The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-08-20


came forward and provided him with
the necessary funds.
Was Compromise Pope.
In the conclave the struggle was
for and against Cardinal Rampolla,
Leo KILLS secretary of state, whose
chances were lost when Cardinal
Puzyna pronounced the vote of Aus
tria against him, which veto was sup
posed to represent the Triple Alliance.
Then, needing a compromise" pope,
all eyes turned to Cardinal Sarto, who
at first refused, but was afterward in
duced to accept the high position, be-
ing elected almost unanimously on
August 4, assuming the title of
Pope Plus X, Bishop of Rome and
Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of st.
Peter, Prince of the Apostles; Su-
preme Pontiff of the Universal church,
Patriarch of the West, Primate OF
Italy; Archbishop and Metropolitan of
the Roman Province and Sovereign OF
the Temporal Dominions of the Holy
Roman Church.
The Pontificate of Pope Plus X. was
characterized by that spirit of modesty
which never abandoned him and by
that strong religious feeling which
made him choose as motto: ITO re-
store everything to Christ" The day
after his coronation he was asked to
give orders for his private apartment
in the Vatican, and while he urged
the then young Monsignore Merry del
Val, his pro-secretary Of state, to oc
cupy the gorgeous Borgia apartment
he himself chose four small rooms in
the low-ceilinged suite above the state
apartment of the Pontiff, which, under
Leo XIII. had been occupied by his
private secretary, Mgr Angel.
Plus X. desired to give himself en-
tirely to his work. In so doing he did
not spare any fatigue, and giving au'
diences, admitting people to large re
ceptions, celebrating masses, preach
ing, giving communion, reached such
point of exhaustion that while in the
exercise of his priestly function in the
Pauline Chapel. crowded with people
he tainted, and thus started that re
port which pursued him every after
that he was liable to fainting fits
which was quite untrue, as that was
the only occasion on which he suffer
ed in that way, and it was entirely due
to the heat and the vitiated air of the
chapel.
Interesting to Americans.
It would take long to enumerate al
the reforms of a religious character
initiated by Plus X, such as that o
restoring the Gregorian chants, o
preaching every Sunday from a tex
from the Bible, himself giving tn
good example of having, as long al
his strength allowed him, the faithful
of the different parishes of Rome il
the Courtyard of San Damaso to hea
him explain the Gospel story, an
carrying out one after the other a
Pope the same ideas and principle
which he had confessed and advocate
as Bishop and Patriarch. One of hi
undertakings will leave an importan
mark in the history of the Papacy-
the codification of ecclesiastic law. Fl
entrusted the work to an illustrlou
scholar in Canon Law, Mgr. Pietro Ga
parri, on whom he conferred the Re
Hat in December, 1907. Anothe
epoch-making task was that of the r
vision of the Vulgate, which he Co
fided to Father Francis Alden Gasque
Abbot-President of the English Ben
diction Congregation so well known
learned historian.
To Americans Plus X. was especial
interesting. His great friendship I
this country, his frequent audienc
to Americans, both Catholic and nc
Catholic and his interest in Americ'
affairs kept him in closer touch WI
this side of the Atlantic than perha
any Pontiff that has preceded nj
HE was an ardent admirer of Tit
dore Roosevelt. and had the EXPIRE
dent writings translated for readiI
yet, as will be recalled, events acc
ing at the time of Mr.. Roosevelt
visit to Rome led to the cancellati
of his visit to the Vatican. Form
Vice-President Charles w. Fairban
' had a somewhat similar experien
! and the incident created widespre
interest in this country and in Euro
! at the same time.