PAGAS^US
530
PAGE
A.D. CIinONOI.OGIOAL TABLE OF TAGAN PKUSECUTIONS.
64-63 L'lidei- Nero: Martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul (TertuU. Apol.y; Eiiseb. Hist. Keel, ii, 25). 95-96 Under Uomilian : Bimishmeut of St. John (Eu- seb. Hint. Ecel. iii, IT-IS).
104-117 Under Trajan: Martyrdom of St. Ignatius (Eu- seb. Hist. Eeel. iii, 86).
101-180 Under Marcus Aurelius: Martyrdom of St. Poly- carp and tlie martyrs of Lyons (Euseb. Hiit. Keel, iv, 15 ; V, 1).
200-211 Under Severus: Martyrdom of St. Perpetna and others in Africa (Eiiseb. Hist. Eeel. vi, 1, 4, 5).
250-253 Under Decins: Martyrdom of St. Fabian (Eu- seb. Hist. Ecel. vi, 41-i2).
25T-200 Under Valerian: Martyrdom of St. Cyprian (Eu- seb. Hist. Eeel. vii, 10, 11, 12).
303-313 Under Diocletian, Galerius, and Maximian : Martyrdom of St. Albau (Euseb. Hist. Keel. viii, 1-17; ix, 1-11; Bede, Hist. Ecel. i, 6, 7).
yi. The Decline of Paganism. — The long and bitter struggle between the paganism and the Christianity of tlie Konian empire came to a close with Constantine's victory over Maxentius. As early as A.D. 311 Galeri- us had been terrified by a shocking and mortal disease to issue a decree, in which he, with the emperors Con- stantine and Licinius, directed that persecution should cease, that churches should be rebuilt, and that the Chris- tians should be allowed to worship in peace (Eusebius, Hist. Ecel. viii, 17). But the execution of this decree wa-s much hindered by Maximin and Maxentius, and it was only on their defeat by Licinius and Constantine that a real toleration began. After that event (A.D. 313) the emperors immediately published the famous Edict of Milan (Eusebiu.s, Hist. Ecel. x, 5; Lactantius, De Aforf. Persecut. xlviil), in which the previous decree was rigidly enforced and all persecutions entirely sup- pressed. In the year 321 a severe blow was given to expiring paganism by an edict in which the emperor established the Lord's-day as a public festival, and a day of abstinence from labor. When Constantine be- came sole emperor, in A.D. 32-1, he issued one in a still more decided tone, in which he exhorted all his subjects throughout the empire to forsake paganism and wor- ship Christ only; and from that time he and his suc- cessors ruled the empire as Christian emperors. Before the end of the 4th century paganism had become so much weakened and the Christian population so de- cidedly predominant that the emperors were able to take measures towards its final suppression. Theodosius (A.D. 381) forbade apostasy to paganism and suppressed its sacrifices, though still tolerating its minor rites (Cod. Theodos. xvi, 7), the Western emperors, Gratian and Yalentinian, following his example. When Theodosius became sole emperor (.\.D. 392), he forbade all kinds of idolatry under severe penalties (ibid. 10, 12). The last traces of paganism died out in the Eastern empire in the first quarter of the 5th century {ibid. 10, 22), and its final extinction in the West was at the same time effected by the supremacy of the Northern invaders. If since that age Christianity has lost its ground, it has not been to the old paganism, but to its Eastern succes- sor, Mohammedanism. The former never revived after the time of its last great effort to gain supremacy in the Diocletian persecution, and for nearly three centuries the empire was wholly Christian.
See Kortholt, De Religione Etiinim ; Kudiger, De Statu Par/anointm ; Tzschirner, Fall des Heidenthums ; Dcillinger, Judaism and Paf/anism; IMilman, Hist, of Latin Christianity, vol. i; Ilardwick, Church Hist, of the Middle Afjes (see Index); INIaclear, Hist, of Chris- tian Missions, p. 5 sq.; Merivalo, Conveision of the Northern Nations ; Schaff, Ch. Hist, ii, 67-71 ; Pritchard, K(pj]>tian Mytholmjij (designed to illustrate the orifm of paganism). (.J. H.W.)
Pagasaeus is a surname of Apollo, derived from Pugasus, a town of Thessaly, where he had a temple.
Page, Edward, a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, was born in Burlington County, N. J., April 19, 1787 ; was converted in 1x07 ; licensed to preach in 1811; and, called of God to the ministrv,
joined in April, 1817, the Philadelphia Conference, which then occupied the entire ground now' covered by the Philadelphia, New Jersej', and Newark confer- ences. From the year 1817 to the year 1852, a period of thirtj'-fi ve years, Mr. Page travelled as follows : Essex and Staten Island, 1817 ; Salem Circuit, 1818-19 ; Lew- iston, Del., 1820-21; Trenton Circuit, 1822; Cumber- land Circuit, 1823-24 ; New Castle, Del., 1825; Cecil, Md., 1826; Gloucester Circuit, 1827-28; Chester Cir- cuit, Pa., 1829-30; Bristol, Pa., 1831-32; Camden Circuit, 1833; IMoorestown, 1834; Freehold, 1835 ; New Egypt, 1836 ; Bargaintown, 1837-38 ; Freehold, 1839- 40;' Columbus, 1841-42; Flemington, 1843; Clinton, 1844; Asbury, 1845-46; Columbus, 1847 ; Tom's Kiv- er, 1848-49 ; Moorestown, 1850-51 ; then as supernu- merary or superannuated he resided at Trenton, N. J., until his death in March, 1867. He was a truly de- voted Christian minister, laboring early and late for the flock under his care, and thousands revere his memory as blessed. See Minutes of the Annual Con- ferences, 1867.
Page, Harlan, a devoted American Christian lay- man, noted for his philanthropic labors, was born at Coventry', Conn., July 28, 1791. He was the only son of pious parents ; received a good education, and was taught by his father the trade of a house-joiner. He was converted in 1813, and united with the Church in 1834. After a further residence of five years in his native town, he removed to Boston, where he re- mained a short time. He then returned to Coventrj', but, after spending three years, he took up his abode in Jewett City ; later he engaged in the business of engraving at Andover. In 1825 he was appointed agent of the General Depository of the American Tract Societj' in New York, -which was formed in that year, and he held this position till his death in 1834. Har- lan Page embraced everj' opportunity of doing good to his fellow-men, and made use of many instrumentali- ties. The means which he employed were writing letters, distributing tracts, teaching in or superintend- ing Sabbath-schools, holding prayer-meetings, and per- sonal conversation with those around him. The nu- merous letters which he wrote to unconverted persons are models of personal exhortation and appeal. Plain, but courteous ; pointed, but kind and gentle, they sel- dom failed to produce lasting impressions and convic- tions. It is said that he was instrumental in the con- version of more than one hundred persons. See Me- moir of Harlan Page (published bj- the American Tract Society).