The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-03-08
ROME AND THE BIBLE
The NEW COMMISSION AND THE
WORK IT HAS TO PERFORM.

II IL Not an Innovation Ia rapni Pro-
cedure. and the Lnbors and Conclu-
sIons of This Powerful aud Intel
IectuaI BODY VIII Ne of Vast Inn
pOrtRnce,
The pontihcal commission on mod
ern questions concerning holy writ
Just appointed by his holiness Pope .
Leo XIII. Is esteemed as one OF the
most influential and powerful codelib- ,
erative bodies organized 10y the Catho- /
lie church In several centuries. Its pur-
pose Is rather clearly expressed In It's
name. Briefly II will examine into and
pass with authority upon all questions
of construction and Interpretation rails
ed concerning the Bible by modern
methods OF investigation. The com
mission will thus speak for the Catho-
lie church on the whole question OF
the so called higher criticism. The in
yestigation Is expected TO be full and
fair and 10 express the convictions OF
the best minds Of the Roman Catholic
clergy, 1ssss<affsss s'sr~.
AP6Pe Leo and his assistants have
had the organization OF this body un-
der consideration for several years.
IL was their expressed purpose to In
eIude in II only the most broadminded,
progressive and scholarly students OF
the gospel. The membership OF the
commission is believed 20 justify the
judgment OF the appointing power to
very satisfactory degree.
The appointment OF this commission
for the purpose indicated is not an In
novation on the part OF the church.
Pontifical commissions on the Scrip
lures have been held by the Catholic
church In the past The last one was
near the beginning OF the present pom
tiflcate and had for a member DR.. Ca
pecelatro, now cardinal and recog-
nized as the ablest scholar In the
church.
Apropos OF the personnel OF the com
mission American Catholics, and espe-
cially those in the educational world,
are delighted at the recognition OF the
Catholic university and Of American
Catholic scholarship In the appoint
ment OF the Very Rev. DIR. Charles r.
Grammar. who has been at Washing
ton for the last ten years as professor
OF sacred Scripture. The English
speaking world is represented on the
commission by DIR. Grammar and also
by the Rev. Or. Robert f. Clark Of the
archdiocese OF Westminster, England,
and the Rev. David Fleming. the Irish
scholar, AZ present the superior general
OF the Franciscan order.
IN. al tfgci N IL
dltiOn to those just named, follows:
President, Cardinal Parocchi. vice chan
cellor OF the Roman church; Cardinals
segna and Wives Tuto as assessors; Dr.
Van Ioonacker. professor OF Holy Scrip
ture al the University OF Louvain, Bel
GUM. DR. Fracassini. professor at the
seminary, Perugia. Italy; Or. Jorio, pro-
fessor at Valencia. Spain; Or. ksser, Sec
rotary OF the congregation OF the index
Or Vigouroux, professor at the Catholic
institute. Paris Or dc la Hummellauer
g. j., College 81 81. Iguatils, Holland; DIT
GismondL s. j.. professor at the Gregorl'
an university, Rome; Or. Amelli. O. 5, -,
prior OF the monastery OF Monte Casino
Italy. and Dr. Poels, professor at the
Seminary OF The Hague, consultors.
Cardinal Parocchi. the project OF th'
commission, Is one OF the most promi
nent figures In the whole church. Hi
offices are numerous vice chancellor
OF the holy Catholic church. subdcai
of the sacred college Of cardinals
Cardinal bishop, assigned 20 the sub
urban see of Port and Santa Ruuna
secretary Of the congregation OF tb'
universal iaquistiou. president OF tl.
CONGREGATION OF apostolic visits ant
protect Of the congregation ~ resi-
dences uf bishops Cardinal Parocch
Is tho son of q poor Mantuau mile
and in bis day was a great orator
Cardinal Gibbons has long been hi
Close friend and i'm some respects con
siders him one of the greatest men h
ever met lie Is one of the three livin
cardinals who were named 10y Pop
Plus IX ana for many years was cal
dinal vicar. So long did he bear thi
title that at the Vatican he Is still cal
cd by IL oftener than 10y any other. IL
used 10 be warm friend OF Kin
Victor Emmanuel, but upon the latter
assumption OF political power he b'
came his strong enemy. He resides
some badly furnished apartments
the Via National In Rome and for tw
or three years has been In quite poo
health.
Dir. Fleming. the secretary of ii
commission, Is an Irlshman of marke
ability. lie is said TO be very close
the former legate 10 the United State
Cardinal Satolli, 20 have been alread
selected for the cardinalate and TO
one OF the most indefatigable studen
OF Biblical exegesis In the world.
The remaining members of the cor
mission are almost equally prominer
They represent nearly every phase
Roman Catholic activity. Francis, Ca
dinal Segna and Cardinal Wives y Tut
the assessors, are cardinal deacol
only, the former an italian and the Ia
Ger n Portuguese. Their offices are
some measure perfunctory, the ha
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