New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-30
III.
THE CRISIS.

Meanwhile the work for civilization which
furnishes the historical apology for the system
of indulgences advanced to its completion. John
Tetzel himself was a prominent figure in the
final efforts to bring the last pagan stronghold
of Europe west of Russia under the dominion
of the Church and Of the general culture Of
Christendom. His early successes, those which
gave him the hold he undoubtedly had at one
time on the affections Of his courtrymen in Ger
many. were gained in the effort to provide
funds for the Teutonic Order Of Knights. These
knights for generations had been wagng
cruel but necessary warfare with the savage
country and still more savage population Of
what is now a part Of modern Prussia. At the
present day people indulge in a great deal Of
sentiment about the primitive races, but they
treat them on occasion in the usual way. The
Teutonic Knights knew nothing of modern sen
timent but they were efficient in the methods
Of civilization familiar still TO the Beer in South
Africa and to the American frontiersmar They
were set to conquer the northeastern angle Of
Western Europe, and they performed the task
Without them the modern world would not be
lust what is. In the completion Of their enter
prise no man had greater share than John
Tetzel He was not fighter, except in con-
troversy. but he was wonderfully successful in
cess that was fatal 10 him.
Leo was in want of mOney. No man. in
deed was ever more perpetually IN want Of it
than he He wanted manuscripts and paint
ings and musicians, and, above all, he wished
70 complete St Peters Church Since the re-
,.ival OF learning it had become a tradition
that the Pope should be the patron Of learning
and Of art He could only accomplish all these
tasks. which the mere progress Of civilization
had laid upon him. by means OF money. not
trfng sum, but a veritable shower OF gold
Leo has the credit Of being circumspect man
in his conduct. but he has never been highly
nraised as a Christian Probably he had no
more faith in indugences than Cicero had in
augury. He looked upon them perhaps. as
most convenient device for levyine an indirect
tax upon the people. To finish st. Peter's-an1
nobody will deny that this was a laudable UNI
dertaking-he decided 10 proclaim an indul-
eence But the world had grown critical. Per-
haps people wanted to lay out ther taxes at
homo At all events the Germans had not com
nlained about paying money to Tetzel for the
Toutonic Knights They began to make UNI
nIeasant remarks. They said, Tor example that
e Peters never would be finished; that the
. ,,,arIlos had a mysterious trick Of mgrat-
, from, Rome TO Florence. They had other
,or,os aoualv credible. But Leo persevered
He farmed out the expected sale of indulgences
g., North Germany 70 Albert. Archbishop ana
Elector of MainZ on terms which showed IN Il
the neople were beginning to complain OF theI
bur1ens The cost of the pallium or Main"
was % 900 guden. 1t happened that Albert $
predecessors had been shOrt-liVed. Wlthm
decade the people had been called on twice lor
this fee and now. before the ten years were
nm there was probability of a renewed de-
mand
Albert decided to pay the fee himself He Dor
roved the money Of the bankers Fugger with the
understanding agreed to by the Pope that they
should have half he proceeds Of the ST. Peters
ipdulgence In North Germany and pay the other
half 10 the Holy See Albert chose Tetzel TO
rraoch the indulgence. AS has been pointed out
and as Mr. Lea says in so many words. "TetZe
WAS no mere vulgar pardoner. but trained theo
,ooian and an eloquent preacher; his misfortune
,os that he became the scapegoat for his en-
,lovers II did not occur TO TetZel mat he had
boon hitherto working in the interests OF his own
,coun,ry. Some years before, by the sale OF indu-
oences known as "Butterbriefe' when gave the
merit NJ fasting TO those who would not forego
h,,,,er and cheese on fast days. he had helped 10
build bridge over the Elbe. He had alded s'rus-
Cling churches. but this affair Of ST. Peter was
another thing altogether. The Germans were