The New York herald., 1877-03-07
CARDINAL XIMENES.
The R'v. Father Dealy's Lecture Before the
New York Historical Society.
THE CONTEMPORARY OF COLUMBUS
How Regent ximenes Founded the Great
University of AIcala

At stated meeting ofthe New York Historical So.
ciety, which took place last night In the lecture hall
of the library OF Second avenue and Eleventh
street, the Rev. Father Z. +. Deaiy, g. j..
read a learned and eloquent paper on the
interesting subject of Cardinal Ximines America
1t is not often that Catholic clergyman lectures
before audiences other than those OF his religion,
yet this Is the third time Father Dealy has donc
He had previously lectured before the Historical
cety OF Brooklyn the works Of Father Marquette
and the early Catholic missions In America Alter.
ward the New YORK Historical Society Invited him TO
read the same paper. Tho hall was comfortably
filled by critical and attentive audience, who listened
with much interest to the exhaustive paper synopsis
of which will be found below. The president of the
society, Mr. f. De Peyster, introduced the lecturer.
and when his paper was finished Mr.. John A. Steven
proposed and tho Hon. Charles p. Daily seconded q
vote OF thanks to Father Deaiy, which was unani.
mousy adopted.
The papsr opened with description of the condition
OF Spain under Isabella when the OF tho crowns
of Aragon and Navarro had consolidated that country
into one powerful monarchy. Tho internal improve
ments introduced and tho stimulation of tho spirit Of
discovery and research abroad shown to be tho
of the peaceful condition OF the country conse-
quent upon this great event The Catholicity of tho
discovery America was long and claborately dwell
upon by the speaker. 1t zeal for the propagation
Of the Christian faith thai actuated Isabella In her
encouragement and ali OF Columbus; 1t was the same
feeling that animated the great admiral anu sustained
him through the bitter struggles which he had to light
against ignorance and Jealousy. One Of the greatest
OF the religious character of the man. we'll
as Of the undertaking, was the TACT that the hrmost
friends OF Columbus were among the monks
OF The Order oil st. Francis whom, the O.
nowned Juan Perez Prior Of the Convent OF La Rabda
yhan I'M daosa tvrkn
forever restored hlm to confidence ana led him 10
success. A glowing tribute paid to the character
OF this great preatc whose influence had secured Tor
Couln bus the assistance OF Isabella Nor Rome,
said the speaker. unconscious OF what was taking
place The eptaph OF Pope Innocent WILL, who died
eight days before Columbus the irst voyage
shows the interest ne took In the matter Columbus
speaks gratefully OF the favors h enjoyed at the hands
OF this PontT and from the Holy See. Tho religious
character and practices OF the tho interest OF
Isabella IN the evangeization OF the natives and her
Offering at the foot OF cruclix oil the first gold
brought from America, were all expatiated and
adduced as arguments IN favor OF the assertion that
the discovery OF America although justly regarded as
OF the most splendid achievements OF tho inspira-
ton OF genius was still moro emncnty the result OF
religious zeal
THE BULL INTER cErERA
The first Papal document concerning America was
long and ably discussed by the speaker This he said
often cited direct assumption of tempo do
minion by tuo Ponti but he show that long
prior to the time OF Alexander vi temporal authority
hat been exercised by the pontins and had been
acquicsced IN and obeyed by the most powerful OF
Christian princes The historians, Robertson, Dc
MAESTRO amt own Prescott speak approvlngy Of
this act, and all concur in regarding It az one
which is justified by the event and the Juris.
called from the solitude of the closter to the brill
liant Of Isabella. HIS early lie. his studies,
the speaker in eloquent language HIS accession to
tho Archbshopric vi Toledo the initial point oi hs
cIorles oi Spain and OF the Spanish Church. Ximenes
In common with all the enlightened minds OF the time,
had always taken an active interest IN the new dscov
cries. Always an intimate irend correspondent and
patronof Columbus, his success gratied him, and tho
more so that IN the now countries he saw such field
tor the spread Of the Gospel OF Christ
INDIAN SLAVERY.
