The evening world., 1903-07-20

SiNty-six years a priest and twenty
Ave years Pope, Leo XIII. was the old
est man in active public life In the
world.
In feeble health at the time he was
elected to succeed Plus TX. by careful
living and abstenious habits ne pro-
longed his life far beyond expectation.
To the end he had remarkable vitality
and his mental faculties were strong and
vigorous.
In June, 1901. on his ninetieth birth
day. he issued an Encyclical on Ameri-
oanism which caused much discussion.
In June, 1891. he issued a letter on labor
which also aroused much interest.
On March .. 1902. Leo XIII. took part
in the public celebrations in honor of
the twenty-fourth anniversary of his
coronation by holding "Papal chapel"
in the Basilica Of St. Peters, on which
occasion he was greeted by $1,000 per-
Yons.
This was the first time Chapel had
been held in the Basilica since 1870,
such ceremonies having heretofore taken
place in the Sistne Chapel. Thirty
cardinals were among those present.
On March 30, 1902, Pope Leo published
q long encyclical letter. the tone of
which suggested testamentary recon-
mendations, and in which he deplored
the renewed attacks on the Church and
the "recent errors of humanity" in
stancing divorce, and picturing the pres
ent condition of society as having drift
ed into a state of anarchy.
Anniversary Celebration.
of
Pope Leos coronation was celebrated at
the Vatican July 6, 1902, by the entire
Papal Court, and thousands of members
of all the Catholic societies assembled in
Rome for the occasion.
The las. notable enoyiical OF Leo
XIII. was dated Oct. 3O 1902. and was
designed to promote study of the Scrip
lures.
In February of this year he wrote a
poem, dedicated to triend. whom he
desired to advise on the best means Of
prolonging life.
The twenty-hfth anniversary Of his
election to the Chair OF st. Peter was
celebrated Feb. 20 of this year with
elaborate pomp in the Hall Of Beath-
cation. above the portico OF st. Peters
On this occasion he was presented with
Q gold tiara, costing $4,000. as the jubi-
lee present of the Catholic world, and
with large sums of money from various
sources.
Received King and Kaiser.
The celebration of the twenty-fifth an
niversary OF the late Popes coronation
occurred in St. Peters March 3, last,
with all the impressiveness and grandeur
of the Catholic Church, and on April
ha fa nf r.
passed in length that OF st; Peter, Leo
XIII. having then been elected Pope
twenty-five years two months and seven
days, known as "the Years of Peter"
King Edward visited the late Pope in
the latter part of April, and Emperor
William was received by the late Pontin
early in May
and Gladstone begin their career: as
Pope, still powerful and active. he saw
them retire and die.
Outlived Many NotabIes.
He saw the rise OF Lincoln to great
ness and mourned the martyred Presi-
He was a priest. ordained, when Gro
yer Cleveland was year old.
He was in the rush OF his college
He had done conspicuous service in
the Church before Queen Victoria came
He was two years old when we began
our ad sso0ad 81 ye win When Gre89
Since his birth have come the printing
machine. the ocean steamship, the tele-
graph. the electric light and a host Of
Inventions once wondrous.
He saw two, republics and an empire
united all Germany into an empire.
He was but thirteen. years from the
Papaey when our civil war. ended and
Cancellation His Policy.
Coming to the Papal. throne at time
when 1t had been shorn or all Its tenn
poral power and only its spiritual func-
tions remained. Lee. turned his back on
Italy on the day of his coronation, but
beyond the mere fact OF his refusing
To recognize the Italian monarchy his
career AS Pope was not one OF aSgres-
slon. Recognizing the uselessness of a
power. he wasted no time in that di,
rection. His policy was one of con.
tinuous conciliatlon, directed toward the
securing securing Of absolute 9l,t,, unity in the
world.
He kept constantly in touch with the
religious and political movements, and
abroad was something marvellous But
although the conciliation and unifying
of Church interests were his constant
aim. he never carried his concessions to
, point involving the loss OF dignity.
His work was done with his eyes on
grand church of the future, and never
for n moment did he lose faith in the
final triumph of broad Catholic princi-
pies.
Baptized Joachim Pecci.
Pope Leo was the son of n noble fam
fly. He was born in the little mountain
town OF Carpineto In the Apennines,
and his father was Count Pecci He
was baptized Joachim Vincent Raphael
Lodovico Pecci. His father was a SOL
dier tnder the great Napoleon, under
whose heel Italy was suffering at the
time of Joachim's birth.
When Napoleon had been overthrown
Pope Plus returned to his sovereignty
and, the Society of Jesus restored. the
education q the future Pope was in