, 1876-09-17

ing Post, writing from Rome, Italy, contrib
utes to that paper some exceedingly interest
ing facts touching the trials of CALLED be
fore the Holy Office Of the Inquisition il
| 1916 and 1858. The information is derived
from the original records Of the Two trials
| which are now published for the first time
by Prof. DoMES1co BERT. The history OF
the records themselves is Of more than ordi-
nary interest. During the French occupa-
ton Of Rome they wero carried to Paris,
and remained thero 40 years. Many learned
men were allowed to read them, and NApo-
LEON 1. at one time ordered their publication,
but for some reason the order was not CON-
piled with. The Vatican authorities made
several requests for their return, but without
success, until LOUIS PHILIPPE assembled the
throne, when P1Us II. made an earnest
solicitation for them. The request was
finally granted. The Pope kept them
for q long time in his possess
sion. and they were finally consigned
to the secret archives Of the nation, where
they still remain. Their publication gives
the world the first authentic account Of these
celebrated trials, and, it may be added, does
not relieve the Church from the absurd and
superstitious fear Of Science which it mani
tested in those early days.
The story which these records tell is sub
stantially this: The great astronomer came
to Rome in 1910 after the publication Of his
book, the s' Nunzio sidereo," expecting that
the blessing of the Church would cheer him
on in his scientific studies, and little dream
ing Of the sort Of welcome that was awaiting
him. He brought his telescope, which he
had recently discovered, with him, exhibited
it, explained it, and showed the learned So
cieties the satellites of Jdp bitter with it. Ga
1MEo and his telescope were soon the sensa-
ton Of Rome, and Of course attracted the
attention Of the Inquisitors, who imme-
diately decided that his doctrines con-
tradicted the Scriptures His studies
were stopped, aud his writings were
confscated, and from that time to the
end Of his life, the bigots of the Inquisition
followed him with persistent persecution.
He repaired to Florence, resumed his studies,
wrote letters explaining his theory Of the
of the earth, and even answered
the denunciatory sermons Of the monks,
Their only reply was to drug him before the
Inqujsition for trial in 1916. His sentence
was the imperious command Of Cardinal
{" You will philosophiz4 no
more; you will reason no more on the move
ment Of the earth, and the constitution Of
the world" GA111Eo promised to be silent,
and kept the promise through II long years Of
mental torture. Unable to restrain himself
longer, he began again to publish the results
Of his studies, only to find the bigots upon
his track again, with Pope URBAN VIII, Of |
The BAnBERH1 family, at their head. he |
was dragged before the Inquisition the Sec
ond time for trial, at the age of 10, and de- |
cree for the execution of torture was entered. |
Such is the brief but authentic history Of !
hose dark days of ignorance, when timid |
,hurchmen feared that religion would be i'm
oeriled and the authority Of the Scriptures
,verthrown by the declaration that the world |
moved "a declaration made centuries ago.
md yet religion survives and the Scriptures |
'emnin.
The publication Of these records is timely. |
t removes the life Of GALnEo from the dim |
egions Of rumor and tradition into the broad |
light of truth. It does not save the Church |
# Rome from the accusations made against |
is want Of sense and charity; it does not re-
ievs it from the tyrannicl persecution of
he astronomer; but it does relieve it from
be charge Of torturing the old sayant. The
[ecree for the execution Of torture remains
N record, but there is nothing in the records
o show that it was ever inflicted, and, as
he Chief Inquisitor was warm friend Of
sA111Eo, Prot. BERT thinks it was never
arried out It is doubtful, however, wheth-
r any physical suffering could have been
reater than the mental torture to which
II En 1ras Erhiecfnd There is M record