Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1909-09-17
THE CHIEF VESTAL,
BY NORA E. RECTOR.


ciation.l
In the middle Of the fourth century
A. d. the struggle between paganism
and Christianity at Rome was draw
ing to close. The Emperor Constan-
tine still maintained the worship of
the immortal gods, but his wife. the
empress, secretly practced the rites
of the new religion. Nevertheless. since
paganism was as yet the established
worship of the state. those who openly
avOwed Christianity were still anne
nable to the terrible punishments in.
1icted by the earlier empcrors.
Even the virgins appointed to keep
up the sacred fire IN the temple of
Vesta, located in the center of the
Roman forum. were becoming disaf-
! fected toward the religion under
which for thousand years their or.
der had enjoyed inestimnbe privi-
lcges. SO great was the honor attached
| to the position of vestal that every
Roman girl aspired to the appoint
ment. There were but six OF them.
dwelling In II marble house near the
temple. served by numerous attend
ants and slaves. They were free to
go anywhere unattended. and in the
Coliseum n special box opposite that Of
! the emperor was provided for them.
If, then. the religion of Jesus was be-
| ginning to affect these most hOnored
of Roman women. If II had already
won over the empress. would it not
soon carry with it the emperor. the
senate and the Roman people?
One morning Cla4idia. the chief
vestal. riding in her carriage for al
airing, saw the sun gliStcning on the
| breastplates and helmets OF knot Of
soldiers. When they came near they
halted and revcrcntly made way for
her to pass. 4 prisoner whom they
were conducting alone stood erect in
the presence OF the sacred parsonage.
He was julius Flavius Il young Chris
| tian, who had openly refused to bow
his head ut the sacrifices TO Jupiter
and was being taken TO the Mamertine
| prison TO be Strangled.
The vestal sat looking at the man.
whose glance. rcbcllious mt the rover
encc paid her pagan Office, was lighted
by fire far more sacred than that
over which she prcsided-lovc. In the
two the conflicting religions met aud
Claudia, touched also by the only i'm
mortal pagan god. spiritually yielded
mastery to this servant of new
deity.
Take off his Chains" said the vestal
to the officer in command
"An order from the EMPEROR asked
the officer hesitatinyly
"No-by the privilege vested in me
as one Of the six virgins appointed to
keep up the sacred fire. Whence came
you that you do not know that any
prisoner meeting one of our number
goes free? Let fall his chains
Pardon" ssaid the officer, bowling
the knee humbly before her. For
years have served in Gaul. and many
Of our home customs are unknown 10
me. Your sacred word is enough"
Approaching the prisoner, lie took
off his chains, and Julius Flavius stood
before his libeiator free man.
"You have deprived me of the blcss-
ings of niartyrdom," he said TO her.
but you have prolonged my life that
l may spread the faith Of Jesus the
Christ May lie win you, too, into the
true church"
| Claudia made no reply.
She ordered her clariOtccr to drive on
Flavius stood looking after her. hop
ing that she would turn her head. but
| she did not When he came back 10
his surroundings he stood alone
Above the house Of the vcstals tow
cred a wing Of the imperial palace.
That night Claudia, climbing the
/ height. entered The chamber of The
empress and. tearing the flet from her
brow, threw herself into her imperial
mistress arms and poured into her
car remuneration Of paganism. Il con-
fession Of the new religion.
Aided by the new ally. Flavius ap-
preached the cmpcrO" ard bcsought
him to declare as the religion of the
state thai faith which lie had already
adopted IN his heart. The appeal was
successful When the morning came
an cdict went forth banshing the
heather gods.
The edict was all that saved Claudia
from Il terrible death. But paganism,
though it had received its deathblow.
was not dead and Claudia before free
and h0nOrcd among women, now dared
not ShCw her face on the streets OF
Rome. Put julius FlayiuS. whom she
had saved from martyrdom, was taken
up by The emperor ana advanced as
Il concession 10 the Christian faction.
In the imperial palace he again met
the woman who had saved his life
and whose Immortal soul he had
turned f. the WAY Of salvation How