The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1912-01-27
INQUISITION---THEH AND NOW.

- URING the reign OF Philip IT,.
who became king OF France In
- 1850. the province OF Languedoc
enjoyed an eminent degree OF liberty
and prosperity. The charters which
the subjects had obtained from their
princes secured them in the enjoyment
OF many important civil rights forti-
fed by such jealous guards as effec-
tually protected them against the en-
croachments OF executive power This
liberality in their political constltu-
tion encouraged llberality In religious
inquiry, which consequently led to
doubts OF the pope's right 10 temporal
power. At the fiourishing city OF Abb
these progressive ideas assumed a de-
finite shape In an organization Of the
people, which received the appellaion
OF the Albigenses. Tho pope fuding
this sectary increasing in numbers
and popularity, in spite Of the vigor-
Gus counteracting efforts OF his ap-
pllances OF bishops, priests and monks,
ordered Raymond W.. Count OF Toul-
ouse. 10 compel the Albigenses, by
force OF arms, 20 change their relig.
ious views. AS Raymond OF Rogers.
Count OF Bezlers. nephew OF Raymond
VI, had declared In favor of the re-
former. the Count OF Toulouse re-
fused TO oblige the pope by taking
up arms against the Count OF Bee.
iers. On account OF this determine.
tion, dictated by a high and delicate
sense OF duty and honor, the pope pro.
nounced sentence OF excommunica.
/ fton oc,fnof hfr, In aAdfffna 10 fhiu
insulting manifesto. he commissioned
his legate 10 raise an army OF the
cross, for the purpose OF extermlnat
ing the reformers and their allies
This authorized desperado. through
the energetic cooperation OF the
popo's political machinery. soon col
lected n numerous army Of crusaders
and imposing on them a horrible oath
that they would exterminate the Al
blgenses without pity for the cries
or tears OF their wives OF children
Immediately commenced the work ot
blood and devastation. AS this army
OF ,murderers approached the city oi
Carcassonne, an order was given mo-
TO leave one stone upon another. and
TO put 10 death every man, woman
] yOutn ana infant. ne OulCuety WA
frightful, and mixed with the mos
fiendish acts. To arrest the horri
BILE work Raymond OF Rogers ofiere(
TO resign his authority. With execra
BILE treachery the legate pretended e
be willing to negotiate; but no soonei
had he betrayed tho count into hii
power than he incarcerated him in /
dungeon. where he died after exper
fencing years OF suffering. After thi
removal OF Raymond by this bas.
treachery, Carossonne fell; and thirt,
thousand men. women and childrei
were butchered in one day. Tired o
the terrible carnage. or disgusted a
4 its atrociousness. the chiefs OF th'
army OF the cross declared 10 the le
gate that among the crowd the.
could not distinguish the hereto from
the Catholic. XIII on" replied IN
holy legate. God will know thosl
which are his" The murderous arm,
moved on; blood flowed at every step
az Beziers sixty thousand we're put Il
death: nor did the carnage cease IN
III the Inhabitants OF almost ever.
town IN Languedoc. without distInc
ton of age, sex or creed. were welter
ing In their gore. AS an express re
ward 10 Simon de Monfort for havInl
surpassed all others In hardihood AM
} cruelty on those days Of blood, -