The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1911-07-06
WHY DEMETRIUS RAISED THE
FALSE CRY GREAT Is DIANA
OF THE EPHESIANS."

publican" says:
Too many OF our political
leaders are like weather vanes
shifting their positions to catch
the breeZes no matter what may
be the cause or the source from
whence they come. Just as was
the case with Alexander, the idol
maker of Ephesus, when Paul
was preaching the Christian re-
ligion and had cured the young
man, who, like SO many in this
day and generation, had fallen
asleep during the service and
had the misfortune to fall out Of
window and was practically
killed. Paul was doing nothing
but good, the doctrine he taught
was brotherly love. The Lords
Prayer was the light that guided
his footsteps and the golden rule
was the practice of his life. Yet
the mob all joined, in the uproar
that Alexander began and never
knew or asked why he raised it
or what it was about all shout
ing 'great>is Diana of the Ephe-
slams.
The above reference to an interest
ing piece of Biblical history is very
apropos at this time. Our friend
Justice" however, was not exactly
r. ho r.
was Demetrius and not Alexander
who conceived the idea of diverting
the attention of the public from the
teachings of Paul by raising the false
cry of Great is Diana of the Ephe-
SLAMS"
The Apostle Paul had been preach
ing for some time to the Ephesians,
explaining the Golden Rule and the
other principles of Christianity. Paul
urged that first and above all things
the Ephesians must stop their wor-
ship of idols. and not longer pay heed
to the false leaders of heather doc
trines and practices.
The people were gathering in
great crowds to hear the Apostle
and were approving of his teachings.
This greatly alarmed the heather rul-
ing class, but they did not know how
to answer the truths which Paul was
teaching, and so, while nursing their
wrath, they were forced to be silent
in public.
1t then occurred that one Deme-
trius, who>was a silversmith and the
manufacturer of idols for the Temple
of Diana, became alarmed because
he saw that the teachings of Paul
would destroy his business. We are
told in the Bible that this man De-
metrius then called together ''all the
workmen Of like occupation" for a
conference, and that when they were
assembled he told them that if some
way was not devised to counterfeit
the teachings of the Apostle Paul that
they were ruined. He closed his ap-
peal by saying: "Sirs, We know by
this craft We have our wealth."
1t is then recorded that Demetrius
and his fellow-craftsmen and the
heather ruling classes got together
and agreed to attempt to incite the
multitude against the teachings of
Paul. Every plan and scheme which
was suggested was deemed a failure
because none of them could answer
what the Apostle Paul had said to the
people. Then it was that Demetrius
suggested the brilliant idea of incit-
ing the public to raise the cry, Great
is Diana of the Ephesians." And it |
is recorded that they succeeded in
the populace so excited that
on one OCCASION for more than two
hours consecutively, they had a vast
throng bowling down every ATTEMPT
OF the Apostle to speak to the people
by crying, Great is Diana of the
At the beginning of the last cam
pa1gn, the Simmons-Daniels Demo-
cratic machine found themselves in
rs sore straights as did Demetrius.
The idol-nnaker, and the other work