Unfortunately tho coming OF the Spaniards did not
bring the Indians xed blessings Rome Intended
send them good tdngs, but avarce and lust marred
the far work. retarded the progress OF Christianity,
and made what might have been earthly paradise
Land OF hdcous slavery. The condition of tho Indians
tho cruelty OF tn Spaniards the noble conduct o tho
and their endeavors at the risk Of their
lives to iuterpose between the enslaved and tho
SLAYER, werc graphically described At length. 50
enormous had become tho cructies pracscd upon tho
natives that Ximenes, who had become Regent Of
Castillo appointed commission 10 repair to the spot
and arrange tor their proper treatment Nothing can
Ximenes TO the members oi this commission. fhey
characterized throughout by spirit OF Christianity
love OF tho injured Indian and II thorough aud
minute knowledge OF the manners and wants
OF colonies. Associated With this commission
the renowned Las Casas, who has ever been accused
OF bong the first to propose the introduction to Amer
lea OF negro slaves. fhe speaker repellcd IN the
warmest manner such an accusation and made com.
plete vndication OF the great Dominican from the
charge The learned New York scholar, Gulian q. Ver-
planck who has thoroughly and exnaustiveiy STUDIED
tho SUBJECT completely exonerates Las Casas from TINS
charge, which originally made by an unreliable
Spanish historian named Herrera, who wrote in the
sixteenth century, reiterated without examination
by numerous writer's sincc his time. Tho speaker
showed conciusvcly that the Introduction OF negro
slaves, which Las Casas Is OF proposing
1917, had been carried IRON 1908, and
ding TO Herrera himself from l49S nineteen
great pairon of learning dilated upon. To HIM
Spain owed the Introduction OF the printing press and
tho revival OF letters consequent the spread of
nov NJ N inn tha pilAn nj nnW
schools and the re.openng OF old seats OF learning all
over the country were mentioned and the invitation
TO learned men from oil countries. among whom was
the famous Peter Martyr, the friend oil Columbus, to
whom spain and the world Is indebted for the well
known "Dccadcs dc Novo Orbc." Span did not con-
fine her printing within her borders, ior,
sad the speaker, IN tho year 1885, eighty years
before the Pilgrim fathers landed ai Plymouth, IL
taken to Mexico, where was set up and translation
ofChnachus' 'Sprltuul Ladder printed. This the
the ''Christian Doctrine Spanish and Mexican the
earliest known book printed In the aboriginal LAM
guaee
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALcALA
Will remain In history testify the greatness
the generosity and the wisdom OF Cardinal Ximenss
In tho midst OF his numerous cares prelatc and
statcsman and 1nc great self imposed duties which
the creation OF his university called hm to iuhl,
Xmcncs ound time for the execution of another great
work. which alone would have been sufficient to im-
mortalize him. His famous comprehension or Polygot
Bible the anxiety OF the Church for the preservation
OF purity Of the text Of the Sacred Scriptures anc
the numerous efforts made by her learned men at
different periods for the emendstion OF the Vugato
were coqucntly described and recitcd The erroneous
notion tnat Luthcr's translation OF the Bible
was the first translation into the vernacuar
was completely disposed OF, tho speaker
demonstrating that as early as 147s Spanish transa
ton OF the Bible appeared at Valencia, and, besides
many early editions OF the Scriptures, in their original
tongues and various other vernacular versions,
especially German, less than nifty versions OF the
scriptures had appeared In tho Italian, French,
Spanish and German previous to Luther's version.
HIS great career as statesman was then summed up
by the speaker HIS conduct OF the regency build
ing up OF great Kingdom, his warrior-likc qualities as
exhibited IN the siege or Oran and the Of the
Moors, his zeal Tor the interests OF spain and tho
Church. his qualities Of hoad and heart were all
done ample justice to.
THE MICROSCOPE.