The new age., March 15, 1902, Image 8

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fHJfi MEM AGE, POATJjAJNT), OUKGON.
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW WWW WWII
RALPH
m o
BY WILLIAM MINTO.
CIIAITKK V CONTINUED.
Such was Wyoliffo'fl scheme for tlio
Vitrification of tlio Church, nnd, tliotiuh
it nquined to affect tlio Church nlonu, it
1h not difllciilt to fco how it broiiKlit
him nt onco into contnr.t nixl conflict
with tho political HyMom. It in poc
clhlo thnt it was tho jtolltlcnl prohlom
of tho rclntlon of tho kingdom to tho
pupney, on which ho was conmilted no
u Usarncd doctor, thnt nturtcd Wycliffo
oil IiIh career aH a reformer. Hut ho
thiu an It may, IiIh theoriuH, when fully
developed ami pushed ardently Into
practice, had much more wldo reaching
political coiiFequonccH. All tho i-urv-antH
of Chrlut, ho-held, all iniiiittorH
of religion, nil tcacherH and oxcmplarH
of tho teaching of Holy Writ, Hhould
HiibsiHt on voluntary alms: worldly
)KnfieHBionH Htillel and choked their
Hplritual usefuluoHH. Now in IiIh time
a fourth, or oven a third, of all tho
land of England wbh hold by tho
Church and religious ordcro. What wau
to bo done with it if itH present holdcrH
wero diopoPMs-Hcd? Wycliffo proved by
elaborate argument that necular author
ity not only might lawfully take poH
HOMflion of all thin wealth, but watt
bound in duty to ho do, men of religion
holding It contrary to tho rulo of
Christ. Hut for whoso ubo Hhould it bo
appropriated? On thiH point nlno Wy
eliffo'H teaching wntf clour and emphat
ic. All tho worldly wealth of tho
Church and tho ordern, beyond what
Hudiced for a Himplo maintenance, bo
longed of right to the poor; tho men of
religion wore but tho proctorB of tho
poor in Uiolr tenure of It, nnd wore act
ing nH fraudulent trtintroH wlion they
Hpent it on mimptuoiiH buildingH, rich
faro, largo retlnuoH, or coarno feiiHual
ity, whllo tho poor wandered IiouhoIoph,
ato and Hiuj.it with tho riwina, tottered
about with nukml hMch and Hhaklng
lipn and IiuihIh. Ho Hjwclllcd two uhch
U) which tho wealth of "worldly clorkH
and folgned religioiiH" might bo turned.
Partly it Hhould bo given to ncculnr
IohIh, who Hhould in return givi to tho
poor protection and equitable govern
ment, and partly it should bo Holr.od
to meet tho oxcnHon of just and iiccch
sary warn. Wycliffo did not hoHitato
to urgo that for thin national purpoHo
HhriuoH Hhould bo Htrlnpcd, and the
wiihIo treaHiiro hung on HtockH and
HtonoH uho1 for tho defence of tho
realm.
It waH thin last doctrine that brought
Wycliffo and tho poor prieiitH, whom ho
Hont forth an niodcln of a true Christina
priestluxMl, into vital contact with the
practical pollticit of a time when all
chiHHOH of tho laity worn groaning
uhnder the burden of unprecedented!'
heavy taxation. Kripociully tho poor
est, who had hitherto oenped direct
taxation, wero likely to receive thin
new gospel with gladness, Wyellffu's
heresies on excommunication and trans
substantiation and other points of
church doctrine might interest then
logiaiiHouly: hero wna a doctrine that
tho poorest understanding could grasp
a basis from which his disciples
could act with powerful effect on the
mantes of tho people.
It must not bo supposed that all the
agitators of tho time, whoso teaching
corresponded more or loss with Wy
cliffe's, wero direct dlscipIeH of his.
Tho heresy was in tho air; what ho
ehlelly did was to furnish it with a
reasoned foundation in Scripture and
tho dicta of tho fathers and doctors of
tho Church.
