Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-06-15

he went, did not beat about the bush
to spoil story for relation sake, was
terribly maligned by the opulent and
powerful classes Of his time. He was
a forclble example of how a man may
have a good character at heart, and q
bad reputation among those individ.
uals who disliked his doctrines, who
characterized him as being the veriest
offscouring of the earth. Did not
men speak we'll of the false prophets?
True, he had his chickering's with John
and Peter, who we're not scholastics,
but plain, everyday laboring men,
more familiar with the practical af.
fairs OF life than the subject of this
sketch. They were bred and had
lived amid different surroundings.
Peter and John having so thorough.
ly identified themselves with their
fellow workingmen they were familiar
with their wants and needs, supplied
that vacuum in their makeup for
which their souls had been longing, by
their teachings. In times of trouble,
the early Christians held their meet.
ings in the caves, deserts and forests
in order to avoid coming in contact
with the constituted authorities.
About the year 1890, it was dis.
covered in certain localities in Asia
Minor, there were underground caves
and excavations, the steps varying
from fifteen 10 seventy feet downward
beneath the esrth's surface, leading to
spacious rooms wherein the devout
followers OF the meek and lowly Jesus
met and commuued under the aus.
pices Of their unions and brother.
hoods.
The tell.tale inscriptions engraved
upon the rocks and walls revealed the
mysteries OF centuries.
At the time Paul was taken as q
prisoner to Rome, on his arrival he
was cordially received by the Dionysan
artists. q powerful organization com.
posed Of stage performers, musicians,
tent.makers and scenery.painters. En-
peror Nero was lover OF music and
friendly to such organizations. Doubt
lees many of the more prominent
members lent him valuable assistance
while he travelled about the country
giving musical exhibitions with the
aid of his violin. Paul was allowed
to occupy house, which he had pro-
vided for himself, worked at his trade
and preached the gospel for two years
without interference. II has been
asserted with much confidence that
he accompanied the Emperor on one
OF his trips to Spain.
At the time Paul was in Rome, it is
claimed that Rome contained about
two million inhabitants. All shades
of religious beliefs were represented.
The policy of the government had
been one OF non interference with the
different forms OF worship. Three.
fourths of the inhabitants in Rome at
this time we're slaves, the most Of
whom spoke the Greek language.
They became ready converts to the
new faith. The Emperor saw that
Christianity was making great head.
way among the laboring classes and
slave population that it was silently
and surely undermining the govern.
mental structure; felt that vigorous
measures should be taken to stay the
progress Of this propaganda. Paul
was seized, tried and suffered death
by decapitation about GA A. D., at
Rome; being q Roman citizen had
the privilege of choosing that form OF
death instead of the usual method OF
punishment by crucifxion meted out
to common criminals.
At or near this time, there were
great conflsgrations in Rome presum'
ably caused through the instrumental.
ity of Nero in order to furnish him
with an excuse for charging the
Christians with having caused these
calamities that this depraved monarch
might slaughter them indiscriminate.
ly. There were no gatling guns OF
repeating rifles in those days with
which to deal out death and destruc.
ton to vast multitudes Of people
Thousands of men and women, the
nOblest OF earth, were clothed with the
skins of wild beasts saturated in tar
and then set on fire.
The blood Of these martyrs hal
proven to be the fertilizer at the roots
OF the Christian tree; its healthful
and vigorous growth could not be
stayed.
Nineteen centuries have come and
gone; the teachings promulgated BY
this great apostle are not simply
memories like unto the trite sayings
of philosophers, but living truths i'm
bedded in the hearts OF men and wo
men for time and eternity.
In Australia there are 210 churches
to every hundred thousand people, 9
larger number capita than any othel
i l. 4 4 =