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

the unesrthing Of inscriptions, which
show the economic conditions sur.
rounding the plain people at that Pc
riod, and which throw valuable side
lights upon the annals Of this epoch,
serving TO explain many obscure pas.
sages contained in the Acts of the
Apostles. and in Paul's Epistles, which
have provoked much discussion among
eccleslasiics and biblical scholars,
many OF whom have directed their
chief efforts to the consideration of
the acts and crimes of rulers and the
privileged class; only briefly alluding
here aud there to the conditions en-
vironing the poor and downtrodden of
earth. Of course, it is not to be de.
MED that Jesus, the apostles, and the
early fathers of the Christian faith re-
garded the welfare of the unfortunate
and poor people as OF first importance /;
to whom, the gospel was given without
money and without price. 1t was
message especially directed to this
class. but unfortunately, many records
and numerous valuable manuscripts
throwing light upon this complex sub.
ject have been lost or destroyed.
Of late years, however, economic
questions have forced themselves to
the front, promp ing historians and
students to give greater prominence
to the consideration of the acts and
doings OF the plain people at given
periods in the worlds history than
ever before. Our schools and universi-
ties are now educating their pupils
along these lires. This proposition is
strengthened when it is brought to our
notice that at least five different
authors are now compiling histories
relating to the people OF the United
States from the economic standpoint
The ruling classes and potentates of
Pagan nations acted on the assump-
tion that poor people, which meant
that the class who labored and pro.
duced for parasites to enjoy, possessed
no souls. Therefore, their historians
considered it unnecessary to give this
class any extended notice save in a
few exceptional cases. Rulers and
the privileged classes might destroy
manuscripts which narrated matters
inimical to their interests, ignore
them and practice the conspiracy Of
silence, but were unable to destroy
the inscriptions on rocks in the hidden
recesses OF the earth. Many of these
inscriptions have been found, are now
being deciphered. which will make
the recasting of the history of many
ancient nations Q necessity.
When Paul arrived at Ephesus, he
found the workingmen organized into
powerful unions. From evidences
recently disclosed, it would seem that
many of these unions, notably the
silversmiths. were employed by the
government in the manufacture OF
idols for public and private worship.
At meeting OF the silversmiths, at
which man by the name OF Demetrius
presided, the workmen became very
bitter towards the great Apostle, ex-
claimed in vehement language: "Great
is Diana OF the Ephesians." This
Diana was their patroness goddess.
Paul's teachings interfered with their
material interests, tended to cut Of
their bread supply, depressed the
market regarding the sale Of images.
The moral impulses Of these men
were the same as in our day, and
which has been the case in all ages oil
the world among all classes, were de-
termined from their standing upon
the material plane. Like Artemus
Ward, when he was on . lecturing
tour in New England, he took the
position that whoever interfered with
his money.making schemes, legiti.
mate or otherwise, were guilty of dis.
loyalty to their country, and should
be punished accordingly without re.
gard to the moral phases OF the situa
tion. What seems strange, this mar
Demetrius was Christian, converted
by the Apostle John, who had pre-
ceded Paul at Damascus. John At
tackled Paul bitterly for interfering
with the affairs of these men in the
matter Of earning livelihood; for nt
matter what their fsith may have
been at this time, they were compelled
to attend to their material wants
Paul was religious teacher, looked
almost exclusively at the spiritual side
OF humanity, while John being 9
workingman took into consideration
both the practical and spiritual ele
nents OF mans nature, doubtless
thought it wrong in Paul to interfere
with men in their endesvors to make
. living. This seems to be the only
reasonable explanation regarding the
attitude of John and Peter at this
time towards Paul.
But it may be asked, why should
Paul, belonging to craft union oil
tent.makers, want to interfere 90 as &c
prevent his fellow workingmen from
gaining . subsistence9 Paul con
cerned himself for the most part abou,
spiritual matters, rather than the dis
cussion of the economic phases of the
new dispensation as advanced BY
Jesus in the gospels. However, hs
was we'll received by the laborinl
classes into their organizations a,