Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-03-31

Capuchin church. So it is all over
the city. Money seems to be the one
end and aim Of the church authorities
with reference to these treasures from
the past. Sometimes it seems as if
i Michel Angelo toiled in vain for this
city, yet not in vain, for they cannot
cover St. Peters though they may
shut the doors of their treasure store
houses. All that is really best and
greatest in Rome seems to have felt
the touch Of this master artist. In
architecture, in sculpture and in fres-
Goes, he has left untold wealth to
Rome. Even the quaint costumes of
the Swiss guards at the Vatican, are
said to have been designed by him.
| Of churches there are too many by
half. IF they could destroy half of
| them, or turn them to more needed
and better use, the city would be richer
and the souls Of the poor would be as
we'll cared for. If they would set to
work fifty thousand Of the priests,
make them to earn an honest living
and let the people have more food
and better raiment and more COM
Portable houses, then religion would
have a bigger influence III Rome. |
care not whether it be in some little
town in Minnesota where three or
four or nine Or ten different denonina-
tions are fighting for living and
supporting ministers who have no
place there, or whether it be in Rome
where thousands Of clergy are simply
and solely leeches on the poor-I would
rebel. The wonder to me is that
they have stood it as long as this.
The worm will turn some day and
then the church will surely suffer.
Hawthorne has we'll put it, in speak
ing of Rome" every where some
fragment of ruin : suggesting
1magnificence of former epoch,
everywhere moreover a cross, and
nastiness at the foot of it," The
church of Rome is undoubtedly the
one instrument which at present can
help the large mass of the Italian
people. The terrible thing is to see
how little it really does for them.
Conditions such as obtained here are
driving thousands Of educated, good
Catholics away from all forms Of
religious observation. Such conditions
by one tenth of the Catholic church.
I say this will all due reverence and
respect for the great history of the
church Of Rome. What I have said
comes to me not from Protestants,
but from nominal Catholics about
Italy. Everywhere we here the cry
''Too many churches, too many
clergy" One instance of the way
money is being almost entirely wasted
SO far as he. spiritual uplift of the
people is concerned, is ST. Paul's
church outside the walls. Here is
being erected at enormous cost, a
magnificent cathedral, one which in
the opinion of some out-ranks St. !.
Peters in elegance. And yet the
natural constituency of that district is
not above two hundred souls. True
the spot is said to be that of the
martyrdom of St. Paul, but the fact
still remains, the money expended
here will not give good dividends in
spiritual food.
The "worlds Cathedral st. Peters
is perhaps the best known edifce in
the world. Here all sorts and con-
ditions of men assemble to do honor
to it's greatness, to worship at it's
shrine. You may not be member
of the great Roman church, you may
be hereto, but if you are religiously
inclined, here you may worship with no
one to modest Or make afraid. lido not
doubt that thousands of those whom t
The church does not recognize, here
really worship God. Hawthorne calls
t, "The grandest edifice ever built by [
man." First impressions there again {
ire disappointing, but gradually the I
,plendor and glory and richness and
of it all, are borne in upon I
7ou. Here one sees the marks of q