Temporal Power: A Study in Supremacy

writing-table, and feigned to be deeply engrossed in perusing various documents, but a ready smile greeted the intr

bowed in respectful silence-"And yet I have scarcely glanced at the

him which suggested the possibility of his politely urging even Death itself not to be so much of a bore ab

ing l

ginning to lose that particular condition of health and sanity, Roger!-my self-respect was becoming a flaccid muscle-

diate errand being to remind his sovereign of an appointment then about due, he began to collect the writing materials scatt

nd rambling condition by an hour's contemplation of the sunlight on the sea! But come now!-have you not yourself felt a longing to break loose from the tr

d I have never desired to

loved his sovereign with a love little known at courts; loyally, faithfully, and without a particle of self-seeking. He had long recognized the nobility, truth and courage which grac

and proved. We may call it conscience, intellect, spirit or soul, and attribute its existence, to God, as a spark of the Divine Essence, but whatever it is, it is in eve

impossible!"-said Sir Roger with

re, for aught I can learn or am told of them, contented. But other sovereigns who are my friends and neighbours, live, as it were, under the dagger's point,-with dynamite at their feet and pistols at their heads,-all f

d collected, neatly in a leather case and strapped it-"Your Majesty may perhaps feel incli

the King rose. "This is what you cam

y bowed

our pleasure,-and not for the first time in the annals of

ure showed me the Almighty in the character of an old gentleman seated placidly on a cloud, smiling;-while on the earth below, a priest, exactly resembling this Del Forti

cal gravity as he spok

ce to improve your present impression of him. I understand he is a very brilliant and leading member of his Order,-likely to be the next Vicar-General. I know

nst the clear blue of the sky, the birds skimming lightly from point to point of foliage, and the white-sailed yachts dipping gracefully as the ocean rose and fell with every wild sweet breath of the scented wind. P

is on boar

Highness intends sailing as far as The

, as u

one, save for his

silence for a minute.

de. Books are all very well-poetry is in its way excellent,-music, as we are told 'hath char

s the King turned suddenly rou

w of none. The Pri

an. At forty they meet the only true and fitting soul's companion,-and cry for the moon t

e wondered? His ordinary manner had changed somewhat,-he spoke with less than the customary formality, and there was an expression of f

King came face to face with a lady-in-waiting carrying a large cluster of Madonna lilies. She drew aside, with a deep reverence, to allow him to pass;

the chapel, Mad

! For th

o his warm blood, and the bitter old sense of unfulfilled longing, longing for affection, for comprehension, for all that he had not possessed in his otherwise brilliant life, vexed and sickened him. He turned away abruptly, and the lady-in-waiting, having curtsied once more profoundly, passed on with her glistening sheaf of bloom and disappeared vision-like in a

ach, the King selected certain papers from those which Sir Roger had

g or refusing what his Society demands. The matter has been discussed in the Press, too, with the usual pros and cons of hesitat

othing. His opin

of the Society of Jesus, is simply this: Whether or no a certain site in a particularly fertile tract of land belonging chiefly to the Crown, shall be granted to the Jesuits for the purpose of building thereon a church and monastery with schools attached. It seems a reasonable request, set forth with an apparently religious intention. Yet more than fo

ussion in the Press,

e day it is 'for,' another 'against.' In this particular case it is diplomatically indifferen

small sinister eyes, over which the level brows almost met across the sharp bridge of nose. His close black garb buttoned to the chin, outlined his wiry angular limbs with an almost painful distinctness, and the lean right hand which he placed across his breast as he bowed profoundly to the King, looked more like the shrunken hand of a corpse than that of a living man. The King observed him attentively, but not with favour; while thoughts, strange, and for him as a

st breaking silence.-"To save time and trouble, I may tell yo

ed with an exc

to be held in your undisputed possession for a long term of years,-and in order to facilitate my consent to this arra

