Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1904-09-01

About one mile southwest Of the
ruins of the Temple of Diana are the
mammoth ruins Of the Temple OF Sc
ropls This was the Egyptian god.
The image had been transported to
Ephesus and the worship taughtamongi
the people. The Temple was grand |
and stately when the Apostle Paul
preached among the Ephesians the
saving doctrine Of Jesus Christ, but
to-day only few massive rocks scat
tered here and there on the ground |
mark the site Of the once stupendous
structure. The followers OF this heath
en- god have long since quit the walks
of men. The cemmodicus Temple has
fallen into ruin aud decay and the |
image Of the Egyptian god has long
since disappeared FROM the minds OF
the people. Seropis is numbered with
the gods Of the past. Seropeum was
heather temple Of sin.
We came next to the ancient dock
of Ephesus, passed through the old
custom house, gazed on the rock wall
that once marked the shore Of the bay, |
saw the upright rocks to which people
fastened their small boats and stood
neag the place where Paul sailed for
Caesarea. This leaves the fact clear
that in the days Of Paul the coast line
was near the city, but to-day 1t is from
eight to ten miles away. 1t looks, at
the present time, like an old walled
lake partly filed with the debris Of
the ages. The old dock yerifies Luke's
statement: "And he PAUL sailed
from Ephesus.n
A few rods to the south OF the wharf
are the ruins of the old Stadium. In
this structure the Ephesions held their
races games and festivals. The i'm
mense area Of the foundation reveals
to the world the extensive building.
The ruins are large and massive. The
location was grand and beautiful and
the objects for which 1t was construct
ed have passed away. The Stadium Is
a stupendous knoll Of ruins.
We walked among the ruins OF Al
Roman Palace, gazed on the historic
Baptistry Of st. John and came to the
ruins Of the great gymnasium. 1t was
the most stupendous and colossal
structue In ancient Ephesus The
ruins show a beautiful design, have
the appearance Of vast and commo-
dious structure and cover large area
OF ground. In this colossal structure
the Third Ecumenical Council was
held; the Docetic theory concerning
the person Of Christ--was renounced
and condemned and Cyril Of Alexan-
dria triumphed over Nestorius Of Con-
stantinople. The great gymnasium is
a structure Of vast Importance in
church history.
We saw the ruins Of the twin
churches, walked across the Greek
Agora, viewed the old prison of st.
Paul, and stood in the two principal
streets af ancient Ephesus. These
public highways have been uncovered
In the last few years. They are paved
with white marble, and large columns
stood on the right and on the left side,
In rows along these public thorough
fares. 1t was here that many OF the
fortune tellers = magicians = brought
together and burned many Of the evil
books, and turned unto the service Of
Lord. Both of these streets led to the
sea; one to the sea on the west, and
the other to the sea on the north OF
the ancient city and met, forming a
q right angle near the ruins of the
old theatre.
The old theatre stood between two
large hills. Nature, 1t seems, had
formed them to suit the great amphi-
theater. Many Of the marble seats,a as
we'll as other portions OF the vast
structure, are among the ruins, There
can be no question about the place, as
the entire surroundings 60 toshow and
to point out theater at the present
time. Into this structure the people,
when Demetrius raised the tumult,
rushed with Gains and Aristarchus,
Pauls companions, and cried for the
space of two hours; "Great is Diana
of the Epheslans.n Among these
ruins Everette Gill, pastor Of the East
Baptist church, Louisville, Kentucky,
read the last paragraph in the nine
teenth chapter Of the Acts of the
Apostles and gave us stirring talk
on this portion OF Gods word. The
lold theater received historic renown
from the uproar caused by Dementrius,
the silversmith.
Ancient Ephesus is the ruins Of a
once prosperous city, the home OF
many heathen gods, the location of one
of the seven wonders of the world, the
place where the third Ecumenical
Council convened, and where Paul
preached for three years the divine
message. Ephesus is to-day without a
house or an inhabitant. The candle
stick has been removed and the peo.
Pile have gone down under the wrath Of
God. 1t is a place of great Importance
in Biblical history.