Kulph Hardolot, as we hnvo said,
Joined tho merchants' party as they
rodo out of Sudbury, waiting for them
uud cantering up to meet them.
Tho merchant looked narrowly at
his eager features, as if to divine what
strength and temper lay behind.
"You hnvo left off your priest's
dress," said tho merchant with a smile,
uh an excuse for tho closeness of his in
spection, "unless I was deceived by tho
twilight last night."
"Oh," replied Ralph, "wo poor
priests sot little store by tho fashion of
our clothing. I piiUouourrussot habit
only because without it I could not so
readily get an audience. The Hople
are not mod to preaching from any one
in an ordinary layman's dress. I shall
put it on again when I buvo need of
it."
Ah they rodo along, tho merchant,
who was apparently inclined to bo dis
putatious us well as inquisitive, re
sumed one of tho topics they had boon
discussing in the Friars' meudow.
"You spoke last night," ho lHgan,
"in strong contempt and reprehension of
tho purely contemplative life, and
quoted tho opinion that tho nuin who
withdraws from tho world and gives
himself entirely to prayor nnd devout
meditation is guilty of tho loss of as
many souls as ho might have raved if
ho had remained in tho world and
taught erring men tho truth."
"I am of thnt opinion," said Ralph.
"You know Muster Roger Chowloy
of tho Archbishop's college?"
"I know him wcH," said Ralph.
"Rut ho wus not in my mind as u pat
tern of tho lifo contemplative."
"It is not of thut I would speak,"
said tho merchant. "I grant him
swinish, a foul traitor to bis profession,
liko utuuy more who live by feigned
religion. Hut I bad talk with him
yuluy, and ho tolls mo that your
prraching had tho effect of making tho
good women of Sudbury attack and
cruelly maltreat the tux farmer."
"My proachingi" cried Ralph, taken
aback at this aecuiatlon.
"Did you not, as ho nays, teach thorn
that the poor commons should not bo
oppremfed with taxes for forvluu wars
s
m
whilo ho much wealth, that should bo
used for tho relief of tlio poor, Is wasted
by worldly clorkH on their own carnal
pleasures?"
"Yes," cried Ralph, "but I conn
soiled no outrage. On tho contrary, I
besought tho pcoplo to hnvo patience,
and told them that conFclcnco and Jus
tice wero nt last awako and active in
high places, and with God's help would
noon bring them amendment of their
wrongs. I couiiFollod them to endur
unco and hope."
Tho merchant smiled nnd shook his
head. "And they remembered a part
of your preaching and forgot the other
part. Rut tell me, if these poor pcoplo
Hhould bo punished for their violence,
would tho guilt of that punishment
not Ho on you?"
"In that case," said Ralph, sadly,
"I should huvo much to answer for.
Rut this painful thought moves mo nil
tho more to work for tho amendment of
their wrongs."
"How?" asked tlio merchant,
abruptly.
"Tho groat nnd powerful," nnnwerod
Ralph, "do not know how tho poor
live, nor what they suffer. I llvo
nmong them nnd lenrn, nnd when my
knowledge Is complete I trust that God
will give mo strength to stir tho heart
and conscience of power."
"WordH alono will not do it," said
tho merchant, gravely. "Your Mnstcr
Wycliffo snyH ulso," ho resumed nfter a
pntif-o, "that tithes should not bo paid
to clorkH of irreligious nnd unprofitable
lifo; that it is lawful to withhold tithes
from such men. Rut what poor man
in those ravening times can keep lands
or goods or lifo, if ho stand by himself?
I heard, whon last I was in England,
of n caso In Lincolnshire, whero a poor
man whom one of vour master's priests
hud persuaded to resist tho extortion of
an unworthy clerk, was seized nnd
thrown, heavily fettered nnd manacled,
into a Htroinr prison underground, whero
IiIh feet nnd hands wero gnawed by
rats."
"I know," said Rnlph, with a pained
oxprcHsion. "Domlnim Wycliffo wopt
tears of pity and righteous anger when
ho heard of it, and since then has
warned us never to stir men to such
resihtanco till they can find n protector.
