The San Francisco call., 1907-06-23

feng trial. marked By forged evidences
and trunped charges. she was adjudgsd
guilty. On the sOth of May. 14s1. only
a little more than two years after she
had made. her appearance on the
worlds stage OF deeds. snes completed
her martyrdom at the. stake.
- Her death ended the controversy that
had ragged about her. Her family made
prompt and determined effort TO have
justice at least done her memory. 1t
was not-for nine years that they could
get any hearing, and it took fs more
before finally, in 1856. her trial was re-
viewed. and It was recorded by ths
judges that she. had been unjustiy ac-
cused, and that an innocent maiden
went to death when the flames con
su1ned the body OF Joan OF Arc.
French Peasants Loyal
Since that time she has found mary
champions It Is Significant that for
centuries artists have been painting
Joan with the circle. the halo Of saint
hood. surrounding her head. Nor did
the .pious loyalty of the French peasant
to their great heroine ever waver.
: Affairs have been raised to Joan
throughout the republic. and the yearly
festival in her honor at Orleans was
dfstinctively a religious function
Desire to get recognition from Rome
= for this patron saint OF France moved
+. Mgr. Dupanloup to present to the holy
see the claims of the peasant maiden
Rome did not respond Immediately
The habitual scaution OF the holy see
in dealing with the bestowment Of the
churchs highest honors acted as a
deterrent. The good Pope Leo. then
in the Vatican. advised slow proceed
ure, and at his suggestion it was
agreed that no matter what the ind
ing of the court might be. It would
wait 10 years before announcing the
beatihcation of Joan.
The researches at that time to prove
the complete worthiness OF Joan were
most exhaustive. Nothing could have
been more detailed. One hundred and
twenty-five meetings were held at Or
leans and the church gained access
10 records that enabled it to review
every word of the famous trial AT
the end of this examination. it was
unanimously decided that no stigma
attached to the candidate for saint
hood
Cardinal Parocchl and Mgr. Touchet
played conspicuous part in these in
vestigations ana did much to secure
the decision that resulted in the papal
bull announcing the beatiication.
France hailed the result with enthu-
siasm. and Orleans. wishing to make
the hrst of the annual celebrations sue
ceeding the church's recognition OF
Joan notable affair. Immediately ar
ranged to have prominent dignitaries
OF the church to take charge OF the
ceremonlals.
This brought about the interference
OF Premier Clenleneeau. He based his
objection to the worshiping OF Joan
of Arc as saint. on the proposition
that the evolution of society depends
OF the gradual abandonment of certain
traditions. In voting the separation
of church and state. he said. the French
republic had renouncsd many ancient
forms and secular traditions. IN
his eyes it would be a step back
ward TO take Joan OF Arc from her
place as a warrior and patriot and put
her. in the list OF religious characters
This brought angry replies from
those who contended that all that Joan
< did for France came as result of re-
ligious promptinss; that in her char
acter piety and patriotism were 80
closely allied that it was not pcssibls
to separate them. and that her every
!. act was animated BY both impulses.
= s-But the premier is all powerful, for
8 the present at least and has decided
against JOAN Perhaps In so doing he
: may invite his downfall. for the French
+ peasant is loyal to his heroes and has
L estubbornness OF character that Is
proverb:ally hard to overcome.