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Show f TRIBUTE TO THE GRANDEST 1 PONTIFF OF MODERN TIMES. t;. . I Very Rev. D Kisly in Salt Lake Herald. i ' I fiiK ;i ' - ' reign of Leo XIII has come to. an end at last. His life as j I a fr:e.--t, bishop, diplomat, cardinal and rope, has been laid bare I i 1 ,v ,),.. ;W,i pr ss during his late illness. All his actions have been i; r,i:,.ii i- :- -ales of public opinion, and the verdict has been that he was I : , ,! .;:., a man of God, truly Christ-like in wishing peace and hap- h t.i r n and nations, faithful to his mission as the father of christen- f I .iit, . !' ' ho grandest, characters of .the last century. Prior to his elec-! elec-! ;:S! th' .lv.!"r of Ft. Peter, his' predecessor Pius IX, had incurred the f j .,,i. as;!; ' a hostile world. This especially during the Vatican council was I jr iH;.::;;.st all over Europe. Kings, emperors and European statesmen' r4lH, tli-ir "i ':- in protest agnin.-t papal infallibility, which the council l (Kt l. .M: ': deprived of his patrimony, the holy father seemed helpless. I j,vr. v.-i'sh anil the strong arms of the governments were arrayed against j j.:,,,.' nui.uia ai .l he had not. and like Christ he had to tread the wine press i ;,c. S:i' ": the circumstances that existed when Leo XIII was elected f ; the I'lipa. y. 1 XIII was a diplomatist and statesman, as well as a rj,j:phniti. HA realized that a momentous issue had been made between the j ..y urt civil governments, that through the influence of Dr. Dollinger, r 0i,.-c a iv..t-.l Catholic, but then and since the Vatican council, the principal j ; ,,, !fater of ivar on the papacy, Germany. England. Italy and other European I ;,t,(.ns l'eked with suspicion on the prisoner of the Vatican, Leo XIII, soon af-l af-l e! ti.ni. met those issues squarely. He made no compromise, but with ;i jjjn; and steady hand, directed the helm that steered the bark of Peter over j. ,, ti:;bu!'T:t waters of a hostile world. I The fd't h and courage of Catholics was revived everywhere, the hos-I; hos-I; 't;j,. fw-'irss of Germany, started by Dr. Dollinger, aided and abetted . jiv i!!tnnivk w ho predicted the downfall of , papacy, were fast disap-( disap-( f,-:i!:c. and llismarck had the humiliation, before his death, of see-' see-' May laws" repealed, and his marter, the German emperor, and Leo V Mil fast and ronfidenlial friends. The strained relations caused by (Jlad-ti,.?,i (Jlad-ti,.?,i mi.-und'-manding . of the decrees of the Vatican council, were allayed !y r.-irdirnl Manning and Cardinal Newman's exposition of infallibility. Tt"y sho'-1 clearly that the history of the church, without tho papacy, or tV as supreme governor, would be inexplicable, that it was through his fidcrity all ecumenical councils were convened in the oast, and that the !' t-.U iti'1!! of papal infallibility, at which England, . as well as Germany, took I Br.'d'rape as being dangerous to civil liberty, was the objection urged by !;;';n ln:nr . against the early christians, namely that they were all united j t::,jr nm. supreme ruler, who might outrival Caesar. Those . distinguished j c!:ir hmrn. as profound - and learned as England's great statesman, and not j I yicMinjr one iota to him in loyalty to the British crown, soon changed the! li'ii1 of I'Ut'ic opinion, and after Leo XlII's election, his first encyclical pub- j 'i-lic; en Kaster Sunday, in which he depicted the evils' of modern society, I I frthasizin? the great contempt for authority, both religious and civil, that I t" xi --!. won for him the good will of governments? that were"antag- sati. before, and one of the first to make overtures Tor friendly relation s"was f "... I ::;rl,ind. This, his first solemn pronouncement, served as a coup d'etat, that j TMi for him the confidence of all governments, A-hose authority, to fue, reg-. -.; ii'..;c to. jr-ty. and punish insubordination he firmly maintained. Embodied in !' en-y-!;.-iil are these words. "Bold contempt for lawful authority is not r a prlV i'tim of civilized life, and we must not call that liberty which is I f;!.