tain reasons, and in spite of the usually held points
of view, it was not unwillingly accepted. The will-
ingness to undergo suffering is a social attitude
which was present as the result of control. It fol-
lows that the behavior of the martyrs offers a field
for investigation in which much may be learned
of the technique of control as it is applied in the
religious life, and the sources reflecting their
experiences become a veritable laboratory of re-
search.

For the martyrs, as the unfortunate victims of
persecution, were involved in a situation in which
one of the essential elements was the task of control.
Indeed, it may be stated that any situation of per-
secution involves as its two primary aspects con-
flict and control. The persecuting group attempts
to enforce its demands upon the persecuted; while
the persecuted, unless, as sometimes happens, they
submit to the demands of the persecutors, are under
the necessity of controlling those of their number
who are faced with the personal decision of the
matters at issue. The persecutors attempt to con-
trol the persecuted, while the persecuted must con-
trol those who are or may become the victims of un-
toward activity.

The particular examples afforded by the Chris-
tian martyrs instructively illustrate these phenom-
ena. In several cases the Roman state undertook to
enforce conformity in religion upon its subjects; but
many resisted its demands, apparently for reasons
which at least were sufficient to themselves. As a

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