The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-07-24
WHAT HIS EFFORTS HAVE ACCOM-
PLISHED.

WHAT HIS EFFORTS HAVE ACCOM-
PLIsHED.
Ifany man doubts, let him ask this
question: -,
Which churches are the more
crowded-the Lutheran churches IN
Rerlin or the Ci tholic churchesF Ana
in New York city itself, what snail
we more say than that under Ls1
direction the churches where Ine
faith he holds is taught are lull u
the doors?
Wonderful, indeed, this great or
ganization, with its fifteen centuries
of history. I'm, u,,,o.
What cathedrals it has built! What
Madonnas and TRANSFORMATIONS IL
has painted! What solemn ne
Deums it has written What saints
named FenelOn and Thomas
Kempis! What philanthropists Ike
Francis of Assist! what heroes like
Bernard! Little wonder that it has
ruled princes and peasants ailke!
That it has controlled political IN
stitutions and shaped the destiny OF
states! 49,.
Take it all in all, the Catholic has
been the most marvellous political
force of the last LOO years, has sur
vived empires, states ana clNlllza1
tions. And the new position ana
influence that the Catholic chufch
now holds Is largely due to the WIS
dom and noble character of Leo the
POntiff. -,
He was not great theologian, Ike
Augustine, giving US vast BODY o.
divinity. He was not great orator,
like ChrysoStom, swaying the thous'
ands weeping in the cathedral OF 81
Sophia. He did not have the mill
tary instinct and iron will of Hilder-
brand.
But he was a great bishop, like Am
brose, who ruled by love. He was Il
great propaganda like Gregory
sending his missionaries into the
Iutterlnost parts of the earth. He
was n great statesman, who proved
himself a match for the most astute
diplomats. He held himself to be il
sovereign and spoke OF himself as a
prisoner in the Vatican, and he was
the equal of princes and ambassadors
whom he met.
But great as he was, we forget his
greatness when we remember MS
goodness.
The English cardinal who wrote
for the world his Lead, Kindly
Light" was not more venerated tol
the purity and simplicity of his
character.
POPE WHOSE INTERESTS WERE UNI
In the noblest sense of the term
Leo WIS a man whose interest wero
worldwide. In reading his letters
and addresses we are impressed with
the universally of his themes. HI
writes and speaks not from the view.
point of an Italian, but from the
viewpoint of the citizen OF all coun'
tries.
Always he strikes the universe
note that appeals to all people. The
most important of his encyclicals
deal with the condition of the work
ing classes, chief duties of Christians
as citizens, on marriage and divorce
on socialism and anarchy, on work
ingmen's clubs and trades unions
In these noble papers he speaks no
from the viewpoint of the prelate
but from the viewpoint of the Chris
tian.
He always pleads the cause of tn,
poor: his Eeart was knitted in witt
| the interest of his kind.
He has tried to make his name d
shield for the weak, and his influence
a bulwark for their defense.
In condemning the oppressor ht
spoke no soft words; he descended
upon the strong mans sins ant
crimes with the might of an ava
lanche. His words burn like flame
of fire against every form of iniqulty
He came forth, and 10! the scourg'
was in his hand.
What a mine of wisdom is found il
these addresses to the working class
es! He points out for the people thu
paths that lead to prosperity aEC
peace.
1t has often been said that tn,
strength and wisdom of these letter
were traceable to the college of car
dinals and to the representatives o
foreign countries who stood arount
about the pope for counsel and direc
ton.
But if Lincoln read his state paper
to his cabinet, does that mean tina
his inaugurals represent any genius
save the genius of Abraham Lincoln
And whoever reads the pOpe's ad
dresses to the people, will finish hi
reading with the full conviction tina
Leo's intellect was clear and power
full, like the sunbeam boring its way
IaI- \ 4 l : 4