South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-23

fidel Turk" BY the allies IL
the Island of Cyprus. This is one Of
the most famous of all the islands "
the Mediterranean. and is especially
notable to Christians for its historic
associations.
Any one who has read the Acts OF
the Apostles in the Bible cannot fail
10 remember that the Island of
Cyprus is mentioned eight or nine
times. and that it was the place IL
which Saint Paul first found his Won
derful inspiration as the Apostle to
the Gentiles."
Saint Paul, ii must be remembered.
had never seen Jesus. and some
questioned his right to serve as an
Apostle. especially as he announced
some very novel and revolutionary
ideas Up TO his time the conversions
had taken place altogether among the
Jews. or among those who were wilt
ing 10 accept the rite Of Abraham.
In fact. Christianity was a 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 juncture
that the Island of Cyprus began to
play a part in the new movement.
The prosecutions OF the Christians on
the mainland OF Asia Minor, leading
I'D to the death Of Saint Stephen,
and subsequent thereto. drove many
converts to the Island of Cyprus.
Soon thereafter quite colony Of con-
verted Cypriote Jews is known to
have arisen. Among these was
MnasOn (called an original con-
vert''), and Joses the Levite. who was
called Barnabas 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 TO preach To the Gentiles.
1t should be remembered that Paul
had been a violent opponent Of
Christianity. and that there were
many doubts as to the sincerity OF
his conversion. Had it not been
for Barnabas of Cyprus it 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 Barnabas that Saint Luke
said: For he was good man, full OF
the Holy Ghost and of Faith" A
tomb said TO be that of Saint Barna-
bas is shown at Salamis, on the
Island of Cyprus. where he is re
ported to have met a martyrs death.
1t was in this tomb that the original
Of the Gospel, according TO Saint
Matthew, was said TO have been dis
covered In the early centuries.
The Island OF Cyprus was 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.
ranean Sea. 1t was the largest of all
the islands in this sea, except Sicily
and Sardinia. being one hundred and
fOrty-One miles long and sixty miles
broad. Lord Kitchener made care
full survey of the island in 1880, find
ing 1t TO contain an area Of 3,0S4
square miles.
The island was Of especial value 10
the ancients because of its 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 a great place for the export of
salt. that invaluable product of all
ages. and still furnishes salt to the
surrounding country.
The Island Of Cyprus has been
bone of contention among the ma
tions ever since it was taken over By
the Romans (5S b. c., but especially
during the last few decades have
QuarrelS centred around it. There
are only about ID per cent of Turks
on the island and the Greek
Christians there would naturally not
desire to be ruled by these intidelS.
England has exercised a kind of pro-
tectOrate and by dividing the courts
OF justice and giving the various ele-
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 Patriarchate of Cyprus.
having been recognized by the Coun-
Gil OF EphesuS as early as 49,.
The taking over of the island by
England will be a 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 diSmemberment OF
Turkey.
From a historical and archaeologi-
cal point OF view Cyprus is one Of the
most interesting places in the world.
Long before the time OF the Phoeni-
clans il was inhabited by a highly
civilized race. allied in art and
language with the Mycenaeans. Many
remains of this art have been brought
10 light by the excavations which
have been in progress since 1877.
The United States is especially in
terested in Cyprus because IL has in
the CeSnola collection in the Metro
politan Museum of Art. New York
City, the largest aud most complete