The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-03-05

tend the entire length Of Italy. Ori-
glnaliy they belonged to private farai-
lies Or ind ,iduals who had estates in
the neighborhood of Rome and, hav.
ing become converted 20 1he faith Of
Christ, devoted their wealth 10 His
service and furnished q burial place
for their fellow Christians in these
vaults, whore their bodies could not
De dessorated by the Roman persecu.
tors.
There is abundant and ipdisputsble
evidence that Peter and Paul both
moved among the best society of
Rome; that they made converts among
the nobility and the aristocraoy and
even in the imperial court. There
was scarcely patrician family which
had not at least one Christian among
Its members. The majority Of the
early Christians were poor and ofteu
slaves, and Paul, writing to the Corin-
thians concerning the results Of his
ministrations in other lands, said,
mot many vice men after the flesh;
not many mighty; not many noble are
called" but in other places he fre-
quently alludes to converts of conspic-
uous rank and position, and says,
"Those Of Ceasar's household salute
you." Tacitus, the historian, confirms
the early Christian writer's concerning
the conversion Of the nobility, and
says that many Of them were followers
Of man called Christ, who claimed
to be King Of the Jews and had been
put to death by the proourator, Pom.
titus PLATE, on account of ths deteuta-
BILE superstitions he had introduced in
to Judea.
While Peter was at Caesarea on his
way to Rome he baptized the COM
mander Of q Roman legion named Cor
nelius, who belonged TO one Of the
most powerful and aristocratic families
Of the empire. Soipio Afrioanus and
Soylia were both near relatives. He
gave Peter letters Of introduction to
his friends. In this way both Peter
and Paul obtained foothold among
the nobility. In those days the INTEL
iectual and educated classes had al
ready passed beyond the influence Of
pagan superstitions and were without
religion. Pe.er brought them one
that appealed to their philosophy as
well as to their emotions, and Paul,
who was the greatest Of the contro-
vers;sl;s:s cf that day, was eminentiy
qualified to explain and expound the
teachings of Jesus to men of that
stamp.
When Peter reached Rome he was
the guest of senator named Pudens.
he and his daughter Claudia we're
among the first Christian converts in
Rome. Paul mentions them in both
his epistles 90 Timothy. st. Prassede
was sister Of Pudens, and gave shell
ter in her house to persecuted Chris
tians, q Of whom, it is said, we're
murdered in her presence. She was
sgomsn Of great wealth and Of sufi-
oient influence to defy the Roman Of
Aoials, and her house was large and
Furnished plenty Of room for guests.
She buried the bodies Of the martyrs
upon the estate OF her grandmother,
Priseilla, and eopped up their blood
from her floor with sponge,, which
she placed in we'll in her OWN house,
A chapel was built over this we'll in
the third century, and the site is
now occupied by the Church OF St.
Prassede. &.
Domitilla, niece Of the Emperor
Vet tpasian, was q Christian. She was
o sister of the Emperor Domitian.
Two Of her sons were put to death by
her uncle because they adopted the
new religion, AND she herself was sent
by him into exile to the Island of
Pontin in the vear Q7