The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-16

of Rome had his temple or shrine in the
imperial city.
What I say of Rome I might affirm OF
the Roman empire and what ! say Oh
the Roman empire l could assert OF Inc
civilized world, for Rome was mistress
of the world. Her empire extended INTO
Europe as far as the River Danube 1t
extended into Asia as far as the Ifgris
and Euohrates, and into Africa as far
as Mauritania. The whole world with
the exception of Palestine was buried
in idolatry.
Such was the condition of society when
our Lord appeared in the theatre of pub
lie life. He called around Him twelve
poor. insignificant men, men without
wealth or human learning, men without
the prestige of fame, men without politi-
cal or social or family influence, men
without any of those elements which are
considered essential for the success OF
any great enterprise. He commands them
to uproot idolatry from the face of the
earth and to establish in its stead the
Worship of the one true and living God.
He commands them to eradicate the most
darling and inveterate passions from the
hearts of men. and to plant in their
stead the peaceful reign of Jesus Christ
Compared With Mustard Seed
Well might the gospel which these men
went forth to preach be compared to the
little grain of mustard seed, small AMI
imperceptible in the beginning. but ex-
panding into a luxuriant tree spreading
its branches far and wide, so that the
nations of the earth might be sheltered
beneath it's ample foliage and nourished
by its perennial fruit. The apostles had
implicit faith in their divine master, when
He commanded them to preach the gospel
to all nations. They knew that lie was
God They knew that His word was
truth, that His word was power and om-
nipotent Whey had been witnesses of
His miracles. They knew that lie who
said in the beginning; Let there be light,
and there was light; let the earth bring
forth fruit, and it came forth-they knew
the He would now through their instru-
mentality, cause the light of faith to
shine in the darkened intellects of men,
and the fruit of sanctifcation to grow
abundantly in their hearts. And there
fore, they go forth nothing hesitating, re-
solved to communicate the saving knowl-
edge of Jesus Christ to every portion of
the Roman dominiohs.
They parcel out the Roman empire
among themselves Their only weapon Is
the cross, their only credential is the
gospel of Christ. st. Peter commences
his apostolic ministry In Jerusalem,
where his first sermon Is followed by the
conversion of three thousand souls, some
of whom had no doubt the crucifixion OF
our Savior and perhaps even a hand in
His death. He afterwards establishes his
see in Antioch and finally suffers mar
tyrdom in Rome.
ST. Paul, the interchangeable teacher of
the Gentiles, traverses various parts of
Europe and Asia, everywhere bearing the
torch of faith.
St. Andrew breaches In Syria and
| Greece st. John evangelizes Ephesus and
Asia Minor, and so of the other apostles.
| In the words of st. Paul: Their sound
| hath gone forth to all the earth, and
their words to the end of the world
Amazed at Pious Audacity.
| But if we are amazed al Y hat I might
call the pious audacity of the apostles
| and their immediate successors In under
/ taking the herculean task of converting
/ the nations we are still more astonished
| when we contemplate the result of theif
| labors ST. Paul thirty years after our
| Lords cruclhxion, writes the words OF
| the Romans: 81 give thanks to Goo
| through Jesus Christ that your faith Is
! spoken of throughout the world" and
of course spoken of by men who were
| in sympathy and communion with the
| faith of Rome.
| st Justin, whose death occurred sixty
six years after the death of ST. John tn,
| evangelist SAYS: "There is no race Of
| people. whether Greeks or Barbarians
among whom prayes and the eucharis
are not offered up to God the Father ant