The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-07-25


was dying.
Pecci was well acquainted. with Car
cinai Feratu. who soon became Plus
IN. and that pope made him archbish-
on OF rerugia at the age OF thirty-six.
Nearly at the same time the new pope
granted general amnesty for political
offenses and was for a time regarded
as a man OF liberal intentions.
IL was fortunate for Archbishop Pee
Ct tina; he could retire 10 a distance
from Rome In the mountains toward
Tuscany and exercise his prerogatives
without becoming involved In the ris-
irg political passions at the Eternal
City, where very soon MaZzini. Carl
baldi and others revolutionized Rome
and formed a triumvirate OF dictators
and had 10 stand a siege by tho French,
1T the close Of " hich the pope was so
heartily frightened that he revoked his
liberal dispositions.
Retired 10 city OF about 10000 PEG
pie. the archbishop OF Perugia, as has
been said. lived there thirty-two years,
or down 10 the year 1873. lie was a
universal reader. and among the wise
saints In the Catholic age he chose ST.
Charles Borromeo as man 10 initiate.
the ciyer OF his riches 20 aims and edu-
cation. lie thereupon gave his mind TO
the study OF education in Pcrugia.
He made up his mind I'm the first
place to educate his clergy thoroughly
and o see that their habits were indus
trious and pure. Next he set upon the
education OF the upper classes, many OF
whom were contemptibly illiterate.
Finally he came down 20 the children
At one time the revolutionary ele
ments In Perugia arose. and a conflict
took place between them and the papal
troops, who were OF all nations, Swiss,
German Irish, and even American, and
the populace was worstcd
The archbishop surrounded himself
with friends OF like tastes with his own.
favorable 10 education and sincerely de
sirous OF seeing morals made voluntary
He had been received In the city. when
he returned there the second time, with
q magnificent demonstration. AS the
ruler. both ecclesiastic and civil. he In
habitad the palace upon the public
square. which had on one side OF II the
city hall and on the other the cathedral.
In 1854 he was made a cardinal. and
this entitled him 10 take part in the se-
lection OF future popes.
Balancing back for a monsent az these
dates. we will see that the pope was
born in the year after Gladstone. that
he became q full priest near the close
OF General Jackson's administration
and that he became archbishop OF Re
rugta M the time OF orr Mexican war
His habits did not differ Mt any time.
lie was remarkably laborious OF
spare frame. with n high. capacious
forehead. a large mouth. a full. long
and expressive nose and nm expression
OF thorough refinement. purity and
acutcness
BEING nooleman OF the best class OF
italian descent and OF a nation imme-
ardent for knowledge and low
Ing the arts. he was also destitute ot
sourncss and had convictions without
being opinionated.
None could impeach his private life
Tie was ever accessible TO his priests
and 10 those people who required HIN
as a spiritual friend. but he also had
high spirit and when browbeaten dis
closed something like military power
within. and he could use indignant
words. He was too worldly wise To @
cheated, too discreet 10 commit himself
I'm either word or deed except as his
Judgment and conscience were touched.
md after the Italians I'm 1850 overran
his state they found that he was n diff
fcrlt man 10 handle in that he kept on
the side OF intelligent publlc opinion.
In short, ne was n pope I'm spirit. rep
the antiquity and authority
OF the church long before II was proba-
BILE that he would fiji the pontifcal
chair. He rose 20 this distinction at
last by having deserved It.
Though II is probable that he was
not unmindful OF the honor and infiu-
eace OF that great Office. he knew too
well that 10 reach II ~ this dangerous
age he must deserve by n comb'1a-
ton OF character, OF courage and OF
wisdom
In 1860 the French troops were with
drawn from Rome. and the pope was
left 10 such an army as he could him
self create. The Italians, however. six
years previously had overrun Sicily
and Naples. annexed Tuscany and 9th
pr states. and finally Venice. and were
10 occupy the papnl states.
At this time Cardinal Pecci addressed
the priests In words which should bc
common 10 all churches. saying:
"The moral conduct OF the priests Is
the mirror into which the people look
to find model for their own demcan.
or Every shadow, every stain, is re-
marked by the vulgar eye, and the
mere shadow is enough TO make the
people lose their esteem OF pricstly
worth. II is impossible that priest
who lays himself open 10 such re
proaches or suspicious, who has the
name OF being self indulgent. interest
pd and OF irregular living. should give
forth that fragrance OF pure life. that