Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-04-24
Joan or ARC

last sunday. April rs, Joan OF Al'
was soiemnlv beouhed In Rome with
due ceremonies And never before was
reverence raid boy the Roman church
,o tbe memory of a mortal more de-
serving of honor Joan OF Arc was an
instrument in Gods hands for the SAL
walton OF the Independence OF France
shs was inspired to do that work.
which no one else was capable OF doing
Her miraculous calling, her marvellous
though brief. career and her tragic end
form one Of the chapters IN human MS
tory Of which il can truly be said that
truth Is stranger than fiction
seldom has the extinction OF a ma
H;on appeared more inevitable than
was the case with France when Joan
OF Arc appeared ON the scene. Tho
peopie were discouraged by series OF
dreadful defeats in war and foreign
king had been proclaimed in the French
capital The French were divided into
factions and weakened by Vices ana
crimes. Anarchy and brigandage pre-
vailed. The English were masters Of
the northern provinces and prepared
for the conquest Of the south. The CITY
Of orleans was regarded as the last
stronghold Of the French national
Marty. Il vas thought that France
must necessarily fan. II the English
could obtain possession Of that place
one Of the most sldlful OF the English
generals, the Earl OF Salisbury. march
ed To the attack and appeared before
the walls Of the city on the 18Th Of
october 1923. The investment was car
rled on with great vlgor salisbury was
killed. but his successor Lord SUFFOLK
continued the siege with energy and
the city seemed 20 be doomed. IL was
during this crisis that the deliverer APP
peared. in the form 81 young peasant
girl from an obscure village
Joan OF Arc was born at Domremy on
tho borders OF Lorraine Her parents
were poor but respected. According 70
her own testimony she was about thir-
teen years old when she received her
first revelation. Before her merciless
prosecutors she testified that
al the age OF thirteen, a voice
from God came near 10 her 20 help hel
in ruling herself and that voice came
10 her about the hour OF noon, ~ sun
,ncr time. IA her fathers garden she
had tasted the day before. And she
heard tho voice on her right, IN the
direction OF the church, and when she
heard the voice she also saw a orlSht
light. Afterwards, st. Michael and ~
Margaret and ST. Catherine appeared
10 her. They were always In a halo OF
Glory. she could see that their heads
were crowned with Jewels ana she
heard their voices, which were sWeet
and mild. She did not distinguish thelr
arms or limbs. She heard them .lole
frenuentlv than she saw them. ana the
,,sual time when she heard them was
,,hcn the church bells were sounding
Cor PRAYER. And II she was In the woods
when she heard them she could PLAINLY
distineuish their voices drawing meat
~ her. When she thought that she
dlscerned the heavenly voices, she hilell
down and bowed herself 10 the GROUND.
Their presence gladdened her even 70
tears: and after they departed she Wept
because they had not taken hef WIN
them back TO Paradise Lhey ,s 80 ~
smoke soothingly 20 her they tola her
NnAl INllANN WYNN ~
she was 10 save H.
such were the visions and visitations
this peasant girl OF the age OF thirteen
claimed 10 have. Consequently when
the tidings came 20 her native village
~ the siege OF Orleans, and the SUI
ferlngs OF the population, she informed
her parents of her divine mission ana
prevailed upon an uncle 10 take hef
40 Vauculeur where Baudrcourt COM
handed. The grief and anger OF her
parents did not prevent her from obey
ing the voices she had heard. Baudr-
court al first thought her insane. but
gradually he was persuaded 20 send her
20 the king. She was equipped az "a
knight. and was. after some difficulties
admitted into the presence OF the dau-
phin. Charles disguised himself, in orr
der 10 test the powers Of the holy
maid but she singled him out imme-
diately among his courtiers, and. kneel-
ing before him, said. Most noble
Dauphiu, the King of Heaven an-
uounoes 90 you by me that you shall
De annonted and crowned king in me
city of Rheims. ana that sou SHAH oe
his ucogerent n France
We mas theorze about tht mystcri-
Gus influence that inspired this remark
able woman. but the TACT remains that
the common people soon became firm
believers iu her divine calling and thaN
the soldiers buudly followed her lead
She clcansed the camps of the Freaci
OF au bad characters She compelled
both generals and soldiers to attend th'
devotional exercises. and punIshe,
those who iudulgcd in oaths and fou
language. The army folt that h. mus
e. forward Don "a new spirit. and th
purity and the holiness of the slrl WA
admired by am Mem women anl
children thronged around her, to touc
her garment, or her banner. Her yer
presence u New Orleans meant neY
nfc. new nope. WHOM the decision wa
taken 90 make "a sortlo and stack th
English forts, Joan was among an
nrst to reach inc bulwarhs. She plan,
"a her banner in the ground. raise
ladder against the wall and oom
menced 90 ascend. But She was hid b
an arrow between the neck aud shout
Gers and fell back bleeding. She wa
carried away 90 the rear and IN
French soon became discouraged au