-n-efu:iy and miserably concerned with the unbridled propagation of er- i:. with the free satiating of bad passions, and with the oppression of the j 1 citizens of every class. These things being erroneous, bad. and absurd, j j :.r. r:i have the effect of perfecting the human family and its prosperity, . i f r f::i makes the people unhappy.' " . R Neither Germany. England, Russia, nor any European government could f I to realize that the newly .elected pontiff had outlined . a policy vd'i h n:ai!t respect for all constitutional govern fnents, submission to all j! iai-ul authority, and that the issue taken with anarchists, nihilists. B '"i ill disturbing elements of civilized governments was clearly de- f!,i and that the infallible pope, instead of being a menace, was a bond I , b-t ween governments and their subjects. Prince Von Bismarck con- i t:'iK-1 h hostile attitude, but his threat that -"the pope would find no Can- f. rf" in his war with Germany, did not materialize, for Leo XIII, though : '' Vas not warlike, but a peace-maker not only between kings, emperors g t' ioth.., t ulers and their subjects, but also between different nations. The rr.i German emperor's grandfather saw the handwriting on the wall, -and jj '",:sh not espousing the pope's cause, he silently acquiesced during the last i ;''?ts ..f his ivin. Frederick, his son. during his short reign, warmly es- -Lei Xill s policy, while the present emperor's attitude is known to fj f.r.i vh. n ihe -nd -came, he could only exclaim, like Julian the Apostate, fi f''-ry !;,: ,.f the daily press. It made the declining years of Bismarck sul- J: '-l i'.-.n. jh"ii has conquered." Gladstone, too, was too astute not to foresee 1" : :. '; 1 c ftv (-js of the new pope's policy as portrayed in his encyclical. !j I-:kf Lord IV'lmerston. who could see fifty years ahead into political events, r-:-js-!(.ne ! .-Mz.-ri the truths proclaimed by His Holiness to be of momentous I '"'ll;,r to all nations, the menace and encroachments to civil govern- I "tts v.),;. ;: j;,-. t bought he saw in the definition of papal infallibility van- f: '' '"' -di::s before the rising sun. and he looked upon the "!Krv(it;.. p.v.-er of the Catholic church, as centered in the papacy, as one j ' '' !.- 1.-' c ssary to solidify and perpetuate government. At the court j " . - th.. io; e was no longer looked upon as an enemy, but as a friend j J'1"'1' i ! '. who made his acquaintance after he ceased to be nuncio at '' c' v ' .-,, XIII in the highest estimation, which sW manifested by v"" p r' ' bis jubilee celebrations, whilst her son Edward VII, like 1 '"J "" ' German emperor, showed his esteem and high regard for ' '"!" ' - "b- j);ist year. Such were the effects of his first encyclical let- '' t,ev.-!i,-al published the same year. December 28. 187S. was but ( ' '- t'lM. Those, unwilling to be restrained by any law, had prac-'' prac-'' ' ' i tiieir policy by an unsuccessful attempt on the lives of the and the Spanish and Italian rulers. Anarchy, oommun-, oommun-, : -Mi were taking deep, root, spreading everywhere, and openly "v';!'-' r iipose to destroy all law and order. Advanced socialism, ' ';' o jt-rov. th of these evils, was the subject of Leo's second rn- f' ' 'i ! ,s proved 'that his vision w as clear, and that he did not over- "v '' of restless feelings that were becoming prevalent, and that ,. ' ' ' ! in sooiali.-m, which attacks "everything that has been wisely 1 ! !! and human law for the protection and bettering 'of life. By ''' ',;! ; !e -'.- t e!uality of men, the supporters of this doctrine , re-l'' re-l'' r : the lowers which the apostle says are derived from God." ' law of property, "they wish to seize and make common all v.' !,'! a.-onir,.,! ,y lawful inheritance, by the work of the mind and ''' " '' oncn.y." This second apostolic letter served to remove the j' ',1"1'1 ' ' ' !. rs of religious hatred, prejudices and suspicions of dis- J y '' - . His enemies now instead of being stationed in high places. y ;" ' :a! .-uvtiig the ntem hers of those sotdeti.s which he condemned, ' 1:' '. ' "!.' en (r laboring classes, whose cause he always espouse!, 'i' 1 1. . 1 'nice with the enemy. j ' ' ;i G-nifcn emperor in February. 10. made possible the Berlin 1 i 1 intended for the amelioration of the working classes, he (,!'.,'," '' ;;' l-gates from Austria. Belgium. Italy. France, Great Britain,. "rbit:.!, "'"iary, Portugal. Hpain. the 'Netherlands." Luxemburg, Sweden, j, ; Xorway. The emperor o id' not overlook Lieo X Ill's power and j tlrn'!l'" ,M ;iS.. nf jlis o.reat sympathy for the working classes. An invita- tt)i w',s '-'nde. t the pop, dated March 9, ISM. Amongst other things, i..,'1'"':'"' "The noble manifestations by which Your Holiness has ever ?lv '"' v"Ur iiifluencf in favor of the poor and abandoned of human society, tHf ' ' "''sou t,, ii0j,e that the international conference which, at my invi- !!,,- , V1 ;'s:ii'de at Berlin on the Kithdf this month, wilj attract Your v, I 's s 'o'i ' st. and that vou will follow sympathetic-ally the course of ' '' I,- . - " . I .. T' ' .s having for their end the amelioration of the workingmen s t !'o, r. s reply to Hie emperor showed that His Holiness was heart e- .. 