Ho has strong hopes of moving tho
great lords to take tho matter in hand."
"Therein," cried Simon, with more
energy than ho had yet shown, "ho in
in error. Put not your trust in princes.
They but play with the simple doctor.
Tlioy but use him to serve their own
ends. Let him assail the temporal
dominion of tho impe, as ho hath done
in his excellent tract Do Domluio, let
him denounce tho employment of pre
lates in tocular affairs, and they tar
him on to thu battle. Rut for restoring
tho true order of Christ and IiIh npos
tles, by tho bowels of Judns, they have
no moro thought of that than thiH
dumb beast that bears mo!' Nay, nay;
the poor commons must help them
selves. I see there is no help to bo
hoped for from this crazy, silly dupo of
n subtle doctor."
Ralph rtood aghast at this impeach
ment of his master. "Domino Wy
cliffo," ho eald, after a pause, in which
ho tried to subdue his auger, "puts no
trust in subtle disputation in thiH
matter. It !h not by his own words
that ho hopes to bring tho great lords
to tlio side of truth and pure religion.
Ho known full veil that if a greater
Iml than they docs not touch their
hearts, IiIh reasoning is in vain."
"Yes," returned Simon, in tho same
bitter tone, "but Christ sometimes
chooses humbler instruments than grout
clerks of Oxford, great mastera of logio
and rhetoric."
Their road now lay over a wild heath,
which hud onco Won roughly cleared on
both sides, uh tho law directed, to tho
extent of UO paces, to destroy tho cover
for lurking robbers. RoadH wero not
so safe then, wo need hardly remind
tho reader, us they are now; any thick
copso or cluster of hawthorn bushes
might conceal a band of lawless desper
adoes, nnd ut this time of tho year
many Mich bands lay in wait for trav
elers to Stourbridgo Fuir.
Tho prudent merchant looked so
earnestly ahead that Ralph imagined
him to bo on tho watch for signs of
such unpleasant neighbors. Looking
ahead himself, ho saw nothing but u
ragged beggar hobbling along towards
thorn in tho distance.
"Do you seo that beggar?" cried tho
merchant. "What would you say if I
wero to toll you that bo is one of tho
instruments that will do moro for tho
reformation of England than all tho
poor priests of your Master Wycliffo?
Such men us ho uro my poor priests."
Ralph stared at him in umto aston
ishment. "Listen to what I say to him," said
tho merchant, giving a signal to tho
wngoners to stop,
Ralph listened, but what he heard
considerably increased his bewilder
ment.
Tho following was tho conversation
that passed, after tho merchant had
tossed a small coin to tho boggur in re
sponse to his salutation.
Simon "Aro you ready for the
pageant?"
Reggar "Why do you ask, master?"
Simon "Recauso I mean to bo there.
Do you 11 nd many willing to play?"
Rvggar "Havu no fear. Tlio pa
geant will pOClHHl,"
Simon "God bo with you. Here,
return me that coin, and I will give
you u better. John Truenmu and his
fellows will all be there."
The beggar went on his way. "You
.heard what passed?" said the merchant
to Ralph.
"Yes," niiHwercd Ralph, coldly, "but
I do not understand. What is the pa
geant?" "Our pageant," said the Merchant,
"is tho doliveranco of Israel from
Egypt. It will bo played by tho Ham
mormon. Will you take part in it?"
Ralph supposed him to refer to one
of thoeo rudo dramatizations of Scrip
turo known as mysteries, which all
over England at thnt timo wero per
formed on holidays by various guilds of
craftsmen. Ralph was astonished at
IiIh companion's question, and bowild
ercd by his mysterious manner. Ho
answered, coldly.
"I havo no tasto for ouch profano
mummeries."
They rodo on for somo distanco in
constrained silence, each busy with his
own thoughts. Tho older traveler had
thu air of a man who weighed sonio im
portant matter in his mind, nnd found
it hard to como to n conclusion. Every
now and then a sliado of vexation
crossed his fa co, nnd he twitched his
reins impntiontly.
