LIGHT FROM THE LOWLY.

Series VIII.

ST. ALEXANDER, MAKER OF CHARCOAL.

I.

THE discipline of the Church with regard to the election of bishops has varied according to the necessities and customs of nations. In the first eight centuries of Christianity, when there existed among the faithful greater concord, sincerity, and zeal for the good of others than in our days, so divided by party strife, public and private, the prelates were elected by the clergy and people. The circumstances then required this, as well to secure the election of the most fitting, as to prevent the intrusion of some wolf in sheep's clothing, and also to assure their willing reception by the people. But the vote of the electors was not of equal value and weight. The people proposed the candidates, and asked that they should be promoted, appearing as witness of and security for their good morals; then came the clergy, who examined the person proposed,

and accepted or excluded him, and ordered a new election; afterwards came the provincial synod, which ratified or condemned the judgment of one and the other; and lastly the metropolitan, accompanied by two or three bishops, consecrated whoever had been canonically chosen. This form of election, though pretty common, was not universally observed, and would be impracticable in our times, as it would give rise to great inconvenience and disturbance.

After these indications no one will wonder that an humble charcoal maker should be raised from the smoke of the furnace to the brilliant glory of the episcopacy. This happened in the case of the celebrated St. Alexander, whose election was in a certain way portentous. In the short interval of peace enjoyed by the Christians under the rule of Philipos Arabe, numerous Gentiles renounced their false gods, and embraced the ignominy of the cross. This particularly occurred around Neocæsarea of Pontus, where few were able to resist the eloquence, erudition, and ardent zeal of St. Gregory, called Thaumaturgus on account of his miracles. His fame having reached Comana, the inhabitants became anxious to participate in the benefits of a religion which worked such prodigies, and sent commissioners to invite him to visit them, and, after preaching the Gospel, to give them a prelate to rule them. The indefatigable minister of Christ did not delay, but went at once to the city, where he captivated the esteem and good-will of all. This was in the year 248. Having by his preaching considerably increased the number of believers, he determined on the election of a bishop. All the leading people of the town began to look out for a man worthy of the high office. Opinions were various, some desiring that the elected should unite birth to personal qualities, and others holding a different view. The world has been always so. St. Gregory, seeing the wrong desires

of the majority, addressed them, and told them they should not look to the worldly position or the family descent of the candidates, but simply to their humility and virtues for not rarely does it happen that those who are most contemptible in the eyes of the world are in reality most pleasing in the sight of God.

II.

To this discourse of the saint one of the principal men in the assembly answered, with a sardonic smile:-" If you reject men illustrious for their birth and riches, and will select the dregs of the population to rule the church of this diocese, there is no use in losing time or words; we will unanimously give our vote to Alexander the charcoal maker." We might here say with the Scripture, that he prophesied without knowing what he said; for, although a loud laugh followed his words, St. Gregory, seeing the finger of God in it, asked: "And who is this Alexander whom you refer to." One of the bystanders went in search of the charcoal maker, and brought him to the assembly, which received him with laughter. But the saint, accustomed to bear other humiliations and insults for love of Jesus Christ, paid no attention. He was dirty and ragged, his begrimed skin in several places appearing through the rents in his clothes; his horny hands and black face told the electors the candidate's trade.

Despite all these appearances, St. Gregory, with the of a prophet, discovered beneath the charcoal crust a valuable diamond, worthy to be inserted in the Church's

eye