The Evening critic., 1882-10-09
"PRoPHECIES OF MALACHI"
Curious Things Broughtto Rccoiiec'
lion by The Comet.


The presence Of tho comet makes one thlnk
Of curious things; among others OF an ancient
book I'm iiomc called "Tho Prophecies OF Ma
lnchi," of such remote origin that nothing -
known Of tho writer's history or the date OF MS
writing. These prophecies are concerning
the Popcs, who are not mentioned by name,
but are designated In succession BY a symbol
or u legend, and, although these o-caliol
prophecies arc not regarded by the Church as
Inspired, 80 singular has bcon tho coincidence
for some hundreds OF years between what
they forctell and the Pontlits they typiiy that
on the dccoase OF n Pope the Roman people
rush 10 tho "Prophccics OF Malachi" 10 got
some Indication as to his successor.
Pope Gregory tho Great was symbollzed by
maeiifr. and never had tho church a more
faithful, watchful guardian, more Just and
vigilant Pontin. Plus VII. by n "swooping
eagle" Conjecture was Wild; what could II
meanp Tho Roman people mover know until
tho Imperial eaglo OF France, under Napo-
leon, "swooped down and bore away captiyo
tho sovereign Pontln. Whom Gregory Avl:
died the people, as usual, rosorted to Malachi
TO learn the sign Of his successor. They found
n "doublo cross" which is the insignia OF an
Archbishop, and might also mean that the
coming Pope would have to bear double
cross both In spiritual and temporal analrs.
Tho Archbishop OF Imola, Mnstal Ferrati, was
elected by tho 'ssacred College," and as Plus
IX. experienced all the sorrows shadowod
forth by the symbol OF Malachi.
when he died, tho Pope who was u succeed
was indicated by tho legend Light IN inc
heavens" and ever since his election, by u
curious coincidence, tho heavens have been
blazing with the most glorious planetary COM
binatlons, comets and other astronomical Pho.
nomcna ever known.
only two more of Malachl's "prophocles' re-
main, which means either that ho lost the
Scars gift or that two more POntlilcat35 VIII
bring us to tho "Dos IrT :"
II Is copjecturod by some that this Is the
comet OF Charles ", and these free lanccs OF
tho sky nro so erratlc that any guess can be
made without bringing charge Of ignorance
against tho reckonor.
II IL is, Its quiet reception Is In marked con-
trast 10 that which attended Its nrst appear
ance, for It then illled the world with terror, n
terror which exceeded that excited by tho
Turks, who were raldlng over Europe, and
whose power was not broken until Sobieskis s
victory at Vienna, and tho gripping blow at
Lopanto. The great comet blazed so bnlefully
that the churches were crowded with penitents,
who, under the scourge OF conscience, tried by
prayers, tears and pcnance TO turn the scale OF
forgiveness In their favor. And the Popo added
10 all the lltanles the petition, "From tho Turk
and the comet, good Lord deliver u.s.
Tho people In old London town prayed, yes,
but they did not go to church except at In
tervals, for they embarked In vessels by thou
sands and lived on tho Thames, whllo tho
Lord d-Mayor had all his fro- engines ready, and
relays OF nremen and citizens constantly on
the watch TO extlngulsh the connagratlon tho
moment tho comet should strike. 1t is lucky
for the good people Of London that they had
among them no practical American, for he
would have pointed out tho unpleasant fact,
that in tho methods resorted TO for safety there
was only choice between being baked or