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it hardly counted as a part of the European continent。 Its
interests lay in the east。 It began to forget its western origin。
Gradually the Roman language was given up for the Greek。
The Roman alphabet was discarded and Roman law was written
in Greek characters and explained by Greek judges。 The
Emperor became an Asiatic despot； worshipped as the god…like
kings of Thebes had been worshipped in the valley of the
Nile； three thousand years before。 When missionaries of the
Byzantine church looked for fresh fields of activity； they went
eastward and carried the civilisation of Byzantium into the
vast wilderness of Russia。
As for the west； it was left to the mercies of the Barbarians。
For twelve generations； murder； war； arson； plundering were
the order of the day。 One thingand one thing alonesaved
Europe from complete destruction； from a return to the days
of cave…men and the hyena。
This was the churchthe flock of humble men and women
who for many centuries had confessed themselves the followers
of Jesus； the carpenter of Nazareth； who had been
killed that the mighty Roman Empire might be saved the
trouble of a street…riot in a little city somewhere along the
Syrian frontier。
RISE OF THE CHURCH
HOW ROME BECAME THE CENTRE OF THE
CHRISTIAN WORLD
THE average intelligent Roman who lived under the Empire
had taken very little interest in the gods of his fathers。
A few times a year he went to the temple； but merely as a
matter of custom。 He looked on patiently when the people
celebrated a religious festival with a solemn procession。 But he
regarded the worship of Jupiter and Minerva and Neptune as
something rather childish； a survival from the crude days of
the early republic and not a fit subject of study for a man
who had mastered the works of the Stoics and the Epicureans
and the other great philosophers of Athens。
This attitude made the Roman a very tolerant man。 The
government insisted that all people； Romans； foreigners；
Greeks； Babylonians； Jews； should pay a certain outward respect
to the image of the Emperor which was supposed to stand
in every temple； just as a picture of the President of the
United States is apt to hang in an American Post Office。 But
this was a formality without any deeper meaning。 Generally
speaking everybody could honour； revere and adore whatever
gods he pleased； and as a result； Rome was filled with all
sorts of queer little temples and synagogues； dedicated to the
worship of Egyptian and African and Asiatic divinities。
When the first disciples of Jesus reached Rome and began
to preach their new doctrine of a universal brotherhood of man；
nobody objected。 The man in the street stopped and listened
Rome； the capital of the world； had always been full of wandering
preachers； each proclaiming his own ‘‘mystery。'' Most of
the self…appointed priests appealed to the sensespromised
golden rewards and endless pleasure to the followers of their
own particular god。 Soon the crowd in the street noticed
that the so…called Christians （the followers of the Christ or
‘‘anointed''） spoke a very different language。 They did not
appear to be impressed by great riches or a noble position。
They extolled the beauties of poverty and humility and meekness。
These were not exactly the virtues which had made
Rome the mistress of the world。 It was rather interesting to
listen to a ‘‘mystery'' which told people in the hey…day of their
glory that their worldly success could not possibly bring them
lasting happiness。
Besides； the preachers of the Christian mystery told dreadful
stories of the fate that awaited those who refused to listen to
the words of the true God。 It was never wise to take chances。
Of course the old Roman gods still existed； but were they
strong enough to protect their friends against the powers of
this new deity who had been brought to Europe from distant
Asia？ People began to have doubts。 They returned to listen
to further explanations of the new creed。 After a while they
began to meet the men and women who preached the words of
Jesus。 They found them very different from the average
Roman priests。 They were all dreadfully poor。 They were
kind to slaves and to animals。 They did not try to gain riches；
but gave away whatever they had。 The example of their unselfish
lives forced many Romans to forsake the old religion。
They joined the small communities of Christians who met in
the back rooms of private houses or somewhere in an open field；
and the temples were deserted。
This went on year after year and the number of Christians
continued to increase。 Presbyters or priests （the original
Greek meant ‘‘elder''） were elected to guard the interests of
the small churches。 A bishop was made the head of all the
communities within a single province。 Peter； who had fol…
lowed Paul to Rome； was the first Bishop of Rome。 In due
time his successors （who were addressed as Father or Papa）
came to be known as Popes。
The church became a powerful institution within the Empire。
The Christian doctrines appealed to those who despaired
of this world。 They also attracted many strong men who
found it impossible to make a career under the Imperial gov…
ernment； but who could exercise their gifts of leadership among
the humble followers of the Nazarene teacher。 At last the
state was obliged to take notice。 The Roman Empire （I have
said this before） was tolerant through indifference。 It allowed
everybody to seek salvation after his or her own fashion。 But
it insisted that the different sects keep the peace among themselves
and obey the wise rule of ‘‘live and let live。''
The Christian communities however； refused to practice any
sort of tolerance。 They publicly declared that their God； and
their God alone； was the true ruler of Heaven and Earth；
and that all other gods were imposters。 This seemed unfair
to the other sects and the police discouraged such utterances。
The Christians persisted。
Soon there were further difficulties。 The Christians refused
to go through the formalities of paying homage to the emperor。
They refused to appear when they were called upon
to join the army。 The Roman magistrates threatened to
punish them。 The Christians answered that this miserable
world was only the ante…room to a very pleasant Heaven and
that they were more than willing to suffer death for their
principles。 The Romans； puzzled by such conduct； sometimes
killed the offenders； but more often they did not。 There was
a certain amount of lynching during the earliest years of the
church； but this was the work of that part of the mob which
accused their meek Christian neighbours of every conceivable
crime； （such as slaughtering and eating babies； bringing about
sickness and pestilence； betraying the country in times of danger）
because it was a harmless sport and devoid of danger； as
the Christians refused to fight back。
Meanwhile； Rome continu