The Washington times., 1913-08-04

self. but adapted to the powers or the
| singers"
The Roman Curia, mainly organized
py sixtus ", had become unwieldiy
and there was much confusion as to the
jurisdiction of the various sacred con.
! gregations, which often caused serious
delay in official action on the part OF
| the church. Plus simplified the work
irgs of these congregations. reorganiz-
ing them end codifying the canon laws
Revision of Bible.
In 1906 he took up the Biblican prob
lem and appointed a commission to re-
wise the Latin Vulgate. He sent out a
call to all the scholars of the world for
careful research work among extant
and authenticated documents for the
purpose Of correcting errors in the
Rible
In the same year he Reconstructed the
Italian seminaries and appointed Apos-
tolic Visitors to the Italian bishoprics
Tor the purpose OF cementing the vari-
Gus institutions in the unified whole.
He next turned his attention to the
TO a principle set down by Plus TX after
the occupation of Rome g(when it was
declared the capital of United Italy) in
spite or Catholic protest, the ''non-ex-
pedit protest of Italian Catholics is
still exercised. Catholics, by abstain
Ing from voting, protest against this
situation and demand redress There
fore, until recently no Catholic was per-
mitted to become a candidate for a
municipal or parliamentary election.
This attitude has become a dis
cipiinary law by decree of holy office,
Of his predecessor. directs his bishops
to decide in individual cases, and or
ders Catholics as a matter of con-
science to take part In the elections
against socialistic and anarchistic ten
denotes.
Wins Favor With Powers.
In France. where Leo XIII STAYED of
the ultimate clash between church and
state for some time, Plus X refused to
temporize any longer, and the result
was the dissolution of the Concordat
existing from the time of Francis 1. In
reply to the French press, which at
tackled the methods Of the papacy in
the anair, the Pope issued what is
known as the White Book. a documen-
tary exposition OF the whole question.
Although far from being a "diplo-
mat Plus was successiveful arbi-
traitor between Brazil and Bolivia in
1905. The Car Of Russia applied TO
MIN FOR an ambassador to his court.
r
way also requested that he send a
representative to Norway, where an
ambassador from Rome had not been
received since the reformation. His
relations with the Kaiser are regard
ed as auguring well for the future of
Catholicity in Germany -
At the close Of the Russo-Japanese
war Plus sent Mgr. w. II. OConnell
now Cardinal O'Connell, of Boston, as
papai ablegate to thank the Mikado
for his protection Of the Catholic mis-
sions during that war. The cardinal
has since received special honorary
and civil decorations and is now pos
SCISSOR Of the Grand Gordon of the Sa-
cred Treasury of the Rising Sun.
Mr.. Collins. Of Cambridge. and others
orations during their stay in Japan.
Plus X, appointed three American
cardinals during his pontihcate, two
being Cardinal O'ConneIl of Boston, and
Cardinal Farley Of New York city.
Grasp of World Affairs. ..
Much Of the credit for the settlement
Of religious difficulties of the Philip
pines is claimed for Plus X, and also
for the work in the Congo Free State,
as well as for the investigation into
the Peruvian Rubber Company atroci-
ties.
What is interesting to scholars of all
creeds ts the Catholic Encyclopedia,
published under the direction OF the
Jesuits In New York and authorized by
Plus x FE ~. "a - ~ - :
These and other activities prove that
the son OF peasant parents has a srasp
OF world affairs But many Americans
will prefer to think of Plus X as the
pastoral Pope, who insists on preaching
every Sunday afternoon in his own sim
pie and informal manner to the people
OF Rome, VINO gather TO hear him in
TIE churchyard Of st. Damascus