The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-07-12
tortured, condemned. From the
latter he escaped by the death Of
the emperor.
CYPRIAN-2OO-RISHOP AND
MARTYR

MARTYR
Cyprian was an accomplished
gentleman OF wealth, who taught
rhetoric, perhaps IS a diversion.
He seems to have courted a con-
troversy with Cacilius, the pres
byter, and in spite of all his art
and practice, was ignominiously
vanquished. 1t was, however, not a
mere defeat in public debate; Cy-
prlan was convinced of the truth
of what he had opposed. He
proved his moral earnestness by
Immediately becoming a catechu-
men, receiving baptism, assuming
the name of the Christian who had
defeated him in debate, taking
VOW of chastity, selling his consid-
cradle estates aud giving the pro-
ceeds to the poor. He was soon
1.-TWO years. and by reclamation
made bishop of Carthage, a posi-
ton which made the incumbent a
target for persecution. He EN-
riChed his Office with his rheto-
rical genius, his gracious and
courtly manners, and unusual ex-
ecutive ability. There were great
er theOlogians and scholars, but
Cyprlan was the greatest bishop
of the third century. He believed
IN and maintained the prestige of
his office, and at the same time he
was a devoted shepherd of his
people, proving his sincerity in
persecution and pestilence. While
he believed his office lofty, his
life was lowly and approached as
cetecism. He wrote as he might
be expected mainly upon the
Church doctrine, her offices and
discipline. He was voluminous
letter-writer, and his epistles re-
fleet not only on his spirit, but the
troublesome times in which he
lived. The Emperor Valerius
sought to stop the progress of
Christianity, not by general per
secutions, but by striking down
the heads Of the Church. Cyprian
was shining mark. When
brought before the proconsul and
commanded to sacrifice, he replied,
II will not sacrifice. When con-
demmed his only reply was, Good
be thanked"
CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
-22o A. D.
For time Alexandria was first
city in the world next to Rome.
Greek arts and letters shifted its
base to the mouth of the Nile, and
Christianity followed Judaism to
this powerful center of thought.
Indeed, upon this very spot the
fathers" attempted to do for
Christianity what Philo attempted
to do for Judaism-namely to har
monte it with Greek philosophy.
The result was thoughtful and
ldealistic theology, which, how
ever, could not always shrive it.
self from the imputation of heresy.
Clement has been called the father
OF Alexandrian Christian philoso-
ply. That he was widely read is
indicated by the fact that fourteen
quarto pages list the Greek au-
thors-poetic and prose-whom he
quoted. He accepted truth from
all sources. This makes it diff
cult to classify him with exact
precision in any philosophic
school. His works extant are:
address to Greeks" Gan appeal
to cease from worship of idols),
"The Tutor Christ as Teacher,
"Stromata" PATCHWORK" -Miscel-
lanies), "Who is the Rich Man
that is Saved?" Mark X, 1881.
Probably sermon.) No scholar
ever gave graceful tribute to
his teacher than Clement does to
Pantenus, who, he says, like
the Sicilian bee, plucked flowers
from the apostolic and prophetic
meadow, and filled the souls of his
disciples with genuine pure knowl-
| oIca - ~; + II