Sixty.four
RECOLLECI'IONS
OF FOUR POPES
BY A PILGRIM
By Dr, Thomas O'Hagen
(N. C. W. C. News Service)
A general audience which I had yes-
terday with His Holiness Pope Plus
Xl, reminds me that it has been my
privilege to have had audiences with
all the Apostolic Successors €)f St.
Peter who have worn the tiara since
the year 1900.
Pope Leo XIII
My first visit to the Eternal City
was towards the close of the reign of
Pope Leo XIII, of glorious memory.
It was in Septemler, 1900, that I
found myself in the ancient city of
the Seven Hills. A great pilgrimage
had arrived, composed largely of Si-
cilians, with a contingent from Scot-
land. Having heard that the Holy Fa-
ther was to eceive the pilgrims in St.
Peter's and give them his blessing
from the altar of the Apostles I suc-
ceeded in securing admission as one
of the pilgrims.
Now, after twenty-two years, what
stands out in my memory from that
pilgrim throng of probably thirty
thousand souls was the ardent Catho-
lic faith manifested as well as loyalty
to the person of the Vicar of Christ.
As the Swiss guards bore in the Sedia
Gestatoria the Holy Father then ap-
proaching ninety years of age up the
aisle of the Basilica a mighty shout
went up from the thousands of pin
grims pressing around the tomb of the
Apostles.
. What impressed me then in the per-
son of the Holy Father was his alert
and marvellous vitality and the splen-
dor of his piercing eye. He seemed to
focus in his look, as his eye swept the
vast throng while" he scattered bene-
dictions upon the kneeling multitude,
each individual member of the pil-
primage. Then his voice rang out in
benediction from the altar not with
the accent of age, but with the vital
force of virile power.
It was in the spring of 1904 about
Eastertide that I had my first audi-
ence with Pope Plus X. of blessed
memory. He impressed you at once
as indeed the benign and beloved pas-
tor of all Souls. A handsome old man
--something older looking than his
years would warrant--at whose feet
you would willingly kneel and crave a
blessing eventhough he were not Pope
at all, The heart dominated. His soul
flooded his face with the goodness of
God.
Nine years later the writer saw
again Pope Plus X in audience. But
how changed! It was the spring of
1913, and the Holy Father had just
recovered from a long and severe ill-
ness. He looked worn and pale and his
voice was weak. From this illness
Pope Plus X really never recovered.
He died the following year, when Eu-
rope had but entered the great fra-
tracidal war.
Benedict XV
Last year in the month of Septem
ber through the kindness of Mgr.
O'Hagan, Rector of the Irish College,
I was privileged to be received in pri-
vate audience by the late Pope Bene-
dict XV. of beloved memory. What
struck you at once in kneeling at the
feet of Pope Benedict XV, was his
simplicity and tact. His course in the
war proved certainly that Pope Bene-
dict loved justice. It was his inter-
vention that rescued from prison
camps thousands of prisoners; He la-
bored unceasingly to bring about
peace among the warring nations.
Pope Benedict XV will be known as
the great peace Pope whose life was
set in troublous times.
The present Holy Father Pope Plus
m t
| [I i Ii i
XI. a Milanese--differs tempera-
mentally and physically from the oth-
er three preceding Popes. As Pope
Plus XI. enters the audience chamber
you get the impression of executive
power and order and unless I am
greatly mistaken Pope Plus XI. will
not be long on the Throne of the Fish-
erman till some things are being done.
It strikes me now that he is feeling
his way. The Pope has the Lumbar-
dian oUtline and hue of face, is strong-
ly built and though not a tall man he
is taller than he looks, and indeed re-
minds one that he was once a moun-
tain climber. The forceful intellectual-
ity of the scholar and student in the
present Holy Father dominates all.
THE CHURCIt ACCUSERS
A French diocesan weekly quotes i
from that distinguished writer, F.
Brunetiere, the following pointed and
pithy characterization of the kinds of
people who go to make up the main
body of the critics and accusers of the
Church:
Who, then, are they who reproach
religion with being too wearisome?