ment as he raised them to the open and tranquil countena

ty, immersed every day in the affairs of state, should have found time to personally go through the various papers formally submitted to your consideration. Therefore, the Vicar-General of our Order considered that if the present interview

ciating each word wit

en! Now I am merely a 'temporal' sovereign; and as such, I wish to know how your plan will affect the people of the neighbouring town and district. What are your intentions towards

he King's eyes were steadily fixed upon him, he quickly lowe

They, and their children, are the prey of heathenish modern doctrines, which alas!-are too prevalent throughout the whole world at this particular time,-and, as they are at present situated, no restraint is exercised upon them for the better controlling

nce being interrupted by

r two documents on the table before him.-"There is also a Free Public Library, a

Fortis, with a deep sigh,-"Like the fruit on the tree of kn

ernment methods?" as

ily, and a dull flush

t that the Government is temporal and changeable,-the Church is spiritual and changeless. We cannot look for ent

a little in his chair, a

e and blessing of God?" he asked suddenly-"Has the Almighty

Fortis start

our Maj

quable temperament was for once seriously disturbed. He saw that his Royal master was evidently bent on speaking his

n for the people is a purely temporal movement, and that, as such, it is not blessed by the guidance of God. Yet the Pope seeks 'temporal' power! It is explained to us of course that he seeks it in order that he may unite it to the spiritual in his own person,-theoretically for the good of mankind, if practically for the advancement of his own

folded tight across his breast, an attitude Sir Roger de Launay always vie

ent time the supreme Conqueror of Nations. Yet she is doing no more nowadays than she did in the middle ages,-she threatens, she intimidates, she persecutes all who dare to use for a reasonable purpose the brain God gave them,-but she does not help on or sympathize with the growing fraternity and civilization of the world. It is impossible not to recognize this. Yet I have a profou

passed over the Jesuit's dark fea

h considerable eloquence, too, for 'untaught barbarians') to defend them from your visitation. Now, to speak truly, I find they have all the advantages which modern advancement and social improvement can give them,-they attend their places of public worship in considerable numbers, and are on the whole decent, God-fearing, order-loving subjects to t

Sir?" said Del Fortis, in a voice th

who have appealed to me, I am com

rtion of the land is held by private pe

flashed in t

the fact that the law-abiding people of the place have sought their King's

inscrutable face of Del Fortis with deepening suspicion and disfavour. Not that there was the slightest sign of wrath or dismay on the priest's

y and politics," he said-"But there is another Majesty higher than yours,-that of the

now to your Vicar-General with the straight answer I have given you,-but if by your 'spiritual' power you can persuade the people who now hate your Society, to love it,-to demand it,-to beg that you may be permitted to found a colony among

is still

esus are your subjects also, and we judge y

take it, is intended wide, universal love and tolerance without sect, party, or prejudice. In this sense the Church is not Catholic-it is merely the Roman sect. Nor are you truly my subjects, since you have only one ruler, the Supre

the ground;-anon, lifting himself, raised one han

ften your heart towards the ministers of His Holy Religion, and bring you into the ways of rig

e decision is unalterable,-unless the inhabitants

el Fort

e my leave of

ned the door for him with alacrity, handing him over into the charge of an usher with the whispered caution to see him well off the

asked-"You seem astonished that

one's mind is a

anger-of what? There is only one danger-death; and that is s

e,-b

en the next press reporter comes nosing round for palace news, let him be told that the King has refused permission to the Jesuits t

Launay-"We live i

ne as lofty titles, as splendid images,-but they are unable to command, and no one is willing to obey!' History thus repeats itself, De Launay;-and yet with all its past experience, the Roman Church does not seem to realize that it is powerless against the attacks of intellectual common sense. Faith in God,-a high, perfect

to much serious misconstru

or if I am never misunderstood, I shall know myself to be

ed De Launay eagerly,-"With

ne hand familiarl

ld you a while ago,-there is something in me that must have its way. I am sick to death of conventionalities,-you must help me to break through