The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-07

that. on the contrary, there was an init
mate and indissoluble connection between
them, but that instead OF the state sup
porting the church in America. the church
supported the state by promoting obedience
to law through her teachings and dis
cipline. This remark appeared TO please
him very much, and he inquired with great
parbGularity into the operations of the va
rious charitable and religious institutions
maintained by the diocese of New York
with which l was myself familiar.
He spoke warmly of the care and zeal
with which orphaned children are support
ed and instructed by the diocesan authori-
ties. The Catholic protectory. with its
marvellous record of boys saved from lives
of crime and idleness. appeared to interest
sands whom it had rescued from vice and
trained to useful lives he said: Yes, yes
truly the church supports the state.
BROAD AND LIBERAL MIND.
There is no more liberal mind in the
world than that of Leo XIII His liberal
ism is not in matters of faith, for in mat
tiers of faith there is no room for lib
crafty. A man believes or he does not
believe. He is a Catholic or he is not The
limits of his faith are not fixed bv himself
but by higher power. The Pope is truly
liberal, however. in the sense that his love
and interest are not confined to those of
his own faith. They embrace those who
differ with MIN, and he said repeatedly
with great emphasis. that his prayers were
Tor all, all Americans (tOus, tous les Amer
icainS)
In nothing was he so eloquent as in
the description of his desire for the re-
union OF all Christian churches. He said
it was the labor to which he had ad-
dressed his life. He believed he had made
some progress in the work of reconciliation
and he felt confident that God in His mer-
cy would ultimately bring it about but he
reared he would not live to see the result
of his labors
AT the conclusion of the interview he
pace me say to my countrymen. wherever
| might meet them, that had seen the
Pope and had found him full of sympathy
ana anection for the American people,
earnestly praying that the church will give
fresh proofs that it was the strongest force
on earth for the maintenance of peace aid
the enforcement of law. The state Ire
said, may coerce, but the church can per-
through love is vastly preferable to ODE
dience eXtorted through fear The church
will never counsel men to do anything
which an enlightened state would not com
mand me to do
LAS l knelt at his feet in taking my leave,
after stating that he gave me his individ-
ual blessing, he said that he also blessed
men on account of the country from which
l came, towards which his heart went out,
which he always remembered in his pray
ers, where he believed the world would see
the final and supreme VindicatiOn of the
eternal truths which have been confided to
the church.
And so l left him. the workman whose
day is nearly finished, yet who remains ear
nestly scanning the horizon in the hope
that few hours of light may be left to
him, not for enjoyment or recreation-I do
not believe he understands the Significance
OF these words-but that he might add
something to the task at which he has so
long labored, but which is yet incomplete.
FRIENDSHIP AND INTEREST.
The next day he sent me a large silver
medal, as a token of friendship and inter-
est by the Maestro di Camera, who init
mated that the Holy Father would be
pleased if l attended the mass which he
intended to say the following Monday for
the American sailors. ! did so. l do not be-
lieve any man can have a proper idea of
the solemnity of the mass who has not seen
it celebrated by Pope Leo
''lntrinsically it differs in no respect from
the mass one might hear any day in a
Catholic Church. except that the prayers
which precede it are said a a prie-dieu at
the left of the altar, and at it's conclusion
mass of Thanksgiving is said by one Of
the domestic chaplains, at which the Pope
assists. 1t is on the altar, robed as a sim
pie priest, without any of the insignia of
his office, that the spiritual influence of the
man is most strikingly displayed.
l. i1tte act Is performed ana every word
Votional absorption that you feel you are
assisting not al a ceremony but at a sacri-
flee of surprising solemnity. The words of
concentration are USUALLY spoken in such
a low tone of voice that the WorshipperS
do not hear them, but when the Pope cele-
brates the mass a single syllable becomes
audible at intervals, and the voice is so
sonofouS and so strangely powerful that in
the profound stiffness of the room the effect
is wonderful. 1t seems as if one could al
most see the divine mystery accomplishing
itself.
After the mass, as he knelt and prayed
at the prie-dieu to the right of the altar
his face buried in his hands that marvellous
voice occasionally pronOuncing a word
while a Slight nervous culver shook his
body, could not help thinking of that
scene in the Garden of Gethsemane on the
eve of the passion. 1t was, indeed easy
to imagine that the slight figure in white
almost PROSTATE over the back of the prize
dieu, sobbing over the sins of the world
and asking God TO be merciful in His judg-
ment of sinners.
AT the conclusion of the mass his chair
was placed upon the altar step, and those
who had been admitted passed before him
and kissed his hand. To each of them the
Pope addressed'a few kindly expressions
Our sailors gathered in the outer room at
the conclusion of the ceremony and gave
three lusty cheers for the Pope, which APP
peared to please him greatly. Rising to his
feet, he smiled and waved his hands, say
ing Bravo bravo! Good Americans good
Americans! and then, advancing to where
l stood, he inquired when l intended to
leave Rome. l answered on the following
Friday Again he blessed me and wished
me safe and prosperous journey back to
that country which held so large place in
his heart "