Of no account,
and that she should even be deposed
from her magnifcence, whom all Asia
and all the world worshippeth.
His speech famed the smouldering
fire in his audi IS to sudden flame.
He voiced the apparent facts. With
what scorn did he speak of the person
ally Insignificant apostle as this Paul"
Frenzy took possession of the crowd.
A procession was Immediately formed.
A march was begun to the theater on
the side of Mount Prion. The whole
city became suddenly excited. The cry
of the crowd, both of the paraders and
the beholders, rent the air; the cry was,
Great is Diana of the Ephesions.
z. A Scene of Confusion i'm the
Theatre, vs.. 1914.
The theatre or roohess colosseum of
Ephesus was the largest theatre built
by the Greeks. Some authorities say it
was the largest in the world. Its re-
mains demonstrate that it was an am
phitheatre excavated in the solid rock.
The report that it once held $4,000 per-
sons corresponds with the size of it's
ruins. The highest seats we're on level
with the rocky crown of the hill; it
could therefore be almost instantly
filled by an incoming throng. This pro-
ceseion of exasperated working men in
moment filled it to repletion.
On the way thitherward the process
sion had seized two Christians of Mace.
donia. Gaius and Aristarchus, who were
known to be Paul's assistants; these
were borne 10 the stage in the middle
of the amphitheatre. Many of the null
titude had not yet learned of the reason
for the gathering; they we're waiting in
confusion, yet ready for any sensation.
Paul. on becoming aware of the condi-
ton of things, essayed to enter the
theatre. But he was by his friends for
chilly detained. Certain of the chief
officers of the city, called Asiarchs, added
their entreaty that he would not by his
presence infiame the frenzy which
threatened a general riot. He felt it
was prudent to remain without.
On the inside things we're soon and
curiously brought to a climax. The
Jews (who had probably been the cum
ing instigators of the rising against the
Christians) thought it an opportune
moment to curry favor with the pagans
by renouncing completely with the
Christians. They put forth chosen
orator, one Alexander, to plead for them
from the stage. Alexander. descending
to the stage, raised his hand, sign that
he desired hearing.
Pity this poor Alexander! His face
betrayed him. He was Jew. AJew!
He and his people, no less than Paul
and the Christians, declared that gods
made with hands were no gods. Raise
the shout Great is Diana of the Ephe-
SLAMS. Cry, and continue to cry. AS.
tonish the world by crying, Great as
Diana of the Ephesians. And the cry
came up from hoarsening throats about
the space Of two hours.
The crisis was now ripe for the persua-
sive town clerk. The crowd had roared
itself calm. By polite assurance that
the fame of Ephesus as the temple-keep.
or of the great Diana was not in danger;
by declaring that their prisoners we're
neither robbers Of temples nor bias
phemers of their goddess; by saying
that the courts we're open to try the
cause of Demetrius and his craftsmen,
and especially by telling the crowd that
every one present was in danger of be-
ing accused of riot-the crowd having
no desire for collision with Rome,-by
such adroit words the town-clerk
brought the multitude to sanity and dis
missed the meeting.
The crisis was passed. Paul was now
free to depart to Macedonia, on his way
to Jerusalem and Rome.