Evening star., 1903-07-21

and morality. and an equally sincere ap-
plication OF them in public and private
life.
THE quiet which supervened upon the
troublous days OF the .>ulturkampf gave
to his holiness the opportunity of exercis-
ing his office OF teacher of mankind. In
the encyclical on Human Liberty he gave
a luminous expose Of the Catholic doctrine
and dfscredtted current systems. Human
liberty. properly understood. necessarily
makes for the good OF the individual and
the sway Of law. which is a rule not of
his own making. fnasmuch as 1t Is above
him. In very truth. 1t Is the expression in
the rational creature of that admirable
order which is Gods own life. 1t follows
that the highest privilege as well as duty
of man Is to submit himself to law. as
also that human society must find the
source and sanction Of its legislation IN q
higher authority than itself In a line with
these pronouncements was the recommen-
dation that Christian citizens engage in
working for the common good. and that
they employ their talents in the defense
preservation and advancement OF their
country.
Fought Slavery; Labored for Industrial
Peace.
But the teacher Of christendom is at
the same time the father of christendom.
Whatever concerns man as man Is OF in
terest to him. for he considers all his chill
tiff. who strove to lead men from the dark
ness of error into Gods admirable light,
exert himself to strike from human limbs
the shackles wherewith they were bound.
By forceful words and generous donations
he supported Cardinal Lavigeries crusade
against the African slave trade. In this
he was but sustaining the traditions of his
predecessors in the see Of st. Peter. And
IL, at some future day civilized nations
will so far forget their rivalries as to
hidaa1S fra n
of the earth history must In Justice &C
cord the initiative Of SO blessed consum-
nation to Leo XIII. In the same spirit
with these humanitarian efforts was the
publication on May Is. 1891, Of an encycli-
cal on the condition Of the working class
es. With characteristic grasp and kind
liest sympathy, the pope discussed the
rights and duties of employer and work
men and found basis Of cooperation be-
tween them in the practice of mutual char
ity: .,o.o
has been very nearly associated with the
progress of the Catholic Church in the
United States, for 1t was Leo XIII who
convened in plenary council the hierarchy
and clergy to deliberate upon the perfect1ng
Of church organization in this country. The
enactments Of the council, which closed its
session on Sunday. December 9, 1884. were
In due time approved by his holiness, ana
they constitute today the standard of dis
cipline throughout the republic. Not the
least important result of this illustrious
gathering was the determination OF the
fathers, with the sanction of Rome. to pro-
vide for the most comprehensive education
Of both clergy and laity: The sovereign
pontiff entered heart and soul into project
which was at once 50 necessary and so con-
genial to his nature and previous training.
He had himself elaborated the scheme
which was to come up for discussion. The
present Catholic University Of America. sit
uated at Washington. is the concrete ex-
preston of the councils hopes, and an en-
during pledge of Leo's affection for the
United States.
while the great pontiffs remains are
awaiting their final resting place 1t Is fitting
that we should pay this tribute of devotion
to his memory. for he was a man Of re-
source and our father in his generation In
the annals Of history he will live as a
scholar. statesman. a philanthroptst and
giant among great leaders Of men, The true
Christian will further honor him for that
the Lord gave him the priesthood OF the
nation and made him blessed In glory In
life he was known as Lumen In Coelo-
the light given of heaven to lead men home
to the heart Of God. In death we cherish
the thought that they that are learned shall
shine as the brightness Of the armament:
and they that instruct many unto justice,
as the stars to all eternity.