The Indianapolis journal., 1903-07-21
IRELAND's NEED OF PRAISE.
Eloquent Tribute TO Leo and HIS At
titude Touara Modern Lsfe.

ST. PAUL. Mimi. July 20-On receipt OF
the news of the death of Pope Leo. Arch
bishop Ireland paid the following tribute to
the dead prelate:
I'm Leo a truly great and good man
passes from earth. The extraordinary. the
unparalleled interest with which the world
this last fortnight kept vigil around the
matically with grim death, is a mangnifi-
cent tribute 10 Leo, which nothing could
ever have evoked. save unusual grandeur
of soul, and unusual feats, the offspring Of
that grandeur. In the death OF Leo human
ity realizes that an orb OF light, such as IS
seldom seen TO dominate the high skies of
its moral and Intellectual armament. has
fallen, making mighty void which soon
again may not be filled. Great and good.
truly Leo was fashioned b. grace divine
To have sat at his knee and heard him
tell of the sights he saw, OF the dreams
he dreamt, of purposings. of plannings be-
gotten OF his sights and dreams, was To be
made TO forget for moment earths COM
mon limitations and TO behold human life
and destiny as prophets behold IT. And
how quick in action that mind OF Leo was.
how piercing in glance. Hours would have
been spent with others i'm settling a prob
lem before them, and detail had TO follCw
detail, before they had grasped It's bear
ings- A few minutes with Leo, few brief
explanations, mostly IN answer TO rapid
questionings from himself. the problem was
understood and the solution given. How
rich and varied the store of knowledge.
Rapidly as he conversed he would travel
from literature 10 science and art. from
theology 10 diplomacy--everywhere the
manifest master. everywhere the cultured
scholar.
Greatness includes goodness, or at least
without goodness greatness is no boon TO
humanity. Leo was good man; he shone
IN virtue. His life was unsullied. He was
deeply imbued with the spirit of faith. He
lived and worked purely for God and for
men. Most high-minded disinterestedness
of purpose, most absolute isolation OF self
to the duties OF his exalted Office charac-
terized all his acts.
He was made to win the hearts OF men.
He was simple and loving a child In his
intimate relations with people who came into
his presence: considerable and tactful sweet
of temper and kindliest of word. He met
kings and peasants, men Of highest social
rank and of lowest-all bowed before his
graciousness and whispered to him words
OF affection and devotion.
"A great man requires besides his native
greatness greatness I'm setting. greatness in
opportunities. All this was given i'm SUPER
abundance TO Leo. There Is no other post OF
honor and duty so elevated so sublime. as
the Roman pontifcate, the treasury OF CEN
turies of inspirations. the worlds chair OF
moral authority, ruling directly 2J0,0o0OoO OF
every tribe and every nation, suiting indi-
rectly by the silent prestige of its name
and power, by the vast spiritual force of its
life and teachings. entire humanity. Into
that pontificate Leo entered; I'm IL ne reigned
as only two Of his predecessors reigned. a
quarter of a century-leaving posterity 10
say. as he closes the last pages of his rec
ord, that I'm him the Catholic Church has
had one of the most wondrous of her won
drous sovereigns and humanity one OF it's
noblest thinkers and highest exemplars OF
fidelity TO God-given duty.
THE age owes much to him. He was the
powerful exponent of the mighty power OF
the whole Catholic Church I'm its line of on
ward march. All humanity has been hene-
fitted by him. His noble life has been an
exemplar Of ideal conduct He worked for
for he believed that the church was the
lever wherewith 10 uplift humanity He new
er sought TO help the church except through
motives and methods most worthy I'm them
selves, most useful 10 humanity. He never
hesitated to reach out beyond the formal
confines of the church 10 serve humanity. TO
serve nations and men. who were not of the
fold of the church. The heart OF Leo as his
mind. knew no limitations. frontiers: ne
was the pontiff OF humanity.
What a majestic figure was that of Leoi
There ne stood for twenty-sx long years.
an old man. stripped OF external power
naught but a personality and a voice. But
kings and emperors did him homage: his
words were caught up by the peoples OF an
countries: his hand reached out 10 the high
and the low. and the cultured scholar and
the untutored savage: 10 peoples civilized
and tribes barbarian; and by ell IL was
grasped with loving and reverent tender
ness No other man reigned at tile dawn OF
the twentieth century as Leo reigned-truly
the sovereign OF sovereigns- IL was the
of truth and of justice. the triumph of soul
replenished with truth and justice.
with Leo there dies the admirer and the
lover OF America. Said he 20 a bishop from
America one day: oh. America. IL Is the
futurer Leos clear vision o1 things far
away, in time as well as IN distance. hs-
CONTINUED ON PAGE s. COL Z.