4. The teacher must seek to correct the bad habits of his pupils, as well as to give them intellectual instruction. Under Origen, the catechetical school at Alexandria reached its highest prosperity, and its decay began soon after his death. Already in the middle of the fourth century its power and influence were practically gone. None of the other catechetical schools ever reached the fame of that at Alexandria, and they, too, gradually disappeared. Indeed, as the Roman Empire became Christianized, and as Christians gained in education and intelligence, there was less and less occasion for the existence of schools of this character. FOOTNOTES: [28] Warner's "Library of the World's Best Literature," Vol. VI, 3665. Lord, "Beacon Lights," Vol. I, Lecture on Sacred Eloquence. [29] Warner's Library, Vol. VI, 3666. CHAPTER XVII CONFLICT BETWEEN PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION =Literature.=--_Lord_, Beacon Lights; _Spofford_, Library of Historical Characters; _White_, Eighteen Christian Centuries; _Fisher_, Beginnings of Christianity; _Azarias_, Essays Educational; _Allies_, The Formation of Christendom; _Allies_, The Monastic Life; _Maitland_, The Dark Ages. GENERAL DISCUSSION As Christianity became more powerful; as the Roman nation privately and officially accepted the new religion; as the bishops of the Church came more and more to be recognized as the vicegerents of Christ and the apostles; as the Church authorities became convinced that tolerance of paganism was dangerous to believers, and irreconcilable with the principles of Christianity,--as these things became apparent, it was seen that nothing would suffice short of the utter destruction of pagan schools. Pagan philosophy and art were tolerated only as they served the Church. Pagan education had an earthly purpose; the new education, a spiritual aim, a preparation for eternal life.