Waterhouse, Percy Leslie: The story of architecture throughout the ages: an introduction to the study of the oldest of the arts for students and general readers (London: B. T. Batsford, 1924)

IV
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
During the first three centuries of the Christian
era the new religion, though despised and dis-
credited, had been slowly gaining ground, in
the face of enormous difficulties. Rome, as we
have seen, was given over to the worst kind
of licence and debauchery. The old pagan
religion was entirely played out; the majority
of the people thought nothing about religion,
pagan or otherwise ; while, of those who took
the trouble to think at all, few had any faith
in the old creeds. The monumental under-
takings of the emperors, whether sacred or
secular, were not prompted by piety or by the
spirit of reverence ; and among the people the
more thoughtful and intellectual viewed the
prevailing licentiousness and prodigality with
apprehension
On that hard pagan world disgust
And secret loathing fell,
and men’s minds were gradually being prepared
for the great upheaval.
On the other hand, it must be remembered
that the Christian doctrines were not such as
would be cordially welcomed by the vast
majority among the pleasure-loving Romans,
92