The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-01-12

To Joachim Vincent Pecci, Bishop
Of Rome and Pope Of the Catholic
Apostolic and Roman Church, health
and an Evangelical benediction! A
priest Of blameless life for fifty years,
wise, moderate, successful as priest,
governor, archbishop, nuncio, cardi-
nal, Pope, we send him our Christian
salutation. Prelates, priests and peo-
pies of his own Communion, gladly
pay him homage. We simply offer
him kindly greetings in the name of
Christ, to whom both Pope and Prot
estant bow in reverent alteration.
Gifts and congratulations pour in upon
him from Christian, Turk and Pagan,
in honor of the jubilee Of his priest
hood. We esteem him as a man and
as Christian, and offer him our trib-
ute of respect as heartily as Catholic
Bishop McQuaid greeted DR.. Shaw re-
Gently on retiring from a long Pres
byterian pastorate in Rochester, N. Y.
Indeed, we can do no better than
adopt his own eloquent words to his
Presbyterian brother as expressive Of
the spirit of our greeting to Bishop
McQuaid's ecclesiastical superior. "Dr
Shaw" he said, never felt that in pro-
claiming his own views and doctrines
he was obliged to send out bitter words
against any class Of the community.
He always felt that any man
working for God and Christ was a
blessing to the community"
1t is in this spirit we would speak
of the Pope. The time was when
popes hurled their, unapostolic anath-
emas against followers Of Christ, and
.Protestants hurled them back with
access of intensity, if possible. But
Leo XIII is a kindly, Christian gentle
man, who loves light and peace and
purity and progress. Latnaen IN Cello
is his motto; and that his light will
be as light in the Catholic heavens
is in no wise improbable. He has been
Pope just ten years, and these years
have been so many years of progress
for his Church. Few popes have had
such difficulties to confront -alienated
and hostile states expressing the
Church, strong reactionary influences
in the Vatican itself, Ultramontanism
everywhere clamoring for the contin-
uance Of the mad policy Of Plus TX,
general distrust of Catholicism as the
avowed enemy Of civilization; but
Leo has proved equal to the task of
overcoming these difficulties. A man
of culture, Of broad sympathies, Of
mild and benignant nature, he COM
pels affection where Plus TX compelled
submission; he is respected where Plus
TX was simply tolerated or hated. He
has made peace with France and Ger
many and Switzerland; he has brought
about an era Of better feeling in Italy;
he has reformed many abuses, raised
the tone Of the Church, and gained a
strong influence in the counsels Of
If there must be Papacy in Chris
tendon such men as Leo can best use
its great powers and wear its high
honors. If the dogma Of infallibility
must attach to the Office, a man Of
stainless life, high culture and judicial
temperament, like Leo, will be suffi-
GENTLY infallible. Certain it Is that
while the present Pope has made much
less of this dogma than did his prede-
cessor he has been saved somehow
from the great blunders of that pred
ecessor.
And so we wish Pope Leo, of that
name the thirteenth, continued health,
a long reign, and God-speed in his lib
sralizing policy. As Bishop McQuaid
said to DR.. Shaw, We say to his Holi-
ness, changing but word or two:
1t is better for Christians not to be
lighting. You have your works of
mercy and piety, and we have ours.
We are working together, although
IN different lines. Let US show graft
Jude to God, and the Christians heart
IF charity, kindness and love Of man
will be gladdened to know that that
spirit is spreading in all classes.