The sun., 1903-10-15
MR.. GOLDWIN SMITH AND HILL
DEBRA Nd.
The Character OF HiIdebra and, Pope Greg.
ory VII, as History Paints 1t.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: Hide
brand the son Of a carpenter. Bonzo. is the
great Pope whom the Catholic Church honor,
as st. Gregory VII. Much against his will
he was unanimously elected Pope in the
year 1913.
Writing on many disputed questions Of
Church history in a letter published in last
Sundays SUN. Mr. Goldwin Smith says
"Hildebrand 1t was who created the universal
despotisn. using as his instruments German
rebellion and Norman conquest, as well
q clerical militia detached from humanify
and bound to the Papacy by the enforcement
Of celibacy. There is not in history such
another mockery as the pretence of tins.
autocrat," &c.
Now every great historian who has written
on this subject dsasrees with MIR. Smiths
appreciation Of Hildebrands character. He
was man Of great learning. the chief coun-
sellor Of three Popes before he became Pope.
He lived in an age when the Church was en-
slaved by the semi -barbaric barons. by the
German Emperors and, particularly, by
Henry w. These intruders into the sanctu
ary had forced their unworthy creatures into
the Church beneflces which they sold to the
highest bidder 50 that simony and licen-
tiousness were widespread among the clergy.
AL historians admit that Gregory. q cours-
Reous and holy man. reformed the clergy.
broke the chains OF secular slavery. and
abolished the scandals that dsgraced the
Church and disedfed the people. To this
work OF reform he devoted his life with a
persistence and a fearlessness that brought
on him cruel persecution and, finally. exile.
He was, in fact the greatest Catholic reformer
that ever lived. He compelled the Emperor
Henry w.. by a sentence Of exoommunica
ton. 70 free the Church and to do penance.
ali hoa
attacked his private char acter. He was
pure, self-sacritlcing and Jealous Pontin.
OF a score Of historians who have written
the story OF his life or Of his time and
bear testimony to his virtues and his great
works | shall quote 9regorovius only. the
learned Protestant author OF the 'Geschich-
der Stadt Rom i'm Mittelalter" Vol ".
page 1917. I give almost literal translation
of his words
and represent the spiritual greatness OF the Popg>:
Leo before whom the fearful slaughterer A'tia
turned .dt sd oefSTs s ,Ss %hsm Mn
the beholder OF these world renowned scenes vii
not be equally moved by them; for the irst will MI
will win his admiration for a character aIrost
superhuman. The weaponless victory of the monk
than t ali the victories Of an Alexander, Of a Cr>ar
or OF Napoleon The battles which the PoN"S
1 and ihe Sa and SS hs use n
the operation OF such delicate and spiritual meas
to MT the Middle Ages sometimes far abo,c
our own age NAPOLEON compared to Gregor
appears only as bloodthlrsty barbarian Grcg
0ry s character is a real phenomenon OF the Midd"
Ages All ages Will be charmed in contemplating II
and the history OF the Christian world would Io,'
one ot IT'S most extraordinary chapters n this pov
ertul character. the mechanics son In the TIA 10
were left out.
Gaab. another Protestant. writes In the
same strain: SO do ,Grforer. Leo. ,yolgt and
Dollinger. These Protestant, and Cathollr
historians do, justice to character which
Mr. Smith fails to appreciate.
II is only few months ago since he a..
tackled in TIE SYN the gentle and long sui.
in hi. relations with a French Emperor; and
now Mr. Smith finds fault with the real Hid.
brand for being "Hildebrandic" with a Ie,-
man Emperor Whence this contradiction
fear that Mr.. smith bias is such that no Pope
cal fact that even octogenarians who have
no religious convictions and who loud
profess to be liberal" are sometimes the most
unjust and the most bigoted enemies OF 'er
Catholic Church, the anvil that breaks al!
the hammers. HENRY A. BRANN, DID.
Rector OF st. Agnes's Church
yonR Oct "a