Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-13

TuGl uEh DS tl6 SiiicS ~
the Island of Cyprus. This Is one of
the most famous OF all the Islands Of
the Mediterranean. and Is especially
notable to Christians for It's historic
associations.
Any one who has read the Acts OF
the Apostles in tho Bible cannot fail
to remember that the Island OF
Cyprus IS mentioned eight or nine
times, and that 1t was the place IN
which Saint Paul first found hls0won-
dcrful inspiration as the Apostle to
the Gentiles.'
Saint Paul. Unjust BIO remembered,
had never seen Jesus, and some
questioned his right 20 serve as on
Apostle, especially as he announced
some very novel and revolutionary
ideas. Up to his time the conversions
had taken place altogether among tho
Jews. or among those who were will
ing to accept the rite OF Abraham
In fact. Christianity was sect OF
Judaism. and It's followers differed
from the other Jews only in one re-
spect. They accepted all OF the
Jewish law. but they believed that
Jesus had been and WAS the Messiah,
while the other Jews held that he had
not fulfilled the required conditions,
and that the Messiah was still to
come.
1t was Just at this critical iuncture
that the Island of Cyprus began to
play part In the new movement.
The prosecutions Of the Christians on
the mainland OF Asia Minor, leading
up to the death Of Saint Stephen,
and subsequent thereto. drove many
converts to the Island OF Cyprus.
Soon thereafter quite a colony of con-
verted Cyprlote Jews is known to
have arisen. Among these was
Mnason Ccalled an original con-
vert"), and Joses the Levite, who was
called Bnrnabas by the Apostles, and
Is since known by that name.
1t WAS this Barnabas who stood
sponsor for Saint Paul, and went to
Cyprus with him on that first me-
morable journey in A, afterward TAX
ing Saint Mark to Cyprus when he
went out 10 preach to the Gentiles.
1t should be remembered that Paul
had been n violent opponent OF
Christianity, and that there were
many doubts MS to the sincerity OF
his conversion. Had 1t not been
for Barnabns OF Cyprus 1t is more
than possible that there would have
been no Apostolate OF Paul, and the
history of Christianity would have
been quite different.
1t was OF Barnnbas that Saint Luke
seld: For he was good man, full Of
the Holy Ghost and of Faith" A
bns Is shown at Salamls. on the
Icl ,>f TT~r, tt,l,a he Ia
ported to have met a martyrs death.
OF the Gospel, according to Saint
covered in the early centuries.
The Island of Cyprus was a famous
place long before the age of Christian
ity. 1t had been settled by the Phoe-
nicians, the wonderfully progressive
nation of ancient times, who planted
their colonies all over the Mediter.
runean Sea. 1t was the largest of all
the Islands I'M this sea. except Sicily
and Sardinia, being one hundred and
forty-one miles long and sixty miles
broad. Lord Kitchener made a care
full survey of the island in 1857, find
Ing 1t to contain an area of 1854
square miles.
the ancients because OF it's great
mineral wealth. for here were great
copper mines worked by the Phoeni-
clans; silver mines, and even dia-
monds and emeralds were found. 1t
was great place for the export of
salt, that invaluable product of all
ages, and still furnishes salt to tho
surrounding country.
Tho leland nf Tvrruc hos bnan a,
bone Of contention among the ma
the Romans f5S b. c., but especially
quarrels centred around ii. There
on the island and the Greek
desire to be ruled by these intidels.
England has exercised kind Of pro-
tectorate, and by dividing the courts
Of justice and giving the various eIe-
ments of the population their own
courts, something like peace has been
established. Here was. however, one
of the earliest of the Christian
churches, the Patrlnrchate of Cyprus.
having been recognized by the Coun-
Gil Of EphesuS as early as i31.
uc idhiIiS oFcF Ol lue lSlAuQ Dy
England will be n cause Of great re-
joicing to the large majority of
Christian Inhabitants, and, at the
same time, will be hailed as the first
step toward the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of
Turkey.
From historical and archaeology
cal point of view Cyprus Is one of the
most interesting places in the world.
Long before the time Of tho Pboeni-
clans it was inhabited by a highly
civilized race, allied in art and
language with,the Mycenaeans. Many
remains of this art have been brought
to light by the excavations which
have been in progress since 1877.
The United States Is especially in
terested In Cyprus because 1t has in
the Cesnola collection in the Metro.
politan Museum of Art, New York
City, the largest and most complete