The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-04
SOME NEW Bo0Ks.
St. bernard.

St. Bernard.
In q volume entitled Bernard Of C1di,pa,n
tScribners) DR.. II. e. SroRRs has published
eight lectures which were originally delivered
at the Princeton Theological Seminary. Ac-
companied as they now are BY copious notes
corroborating and calculating tho text. they
constitute an historical study which reflects
not q little credit upon American scholarship.
For facts the writor OF this book has gone to
the original authorities; though as regards in
depreciation, he has not failed to profit by the
suggestions offered by modern students OF the
subject The spirit OF tho book is singularly
sympathetic: indeed we doubt II q moro ap-
preciative biography ola Catholic preacher and
theologlan has ever proceeded from Protes-
tant pom. The scope OF the book Is wider
than the tito at the first glance indicates.
1t was impossible to set forth the person
atty OF the greatest man Of the twelfth century
and to describe the work which lie accom-
plished without providing tho proper back
ground by delincaton OF tho times in which
he lived and OF those Immediately antccedent.
This DIR. Storrs has done in the FIRST two Ice
lures. which are devoted to tho tenth and cev-
enth centuries. the middle period OF which.
from $50 to 1910. represented tho da rk est hour
OF tho Dark Ages. In the six succsodin. lee
lures We nre made acquainted with the early
training and personal characteristics OF Ber-
through his monastic life through his career
Ms theoloGian aud a preacher OF tho Second
Crusade. through his controversy with Al clard
and his relation TO general European affairs.
Even after the tenth century had PASSED with
out bringing the expected destruction OF tho
world. the appalling expectation. though per-
hnps in some degree relieved. was not dis
ojl cI I ,yuq than yiIalv fsnrAi fLnt n
thousand yours should havo been reckoncd
from tho Passion of Christ. not from His birth.
and that consequently A. y. 33 was tho year
appointed for the end OF the world. AS thu.
year approached the Gloomlest portents an
peared in heaven and earth. The lands wcro
deluGed with perpetual rains. SO that Il was
useless TO SOW il: the drowned fields. and Il
famine followed moro awful than had been
previously known. Men ate earth. weeds.
ROOTS tho bark ri trees. Nermin. and dead
bodies: eventually cannihalism prevailed to
such an s1tent that children aud adults were
murdered to he enten and human l!csh was
almost openly sold IN tho markets. A state of
ferocious cannihal saragery seemed likely to
mark tho end Of faiic. and ruined race for
which tho Lord had died in vain.
Dr.. Storrs recognizes Rome good results Of
the universal looking forward to the speedy
advent Of the judgment day. There was a
wide. il only temporary. reformation of man
ners. Large numbers OF serfs were set frse
from the bonds which it Was thought would
soon be dissolved in celestial fire. Immense
gifts OF land and treasure wcro made to tho
churches. OF which some effects which were
benetlcont showed themselves even IN :he 'ol.
lowing century What was known. Cor instance.
as the truce of God mad lie impulse in those
terror stricken ycars--the truce by which men
were forbidden TO take anything y violence or
to engage in strife from Wednesday, Ii. ht 10
the following MonIay morning. under thc pan
atty OF deGth or exile. Something wa ..aiDs'.
OF course. by feacng GU: part of each week
for tho business and pleasure of quiet
life. In general. however. tho consequences
OF the expectation OF tho end OF ;he world
were signally harmful. 1t not only susl ended
industry. paralyzed ncirient attempts NJ con-
merce. made mon careless of tncir personal
interests and those o! their households. but it
wrought. rs frenzieS habitual work. for the
degradation OF and and character. 1t made
fear the predominant motiv. in society. AMI
drove many to utter desperation. Then
again. after the thousand years from the
Passion Of Christ had be.n completed with
out the predicted worl-lisaster. n skeptical
rebound against the whole system OF the
Christian religion became almost inevitable.
Happily In the latter half OF the eleventh
century there set in vigorous reaction
against the baneful forces which had para
lyZed or fcvered the European communities.
There were indications Of private and public
aspirations giving cause to anticipate that tho
succeeding period would show religious an !
social advance. and give opportunity t. tho
ronsecrated encrGies Of q mar like Bernard
The empire OF ChlrcmG.ae vas now partially
rssstablished in the German line. and the en-
perors we're commonly princes Of politi al
NH 1, Err oil IA Ia, ~, tI.,
Capetan King was very small. there was a re-
vival of manufactures and commerce. and the
cities began to gain in population. The FreEch
language began at this time to take the form
whose main outlines it has retained. Soon
after the middle Of the eleventh century it be-
came tho leading language OF tho English
realm. The power Of the Saracen was weak
ened in Spain and broken in tho rest of Europe.
Dislodged from Sardinia in lO2! b. the
Genoess and Pisars. they We're conquered in
sicily by the Normans in the latter part of the
same century. In the !ity years preceGng
1916 movements to visit tho Holy Land were
carried forward on great scale. In 1913
Hildebrani became Pope. under the title Of
Gregory VII. and the regeneration and re-
organization OF the papacy were effected The
closing years OF the century witnessed the
preaching of the first crusade and the estab-
!ishment Of a Latin Kingdom in Palestine.
Finally 1t may be pointed ont that il was in tho
last decade OF the eleventh century that the
PoLt!h Urban H. ordered tho bells to be runG
In the churches before sunrise and sunset to
call the people to give thanks and to pray.
Thus it came to pass that the An:clus and the
A"e Maria came to be widely heard in Europe.
They rang out the old time and rang in the
new. 1t was Mt almost exactly the mo period
that this life OF Bernard of CHirvaux logan.
The subject Of this historical study was born
In the Dnchy Of BurGundyn his father castle
OF Fontanes near the city Of Dion in thu year
1o3i. 10 was named apparently Tor his moth
sr's father bernard. the feudai lord Of Mont
Bar. n fow miles distant. His father Tcsce!in.
vas knight OF experience and distinction do
sccnded from tho Counts OF Chatllon. lie is
said to have beon a great lover of the poor and
IN asslduous cultivator Of piety and to have
svinced IN extraordinary zeal for Justice. II
Ia finn i,tv A. at l,,f I,ip IA,