Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1914-08-23
THE DfArH or POPE Plus x

The advanced age Of Pope Plus <. and the
ptecafous state Of his health make his death al
this time no unexpected event 10 his life had
been granted more than the allotted span. But
Il an hardly be doubted tina, the expected end was
somewhat FASTENED by the grief brought on him
by the ungodIy strife Of Europe II robbed him
Il not Of years at Icas, Of days and mayhap OF
months by rendering life to HIM a diminished
boon and making him less resslen Of the disease
be had long fought and baffed
In point Of intellectually. Plus : deserves no
very eminent rank among the Popes OF thu Cath
ole church. tie gave no evidence for instance
Of that profound understanding which approved
eo. his immediate predecessor as much states
man ~ cleric not that Leo was lacking m spirit
uah,y. but that h, intellectually left It less pro
nounccd In point OF spirituality Plus < was not
only the peer Of any OF his predecessors but man
OF such dcvout pety that has character must have
shone fcsplendent IN any company OF the Cod
like HIS faith IN Christianity and ~ his creed had
IN II no flaw 81 doubt Il was oi the perfect kind
that IL conducive OF ianaticlsm; and while Plus
stopped short OF that extremity in the practice and
preaohmenl OF his faith the resembles and uncom-
promising war he made on every form OF Mod
crnisn evidenced some degree Of intolerance
TO one OF his spirituality the outbreak OF mur-
derous strife m Europe could have caused dlsap-
pointment no less than that which approxlmates
despair 10 him It must have been profound dis
illusionment tcstiiying that Christianity ~ cen
turies of labor had accomplished Tar less than he
had iondy imagined 10 witness the intrusion OF
war into the Twentieth Century under the patro
mage OF Nations whose progress marks the highest
reach OF ovililahon-thls sR ctaolr must have sug
gcsted to his simple soul that the recorded active
ments OF Christianity were so much vanity, and
little else For peace among men Is OF the qulnt-
essence OF Christianity. and war the most sacrileg
ious SIN against ITS inluncons. the most tlagrant
the most wanton. the most knocking contempt OF
its pfecepts This To Plus \ was the sole s'gniii-
cation OF the war lie could read nothing else
out OF i, than = hcathenish relapse. suggesting, It 1t
did not prove. that Christianity is far from having
conquered the spirits OF men.
The pontihcate OF Plus \ was rather short,
lasting only eleven years II has been, neverthe
less q memorable one in that It witnessed the
passing 81 all but the vcstlge OF the little temporal
power that he the head OF the Catholic church
inherited from Leo. It was during his pontiiicate
that the Concordat with France was annulled, and
annued IN a ruthless way tina, must have given
sore travail to hs soul It was during his portI-
hcate that even Bourbon Spain struck an lcono-
elastic blow which all but destroyed the power the
church had there exercised for centuries. Yet
Plus y gave no evidence that he regarded these
alterations It they deserve that Characterization, as
a weakening OF the church's spiritual power nor.
IN reality. do they seem TO have had tina, conse-
-uucncc in either France or Spain Indeed Plus \
seems to have understood much more clearly than
have come other dignitaues OF the Catholic church
that these imparments OF temporal influence were
the DEGREES OF the age to be submitted to. II with
regret at least with resignation, IN the full conf
dence that IT'S spiritual power was OF essence
and strength that relieved It OF the need OF voice
IN the temporal affairs OF Nations -Dalas News