* * * *

"About the year A.D. 64, two men, travellers from Rome, entered the city
of Colosse, in Phrygia. Asia Minor, both of them the bearers of letters
from the Apostle Paul, then a prisoner at Rome.

"A Christian Church had been gathered at Colosse. Its pastor was
probably Archippus. Some think that Epaphras was his colleague. This
church, according to Dr. Lardner and others, was most probably gathered
by the Apostle Paul himself. Mount Cadmus rose behind the city, with its
almost perpendicular side, and a huge chasm in the mountain was the
outlet of a torrent which flowed into the river Lycus, on which the city
was built, standing not far from the junction of this river with the
Moeander.

"One of the two men who bore these letters was a slave. His name was
Onesimus. He robbed his master, Philemon, of Colosse, fled to Rome,
heard Paul preach, was converted, and now by the Apostle is sent back to
his master with a letter, in charge of Tychicus, who, with this
Onesimus, was the bearer of a letter to the Colossian Church.

"Let us attend the church-meeting. The pastor, Archippus, presides.
Epaphras is at Rome.

"What an interesting company do we behold as we sit near the pastor's
table, in full view of the audience! The inhabitants of this place were
noted for the worship of Bacchus, and Cybele, mother of the gods; hence
her name, _Phrygia Mater_. Every kind of licentious language and actions
was practised in the worship of these deities, accompanied with a
frantic rage called orgies, from the Greek word for _rage_. This was a
part of their religious worship. From among such people, converts had
been made to Christianity, together with some who had been turned from
Judaism.

"The letter from the Apostle Paul is brought in and is laid on the
pastor's table, and some account is given of the manner in which it was
received. The letter is read. It refers the Colossians, at the close, to
the bearers, for further information and instructions. 'All my state
shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother and a faithful
minister and fellow-servant in the Lord. Whom I have sent unto you for
the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your
hearts. With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of
you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.'

"Tychicus relates his story, and, when he has finished, Philemon, a
member of the Church, addresses t