St. Paul daily globe., 1891-10-12
HISTORY OF ROME.
The Sunday Discourse of Rev.
William Wilkinson.

In st. Andrews church the rector, Rev.
William Wilkinson, gave his third address
on Rome. There was q large congregation.
The speaker said: For the soldier, the philos-
opher, the politician, the sculptor, the artist,
the man of letters, and, above all, the re-
ligionist, who knows enough to see the i'm
portance of the mighty past in its many rela-
tions to and influence upon the ever present,
Rome must have an interest which is thrill
ing, if we only look at its many wonderful
works OF art, or at its many magnificent
buildings, and SO satisfy curiosity which is
inherent even in the nsnd of savages. All
the teachings of experience, the blood and
treasure, the spoil of ages and the wreck
of free peoples have for us been
in vain. The history of Rome is re-
plete with lessons of grave import for
americans To-day the cities of the new
world strive for the honor of the worlds
fair In the days when Rome was in her
highest glory the cities under its rule stroY6
Tor the fame which was to be had i'll dedfcat-
ing a temple to Tiberius. Now we have a
home market party, who are telling about
money going out of the country Two thou
sand years since there was a like cry in
Rome because money was sent out for silk.
NOW the cry is that there are too many peo-
pie from other lands. They had SO many
that man was sold as slave for about rs
cents, If we are TO take the word of the best
historians. We talk about corruption
in public men. The Roman officials SO
abused their trust that in the Republic
the burden became so heavy and the ex-
actions so odlous. that il was an easy thing
for dictator to become emperor, And as
we know, made the legislative authority de-
pendent upon his will. Which was as to all
time it must ever be, the death of the liber-
ties of any people. In all this we see how
the wheel of time move on, and how the
loves and hates the gain and loss operate
with never falling incident. And under ST.
mllar conditions produce like results. Lux
ury, oppression Of the rich and law making
power in Rome, made popular discomfort
and led to its ruin. Yet it is a marvel that
the Roman power, which was master of the
best part of the world. had under its care
probably not fewer than a hundred and
twenty million souls should have with all its
advantages declined SO rapidly, fallen
so far, and become in many places a by
word, could ever have regained the place it
has III the world, dbecome on many noble
lines dominant force. 1t is from this spot
that the word has come forth. which to half
the reading world has been almost law,
and TO the other part of fierce discussion and
not seldom of bitter hate and scorn. In all
matters connected with the churches, Rome
has been fact to be taken strict notice of
watched, heard, answered. While all this
has been going on. Europe has been in the
anxiety; ankle II not positive agony, OF vio-
whether in church or state, has al
ways looked two ways at once, namely
at Its own internal affairs as they are related
to the great world outside, and at the world
VINO mas right learnt to truly understand
this has the key to the history and power of
Rome. The mao who sees clearly the posi-
tlon OF America to-day, knows we'll that we
nave only as people learned one OF them.
Herein our grayest danger lies. We are the
people, we judge, but the world is built on
philosophy which says there is no isolation;
everything IN the universeis related TO every
other thlng. Rome, keeping steadily in view
the Two principles l have stated and
placing a third in action, has been,
and will continue to be, one
OF the captivating places OF the
slght upon emotion and upon human action
as do The men who are responsible for the
dlrectlen of events in Rome to-day. How
should they? For age gives experience and
Rome was grey with age when the ancestors
OF the great nations of to-day ran naked in
tangled woods after wild beasts and BIRDS
MeaIth gave power to the Roman. 1t stimu-
lated taste, for it ever will be true that a man
with money in his pocket to spend will find
persons ready to place the power of skill in
all the walks or life at his command. So it
came that in palace, hall and cottage
IN this enchanted city could be
found comforts which other. and. as men
think, less favored peoples, never had.
rms rule applied to the public as well as to
the private estate. 1t was said every way
leads to Rome. This was true in deeper
sense than its maker intended, for the eternal
city took toll from those whom it con-
quered; it made them do its behests; served
lts purposes doubt not but this accounts
Tor The sDlendors of its ancient buildings and
puolc works, which though thousand event
tul years have passed i'll bath and forum, in
pubic as in the private words of the Bibles,
left such abiding proof of departed glory
II has been the desire to make Rome the
mecca, to which men will look with fond de-
sire. This is written on the work of every
age: it is the habit of Romans to want to do
This. Had it not been so, it is doubt
heard of St. Peters church, or
of st. Johns in Lateran, or even the dainty
beauty of the cemetery. 1t is the ardent de-
sire of Romans to increase It's attractions.
Now, when the last pope died he left pro-
vision III his will that not more than S400
and the stone to mark ii, and that his body
be laid to rest in ST. Lorenza church, outside
the walls Of Rome. No one is now buried
inside the city. Pho Mono was inferred ac-
cording to his desire. l have stood at his
grave The will was followed in its literal
detail. but the men of Rome, who loved the
pope, at once said we will make the place in
which is this grave in its plainness
one of the most beautiful known to art. So
the laymen took up the work. and they have
provided the money to adorn the chapel be-
hind and under the altar of st. LorenZa, one
of the most beautiful on earth. 1t is intend
ed to place in the most artistic Venetian mo-
sale the most cunning craftesmen can design
and execute. Near this grave is to be the
coat of arms of every bishop, archbishop and
cardinal of the church in the world. 1t is
not doubted that generations of men who are
yet unborn will go to see this tomb. 1t will
be to devout Romanists what the grave
of Napoleon, i'll the Palace of the
Invalides i'll Paris, is to the French
source of income to the monks of St.