Those who do not practice it.
Who are they wh reproach the
Church for exacting faith in her re-
vealed doctrines? Those who believe
in the worst fooleries and in the most
absurd supersitions.
Who are they who reproach the
Church for not ecognizing the digni-
ty of man ? Those who claim the mon-
key for their father, chance for their
master, pleasure for their Iaw, anni-
hilation for their end.
Who are they who upbraid the
Church with being a religion of
money ? Those who despoil her of her
goods witll the utmost cynicism.
Who are they who accuse the
Church with bein an enemy to light ?
Those who, despising liberty, have
closed Catholic schools and driven out
the nuns and the religious teachers.
Who are they who reproach, the
Church with being an enemy of the
people? Those who, ignorant of his-
tory, are persecuting the charitable
institutions established religion (hos-
pitals, creches, workshops, etc.)
Who are they who indulge with
the utmost audacity in violent tirades
against the Church and her teach-
ings ? Those who know nothing what-
ever of religion or of what its pre-
cepts require.
We are not afraid, then, either of
the number or of the fury of those
who attack us, and are rather to con-
gratulate ourselves. They know what
ttmy are doing, and that we are what
the world calls "a force." Their an-
ger is aroused by the knowledge that
they are able neither to slight, nor to
despise, nor, above all, to ignore us.
We overawe them by our number, B
our doctrine, our kteas, the progress
we are continually making, the fear
they have that we shall achieve even
greater things, by our confidence and
our hopes. Out of reach as we are of
their anger, it is their indifference
tlmt we have to dread.
Born under persecution, growing up
amidst heresies, strengthened by con-
trOversies, if the Church had no longer
adversaries we would need to despair
of the promises of her Founder. But
as long as struggles and opposition
continue, she will live.
FINEST FISH TAKEN
PRESENTED AT CRIB
TO INFANT JESUS
(By N. C. W. C. News Service)
One of the most curious Christmas
customs of France is that which has I
been transmitted from generation to I
generation among the fisher folk of]
Marseilles. 'i
At midnight on Christmas Eve they I
march in procession to the Church of J I,
i
Latex Iron Works
Incorporated
Manufacturers and Repairers of
OIL WELL SUPPLIES AND FISHING TOOLS
EL DORADO, ARK.
1 1
THE GUARDIAN
Saint Laurent, which dates from the THE WORLD AS IT GOES I
year 1240, singing in the Provencial .
tongue and canticle" The world as it goes--and that's the /
-,Noel,
Noel, voici le Redempteur" best way;
I
(Noel, Noel, behold the Redeemer). With Gods arms around it, it cant]
After the Credo, the youngest of the go astray;
fishwives present approaches the crib The sunlight above it, the meadowsJ
and offers to the Christ Child a
beautiful basket, trimmed with flowing
ribbons, and containing the finest fish
caught during the day. When laying
the basket at the foot of the crib, the
bearer pronounces in the local dialect,
an ancient' prayer beginning with
these words: "Little Jesus, the fish-
ers and fish dealers of Saint Laurent
are come to offer you the most beauti-
ful fish of the sea. ."
"After this the fishermen sing their
ancient carols and songs.
The entire ceremony is infinitely
pictulsque and touching.
A PERMANENT CHRISTMAS
A good conscience is a continual
Christmas. St. Paul places joy and
happiness among the fruits of the
spirit and these are the rewards of
good conduct. False pleasures of the
world turn to cinder and ashes and
bring poverty and emptiness of soul.
They are destroyers of true Christian
joy and their victims become slaves
of the monsters they create.
On Christmas day the boundaries
of earth and heaven touch and inter-
mingle. Heaven seems brought down
to earth and earth is lifted up to heav-
en, and the world draws upon its mor-
al sources. Heart calleth to heart
and we are not ashamed of kind words
and deeds that are rarer than rubies.
AlL feel as brothers as they gather
like the shepherds about the crib and
come to adore the Lord.
