The Pensacola journal., 1910-12-25

AMI Philip. informed him. Of the
arrival of certain Greeks, and had
come among those--to worship at that
feast
II seems that those words we're
spoken In an earnest though positive
conviction. The re-echo of those
words that we're 50 brilliantly sent
forth by the leader of Christianity.
inspired and yet continued to inspire
every Greek element existing.
From the beginning, as st. Paul
landed in the gay city Of Pallas. to
execute his mission, by giving the
confirmity Of their unknown" God,
fActs XVII. 23) he found himself
looked upon. by all, with . clear.
kind. and intelligible eye, and with
consciousness. and decency, the ele-
CANT Athenians took the matter. that
70 his majestic scheme under the
extremest consideration, that only
generous and q prudent Greek phil
osophy can afford. Levered by the
honorary exception, OF the upper text,
and the unrivaled traditional incli-
nation Of good will. and benevolence
toward humanity, and generally to-
ward the betterment Of mankind they
didn't prater In demonstrating their
conviction, that this really is, and
beyond the bounds of doubt, the real
religion; the ideal religion; that
their forefathers searched after It,
through the classical Fragments. and
the early instructions Of So
crates. IL the religion whose type.
signal. and creed, 1t is the love. the
epopaeia, the justice. the sobriety and
the true knowledge. and at last, that
In this only religion Is fastened the
dreams Of the past and the hopes
OF the future
Opened Its Bosom.
This who ! am speaking about. the
adventurous, yet optimistic, Greek
race. was the first to open its bosom,
and welcome In maternal tenderness
the pursued and prosecuted Chris
tianity. Enriched her with the un
exhaustible vital treasures Of those
highly esteemed Hellenic intellectual
instincts, that r the wealth Of wis
DOM. providing her with the tongue
and pen. Exalted her in the worthy
pinnacle Of glory and with notorious
voice that heard In the examinations
OF the globe. apprised the world at
large the joyful news. concerning the
incarnation of the Messiah. the &C
complished fact that brought life and
immortality to light. Repeating their
convictions foretold, they continue
praising and introducing His secret
bequest, His holy testament, as
superior creed. the only guide that
leads unto salvation. given by in
spiration Of God. and being profitable,
for doctrine. for reproof, for correc-
t1on, and for instruction in righteous
ness" Nevertheless. as the Greeks
having the defect. the traditional
future Of Saying and doing first and
without hesitation gave the example
BY reality, the highest ruler, the SOW
efeign Deonisius himself, by receiv-
ing the holy baptism in the name Of
Jesus Christ. step, which was ap-
proved, initiated, and followed by
nearly all of his subjects. Stimuli
tane0usly this movement deeply i'm
pressed the interest of the outside
world under whose cOmpacts. they
we're living at that time. however,
they looked toward Greece with in.
teresting Affection. being their source
of education and civilization. The
ethical instructions, whereby, made
agreeable among the intellect. men
Of thought and literature. through
whom emanate irrigating the remand
er classes. Henceforth. gradually ev.
cry Philhellen. cheerfully, yet self
willingly, hastened to range himself
under the liberal banner Of Christiani.
~, the banner OF virtue, justice and
equality.
Dawn OF Orthodoxy.
Here begins the dawn Of the Greek
Orthodox church's era! The pre-emi-
nent instructions Of Jesus Christ
found the Greek heart a fertile soil
and rooted quite actively. to bear
those moral. superior. and profitable
fruits of Orthodoxy. II is we'll known
from material standpoint. such as
the Ecclesiastical History" shows,
volumes full Of sentiment and gran
deur. and In full favor, accounting with
the most hilarious and brightest col
ors, the zeal, devotion, efficiency. CO
operation, self denial. and generally
the wonderful and unrivaled achieve
ments. that the entire Hellenism
strived as to fulfill It's mission. mis-
sion which the Greek consider 1t as
an imposing duty TO achieve. to
'glorify the Son Of Man"
Indeed. my fellow citizens, 1t was
a heavy task to carry. at that time
notwithstanding the circumstances
and consequences, (as 1t being under
the yoke of Romanism): The road
was full Of difficult and embarras
ments. Turns Of scandal. danger
and trap. undersowed and scattered
everywhere. by their personal and ra
eial enemies. Their triumphant anG
successful achievements was the
cause to excite the indignation in the
hearts Of the cruel Neros and Caiigu
las. Soon as they felt ths wonderful
spreading. and rapid growth of the
new religion. and specially of the in
itiation and the ground which Greece
won In II, fearing OF Greater Hell
las" the vlanous, they proclaimed
the first blooded crusade. the unfor
getting persecution against the new
born religion. Very few Christian:
scattered here and there exposed II
the hardest Of tortures. were dared
TO say, even the name Of Chris
ftan." Greece was the scene Of the
most inhuman and terrible massa
cres. and at least every inventiv'
science Of the tyrants. supervising
the annihilation and decay not only
Christianity but the entire Hellenisn