111 'l!" emperor. After congratulating him on hisj noble efforts, he v,, l,"s moreover, has not c eased to give oureelf concern, and the ''fcd v' 'J' ''V your majesty ccrresponds, with one of our most cher- ''sll'-s. Already in the past, as you recall, we manifested our thoughts gr---- iJ7yi ; , . 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Passing over many other important documents and events which have made the reign of Leo XIII immortal, his great encyclical dated May 15, 1S91, and entitled "Rerum Novarum" concerning new things was the most important im-portant and far reaching: document issued from any source during the last century. It. concerned the troubles brewing between capital and labor throughout the entire civilized world. Prior to that, the Knights of Labor, ttio most powerful organization at the time in America and Canada, were founded. As all socieies in which Catholics wish to become members should Y.txc the approval of the church, their ritual was examined. In Canada,-owing to secrecy and other objectionable features, the society was condemned by th- Archbishop of Quebec, and the Canadian hierarchy. In the United States its master workman, T. V. Powderly, had a conference with the American hierarchy. Mr. Powderly, when shown the objectionable features of the order, or-der, had the statutes revised, and eliminated what was considered, contrary to justice and morals. Here Cardinal Gibbons comes in by his famous memoir of December 20, 1SST, in defense of the society. His pleadings for the society were accepted in Rome and the Congregation, whose duty it was to examine exam-ine such questions, refrained from condemning the society. In the meantime, the; Holy Father had studied the whole question in all its bearings and gave to the whole Catholic world, as the result of his arduous labors, the encyclical ency-clical mentioned. It was the greatest problem of the nineteenth century. To define the rights and duties of the rich and the working classes, was a. delicate- matter, and required one duly authorized to speak in behalf of those, whefce- unfortunate condition was caused by the destruction of the-old avork- i ingmen's corporations, which always protected the cause of labor. Leo XIII I was equal .to the occasion. He opens, with a refutation of the socialistic theory, namely, that an efficacious remedy for present evils was the suppression of I private property and its transfer to the town or state by saying: "If, then, I the workman succeeds in putting away some savings, and if, to make sure. of I keeping them, he has, .foe example, invested them in a field, it is clearly evi- dent that that field is nothing else but the salary changed into another form. I The property thus acquired; will be the property of the artisan by the same title as was the' remuneration of his toil." He shows clearly the injustices to. society and the family arising from modern theories to solve the difficulty. anO that any attempt to destroy social inequalities would be vain. He not only diagnosed the troubles but applied the proper remedy which should re--salt in establishing true' friendship between both classes. A few of his aphorisms aphor-isms which glitter like pure gold are: "The prime error in the present question ques-tion is the belief that the two classes are born enemies of each other. Thev have an imperative need of each other, for there can be no capital without labor, nor labor without capital. It is dishonorable and inhuman to use men as vile instruments of gain and to esteem them only in proportion to the strength of their arms. Masters are forbidden to impose on their subordinates work beyond their, strength or unsuited to their age and sex." These and many other glittering gems, in which the encyclical abounds, show its im- , pentance and practical bearings on the evils of modern society. It merited for Leo XIII unstinted prais.i throughout the civilized world. His life as un- . fcJiied in his writings has left a deep impress on the age in which he lived.. As he had grown in age he grew, in wisdom and holiness, wishing peace for j niilions and happiness-for mankind. ' ' ' - His love and admiration-for the United States he always proclaimed. In his encyclical' letter- to the hierarchy, he. said: "We hold in high esteem and deep affection the