The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-07-24


dangerously near his fall.
When he got to Rome Pope Gregory
was dying.
Pecci was well acquainted with Car
dinal Feratti, who soon became Plus
IN, and that pope made him archbish-
op of Perugia at the age Of thirty-siX.
Nearly at the same time the new pope
granted general amnesty for political
offenses and was for Il time regarded
as a man of liberal intentions.
1t was fortunate for Archbishop Pee
eli that he could retire TO a distance
from Rome in the mountains toward
Tuscany and exercise his prerogatives
without becoming involved in the ris-
ing political passions at the Eternal
City, where very soon MaZZini. Carl
baldi and others revolutionized Rome
and formed n triumvirate of dictators
and had to stand a siege by the French.
at the close Of which the pope was so
heartily frightened that he revoked his
liberal dispositions
Retired 10 a city of about 10000 peo-
pie, the archbishop of Perugla as has
been said, lived there thirty-two years,
or down To the year 1873. He was n
universal reader and among the wise
saints i'm the Catholic age he chose st.
Charles Bo~romeo as a man to initiate,
the giver of his riches 10 aims and edu-
cation. He thereupon gave his mind to
the study of education in Perugia.
He made mp his mind in the first
place TO educate his clergy thoroughly
and TO see that their habits were indus
triouS and pure. Next he set upon the
education of the upper classes. many of
whom were contempubly illiterate
Finally he came down to the children.
At one time the revolutionary ele-
ments in Perugia arose, and a conflict
took place between them and the papal
troops, who We're of all nations Swiss,
German. Irish, and even American, and
the pOpulace was worSted.
The archbishop surrounded himself
with friends Of like tastes with his own,
favorable To 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
a magnificent demonstration As the
ruler. both ecclesiastic and civil, he in
habited the palace upon the public
square. which had on one side Of it the
city hall and on the other the cathedral.
In 1854 he was made a cardinal and
this entitled him TO take part in the Sc
lection Of future popes.
CHANGING back for. moment at these
dates. we Will see that the pope was
born in the year after Gladstone. that
he became a full priest near the close
of General Jacksons administration
and that he became archbishop Of Pc
rugia N the time of orr Mexican war.
His habits did not differ at any time.
He was remarkably laborious. Of
spare frame, with a high, capacious
forehead a large mouth. full. long
and expressive nose and an expression
Of thorough refinement, purity and
acutencss.
Being a nobleman Of the best class of
italian descent and OF n nation imme-
MORALLY ardent for knowledge and low
ing the arts. he was also destitute Of
sourness and had convictions without
being opinionated.
None could impeach his private life.
He was ever accessible to his priests
and TO those people who required him
as spiritual friend. but he also had
high spirit and when browbeaten dis
closed something like n military power
within. and he could use indignant
words. He was too worldly wise TO he
cheated. too discreet TO commit himself
in either word or deed except as his
Judgment and conscience were touched.
and after the Italians in 1860 overran
his state they found that he was a diff
ficult man to handle in that he kept on
the side Of intelligent public opinion.
In short. he was pope in spirit, rep
resenting the antiquity and authority
of the church long before IT was proba-
BILE that he would fill the pontifcal
chair. He rose to this distinction at
last by having deserved it.
Though il is probable that he was
not unmindful Of the honor and infiu-
ence of that great office, he knew too
we'll that to reach it in this dangerous
age he must deserve it by a combina-
ton of character. of courage and of
wisdom.
In 1866 the French troops were with
drawn from Rome. and the pope was
left to such an army as he could him
self create. The Italians, however, six
years previously had overrun Sicily
and Naples annexed Tuscany and 9th
or states. and finally Venice, and were
determined to occupy the papal states.
At this time Cardinal Pecci addressed
the priests in words which should be
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 demean-
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. 1t is impossible that priest
who lays himself open TO such re-
proaches or suspicious. who has the
name Of being self indulgent, interest