New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26

sanQ stories TO prove the sagaclty or ST. FRANCIS
In complicated crises, but he leaves him a
dreamy mystic still. a reformer whose whole
being was borne an inspiration as poetcal
It was religious. Francis clothed even poverty,
even death. In fantastic imagery. Canon Little
sees In this the passion Of the man of God.
Complete dissent would be worse than un-
gracious But we are at liberty to see also in
this imaginative drift Of the Saints genius
much of the mystical. morbid feeling which in
many cases debased the man instead Of uplifting
him.
In Justice to ST. Francis II must be admitted
that the mystical strain in his blood was never
allowed to whelm him in metaphysical inertia
he had as Canon Little points out. marvellous
gift for applying his spiritual strength to the
resolving Of mundane difficulties. When stones
were offered to him for the restoration of the
church Of San Damiano be took them as direct
gifts from God. but he did not sit down to pray
over them and hope to see them take wings to
their destination. He shouldered them and
carried them to the spot. When the spectacle
OF the outcast lepers tore his soul with anguish
ne brought water, with sweet herbs, and washed
the wounds once only in an important crisis.
does he 20 have neglected the terrestrial
responsibilities OF his position When Honori-
us III at Perugia granted him the celebrated
Portiuncula indulgence. he started to leave the
hall Of audience without asking for the au-
thority in writing The Pope himself upbraided
him. IF this indulgence" the Saint replied, is
Gods work leave to Him the task OF manifest
ing His own work l have no need Of having
any instrument concerning 1t. only let the
Blessed Virgin Mary be the charter Jesus
Christ the notary and the angels the witnesses
This episode is calculated to diminish any belief
hat
type Of the great organizer Qmagne the
founder of the Jesuits behaving in this man
NERD and it might appear TO weaken. too. the
proposition lust advanced that the Saint in his
relations TO the world at large vas thoroughly
practical On the other hand. il increases our
admiration for the man who came upon the
scene so humbly and did much. He began
with nothing save his own inner convictlon
His pertinacious goodness 10 the lepers and the
poor made at last it's impression. and fe"
men were drawn to him. From this group. We
may say quite literally from this one man. the
great order If the Franciscans grew 1t was
not marshalled like an army. st FRANCIS was
not strategist. II ne was on good terms Win
the papacy from the start ii was not, as canon
Little would evidently like TO believe because
he was a prudent. even diplomatic, nan but De
cause he was chdke Of soul and through
sheer nobility won his way where cleverer hght-
ers would have failed. The most Impressive
thing about him ~ his humane sweetness MS
utter freedom from any OF the traits when
would be looked for In great captain None OF
the tales about his preaching to the birds or
Kidding the swallows be still seem In the least
unlikely 1t is quite the other way. one ex-
poets these romantic legends to cluster about
so innocent a soldier 50 bithe so poetical
man They are fun OF the spirit OF him who
seemed
wild childish man,
And could not speak or write. but only ioVeu'
His achievements were worthy OF a great gen
eral They loom In history simply AZ inc
fruit of a. spotlcss, beautiful life. As he passes
through the years, establishing his order IL does
not seem as II he were about any such I'M
portant business He seems to be tending the
sick winning men from careless paths, purify
ing the social life about him. He struck
mortal blow AT feudalisn when he founded the
order ~ the Tertiares and made IL Impossible
for any submitting TO Its rule 10 folio" 'he
feudal lords on unjustihable wars yet TINS great
e.rvice IN italy was rendered by nature as In
nocent OF statecraft as II was OF astronomy. 81
Francis lived and lied a man OF Chr1stlike
.,mnlcity His deeds were the flowers OF an In
.roblv noble spirit. They were not, 1t Is true.
the deeds Of an unconscious instrument The
MON looked with exceeding tenderness and
understanding upon his world. But we cannot
think of him as manager as sKii1ui player
IN q game shared by Pope. mobiles and peasahtry'
That robs him of half his great dignity ana
charm IT is better to think OF him as goou
man who. by Gods grace, could live with MS
thoughts in heaven. and yet never stumble IN
I tftl