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Flowers and Plmits 



This saint, the proto-martyr of England, was 

 born at Verulam, which was at that time a Roman 

 colony, now called S. Alban's, from him. He 

 served seven years as a soldier under Diocletian, 

 returned to England, became a Christian, and 

 suffered martyrdom in 303, during the dreadful 

 persecution raised by that potentate. 



S. Alban is said to have been the first Grand 

 Master of the Freemasons in England. 



Amxphibalus, a Christian priest, pursued by reason 

 of his religion, was found by Alban in a state of 

 destitution. Alban was a Pagan, but was naturally 

 humane ; and the interesting appearance, the mild 

 manners, and exhausted state of the Christian 

 excited his compassion. 



He offered him shelter, and took him to his own 

 house. The more he saw of the I'efugee, the more 

 he admired him. He gladly received his instruc- 

 tions in the Christian faith, and joined him in 

 prayer and in other religious exercises, and was led 

 by degrees to renounce his idolatry. 



