deeds. The Romans would never have so relentlessly persecuted the
Christians had they not been guilty of some such atrocities as were laid
to their charge. There are on record abundant proofs that the Romans,
from the earliest account we have of them, tolerated all harmless
religions--all such as were not directly calculated to endanger the
public peace, or vitiate public morals, or render life and property
unsafe.... So well known were those horrid vices to be carried on by all
Christians in their nocturnal and secret assemblies, and so certain it
was thought that every one who was a Christian participated in them,
that for a person to be known to be a Christian was thought a strong
presumptive proof that he was guilty of these offences. Hence, persons
in their preliminary examinations, who, on being interrogated, answered
that they were Christians, were thought proper subjects for committal to
prison.... Pliny further indicates that while some brought before him,
on information, refused to tell him anything as to the nature of their
nocturnal meetings, others replied to his questions as far as their oath
permitted them. They told him that it was their practice, as Christians,
to meet on a stated day, before daylight, to sing hymns; and to bind
themselves by a solemn oath that they would do no wrong; that they would
not steal, nor rob, nor commit any act of unchastity; that they would
never violate a trust; and that they joined together in a common and
innocent repast. While all these answers to the questions of the
Proconsul are suggestive of the crimes with which the Christians were
charged, still they are a denial of every one of them.... The whole
tenor of historical facts is, however, against their testimony, and the
Proconsul did not believe them; but, in order to get at the entire
truth, put some of them to the torture, and ultimately adjourned their
trial [see ante, pp. 203-205]. The manner in which Greek and Latin
writers mention the Christians goes far to show that they were guilty of
the atrocious crimes laid to their charge. Suetonius (in Nero) calls