The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-03-17
ROME NOT ETERNAL NOR HOLY

Time out of mind people have
heard Rome referred to either as the
Eternal City or the Holy City. When
and where and how did these sobri-
quets arise? Owing to the present
phase of the campaign in Italy, Rome
occupies the spotlight. and is likely
to continue to do so for many weeks
TO come. Hence public interest has
been aroused concerning it's history
and it's present condition and it's like
ly postwar status.
An unnamed writer in the Oregon
Mason asserts that Rome is neither
eternal nor holy. Eternal means ex-
sting forever, and while Rome has
4 long history, there are cities still
older. How much longer it will con-
inue to exist is problematical The
act is that it has revealed itself as
sustaining constant decay and need
or repairs When bombs recently fell
within it's borders, buildings were
battered there, the same as build
ngs were bombed in London, Coven
ry, Berlin, Hamburg and Warsaw.
history shows that what is built by
nan is subject to change and decay
md eventual extinction. The time
onsumed in arriving at this result
nay differ as between one creation of
nan and another, but eventually 1.-The
aths of glory lead but to the grave"
rs has been observed many times,
nan rather than nature has been
1ome's worst enemy, and various
motives have actuated him. such as
owe of ease and luxury, lack of
bought and downright vandalism.
A varied assortment of foreigners
have taken part in attacks on Rome,
UGH as the Goths, Vandals, Byzan-
ines, Saracens, Normans, Germans
nd the French. They each had a part
1t one time or another, in the devas-
alton of both Imperial and Papal
tome. Yet the Eternal City was
harmed even worse by it's friends,
is own inhabitants and authorities.
The columns of st. Lorenzo, the very
hurch which was bombed last sum-
ner. are said by one authority to
nave been brought there from the
Porticus of Octavia. Rome is city
# relics and ruins and no more eter-
lal than any other important city.
How did Rome get the name of
he Holy City and is such name
justified by the facts? Nero, who is
;aid to have fidd1ed while Rome
burned, resided there and is known
the pages of history as a monster
If cruelty and murder In Rome, the
Christians were driven into the arena
o be devoured by lions or burned
live. II was in Rome that the Apos-
les, Peter and Paul, were put to
leath. There the armed legions of
he emperors, acting under orders,
ounded up the victims of Rome's
onquests and either slew them or
.ressed them into slavery. Rome has
lever been the home of freedom,
ut rather a city dominated by the
iictators of Church and State. Down
he centuries Rome has left the mass
the Italian people illiterate, super
titious and in poverty, while squan-
,ering vast sums of money ON vain
monuments and adornments. It is
pertinent therefore, to ask where,
midst this carnival of evil and sell
lshness, holiness is to be found? The
on clusion is unacceptable that Rome
neither eternal nor holy.
AS the writer in the Oregon Mason
0 aptly puts it: There is holiness
earth but it abides in the regener-
ted spirits of men in whom Christ
wells whether they be in Rome or
coventry, whether they worship in
great cathedrals. or in country
hapels. Let us have done with
he shams and pretentions of men
nd know that holiness is to be found
verywhere in this wide world where
Tod meets men in fellowship. No
place nor people have monopoly on