wisdom which was no delusion; they invented the codes and regularities of law the arts and glories of existence. They ask belief; they returned the gift by civilization. Were not their very cheats a virtue! Trust me, whosoever in yon far heavens of a different and more beneficent nature look down upon our world, smiles approvingly on the wisdom which has worked such ends.'

Last Days of Pompeii, P. 52.

As I ponder o'er this splendid apologetic for the duplicity of the priesthood in the past, I am reminded of Paul's statement: "The times of this ignorance God winked at;" and instead of thinking of the impostures and the seemingly wasted energy, I take pleasure in thinking of the manifest destiny actuating all.

"They never fail who die

In a great cause: The block may soak their
gore,

Their heads may sodden in the sun; their limbs
Be strung to city gates and castle walls,

But still their spirit walks abroad.

Though years elapse, and others share as dark a doom

They but augment the deep and sweeping

thoughts

Which o'erpower all others and conduct

The world at last to freedom."

-Byron.

PAUL'S ADDRESS ON IDOLATRY.

"Men of Athens, on every hand, I see signs of your being very devout. For as I was going about, looking at your sacred shrine, I came upon an altar with this inscription - "To An Unknown God.'

What, therefore, you worship in ignorance that I am now proclaiming to you. The God who made the world and all things that are in it- He, Lord, as He is, of Heaven and Earth, does not dwell in. temples made by hand, nor yet do human hands minister to His wants, as though He needed anything, since He, Himself, gives to all, life and breath and all things.

He made all races of men from one stock, and caused them to settle on all parts of the earth's surface-fixing a time for their rise and fall, and the limits of their settlements that they might search. for God, if by any means they might feel their way to Him and find Him. And yet, He is not really far from any one of us; for in Him we live and move. and are. To use the words of some of your own poets His offspring, too, are we.'

Therefore, as the offspring of God, we must not think that the Deity has any resemblance to any thing made of gold or silver or stone a work of human art and imagination.

True, God looked with indulgence on the days of men's ignorance, but now He is announcing to

everyone, everywhere, the need for repentance, because He has fixed a day on which He intends to judge the world with justice, by a man whom He has appointed and of this He has given all men a pledge by raising this man from the dead."

Acts 17:23-31 (New Ver.)

Jesus came in the "niche of time," when the world was ready for Him, and, if the "other sheep of this (Jewish) fold" did not mean the multitudes of hungry, famishing people who were "reaching out for Him if happily they could find Him," I fail to see who Jesus meant by the expression.

Of one thing we can rest assured, Jesus came to "fulfill" not "destroy." Since the world was helpless and hopeless without revealed truth. He (the stone which the builders rejected), satisfied this longing when He bridged the future with an "arch," connecting the here and the hereafter through the intensified hope of the resurrection of the dead, the answer to the question of all previous ages: "If a man die, shall he live again?" Through this archway, men of all lands have been enabled to look beyond the gates of the hereafter and conquer their fears of death which is the first step in self mastery. Over this highway of faith, they hope to pass to the regions of immortal bliss.

All believers have found, through this vision, an incentive to equip for their inheritance which

every form of worship endeavored to teach, but which Jesus taught, more perfectly."

MEDICINE (AESCULAPIUS.)

Aesculapius was either a personage or a Deity created through fiction.

Homer mentions him in his writing

and ref

erence is made here because we have a living testimonial of such a man among the physicians of today, who practice some of the arts taught by this discoverer of many of nature's remedies.

He is recognized as founder of the order of Asclepiades - a medical priestly caste, who preserved as mysteries, the doctrines of medicine.

A supposed descendant of Aesculapius by the name of Hippocratis, improved the system of medicine, emphasizing at the same time the merit due the discoveries of the originator of the system, but demonstrating splendid genius in the terse diction of the oath which bears his name, the Hippocratis Jusjurandum, or "Hippocratic Oath," preserved by the medical fraternity of today as a unique memento of their origin.

HIPPOCRATIC OATH.

"I swear by Appolo, the physician and Aesculapius, and Health and All weal and all the Gods

and Goddesses, that according to my ability judgment, I will keep this oath and this sti tion: to reckon him who taught me this art eq dear as my parents to share my substance him, and to relieve his necessities if required: to upon his offspring in the same footing as my brothers, and to teach them this art, should wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; that by precept, lecture and every other mode struction, I will impart a knowledge of the art t own sons, and those of my teachers, and to ciples bound by a stipulation and oath, acco to the law of medicine, and to none others.

I will follow that system of regimen, w according to my ability and judgment, I con for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from is deleterious and mischievous.

I will give no deadly medicine to anyon asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in manner, I will not give to a woman a pessar produce abortion.

With purity and holiness, I will pass my and practice my art. I will not cut persons labo under the stone, but will leave this to be don men who are practitioners of this work.

In whatever houses I enter, I will go into t for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain every voluntary act of mischief and corruption;