Soon after they joined tho Roman
road at Wixoo tlicro nppenred a caBtlo
somo half a milo to tho right, situated
on a mound in tlio middo of a marsh.
Tho merchant observed his companion
start when it came in Right; and ro
membcring tho talo of tho provious
evening, at onco drow his own conclu
sions. "Thnt Is Sir Richard Rnlnham's can
tie of Sturmcro, is it not?" ho asked.
"You seem to know tho country
well," Ralph answered.
"I havo heard of this knight," re
turned tho merchant. "What hopo
has your master Wycliffo of bringing
such aH ho to n sonso of their duty?
How can ho bo persuaded to protect
where ho ban been used to plunder?
As soon might you hopo to tamo an old
wolf or a tiger."
"Ho must be controlled by the
stronger."
"Hut who at court dares control him
in these distracted timos? Thoro is
but ono power that can control him,
nnd such ns he. Our pageant is do
signed to make that power manifest."
"You speak in riddles," said Ralph,
coldly.
"Then I will speak moro plainly.
The power I mean 1h tlio power of tho
poor commons. Singly they are noth
ing; united tlioy would bo Irresistible
I nnd my friends nlm nt uniting them.
The hour is nt hand when tlioy will ap
pear in union. That is tho pageant to
which you aro bidden. You may not
como, but I know you will not betray
mo."
"I know nothing to betrny. Hut if
your pageant is a ropotition of tho
bloody rebellion of tho Jucquorio, lot
mo implore you to pause. What can
an unarmed rabble do ngainst trained
ami mail-clnd mon-ut-nrniH?"
"What can your preaching do ngninst
tho stupendous power of the church?
ion preach singly; wo proposo to net
in union."
"In civil war!" cried Ralph. "You
cnunot bo ho desporatol"
"Thoro need bo no war. The poor
common.1! will only domand their
rights; tlioy will ask only to bo re
lieved from unjust extortion, high
handed robbery, cruel nnd wanton Im
prisonment, stripes, maiming and mur
der. Tlioy will not want lenders among
tho good nobles: it is only tho worth
less und godlesH that uro their enemies;
from them thoro is but one doliveronco
possible Deleantur ex libro viventlum.
Expunge thorn from tho book of tho
living."
(To be continued)
Thought the Doctor Knew.
At tho last annual meeting of tho As
sociation of Military Surgeons of tho
United Statos Major John Van R. Hnff,
in tho course of his tpeoeh accepting
the presidency of the association, told
the following story: "A lady wus
passing through tho wards of an over
crowded military hospital whon sho
suddenly encountered two men sawing
and hammering on some boards, Sho
looked nt thorn in somo surprise nnd
wondorlngly uskod : What uro you do
ing thoro, my men?' They looked up
at her and ono of them said: .'What
aro wo doing? Why, wo aro making a
colli n, that's what wo are doing,' 'A
cotlln?' she asked. 'For whom uro you
making n cofnn?' 'For that follow over
thoro in that lied. Don't vouseohlm?'
The lady looked in the direction in
dicated and saw a man apparently in
good condition and watching the opera
tion with groat interest. 'Why, that
man is not dead, and, indeed, ho docs
not look as if ho wero going tn dio.
Can't you postpono this work?' 'No,'
tho men said, 'wo can't postpono it.
Tho doctor told us to make tho coflln,
and he knows what ho gavo him.' "
Swordi Made From 1,000 Bit of Steel.
The Japanese aro the manufacturers
of a wonderful sword. The blades of
these sabers uro made from magnetic
iron ores. Tho steel is produced in
small, very thin sheets and tho work
man begins by llxing ono of them to
tho oud of an iron rod which serves as
a handle. To this uro soldered other
mall sheets until tho mass has a length
of about 8 inches, a width of about 2
inches und a thickness of a little more
than a quarter of an inch. This bar is
brought to a white heat, doubled on It
self und hammered until it is down to
its original dimensions. This process
is repeated 15 times, rour similar
bars aro then soldered together, doubled
upon themselves, rcsoldered und heated,
tho operation being repeated five times.
