The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-13

and also to increase the mass of evil
dence to the genuineness and anthem
ITCHY of the New Testament scriptures.
The Christian world has now and then
been profoundly stirred by the bring
ing to light of some document or mOnu-
ment, and the rapid preparation of the
material for publication has soon given
to the church the history of the find.
Thus, with increasing interest, the
attention of the Christian scholars is
directed toward the early Chr tan cen
turtles.
Early Heresics.
By the study Of inscriptions and bu-
ria! monuments no ordinary light has
been thrown upon the history of the
early heresies. Much of the writing of
of Apologize. The personality of the
writer, his bias, his passion. often en-
ter largely into the writing and the po-
sition of his adversary is not unfre-
ouently utterly misrepresented. The
incised marble or the rude fresco often
serve to correct these misrepresenta-
tons, thus telling unconsciously the
true story of the life of the early
church.
The geographical field of Christian
archaeology is naturally that territory
once occupied by the early Christian
church and in which remains now eX-
list. Early Christian documents, inscrip-
lions, churches, moSaicS, frescoeS, etc.,
are hte material which is to be inter
preted. Yet, we must confess to disap-
pnintment that the actual finds have
been so few compared with the terri
tory. Great areas of early Christian
life and activity are almost entirely
| barren of Christian monuments of any
| character.
Recent work in the catacombs has
been carried on especially by Wilpeg-t,
| ir the discovering and interpreting of
catacomb frescoes. Much of the ear
| lier work in this direction is inaccurate
| and has been copied by all who have
| followed De Rossi. Wilpert has also
| done much to throw light on Christian
| symbolism.
In Roman, Africa and Gaul, LIE Blant
| has been and is the great authority in
| the Christian geography of these re-
gions, publishing several hundred in
| scriptions, chiefly from the fourth to
| the sixth centuries.
Fourth to Eighth Century.
The work of Huebner on the Chris
| tan archaeology of Spain has brought
| tC our knowledge about 300 inscrip-
| tons from the fourth to the eighth
centuries. IneSe are mostly QdteG and
suffice to show that there was a large
number of fiourishing churches in
Spain during this period.
The Dalmatian coast has in recent
years given us many valuable finds.
The antiquities of Aquileia, which in
| the fifth century was a second Rome,
| have been for many years known
| through the laborS of Bortoli, ZandO-
natl, Gregorutti and others. Two thou
| sand inscriptions have been unearthad
| here, and new ones are being daily
brought to light at Salona, Merusinac
and other places under the auspices of
the Austrian imperial archaeological
| commission. In formulae symbolism
and style they differ decidedly from
those at Rome, frequently giving Hght
as to the subjects and mode of Chris
tan baptism of the period, which IS
| the fifth and fourth centuries.
Asia Minor has been recently explor-
ed by w. M. Ramsay, who, in his
"Cities and Bishoprics of Phrygia' u
london, 1880, has published $50 Chris
tan inscriptions from the southwest
| ern and west central districts of Phry-
| gia: Ramsay shows that with these
inscriptions it is possible to fix with
complete or approximate certainty the
Christian origin of a large number OF