The Washington times., 1902-02-24

a new bond of filial love and dutiful union
with the Vicar of Christ on earth.
In his long difficult. and glorious pom
tificate nothing has escaped the wisdom,
the energy the zeal of Leo NIL In every
part of the world he has imprinted lumi-
nous and enduring traces of his activity.
The establishment of the Catholic hier-
archy in Japan and India. its restoration
in Scotland Bosnia. Herzegovina, and
Africa his co operation in protecting the
missions in tie Chinese Empire, the re
union of the Armenians with the See of
Peter are lasting monuments OF his indie
fatiGable zeal.
Impetus TO Learning.
Hardly was our Holy Father chosen
to preside over the destinies of the uni
versal Church when he inaugurated his
reign bv declaring himself Mecenas of
art. literature, and science. \ fresh i'm
pttuS was given at once to the stud OF
sacred scripture and history. The treasures
OF the Vatican Library and its archives
were thrown open to the world. Scholastic
philosophy was restored to its place of
honor. and the teachings of the wisdom of
St Thomas inculcated in all Catholic sem
inaries and halls of learning; new life and
q new spirit pcrvaded every branch of
knowledge.
From the field of Catholic education.
which was cultivated. fostcred, and pre-
NOTED in every quarter of the globe, Leo
XIII penetrated into the sanctuary of
family life. threatened by the deadly
demon of divorce. With all the dignity
Of ar apostle and the polished periods of
Cicero his master mind in a well known
enCycliCal. portrayed the beauty and the
holiness of Christian marriage as well
as the dreadful dangers impending over
individuals and societies should time
honored ideals he disfigured or destroyed.
Services to Society.
Again. we find him employing all his
energy and the vast moral power of his
Office to heal the wounds of civil So
ciety While specious theories aimed at
the overthrow OF political and social in
stitutions. while secret societies burrowed
in the dark against the altar and the
throne. while the tide of socialism was
rising higher and higher, and threaten
ing to submerge the ancient landmarks
and Chris ian civilization, he ceased not
to impress on the hearts of the people
respect and obedience to constituted au-
thority. pleading eloquently with rulers
on the duty of justice and gentleness, re-
calling to their minds the sovereign OBJ
legation OF promoting peace, civil order
and happiness. and urging with as much
enlightened wisdom as sweet reasonable
ness the principles which alone could en-
sure friendly harmony ard cooperation
between capital and labor.
Tact nnd Foresight.
THE genius of Leo XIII shone forth no
less strikingly in forming and cemenung
amicable relations with the various Gov
ernments OF Europe BY his tact, his
spirit of prudent conciliations his fore
sight. he so won his way that the Roman
Poutiff, despoiled OF his temporal prince
dom, and clad only in the royalty ol
moral power. was requested in the nine
reenth century to renew the role OF arbl-
traitor exercised so often by the vicar oil
Christ in the ages Of Faith
Once more. under his enlightened
guidance. ecclesiastical discipline and
legislation made marked and gratifying
progress To quote only one II Two IN
stances il will suffice to recall the con-
stiturion .Romanos Pontifces, which so
admirably defines. adjusts. and regulates
the delicate relations between the hieF-
archy and the religious orders, ana 10
cau 10 mind the remodeling, strengthen
ing. and modernizing OF the various Ro-
man congregations, whose usefulness ana
efficiency have thereby been both extend
ed and increased This touch OF an en-
lightened legislator has been felt in every
departnent OF ecclesiastical polIty. carry
ing out the saying of st. Paul: Power Is
given Us unto edification.'
The Promotion of Piety.
with all these labors in the lntel-
lectual domain it is pleasing to compare
the insistence given year by year to the
promotion Of true piety. Year after year
encyclical letters, eKhortations, and IN
struct!ons were addressed TO the Catholic
world. earnestly recommending the time
honorcd devotion Of the rosary, until now