A cheerful disposition contributes
much to the enjoyment and happiness
of life. Thus when Christmas comes,
the world suddenly grows better and
heaven seems nearer.
GEORGIA'S LYNCHING RECORD
( From the Boston Transcript)
Georgia and Mississippi led at
lynching lasfi year. The record was
carefully kept by the superintendent
of Tuskegee Institute. Compared with
the other lynching states, the two al-
ready mentioned leave all rivals so
far behind that the others may be
said to be nowhere. Georgia is well
led by Watson. He has the boldness
to assert direful things, and his fel-]
low-citizens have the ignorance to
yield unquestioning cledence. Georgia
is especially well equipped to hold the
lynching pre-eminence over all the
states of the union. The eminence is
one that decent people would not
much relish.
MOORE-GAMMILL
EL DORADO, ARK.
i i i i i ;;
m
J
FIRST PARK POLICY
It is just fifty years since Ameri-
ca's national park policy was inaug-
urated. Half a century ago congress
voted that an immense tract of land in
Wyoming, since called Yellowstone
below-- . park, should be dedicated as a "public
It's a sweet world of glory--apd so pleasure ground and a game pre-
let it go! serve." Today there are 19 national
morality or religion
proud of the fact. Is it not
evidence that their
to raise the possibilities
to their highest l
Journal.
MUSIC'S VALUE ON
LIFE.
Ah, it rolls through the shadow to-
ward the bright sun--
With God's arms around it, the goal
shall be won.
The bright stars to deck it when day
dies in night--
It's a sweet world of beauty--and God
gives it light.
The world as it goesand that's the
fine thing,
With a heart that can follow the fur-
row and sing;
The seasons all lovely, and best thing
of allj
God's arms around it--and how can
it fall.
--Baltimore Sun.
FAMILY CARS.
"Family accommodation" cars,
seven rooms to each car, each room
accommodating five persons, will be
placed in the Chicago-California serv-
ice of the Santa "Ie railway for fall
and winter travel, according to recent
announcements. There will be eigh-
teen cars of the new style. Each
room will contain upper and lower
double berths, a day lounge and bed,
with lavatory and toilet equipment.
SOME ItOLE.
A hole seventy feet in diameter
and 226 feet deep suddenly appeared
in a wheat field of a farmer living
near Bland, Missouri. Water to a
depth of 112 feet promptly filled the
hole. Many scientists have visited
the hole. Those who have descended
to water level report no apparent in-
let or outlet.
A PRETTY LEGEND
A pretty legend tell us that once
the Boy Jesus appeared to St. Teresa
of Jesus, the foundress of the Car-
melite nuns.
"I am Teresa of Jesus," said the
Lord.
The lesson is one of generosity in
our services of Jesus Christ. The
closeness of our union with Him is in
proportion to our loving fidelity. His
coming was for each individual soul.
He longs to be most intimately united
with us. If we let Him, He will take
entire possession.
J i i,J •
LUMBER COMPANY '
, j
park reservations in the United
States, covering a total area of con-
siderably more than 10,000 square
miles.
EVIDENCE OF FAILURE.
We frequently find men of culture
who take pride in their art or their
science but who have no feeling for
There is an old saying
have no songs." The
creasing interest in music
masses of this continent
dous influence for
tional life in our own
that of our neighbors.
Do not trust all who talk
Listen much and speak
SAMPLE.HANNA HARDWARE COMPANY
THE HOUSE OF
QUALITY HARDWARE
Phone 393
West Side Square
EL DORADO, ARK.
M
Bank of
EL DORADO, ARK.
Capital, Surplus and
Undivided Profits, $77,884.97
Our Aim:
TO RENDER PROMPT AND
EFFICIENT SERVICE
C)FFICERS
Albert Rowell ................... .....
T. H. Norris ....................... Vice
Sam E. Babb ....................... • ......
C. B. Crumpler .................. Assi stan(-
Established 1899
The J. F. Sample
Everything. You Wear
i/:r i
EL DORADO, ARKANSAS
