Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1909-05-27

I.
nan and Rs 4 warrior before being
passed upon is a spirit, and the pa
paI brief read on the occasion Of the
wonderful ceremony at ST. Peters
was valuable because 1t shed new
light on life that has been more or
less eveloped in mystery.
These Investigations show that the
celebration Of the Epiphany. jan
uary 9, 1912, will make the 600th
anniversary Of the birth Of Joan.
Her interview with Charles VII, at
Crimson is shown to have been the
first revelation Of her divine gifts,
for while he vacillated at starting a
fight for the throne because he had
doubts that he was the son Of Charles
wi, Of France, Joan read his thought
and told him Of the fears he held,
secrets which he had never breathed
to a living. soul. Charles VII, con-
WINGED though he was Of her super
natural gifts, declined to intrust her
with the command Of his troops till
he had first ordered trial to be held
at Poiters to decide whether or not
her mission was divine.
This trial has been curiously over
looked by historians, who have made
It the practice to give far more at
tention to the final irregular trial or
dered in Rouen by warwick and the
Duke Of Bedford.
Joan emerged triumphant In the
Poiters trial and the devotion OF
France to her memory has contented
itself with the verdict Of this judy
ment rather than the one which fol-
lowed when English hatred and the
ingratiture Of many Of her own coun-
trymen resulted in the verdict OF
blasphemy and led to her burning at
the stake.
In the Polters trial, according to
the findings of the church, Joan was
forced to face some of the foremost
scholars Of the word. For six weeks
they submitted her to every test,
and she demonstrated a power that
could only have been inspired, for
nothing in her life and education
could have produced such marvellous
scholarship. She baffled her judges
at every point, and their verdict fin
ally resulted in the message to the.
ruler that it was the part of wisdom
and duty to entrust her with the pat
rlotic work she craveu.
This incident Is given very close at
tention in the Investigations which
preCede the elevation Of Joan to q
place with the saints, for 1t would
not be enough to know that Joan
was a gallant soldier who fought
and successfully for France,
Her inspiration had to be proved,
and according to the findings Of her
twentieth century judges 1t has been
eHlciently and finally.
The parchment which shows the
Judgment Of the Poiters tribunal is
stiIl in existence, and must bear Its
burden Of proof in her favor. The
Of the opposition It is now
charged by the woTshlpers Of Joan,
and they are legion among foremost
French scholars. proceeded from the
desire Of the English historians to
justify Henry v for having burned
her, and Of French historians to JUS
.ify Charles VII for abandoning her
to her fate.
Joan Of Arcs Qualification has now
been concluded after fifteen years Of
actual research, which began in 1894
when Monseigeur Tochet Of Orleans,
acting as postulator, since he was
bishop Of her diocese, referred to the
Congregation Of Rites in Rome GER
tain documents which he had held
as demonstrating the right Of Joan
Of Arc toibe ranked as q aaint. The
proceedings that folIowed,lived up to
The rule established BY Pope Urban
VIII In 1884, fpr Justification, and,
we're painstakingly thorough.