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the third； Galileo； who 〃taught the world what dogmatic theology
is worth when it can be tested by science。〃
I purpose now to present the second of these。 As a MAN； he was by
far the greatest of the three and； in various respects； the most
interesting； for he not only threw a bright light into the most
important general council of the Church and revealed to
Christendom the methods which there prevailed；in a book which
remains one of the half…dozen classic histories of the
world；but he fought the most bitter fight for humanity against
the papacy ever known in any Latin nation； and won a victory by
which the whole world has profited ever since。 Moreover； he was
one of the two foremost Italian statesmen since the Middle Ages；
the other being Cavour。
He was born at Venice in 1552； and it may concern those who care
to note the subtle interweaving of the warp and woof of history
that the birth year of this most resourceful foe that Jesuitism
ever had was the death year of St。 Francis Xavier； the noblest of
Jesuit apostles。
It may also interest those who study the more evident evolution
of cause and effect in human affairs to note that； like most
strong men； he had a strong mother； that while his father was a
poor shopkeeper who did little and died young； his mother was
wise and serene。
From his earliest boyhood； he showed striking gifts and
characteristics。 He never forgot a face once seen； could take in
the main contents of a page at a glance； spoke little； rarely ate
meat； and； until his last years； never drank wine。
Brought up； after the death of his father； first by his uncle； a
priest； and then by Capella； a Servite monk； in something better
than the usual priestly fashion； he became known； while yet in
his boyhood； as a theological prodigy。 Disputations in his youth；
especially one at Mantua； where； after the manner of the time； he
successfully defended several hundred theses against all comers；
attracted wide attention； so that the Bishop gave him a
professorship； and the Duke； who； like some other crowned heads
of those days；notably Henry VIII。 and James I。；liked to
dabble in theology； made him a court theologian。 But the duties
of this position were uncongenial： a flippant duke； fond of
putting questions which the wisest theologian could not answer；
and laying out work which the young scholar evidently thought
futile； apparently wearied him。 He returned to the convent of the
Servites at Venice； and became； after a few years' novitiate； a
friar； changing； at the same time； his name； so that； having been
baptized Peter； he now became Paul。
His career soon seemed to reveal another and underlying cause of
his return： he evidently felt the same impulse which stirred his
contemporaries； Lord Bacon and Galileo； for he began devoting
himself to the whole range of scientific and philosophical
studies； especially to mathematics； physics； astronomy； anatomy；
and physiology。 In these he became known as an authority； and
before long was recognized as such through out Europe。 It is
claimed； and it is not improbable； that he anticipated Harvey in
discovering the circulation of the blood； and that he was the
forerunner of noted discoveries in magnetism。 Unfortunately the
loss of the great mass of his papers by the fire which destroyed
his convent in 1769 forbids any full estimate of his work； but it
is certain that among those who sought his opinion and advice
were such great discoverers as Acquapendente； Galileo；
Torricelli； and Gilbert of Colchester； and that every one of
these referred to him as an equal； and indeed as a master。 It
seems also established that it was he who first discovered the
valves of the veins； that he made known the most beautiful
function of the iris；its contractility；and that various
surmises of his regarding heat； light； and sound have since been
developed into scientific truths。 It is altogether likely that；
had he not been drawn from scientific pursuits by his duties as a
statesman； he would have ranked among the greater investigators
and discoverers； not only of Italy； but of the world。
He also studied political and social problems； and he arrived at
one conclusion which； though now trite； was then novel；the
opinion that the aim of punishment should not be vengeance； but
reformation。 In these days and in this country； where one of the
most serious of evils is undue lenity to crime； this opinion may
be imputed to him as a fault； but in those days； when torture was
the main method in procedure and in penalty； his declaration was
honorable both to his head and heart。
With all his devotion to books； he found time to study men。 Even
at school； he had seemed to discern those who would win control。
They discerned something in him also； so that close relations
were formed between him and such leaders as Contarini and
Morosini； with whom he afterwards stood side by side in great
emergencies。
Important missions were entrusted to him。 Five times he visited
Rome to adjust perplexing differences between the papal power and
various interests at Venice。 He was rapidly advanced through most
of the higher offices in his order； and in these he gave a series
of decisions which won the respect of all entitled to form an
opinion。
Naturally he was thought of for high place in the Church； and was
twice presented for a bishopric； but each time he was rejected at
Rome；partly from family claims of less worthy candidates；
partly from suspicions regarding his orthodoxy。 It was objected
that he did not find the whole doctrine of the Trinity in the
first verse of Genesis； that he corresponded with eminent
heretics of England and Germany； that he was not averse to
reforms； that； in short； he was not inclined to wallow in the
slime from which had crawled forth such huge incarnations of evil
as John XXIII。； Julius II。； Sixtus IV。； and Alexander VI。
His orthodox detractors have been wont to represent him as
seeking vengeance for his non…promotion； but his after career
showed amply that personal grievances had little effect upon him。
It is indeed not unlikely that when he saw bishoprics for which
he knew himself well fitted given as sops to poor creatures
utterly unfit in morals or intellect； he may have had doubts
regarding the part taken by the Almighty in selecting them； but
he was reticent； and kept on with his work。 In his cell at Santa
Fosca； he quietly and steadily devoted himself to his cherished
studies； but he c