SOME hundreds of years ago, when Christianity was in a low state, there were “saints” who sought to recover themselves to holiness by means of austerity. When one plan failed by reason of use and loss of novelty, another was tried, and amongst these, that of living upon the top of pillars.
Pillar “saints” would remain day and night for years together, in all weathers upon their elevations, suffering desperate privation, and receiving nourishment from the hands of wondering people, who admired their supposed sanctity. Who shall deny that amongst these “holy men” some real Christians were to be found; but one fatal objection exists to all such ideas of religiousness—crouching at the top of the pillar was pride.