This process makes tho superposed lay
ers 60 thin that a saber contains at
least 1,000 sheets of metal.
Estimate on Unmlntd Anthracite.
A Philadelphia banking firm has cal
culated that thoro still remain unmined
5,073,775,000 tons of coal in tho an
thracite regions. Tho eamo calculators
cbtimate tiro tonnage for the present
year at 50,000,000.
KRIEQ LEVY
INCORPORATED.)
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CbFFEK AND TEA A SPECIALTY.'
39 Washington Stret, Corner Tenth
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Phone 7. Cor. First and Washington Sts.
Alfcany, Oregon,
WELL, I DON'T KNOW
Mr. Tohiuon, you don't know
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If you have never tried
ACME WHEAT FLAKES.
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ACME MILLS COMPANY.
20-22 N. Front St.
Phone 407. PORTLAND, OR.
T. S. TOWNSEND CREAMERY GO.
Jobbers ud manufacturers of
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We Prepare a Cream that will carry
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44 SECOND STREET,
Toons Grant 1421. Portland, Oregon.
(Fatakllahod 18B2.)
F.B. DALLAM & CO.
Wholeialo Dealers In
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Brooms, Brushes, Twines, Paper,
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333, 330, 23B Front St.,
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MAIL ORDERS FILLED PROMPTLY
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JOHNSON & i'ARSON, Propi.
Wines. Liquors and Gears. Kopp's Pale
Beer Always on Draught.
114 Sixth BtrMt. ,, , .
Dei. Morrison and Alder. Portland, Ore.
Multnomah Market
THEO. A. GODEL.
Dealer In
Fine Meats and Sausages, also Fish,
Poultry, Oysters and Game.
512 Washington Street.
Oregon Phone Main 633. Columbia Phone 633
MUNCH MA IIKET-20S North 16th St. Colum.
bla Phone 100. Oiegou Phone CUr 078.
Smoke the SCHILLER and STATE
SEAL Cigars.
Schiller Cigar Factory
Manufacturer. WholrsaU and
lleUtl Dealer lu
mm AND DOMESTIC CIGARS
Telephone No. 1831 Black.
281 Washington Street,
N. W. cor. Fourth, PORTLAND, Olt
Hatters
and
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Sole Agents for KNOX HATS
BUFFUM & PENDLETON
94 Third Street.
PORTLAND. ORE.
,o. J
Loewenberg &
MANUFACTURERS
f$ Bsafeg
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Zimmerman-Wells Machinery Co.
Incorporated.
Marine, Mining, Saw Mill, Logging, Wood Working, Hoisting and Trans
mission Machinery. Engineers' and Loggers' Supplies. Agents A. Lescben
& Sons Rope Co., Celebrated Hercules Wire Rope, R. N. Ninwn 6c Cos Lu
bricating Oils and Compounds.
41-43 SECOND STREET. PORTLAND, OREGON
i. X. BMKK, J. II. BLAKE
Oregon Phone Clay 379.
BLAKE BROS.
Whole alu and Retail
Dealers In
STAPLE AHD FAHDY GROCERIES
Fine Teas Coffees, rroTlitoni, Fruit, Nuts,
Cigars and Tobaccos. Orde s taken lor Wood
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eltjr. 80 First Street, Portland, Oregon.
Adamant...
IF YOU ARE GOING
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TO
THE ADAMANT CO.,
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The QUEEN
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IS A PERFECT
T. C. ROCHRS,
'PHONf
205 Second Street.
in ii in
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Going Company
OF AND DEALERS IN
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Handled by All Flrst
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Royal Steel Ranges Are
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PORTLAND, OREQOH ,
A Trial Will Goaviac.
Ortgen Telekene flraM Mt
Columbia SO.
I. U. PARIUBH, FRANK K. WATKIH8.
Notary Public. Notary Pli.
O. E. WATKIN&
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REAL ESTATE
Insurance,
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250 Aldir St.
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MATTING
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FOOT CLEANER.
City Sale Agent.
CLAY B48.
PORTLAND, OREGON
J
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