The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-15
Entered at the Post Office at Richmond, Va, as
second-class matter.
ESPON NOE.
Letter on Italy.

Messrs. EditorS,-Contiguous to the
church of ST. Peter is
The Vatican,
supposed to be built on the site of Nero's
palace, and consisting of several edifces
that occupy much greater area than
the Tuilleries and the Louvre combined.
The interior is divided into twenty
courts, as many porticos, eight large, two
hundred smaller stair cases, and twelve
hundred apartments. Fabulous riches
have been expended upon it, and the first
artists of the world have contributed to
1T imbellishment. Rather a sumptuous
and pretentious abode for
The Vicar of The Christ,
who, while on earth, pathetically ac-
knowledged that he had not where to
lay his head That the luxury of modern
Popes is fitting subject of criticism, is
indicated by the precipitancy with which
resident Roman Catholics assure the
visitor, that the present Pontiff is a plain
liver, "but two francs a day being re-
quired for his sustenancer' Over against
these two francs a day-place the papal
rich jewels, the golden tiara, surmounted
py InTe0 crowns OF DrllllaQCS, the Orlen-
tai luxury of the cardinals, the army Oh
courtier priests, the bands of expensive
choristers, the crowds of supernumeraries
in and about the churches-the Swiss
guards, costumed la Raphael-and we
can form some conception of the bottom
less treasury into which Peters pence
perpetually fall as well as the folly Of
this appeal to the modest manner in
which the present Pope conducts his per-
sonal expenditures We believe Leo
XIII. to be venerable from his age and
his perfect morality. But we say that
neither he nor his followers comprehend
the reasoning Spirit of this age, when
they attempt, in the very presence of the
Vatican and its pomps, to palm off tale
like that!
Nevertheless we accuse not the present
Pontiff of palatial instincts. Rather is he
the inheritor of these appendages of reli-
gious royalty Great indeed would he
be, If endowed with moral heroism, he
could abdicate these trappings of tempo
raj power, exchange the palace and pur-
pie of the Caesars for the robe of the pull
pit, renew in exalted purity the faith oil
the apostles, organize evangelically the
Church of Christ, send missionaries of the
Spirit against the new pagan sensuality
and maintain with profound conviction
the words of Jesus, Let him who would
be first among you be servant Of ALL
Despicable only is he, however, as he pre-
sents to the world the spectacle of cling.
ing trantically to supremacy already
wholly gone-affecting Imprisonment
though guaranteed special liberties, and
publishing an economy of personal life il
the midst of the most ostentatious sur
roundings Yet in some respects Lee
XIII. Is a most astute leader of the Ro
man Catholic Church. To startle the
world with great audacity in the religion!
and political spheres was always the de
sire OF Plus TX. He conceived granC
ideas with facility, but he lacked pertina
city in their execution. He abandoned
his noblest conceptions at the first obsta
Gle. Who can forget those words Of lib
erty uttered upon the heights of the Va.
tican which poured new hope into the
heart of lethargic Europe, and awakened
Italy. But the liberal tendency threat
ened not only the tyranny of kings-it
was perceived also to react against thai
Iheocracy whose tutelage communitie'
invariably shake off in proportion as the
outline Of civil rights is unfolded and rea
son IS matured The moment this ten
dency revealed itself Plus TX. remem
6ered ne was Pope, broke with the in
dependent movement, showed no NOR,
eaagerness to reconcile the gospel will
liberty, and iroze the blood in the veinl
Of his nation by refusing to bless his coun
trymen in the most sacred of causes. pre
ferring to be propped up on his earthly
throne by the bayonets Of foreign legion
rather than rest himself on the intelli