Show BRUNO andi AND THE CHURCH WHENEVER we have any occasion to pass orthodox churches it al davs wv s causes the hot blood which r boures 0 i ires through our veins to become as cold as ice water and our heart to become sad and weary when ben we think of the countless men and women which have been put to death by the church and its leaders because they would not believe all of their nonsensical ideas adew and theories giordano bruno was one of the greatest scientific men that the world has ever produced yet he was cruelly tortured and put to death by the church for no other reason than that he could not and would not remain silent concerning the false doctrines which the D hurch church C was teaching respecting the construction odthe of the universe I 1 bruno was one of the greatest anthers of his day and generation his master or most valuable work is entitled infinity of the universe and of worlds evening con on ash wednesday an apology for the copernican Cope Coper micon nicon system and of the one souls cause of things V and to these may be added an allegory published in 1584 the expulsion of the triumphant bent beast he also collected for the use of future astronomers a all tf the e observations he could find respecting the new star that suddenly appeared in cassiopeia A D 1572 bruno was originally intended for the church but he be was led into doubt by his meditations on the subjects of transubstantiation and immaculate conception not caring to conceal his opinions hensoon he soon fell under ander the censure of the spiritual authorities and it became necessary for him to seek refuge in switzerland france england and germany but his bis tormentors tor mentors followed his track remorselessly and they eventually hunted him back to italy italy and he was arrested in venice and confined in the for six years without books or paper or friends in his evening conversations he insisted that the scriptures were never intended to teach science but morals onla and that they cannot be received receive ins as of any authority on astronomical and physical subjects especially must mur t we reject act the U view they reveal to us of the con ution of oe tae wona ina we earth is a flat surface supported on an pillars that theaky tbt sky is is a firina firmament ment the floor of ff adaven hD hj eaven aVen on the contrary we mus must believe that the and that it is infinite universe 1 is s filled with self luminous and opaque of them in habited is nothing above and around and stars ilia his aja ah I 1 these ese subjects ff rs f a had biolik V con conclusion clusiau 1 13 that idlett which an ani i in ates ase aad d of S this ibis intellect ta 7 54 V t a only an ln ari ion c in a n ve derived e fid tp W 1 A was w ta ak dis e SV en N witha add t A N ready PA to 0 o becom k pr ga JUZ CM ks b I 1 into tifa f 1 I h fore ft me A W jai e s 7 IT the iw wa t 20 6 K 00 5 rota ont aw was LLA M 11 W M inthe in the prison of the inquisition accused not only of being a heretic but also a alo wh 0 had written things al unseemly concerning ng religion the special charge preferred against him being that he had taught the plurality of worlds a doctrine which will ever be considered repugnant to th 1 teachings te of the scriptures an I 1 inimical to revealed religion M and the plan or of salvation by faith and after being imprisoned for another period of two years he be was brought I 1 bet ore his judges n and declared guilty of the acts alleged and he excommunicated and on his nobly refusing to recant was delivered over to the secular authorities to be punished as mercifully as possible and without the shedding of his blood the horrible formula for burning a prisoner at the stake k knowing well that though in his tormentors tor mentors might destroy his body his thoughts would still il I 1 I 1 live ive among M men he said to his i judges adges perhaps it is with great er fear that you pass the sentence upon me than I 1 receive receive it the sentence was carried into effect and bruno was burnt at rome february 1600 no one can recall without sentiments of pity the sufferings of all those countless martyrs who have suen surrendered dered their lives for the sake of their religious opinions but the great majority of them always had a powerful and unfailing support the passage from this life to the next though through za a hard trial was the passage from a transient trouble to eternal happiness an escape from the cruelty of this earth to the charity of heaven on his way through the dark valley the martyr firmly believed there was an invisible hand that led him a friend that would guide him all the more gently and firmly because of the terrors of the flames but for our valiant friend there was no such support the philosophical opinions for the sake of which bruno surrendered his life could i give givel him no consolation tor for he was compelled to fight his bis last great battle single handed banded and alone on next wednesday 7 the let our orthodox theologians their followers and the enemies of science bedeck themselves in sack back cloth and ashes and let them lang their heads in humiliation and shame for causing the death of a man whose teachings are today acknowledged to be correct by all of I 1 I 1 the most enlightened nations upon the face of the earth |