Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/48

36 36 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC. tinction, the professorial chair, but the precise date of his death is not known. It is commonly thought that he lived till the end of the reign of Severus, or the com- mencement of that of Caracalla. The Gospel of St. Matthew, which he brought from India to Alexandria, was still in existence in the time of St. Jerome.* In the early ages of Christianity the ecclesiastical hierarchy was rapidly organised. Wherever there were found a few of the faithful gathered together, the Church of Jesus Christ, full of vigilance and anxiety for their welfare, placed at their head bishops charged to confirm neophytes in the faith, and excite the ardour of proselytism. St. Pantenus had been, it was sup- posed, before his departure for India, consecrated bishop at Alexandria, by Demetrius. After the departure of St. Pantenus, the evangelical charge of the extreme East was undertaken by Fru- mentius, who visited India in company with his brother Adhesius, and his paternal uncle, a native of Tyre, and a man remarkable for his scientific attainments ; but on entering a certain port to take in provisions and water, they were attacked suddenly, as soon as they set foot on land, by the natives of the country. Many of the travellers perished, and others were dragged into cap- tivity. Among the killed was the uncle of Frumentius ; but the two nephews were presented to the king, who, having formed a high opinion of their merit, raised them to the chief dignities of the state. Frumentius resided a long time in India, where for several years he filled the office of first minister, and governor of one of the kings during his minority. He preached the Gospel in the southern parts of the
 * Eusebius, lib. vi. ch. 14.