The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-20

dltion because Of the long conflict be-
tween church and state,
EmIGrant Condition had.
There was evidence of miserable eondi-
lions existing in the Italian emigrants-
They have little or no instruction in
their religion and paid no attention 10 II
in this country. on the superstition that
the Catholic religion uid not exist here
The Pope pursued this matter to the
proper outcome, He allied up vacant sees,
stirred up comfortable bishops, and or
dered the teaching Of catechism all over
the world. He aimed chiefly at Italy.
In a word. he deserted diplomacy for the
Instruction and organization Of the peo-
pie. He gave up governments TO look
after the lost sheep Of the household,
Disappointed diplomats then walled about
his timidity. But the waIling had no eff
feet on the nobls-hearted, simple man
who was the head OF the church.
It Is much easier TO face the rulers of
Europe on a question than the cardinals
assembled in the Sistine chapel, but Pope
Plus did not quail or show timidlty
when he informed the cardinals as TO
his perseverance in the lines he drew
for himself. He was arm, brief, and un-
rufied, and made 1t plain that he would
not lean in either direction TO lend weight
" AaNSAG Gu pans VI AAA+-A7 ~
factions.
When the trouble between the church
and state broke out in France and the
eonceTdat was dropped, the world look
ed to the Pope, specializing what course
he would take. What he did seemed to
be the only right thing, according 10 the
American idea He ignored the nation
Promotion for Merit.
Before Pope Plus had been on the
throne three years he evidenced that
young zen who dreamed Of the career
Of a couFtier in Rome were going to be
disappointed. The Pope wanted bishops
for the dificult sees, and the way for
young diplomats to promotion! IL Nas
soon apparent was through the tiresome
but wholesome once OF governing bishop.
One great reform Pope Plus accom-
plished, and 1t promises TO be ever re-
membered IN history. He proved that
diplomacy in church matters Is a thing
OF little importance compared with the
direct teaching and preaching OF the Cos
pei TO the poor.
Compared with the policies Of his pre-
decessors OF recent times, the leaning OF
Pope Plus X have been held to be ultra
orthodox in purely ecclesiastical princi-
pies and ultra-conservative in temporal
relations
An instance Of his welI-hnown uncom-
promising attitude against advanced ten
denotes was afforded in his opposition TO
woman suffrage, as voiced by the Pope
upon the occasion OF his reception Of a
delegation OF Italian Catholic ladies.
Woman can never be mans equal, ="
he told his fair visitors, and cannot.
therefore, enjoy equal rights. Few
women would ever desire to legislate.
and those who did would be classed as
eccentrics. Scripture. and especially the
three Epistles OF St. Paul, emphasizes
woman's dependence on man"
Apostolic ConstitutIon Famous.
His now famous apostolic constitution
was considered as embodying the most
sweeping reform every attempted by a
Roman pontif since the celebrated
Council of Trent in the years from 1915
TO 1868, in that il dismissed the entire
of cardinals charged with the interpre-
tation Of the Council OF Trent and placed
all affairs in the hands of separate tribu-
mails and courts of appeal
BY virtue of one OF his documents,
known as the "Sapienti Consilio." the
congregations composing the Roman
Curio OF the Catholic Church have
been completely reformed and the
American hierarchy has been accord
q IECOkHlLSu No4CG AZ -AAE BONtAAA
ment OF the church. In fact, all
Catholics outside Italy have been
granted a new political standing by
the order, whereunder 200 bishops, 49,
| 900 priests. and 100000 900 Catholic lay
mea in the English-speaking countries
will have their affairs examined and
passed upon according to the general
law OF the church. and by ten diff
ferent congregations, instead of one,
as heretofore.
Another reform was that effected by
the papal bull. requiring the return
OF sacred music in use by the Roman
Catholic churches throughout the
world to its austere and suave purity.
| And still another bore upon the re-
vision OF the catechism, a move dear to
the heart Of the late Leo XII, whereby
instruction in the cateehism is no
longer regarded. as in years past, the
adjunct to a basically religious educa-
ton, but is now held to replace every
general mental environment
Was n Man of Peace.
Pope Plus was in every respect a man
Of peace, and the clerical troubles in
Spain and Portugal during the later
years Of his life greatly affected his
| health. When Spain and Portugal, fol-
lowing the lead Of France, broke away
from the church he refused to take any
decisive action against them.
He held steadfastly to the purpose that
governed his every move during his
tenure in once, and chose the middle
course. Standing strongly for the rights
OF the church, he refused to use the
doubtful diplomacy with which some Of
his predecessors accomplished their ends,
and when the smoldering volcano OF
public sentiment in Portugal broke and
the revolution, which had so long been
hanging fire in that country, deposed
King Manuel and took the form OF ac-
tive warfare against the priests and
nuns, he decried the situation, but re-
fused the word that would bring TO arma
thousands o. his supporters and plunge
the country in q bloody religious war.
This campaign Of peace has earned
for Pope Plus ( the love Of the
chureh's devotees the world over and
will make his memory one that poster
lty win honor a. that Of the great prel-
ate in the history Of Catholicism.