The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-23
MICHAEL sERvETUs.

The 9th Of October is marked with blood in
the religious calendar, as the anniversary Of the
martyrdom of agc Of the first victims Of Protest
ant persecution. The story is one Of the most
affecting Of any 70 be found in the dark annals of
religious intolerance and il ought 10 be recountcd
over and over, till time brings about its reyenges.
Michael Seryetus was born in 1909 at Villa
Euoya, in Arragon. His father was a notary,
and he sent his son to Toulsuse for the study Of
tie civil law but In the general fermcnt Of OPT
nicns his inquisitfve mind plunged with deepest
interest into questions Of theology. He acquired
q competent knowledge of ancient languages, and
was said to be quite "crammed with Latin, Greek,
and Hebrew" When only twenty-five years Of
age be published tract Concerning the Errors
of the trinity :" and, in the year following, Two
Books Of Dialogues Concerning the Trinity Ia
which the Orthodox doctrine was unspningy
assailed. At this time his circumstances were
Depressed and he lived IN unsettled and wan
In the c ty Of Lyons, the traveller, even at this
d,y, passes through long crooked dark street,
"OYeIhung on either side With tall houses which
shut out tue On this street, in 1910, lived
bookseller by the name Of Frellon, friend, or
at least correspondent, Of John CALVIN He
kept, in a secret apartment, heretical books,
which be would not oter for sale to his fellow
citizens, for fear Of the inlusitor but which he
procured for strangers from Germany and Wit
zerand. HIther came Michael Seryelus, and for
some tine was employed by Frellou as a proof
Having procured the means by his earn
ings be went to Paris and studied physic; and he
carried into that science the same ardor chat dis
tinguished him in his theological studies. His
skill and scquhemGnts became conspicuous, and
he made a approach TO the discovery Of the
doctrine OF the circulation OF the blood, which
afterwards rendered famous the name of Heryey.
lie graduated al Paris, and repaired TO Charli5n,
rH.r near Lyons, where he practised as physician
three years.
el Vienne, noble Catholic preGte, whom nc had
known at Paris who fond of patrOniz ng the
aErlr votaIes OF learning, whose heart had warmed
towards Seryetus, and whose purse had opeaed
for his relief. The disposition Of Seryetus was
gay and social; he made friends, who honorei
him for his learning and loved him for his good
ness of heart The Archbishop invites him to
Vienne, and even offers him lodgings in his pa
lace. He accepts the invitation, and goes. Bright
prospects open Dei0fe him, Tor both az Lyons and
at Vienne he had won the ardent friendship Of
the peope "a man Of the world, he knew how
to please and to gain affection"
Beside the areheplscopal palace at Venne
chel, who also had been drawn there by the
liberal patronage Of the Catholic prelate.
Dreams Of a literary and professional career,
congenia TO his tastes and habits dawnin
upon the cleaned Spaniard." He had -au- ne
published an eOitien al, shd already in his
now medurfarges a fine Latin inscription to
dis beloved M9eenas, the good Archbishop of
Vienne. "Princes who command the world
must be acquainted with tue world" His
"Ptolemy" goes through second edition under
the patronage Of the Archbishop, and gains for
him abundant applause.
Meanwhile both in Paris and at Lyons, Seryeus
had been in correspondence with John Calvin at
Geneva. They discussed the doctrine Of tue
Trinity, ihe discussion became warm and insult
ing on both sides, and was in the ylruent spirit
dropped the correspondence. Calvin boarded
his aBgeri but seryetus is incapable of malice
and woncers, with admirable simplicity, why
Calvin has ceased 20 write TO him. He even gets
Freon 10 write to Calvin for explanation OF
the myseGy. Calvin calls him a Satan" and
already ihrsts for his blood. He writes to Vret
III ever he come TO Geneva, he snail not go
thence awe. This is my fixed resolution"
SerVetus is full of banter but has no gall in his
nature. HI makes himself merry over the
system OF predestinstion and the logic of Calvins
'iInstitutes" laughs at the free necessv Invented
n upf I'm btff
ready 10 shake hands with the Reiormer.
stIyetus continues at VienDe in the practice Of
medicine, and what leisure he get from his
patients be deyotes 20 learning and theology.
After bis second edition Of "Plolemy" has ap-
peared he deVotes four years to a theological
treatise, IN which his system is carefully ma
turtd. In 1868 be published his "Christianity
Restored" in which both the doctrine OF the
Trinity and logic of Calvin are assaulted anew.
ain the ninth book he condenses in a few pages -
says a Catholic writer, ''the most graphic refutI-
tion ever made of the Cayinistic tAtali'm." He
IS less ma ignant IN his abuse than Calvin, though
he deals 1t out without mercy.
This book was printed at Venne, but the name
OF neither author, nor printer, nor Of the city,
was attached to it, 1t was large octave ot
seven hundred pages, eight hundred copies OF
which were struck OIL Seryetus sent some
copies 10 Frellon FrelIon sent one to Calvin.
Calyin's hate becomes lurid his thirst for blood
blazes up anew, and he coutriVes a net for his
prey.
name Of Trie under the protection aud in the
confidence OF Calvin. grie has a cousin az I.yons.
merchant and good Catholic by the name oil
ATneys. They keep up loving CORES pondeuce
-Arneys trying 70 bring back his dear cousin to
the true Church; TTie, however, keeps close
undef the wing Of Calvin Arneys tells Tre Of
the lcentiOus tendencies of the doctrines Of the
Rsiormers. WhereupOn Tre writes long, pous
letter, retortng upon Arneys that they the
Catholics, are harboring u wicked hereto at
Eienne; that his name is Michael Seryetul and
that he ought 10 be burned. He eXhOrts, with
much holy horror that he be brought to justice.
He sends with the letter four leaves of the
"Christanity Restored" which Frellon had sent
Calvin, as proof against the hereto.
Straightway the detached leaves and the letter
OF Irie are put into the hands of the inquisitor-
Matthew Dry. But what can be done The four
sheets sent by Trie not evidence enough.
wait while Arneys writes again 10 Tre and
IRE goes TO Calvin, and Calvin furnishes the
complete volume for the inquisor. Still the proof
As not sufficient; the book mas no name of author
place. or printer. Arneys writes again. Calvin
monses among his private letters, finds some from
oerYetus which assert the same heresies, and serve
70 identity the author of the volume and he
basely gives them up 10 the inquisitor. He also
acts as mtormer generally 70 Master MattheW
Ory, ms Is enoughi and tina tolls are woven
Yienne. F "
To the prison there was garden. and in the
BhroGn platform ana from the platform was an
easy leap into an outer yard. and from the outer
yard the door was left open. The Catholic in
anisftors are more merciful than the Geneyau
probably the influence Of the good Archbishop
Ss,o sn oe Traced mere. AZ any rate, they put Ser
sslns into prison, with the doors left OPEN They
slowed him servant, and ordered that he
should be treated "honestly and ageording 10 bis
sGrloa ;nmssd =. seIyetas walked into the garden,
YuinPev nom the platform into the ward walked
ielsnrely through the open door apd went
laughing ana Nhistling on his HaV S-'
Whlther wiu he go 1t is his plan 20 20 TO
Naples. ana Lhere resume his practice al tbe
healing art. He should have gone tbrongb pisd al
mont; but a strange fascinatop lie tbsf ~ ~.
serpent over the hutterng biFd drew him aside