The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-06-21 00:00:00

LEO XIII. PRESIDING AT A PHILO-
SOPHICAL DISPUTATION.

We extract the following from The Times of Monday,
descriptive of a disputation by students ih the presence of
the Pope ;
A noteworthy scene was enacted in the Vatican a
few days ago, which still more fully reveals the means
by which Leo. Xlii, would endeavour to restore, not
only the ecclesiastical but, if he can, ales the temporal
glories of the Papacy, It Is evident that from the very
beginning of his rein he formed the determination of
doing all in his power to elevate the Roman hierarchy
and priesthood to the highest practicable standard of
morality and /earning and to surround the Pontifical
throne with ,minesat Len. //e his first Rocyclkal he
told the Episcopate hoe much it behoved the clergy
to show themselves sAnizig examples of piety and
learning before all men, and he has repeated the same
charge nipre than once. In creating his first batch of
cardinals he flea ciao= hem among the men must
noted for the qualides a,ml attainment be had com-
mended, and a day or twc ago he gathered about him
in the Vatic,.n a numbes of the most distinguished
students in the various colleges, and, sitting in the
library, presided at e dieptetion on philosophy, and
rewarded the disputants i•ith gold and eilver medals—
not the mere "objects of divot ion "generally bestowed
by Popes, but medals hating for their meaning the
reward of remit only. IN.Ic such scene has been wit-
nessed in the Vatican for many long years, and, as
described to me by one whr was preaent, it eomewhat
recalls the days when a former Leo was the centre of
the talent and genius of his day.
The q-rend Hall of the Vatican Library, where the
greater treasuree urn kept, 4, as most people know,
divided along the length by massive plaster, which
support the vaulted ceiling. Between these crimson
silk curtains were drawn, alai ethers hung across at
about rswo-thirds the length, forming a room in size
like the Hall of the (Jonslatory. At one pnd the Pope,
wearing his white dress, sat os the throne, which was
raised on its dais; around him stood the personages
and oMcials of the Pontifical Court. At right angles
from the throne. on tha right and the left, two
rows of arm-chairs ware occupind by the car-
dinals. JBehind them sat the bishops and other
dignitarill§, the rectors, vice-rectors, and professors of
the different colleges, and other learned men • while
at the rarther end, faciag the Pope, a series of benches
had been arranged, on teiibgat a ntlmber pf students.
There were four from each college; and, of oouese,
those four who had most distinguished themselves in
their studies. In the 'pace within, at each of the
further corners fro 44, the throne, tables were diagonally
placed for the upholder and impne;ner of the theses pro-
posed. The students cnosen for this honourable task
and who have thus placed their feet on the first rung
of the ladder to ecclesiastical distinction were Giuseppe
Baroni and Giovanni Genocchi, of the Pontifical
Pian Seminary; Francesco Brambilla. of the Cesaroli
College; and Qmero liontesperelli, of the Pamphily
College in the Roma' Seminary. Lots were drawn
sae to which should elevelope the theses given and

which should combat the arguments used, the subjects
being two in metsphyrics : 'ldea inflates non aunt
admittenda" and "Dantur universales et habent
fundamentum in re ;" and two in ethics: "Philosophisa
ratione demo,stratur objectum human(' felieitatis in Deo
ease collocaudum," and "Eztetet lex (sterna ordinan
naturalem servari 2uben.l, perturbari vetans, per lumen
rationis hominibus participata."
Much ability was, I am told, displayed by the young
disputants, and after each had silenced his antagonist.
he had to combat further against such objections and
subtleties as any of the prelates or professors present
were inclined to raise; and among those who put the
students to this further and more crucial test were
Don Ermete Binzscher, professor of canon law; Don
Francesco Segna, professor of dogmatic theology;
Monsignor Patacci, Bishop of Troade in partibus ;
and Monsignor Gabriele Boccali, recently of Perugia,
but now newly attached to the Pontifical household...

The Pope himself took no direct part in the discus-
sion, but at its conclusion—it lasted thres hours—he
rose and made a short discourse. Re expressed his
satisfaction with what be had heard, and hoped that
the theologicai disputation to be held in the same
manner at the end of the month might be equally
praiseworthy. It was his intention, be said, to hold
these trials of ability each year, in order to encourage
the students in their studies and stimulate them to
greater exertions for the glory of the Church and the
good of mankind; and he further purposed to have
similar competitions in canon law and in Greek, Latin,
and Italian literature; and with that he gave the
medals I have mentioned and his benediction.