Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-05-15
Pllny and the Early Christians


Paul. "a. d. 1887.
The following official despatc
gives the third of the only referenc,
to early Christianity in the secula
documents.
II is my custom. Sir. to ref,
everything of which am in daubi. I
Won: for who can better direct m
hesitation. or remove my ignorance
have never been present AT an
judicial examination of Christians
81 that ann ignorant in what man
ner and To what extern, il is u>ua
to punish them or 10 examine them.
have also been quite unable to de
eide whether there is any di,crimi
nation on account of difference i
age, ar those who are of tender az
are treated in the same way wit
the more robust. whether pardon j
given To those who repent: or. il ON
has been NJ any time n Christian. i
j. nothing in his favor that he hai
ceased to be- such. whether the mer,
name is punished. ar only rhos,
shameful practices which are con
necicd with the name.
Meanwhile. in the ease of iho>,
who have been accused before m,
of being Christian. | have taken thi,
course. ! have put the question {,
them. whether they were Christians
To those who confessed ] put iii,
question again. and the third time
Threatening them with punishment,
Those who prcscvered in that con
fc~sion ! ordered 10 bc taken 10 rN-
ecution: for | did not doubt. that,
whatever the nature Of their con.
fcssion might he. the pcrtinaciiy and
inflexible obstinacy ought Ia be-
punished. There have been some
p"s-esscd with that sort of madness,
whom. because they were Roman ciii-
zens. ! have sci down in the list who
must be- sent TO Rome.
soon. as often happens, the pro-
reedines having caused the acrn>a-
Iion To spread in all directions. there
rane Ia be- many sorts Of eases. An
anonymous Indictment was offered
many names. ] have
ihoughi proper To discharge those
who deny that they are or have been
christians when they repeated after
me- n prayer 10 the gods. aud offered
worship. with incense and wine. to
YOUR statue, (which, for that purpose.
had ordered to be brought with the
images of the deilies }. and besides all
hat. had rcvilcd Christ. which things
they who are really Christians can
not. il j. said. be forced to do. Others
named by I'M informcr. said that they
were Christians. and immediately
denied il: they said that they had
been. hut that they had ceased To be,
christians some three. some more.
and Few even twenty years ago.
These all veneraicd Your statue and
The lmabc> of the gods they also re-
riled Christ. But they affirmed that
The sum whether of their crime or of
their error was tis. they used TO meet
m u stated day before light. and to
sing around Themselves in turn. a
hymn Ia Christ a. cod. and 10 bind
themselves with an oath, not TO any
wicedness. but they would never com
NIT theft. robbery. nor adultery: that
they would never break their word ::
hat they would never deny u trust
when called to give il up: and these
performances. their way was TO Sc
parate. and then to meet again TO
pariake of food. hut only of harm.
less and ordinary kind. Even this
they said they had given up. after
my edict. by which. according 10 Your
orders, ] had prohibited clubs.
Having heard ~ much. | deemed
. the more necessary To ascertain
he truth by putting 10 the torture
"o women servants who were called
ieaconesses. but ! found nothing
more than perverse and excessive
superstition. Therefore. having post.
,oned the investigation, betake nv
elf To You for advice. for the af-
ialr seems 10 the 10 require such
especially because of
he number Of persons implicated:
or many of every age, of every rank.
md of both sexes also. are summon
ii Ia trial. and will be summoned;
or the coniaeion of that superstition
las pervaded not only cities but also
'illages and farms. Ii can be. |
hnk. resisted and corrected. AT
east. il is evident enough that the
emplcs. which a little while ago were
orsaken. have begun To be frequent
d. and sacred observances long in
crmitted are renewed: and the
lesh of sacrifices for which. of late
purchaser could rarely be found.
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