A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

316 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[288]elected Majorinus bishop of Carthage, that Felix of Aptunga, theconsecrator of Cæcilianus, who had been elected by the otherparty, had delivered the sacred books to the heathen officials,and was therefore guilty as a traditor. A schism, accordingly,arose in Carthage which spread rapidly throughout North Africa.The party of Majorinus soon came under the lead of Donatus theGreat, his successor in the schismatical see of Carthage. TheDonatist schism became of importance almost at once, and asit was inconsistent with Constantine's religious policy, whichcalled for Church unity, 97 it presented an immediate difficulty inthe execution of laws granting favors to the Catholic Church. 98On account of the interests involved, the schism was of longduration, lasting after the conquest of North Africa by the Vandals,and even to the Saracen conquest, though long since of noimportance.Anulinus. Ep. ad Constantinum, in Augustine, Ep. 88. (MSG,33:303.)To Constantine Augustus from Anulinus, a man of proconsularrank, proconsul of Africa.The welcome and adored celestial writings sent by yourMajesty to Cæcilianus, and those who act under him and arecalled clergy, I have devoutly taken care to record in the archivesof my humility, and have exhorted those parties that when unityhas been made by the consent of all, since they are seen tobe exempt from all other burdens by your Majesty's clemency,and having preserved the Catholic unity, they should devotethemselves to their duties with the reverence due the sanctity ofthe law and to divine things. After a few days, however, therearose some, to whom a crowd of people joined themselves, whothought that proceedings should be taken against Cæcilianus and97 V. infra, § 62, Introduction.98 V. supra, §§ 59 f.