The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-21
SAW THE POPE


SAW THE POPE
An Article from the Gifted Pen of Prof
S. G. Mitchell.
In a recent Issue OF the Religious Her
lid, the organ OF the Baptists OF Vir-
gina, there appeared from the pen OF
Dr. s. C. Mitchell, OF Richmond College,
the following article upon the lie and
work Of Pope Leo. who has Just died
Several years ago DR.. Mitchell mad the
good fortune to see the venerable Pom
tlff at Rome, and his description OF his
appearance, as we'll as the expression
concerning the work OF His Holiness, Is
vivid and striking. The article was writ
ten when It became evident that the days
of the Pope were numbered. and II 10 IN
that choice and elegant style which 1t
has become customary to associate with
Universally interesting In tina. 1t ex.
presses the profound opinion Of man
Who flguratively speaking, Is, doctrin-
lily, as far separated from Leo and all
hat he represents as the two poles:
The past fifty-six years have been span.
n fact " s"s precsaent SO far as know,
In the venerable history Of the Roman
Catholic Pontitcate. Plus TX. was elected
took the name OF Leo xiii. In all ages
nothing Is more automatic than the con-
may rs' come ' and pn men may su 60. but Il go
on forever. But 1t Is especially worthy Of
note that the succession OF two popes
have Occurred Just at the period marked
by the most rapid and radical changes.
s car well pnderstand hoy deyout
IN this strange stability OF the papacy.
IN the midst OF the constant change OF
The present century.
Queen Victoria. beginning in 1887. and
that Of F Era, Joseph. the Emperor OF
AlS.na who cane m te in the
vives-a link connecting this age C OF ram am
pant democracy with the sinister times
When ", ~ the reaetionary Metternich was the
have been the arbiter of America save
for Monroe's aragraphic reference to
some such scheme in his message to Con-
ana Fnes Sose eps r so 81 e
and Austria have been made over. and
even the papaey has not escaped tie
transforming in,renGe OF the sane demo-
HIS POLICY.
Not since that wounded Spanish knight.
lgnatius Loyola. founded the order of the
Jesutts to combat the followers of Martin
Luther has the Roman Cprta had to
so many bathing problems as have en-
composed the Catholic Church within the
: ..
been Territorial. political and doctrinal.
The Vatican and wrested the Roman
sGn ss ssaose has
archy, upon which the papal power seem
ed to be based: science has turned
tSe ng Sas Leo met pes
italy social democracy. and the ,intellec-
tual unrest resulting from the progress
q SCIENCE BY The answer to ths au tbe
'r ais PoR q a1s's WS. HIS PRACTICAL
Pus ssEsn e 511e eee easss
reactionary and ended as liberal. That
is to say. We must distinguish between
al al least . between his formal Encyclicnls
and his practical views. Leos early En-.
cycl'cals repeat the morose and medieval
his is' Encyclicai Of December. 1878. the year
Of his accession. concerning "modern err
rors." condemns the lay state; sovereignty
the peop ane neh0G ass
den,,hc that extensive and powerful
school Of men VINO wish % te called 1.-The
rails who apply the principles o. natu M,sa
liberty OF creed. Of he press, Of .eauca-
ton. which are the Wanted tr1u0'ons
Practically. however Leo emancipated
himself from these outworn views. and
in doing so how hard the struggle he mad
to make against the encrusted traditlons
Ct the Vatican we can Wsll appseo'AIl n
stead of struggling against the new, gov
ernments. he made terms with them,
except in Italy. He renewed relations
while he sought to iingratiate him..lt PR
ticularly with the democracies or france.
England and America. His policy was 70
form In each country Gatnome par,
make its alliance desirable. and to Of
Ter this alliance to government n re.
turn for concessions to the church. II
thus that Leo
which is significant OF his success all
along along the line. The handspring Of his
policy was in his appeal to the peoples;
Catholic power upon the masses. What
instinct could be shrewder or safer? Re-
suits speak Plus X. left the &c. Catholic
ernments and the spirit OF the age. The
loss u the italian lands only symbolized
the the general decay OF papal power. But
Leo through the creation ~ az na GGEn-
ali subject TO common center; acquired
for the church a social and pol tlcal pow
err superior TO the Official power she nag d
lost s%Sn Is hs has sffected in the
attn,a Of the curia "a king without
kingdom, yet more powerfu, than teT;
ritorial 6oVerelgnS. Inc vatican lS st|lI
one Of the great workshops Of his-
THE VATICAN AND TIE Qu1RINAL.
Just as one must distinguish between
the earlier and later, or between the for
nal and practical Views, of Leo so must
one separate. sharply his policy 1 as. re-
Countries. Here Is connlete contradiction
again In Northern Europe Leo Is an
up-to.deta democrat. urging Catholics
to identify themselves with the present
professes himself prisoner. demands the
return. OF the pa pal lands. and bids al
Catholics to stand aloof from the k'ngly
The reason eors .of tb ms se, con.
Of tSs p atap lands by Victor Emmanae
1870 fancy that j lei 1js i acs ne had
wo,,,d have Shifted up the inherited poll
cy OF the Vatican, regarding the CURL;