The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-02
FAME OF ST. PETERS
THE GREAT woRsHIPING PLACE
 OF ROME.
On an Historic Site-Stands for a Landmark of Christianity-Mr. Curtis Writes of the Most Ma
 jestic of All Structures.
 (yhicaro Record-Herald


 Chicago Record Herald
 Rome,. Dec 1s.--Although the Cathedral of St. Peter at Rome. the pride or the Popes,- has been merciiessiy criticised by the architects and may pernaps % pc technically defective in many of its de- tails, 1t is nevertheless the most ma jestic structure ever erected by human hands, and. whether judged as an arehi- associations and significance, is of equal interest to all men as the scene or the 1nartyrdom of the apostle. the center or the religious world. the most eloquent ex- presston of ecclesiastical authority and power in existence, the cradle of Chris tianity, the corner stone or the Iaith which governs and consoles civilized na- tions. Even Gibbon, an atheist, to whom nothing was sacred, pronounced II the most glorious temple ever raised
 In the classic days of history that part of the city lying west of the Fiber was gwen up to meadows. truck farins and pastures of goats and cattle sNear the present site of the Vatican hay xeed namel Cincinnatus was blowing when called by the Senate to lead tue Roman legions. Later Galiguia built self with combats between wild beasts and giadiators and drove in chariot races agianst his nobles. Signora Do- mitia, an aunt of Nero. owned a gar den adjoining, and that amiable mon- ster condemned her to death because she would not sell it or give it to him. This portion of Rome became infamous as the scene of Nero's profiigate pleasures. He exhibited his talent as a charfoteer ana personally participated in the sports or inc circus, and at night illuminated the scene by covering the bodies or men anu women with tar, tallow and otner ihhams mable materials and hanging them arounn' the amphitheatre to serve as torches. sJuyenal and Tactius describe these hor- TOTS and tell of the revolting cruelties that occurred in this now sacred spoL orNkr4 r4n Quo Vadis."
 The obelisk now standing in the center of the Piazza of St. Peter encircled ny that matchless battalion of 2,SS4 granite columns, was brought from Heliopolis to Rome by Caligula as trophy or war: and 1t has witnessed scenes that have no parallel in human history. It
 Christ is triumphant! Christ reigns, Christ is Emperor! Christ has paid all our debtsp'
 In the '"Annals'' of Tactius we read how Christians were covered with the skins of wild beasts so as to tempt saw age dogs to tear them to pieces in order that Nero might gratify his curiosity watching their death struggles, ana or ten with his own hands he released beasts from the mountains, furious with fear and hunger, so that he might en- joy the eagerness with which they oe- voured the babes of the peasants and the tender children that were thrown to them. It was here that he supposed he had strangied Christianity in it's cradle. It seems appropriate, therefore, that the grandest temple ever erected or conceiv. ed by man should stand upon this spot sanctified by the fortitude as well as the agony of innocent and helpless creatures whom an inscrutable Providence permit ted to be sacrifed to the cruelty of a monster.
 It is generally supposed that the great altar vf the cathedral stands upon the exact spot where the apostle suffered martyrdon: crucified with his head down, ward st his own request, because he did not consider himself worthy to die In the same manner as the Divine Master whom he had denied This event took place in the year 67 A. D., but the arch aeologists have recently located the scene n Title farther eastward near the place occupied by the chapel of SS. Simon and Jude.
 simon Peter made his first visit to Rome. after his miraculous liberation from the prison at Jerusalem. during the reign of the Emperor Claudius- abont the year 42. The places where he lived and preached and labored during the twenty-five years of his. residence here have been pretty well determined, ant most of the questions in dispute are now settled beyond controversy. Paufs mar fyrdom is believed to have taken place almost simultaneously with that of Pe- ter, and we are shown the place where they parted. but, as a Roman citizen. Paul was exempt from shameful death anu was peiedueu lAStedu ot CluShou.
 There seems to be a good deal of in- consistency in the different statements of St Paul concerning his nativity and citizenship, for, when he needed pro- lection. he claimed to be Roman and demanded his prerogatives and privi leges as such. When it suited his conve- nienee he declared that he was a Jew, 'born in Tarsus and vet brought up in this city''-Jerusalem-"of the stock of Israeli of the tribe of Benjamin, He- brew of the Hebrews. circumcised the eighth day" Yet at Philippi. a Roman colony in Macedonia, when the chief cap tain came and said unto him. Tell me. art thou Roman?'' he said. |" Yea, and the chief captain also was afraid after he knew that he was a Roman, because he had bound him." And when the time came for him to die, Paul claimed his rights as a Roman citizen I have never been able to reconcile these passages from the Scriptures. but I suppose theo-