The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-20

History Will no uOuDt COlnClue WIN
his contemporaries In seeing in Pope
PIUs Y. two personalities. Regarding
the man himself, GIUSEPPE SARro, there
will be no two opinions. Universal
reverence and affection will be ac-
corded to him. His amiabiity of dis
position. his simplicity of life, benevo-
lence of purpose and saintliness OF
spirit will have recognition at all hands
and will rank him among the most
beautiful characters in the long line OF
Roman pontiffs. AS man and priest
the respect In which he was held was
extended far beyond the limits of his
own flock.
Regarding his career az Pope there
will always be much controversy. That
It was animated by intensely religious
ideals will not be disputed, but there
will probably be discussion to the end
OF history as TO his accord in spirit
lived. From the very opening of his
pontificate he was confronted with Sc
we're trials. Grave issues of politics
were forced on him and his conscience
compelled him to raise others Of
strictly ecclesiastical type of momen-
tous Importance. The uncompromising
attitude he maintained under every
strain must always command a certain
admiration even among his critics. but
its wisdom and enlightenment, at least
from ha nf vi hny
been and no doubt will continue to be
subjects Of debate.
To the world in general the most
portentous feature of his reign was
the estrangement of the Vatican from
the French Republic because OF the law
Of sepa ration and the expulsion Of the
religious orders from France. From
the outset the Pope refused to hold any
terms with the leaders Of the anti
clerical movement which controlled
French destinies, He was willing to
negotiate regarding notifications Of
the Concordat, had he been approached
with certain courtesies. but the expro-
priation OF the Church property. the
expulsion OF the religious orders and
the complete secularizatton of education
ne denounced as goddess warfare upon
all religion and morality in the spiritual
sense and as ruthless spoliation and
persecution from the mundane point
of view. He imposed on the French
clergy a policy Of passive resistance
and appealed for the support of the
laity in spirit of martydom.
His course was watched by the
world with many doubts. Even within
the church organization in France
there was much misgving as TO the re-
suits, though hardly any actual revolt
or opposition. PIUs remained deaf to
all suggestion of yielding. Relying on
heaven for vindlcation, he held his
ground with uniinching faith even to
the point whereat he was charged with
obstlnacy. Passing over all the details
OF the struggle, 1t cannot be denied that
in certain way the Church in France
has greatly protited by 1t. Though los.
ing its vast wealth and the State subsidy
TO pay its clergy, and though having
the use of It's churches and the requi-
sites of its ceremonial only on suffer.
ance, it has been visited with a notable
wave of piety. Hundreds OF thousands
have become practising Catholics who
before were lukewarm; the attendance
M churches has more than doubled.
Finally, the active spirit OF hostility
which undeniably affected officials In
the early days of separation has dis
appeared and something more than toll
Grafton Is accorded by the Government
to the Church.
Inc broad campaign which the Pope
instituted against modernism" In the
Church was the second In notability.
Though really, perhaps, the first In i'm
portance, of his great trials. In this he
aimed TO stem the movement among
certain clerics and teachers to reconcile
the teachings Of modern science with
those or Holy Writ and sacred tradition.
Conce'ving this tendency TO be great
evil, to be in fact the undermining OF
talth with an insidous materialism.
ne placed It under the most sweepnp
censures, denouncing against 1t the
higher accommodation not only for
writer's or speakers proclaiming the
bslse doctrine but also for their fol.