The Party having thus declared _Cæcilianus_ illegally elected and ordained, they separated themselves from his Communion, and from the Communion of all who communicated with him[536]; that is, from the Communion of the Catholic Church; for _Cæcilianus_ was acknowleged by the other Bishops of _Africa_, by the Bishop of _Rome_, and by all the Bishops of the World, says St. _Austin_[537]. Such was the Rise of the famous Schism, which, for the Space of 300 Years, and upwards, occasioned great Disturbances in the Churches of _Africa_. [Sidenote: _Called_ Donatists, _and from whom_.] _Donatus_, Bishop of _Casænigræ_ in _Numidia_, was the first Author of it, according to St. _Austin_[538]; but it was not from him, but from _Donatus_, the Schismatic Bishop of _Carthage_, that they took the Name of _Donatists_; for, till his Time, they styled themselves the Party of _Majorinus_[539], whom they chose and ordained Bishop of _Carthage_, in the room of _Cæcilianus_; though he was then only Lector of that Church, and had been formerly one of _Lucilla_’s menial Servants[540]. To justify their Conduct, and their electing a new Bishop, they writ Letters to all the Churches of _Africa_, filled with Calumnies against _Cæcilianus_, and those who had ordained him. By these Letters great Numbers were imposed upon, and misled; insomuch that, the People being every-where divided, most Churches had Two Bishops, the one ordained by _Majorinus_, and the other by _Cæcilianus_[541]. [Sidenote: _Edicts enacted by_ Constantine, _in favour of the Christian Religion_.]