Middletown transcript., 1914-08-29

tife thought. The man they described
as the simple parish priest was not
moved by the onslaught He toeki
the position that the new "sect"
should not be tolerated. He realized
that prominent men in his own fold
were among the leaders. and some OF
them, when brought face to face with
the ultimatum of Plus x, recanted.
while others left the church.
The effect of this encyclical has
been felt in all Europe and in the
United States. 1t came like bomb.
On becoming supreme pontiff there
was Of course some real curiosity
shown as to the attitude of Plus x.
in his relations with the Quirinal. It
was figured in some quarters that the
new pontiff was kindly disposed to.
ward the italian government, and that
as a result the breach which was
made in the Porta Pia and by which
was effected the overthrow of the
temporal power of the Pope back in
1870 would be filed in and all differ
ences between the Vatican and Quirt
nal settled amicably, but Plus x. fol.
lowed the example set by Pic Mono
and Leo XIII.
He refused to recognize the law Of
guarantees which had been passed by
the Senate and chamber of the Italian
Parliament on May 13, 1871, that con-
cerned the prerogatives of the Holy
See and the relations between church
and state in the kingdom Of Italy.
Among the stipulations were: The
Pope's person to be sacred and in
violable, and he be treated with royal
honors and that he be given an an.
nual endowment of 3,225,000 lire, OK
$622,425, to cover all the needs of the
Holy See. This law was not recog-
nized by Pho Mono or by Leo KILL
and the endowment has been accumu-
lating annually, it is said, since the
law was passed. Plus x. did not
draw on the funds, and he did not
take advantage of the assurances OF
military protection. He shut himself
up in the vatican after the example
of his two predecessors and remained
voluntary prisoner.
The Pope in 1906 sent pastoral
letter to the Catholic clergy and
laity of certain Roman churches ex-
isting in Russia, warning them against
countenancing in any way the out
RACES on the Jews. At that time there
was some talk as to why the Pope
interested himself thus far in the
Jews. But it was soon explained that
the holy father numbered among his
stanch friends some Of the wealthiest
Jews in Europe and 1t was friendly
feeling for the race that prompted
him to send the warning to any Rus
SLAMS of his own faith.
In little things and in great, Plus
K. showed a quality little suspected
before he was elected to succeed Leo
XIII. When he assumed the tiara,
that symbol of triple sovereignty,
father of kings and princes. supreme
pastor of mankind on earth and vicar
of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the hui
man race" he inherited from Leo
XIII. the sum Of $S,040.000. This es-
tate was administered for the pur-
poses of his religious office by the
man. Plus X, whose father toiled in
the fields of Lombardy and whose
brother still worked In recent years
in a postoffice at Grazie, near Mantua.
The three sisters Of the Pope were
with him in Venice. They kept no
20 ~
bring home the days marketing.
They lived a life OF simple abstemi-
BUSINESS in the Venetian home Of their
illustrious brother, and they followed
him, when needed, to the neighbor-
hood of the Vatican. The Pope took
no advantage Of his position at any |
time. His relatives did not profit by
his high station. 1t may be that they
did not think it worth while.