remained free from this blight, thanks to the
teachings of the Fathers of the Church.

In discussing the relations of the Fathers towards the astral
science, we have already shown how they purged it of some of its
grossest errors. But their principal service to the science remains
now to be told. For amongst all the vagaries of the science of the
heavens, astrology is both in theory and in practice the most
deplorable. That the Fathers placed the weight of their great
authority in the scale against this superstition, is one of the most
praiseworthy of their achievements.

_First Efforts at Reform_.--At the time that the Fathers began to
write, in the century just following the labors of the Apostles,
astrology formed everywhere an integral part of the science of
astronomy. It was taught in all the schools, Chaldean, Jewish,
Grecian and Roman. Almost from the beginning the defenders of the
Christian faith proceeded to attack this pernicious error, realizing
how inimical it was to the spread of truth which Christ had come to
impart. Already in his address to the Greeks, Tatian was heard
denouncing the absurdities of Grecian astronomy and astrology. This
was in the middle of the second century, just at the close of what
is called the Apostolic Period.

A little later, Tertullian, the famed apologist of the then
flourishing African Church, placed himself on record as the
uncompromising enemy of astrology. With his usual vehemence of
language he declared that "of astrologers there should be no
speaking even" among Christians; and went to the length of saying
that "he cannot hope for heaven whose finger or wand abuses the
heavens." These and many similar utterances may be found in his
Treatise on Idolatry.

_Respect for True Astrology_.--With this denunciation of magic and
idolatry there went hand in hand, however, a genuine respect {490}
for the proper science of the heavens. Contemporary with Tertullian,
and like him one of the great Christian masters of the period, was
Clement Alexandria. To the Catholic astronomer of to-day it is
gratifying to find this Father of the Egyptian Church giving
generous testimony to the worth of astronomical science. With just
discrimination he praises astronomy as "leading the soul nearer to
the creative power, as helpful to navigation and husbandry, and as
making the soul in the highest degree observant, cap