American nation, so powerful in its youth.'auiatioii in' which ' . we discern hidden germs, not only of prosperity, but also of Christian grandeur" grand-eur" To this tribute he added: "Wise men are agreed In saying that America is reserved for high destinies." The marvelous growth of the church in the new world was to him a subject of deep interest before and after he was enthroned en-throned in Peter's chair. Five years after his coronation, he invited the Archbishops Arch-bishops of the United States to Rome to discuss matters of vital importance to the church. The result of their deliberations was the third plenary council coun-cil of Baltimore, convoked by his order November 9; 1884. He appointed Cardinal Car-dinal Gibbons, then archbishop of Baltimore; apostolic delegate. This official appointment entitled him to the privilege of presiding over the council. All the acts and decrees of the council were submitted to the sovereign pontiff for his approval. They were approved in IS85. Pope Leo XIII expressed his great pleasure, especially at the founding of the Catholic university, which was announced during the council. Cardinal Gibbons, who was made one of the pn'nees of the church on June 6, 1886. was appointed chancellor of the future university. In 1S89 the trustees sent the rector, Right Rev. J..J. Keane to Rome to solicit, for the undertaking canonical institution. Leo XIII granted tiieir request, giving the new university all the rights, privileges and powers winch the Holy See could confer, and as a mark of his esteem for American enterprise en-terprise and generosity, presented a superb painting which in a letter he said: "I had intended it for the Vatican gallery, but I prefer it to go to the Washington Wash-ington university." v His joy and solicitude at the vigorous growth of the church in the new world may also be gleaned from the new arehdioc-ses and. dioceses erected dur I ing his reign. Chicago and Dubuque became metropolitan sees. He erected j twenty-six new dioceses. This wonderful growth during the life, time of one pope is without parallel in the history of the church . ; .'There are In the United States fourteen arenbishops and eighty-six bishops. bish-ops. Of the former, all but two Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Williams of Boston, are appointees of Leo XIII, .and of the bishoos, only three of the .eighty-six Bishop Spaulding of Peoria, McQuaid of Rochester, N. Y., and Hogan of Kansas City, Mo., were appointed by Pius. IX. The whole Ameri-ean Ameri-ean hierarchy is deeply indebted to him, and in no country is his authority mere highly respected than in the United States. With Pius IX he might truly say: "In America alone I am truly pope." His life as portrayed in his works and actions brings back grateful recollections of his people, whom he gcerned with love and wisdom for over twenty-five years. The sorrow expressed expres-sed during the past two weeks at his imminent departure from the scene of life was not confined to Catholics. The whole civilized world seemed to think that one of its firmest supports would be taken away. Old prejudices and religious differences for the time were hushed, and all seemed to love and venerate the grand old soldier of Christ, who spent his-life battling for peace, justice, the I up'ifting of the human race, and the amelioration of society. All will cherish the memory of Leo XIII as that of a largehearted man, in all respects a preeminently pre-eminently great man, whose life shed luster on the papacy, and whose rare energy and untiring mental activity was manifested to the end. To his spiritual spir-itual flock who mourn, and who may not find his equal in another, h leaves a rich legacy of tho good he has done, the universal peace he was instrumental in establishing, the virtues he daily practised, all of which give a higher conception con-ception of the good and bad traits of human nature, and of how the latter may be overcome, and the former attained by God's grace. Faith teaches that the faithful servant who employed his whole life in fructifying the talent trtrtisted to him will receive.the reward of his fidelity and self-sacrifice, and with that hope which faith begets, while Catholics may . deeply mourn , their great lo?s, they now believe that their Supreme Ruler though dead, still server- his children whom he faithfully served for more than a quarter of a vcuiVTTf 'by bis Intimate union with "our. Father''" in.' heaven. May his ,a5 rest' in peace, and his soul enjoy everlasting bliss. . "- . |