New-York tribune., 1907-08-24
M. .S4BATIER ON Plus X.
Biographer of St. Francis ReUiescs
Relation of Pope to Church.

Two articles dealing with the present position Of
the Roman Catholic Church in its relation to the
Papacy, especially in italy and France, have been
contributed to The London Times within the
| last weeks by Paul Sabater, the French his
torian. NJ. Sabatie is always associated
with his WE de St Francois. the first edition
| OF which appeared In 1893 and which has been
translated into practically all the languages Of
Europe is said that the first Russian transla-
| ton was made under the personal direction of
Tolstoy.
In the second of these articles NJ. Sabater quotes
| a conversation which took place between one Of
the French bishops and Pope Plus Y regarding
| the situation in France. NJ. Sabatier says that
few French bishops have been able to tell the
Pope frankly what the real condition Of affairs
| in France and speaks of how their dignity as
| bishops had been wounded when they were treated
by Rome as mere petty officials. as, for instance
SAYS NJ. Sabatier in the telegram of December.
1906. bishop is reported to have said, in part
10 the Pope:
1T is saddening note that the phantoms or
GaIlicanisrn and Jansenism stn haunt the halls Of
| the Vatican and that It is with them one has to
reckon in order to explain various measures which
betray such slight confidence in the French eris-
copate. At no period Of history has unity been
SO strong. The danger of schism exists only in
the ina agnation Of few journalists at their wits
end-which, however, does not mean that our
conception of unity is coarse and phar1saicaI
as that which prevails in certain quarters. For
us unity lies in the future rather than in the past
in intentions rather than formula. in the contn-
uity of life rather than in rigid and often de-
Ceptive uniformity.
Unity a fact perhaps the most essential fact
of our religious life: and just because it Is fact
of supreme potency we are not always thinking
about it, and surprised, distressed some
times irritated. when we are invited to give
fresh proofs of fidelity. The most united
families are those which protestatons Of affec-
ton are superfuous A father has the right to
command and to he obeyed, but he should not
command merely for the pleasure of commanding
and in order to try the fidelity Of his children
Authority is rot an end IN itself but a means
These thoughts Holy Father. those OF many
French bishops They rarely express them 10
you. either because when they come 10 Rome they
are overwhelmed with questions TO be settled win
different branches Of the pontficai ADMINISTRATION
or because when they approach these matters
which preoccupy them they provoke an astonlSh-
ment which resembles a call TO order.
The Pope" says NJ sabatier. who had lis
tened in silence broken only by calculations OF sur
prise or sympathetic signs, replied;
I thank you for your frankness. am glad 10
be told everything. You indeed far from shaT-
ing the hopes Of many of your colleagues ana OF
others of great ssintliness who entreat me to
take decisive measures in order to arrest the Hood
tide of errors. What should, in your opinion, oe
done?'
Your holiness have been told. intends shortly
IN convoke another episcopal assembly. ] should
like to il left absolutely and entirely free 10
settle its own order day and to deal with all
the questions which preoccupy US, so that all
thoughtful and religious people in France and else
where should witness its serenity and independence
and the loftiness of its debates. That would he a
proof if it has been possible to separate the
Church from the State. ii has been impossible TO
separate the Church from France
Thus ended the conversation which
counted to three days after it occurred by the
Bishop himself. Plus y was so kindly, so encoCr-
aging that the prelate full of hope. A fort
night later, on his return 10 his diocese he found
there awaiting MIN letter from friend in Rome
announcing that the Pope had decided not TO con-
woke another general assembly of the episcopate.
Is that result victory or a defeat? Many French
bishops thus Of crisis occurring in their
sentiments toward the authority of the Holy See:
and that crisis is the severe in that it is
OF their creating. They would like obey the
Holy Father with a loyalty thorough as in the
past when they listen to their thoughts
they are conscious OF a note of constraint and
doubt
In an editorial upon these articles by NJ Sabatier
''The London Times of August u says
In one sense this is a survey from the outside.
NJ Sabatter is a Protestant and the fact is, Of
course, held by many Catholics 10 disqualify him
a judge Of the Church It is a favorite and
very convenient maxim among Roman Catholics
that none but of themselves can understand or
rightly criticise Catholicism Needless say
this is a maxim which hardly be accepted.
To the lay mind Catholicism and it's rulers are to
be judged. like history In general. by any fair
minded and clear sighted observer who has studied
the facts, and the biographe- of ST. Francis is
one of these. None can accuse him of lacking
sympathy. He has the historical imagination al
i'm He loves the institution for its
antiquity. for the work it has DONE for the
holy men, the saints, 1t has produced, men of
whom st. Francis of Assist is the type and one Of
the chiefs. His admiration for holiness and hl-
mility IS such to make him singularIy appre-
cIative of the virtues of Plus Y. But. being an
historical critic. accustomed to study character
not only itself but in upon events he
becomes aware that this very Pope whom he so
. reverences is bringing the Church into a position
of extreme danger. Weakness, internal discord
even possible disruption. the actual tnreat-
ened results of the mistakes committed by this
most unworldly Pope whose very UNIV orldness
leads him to give easy to advisers whose
motives may be less worthy than his own"