Nappanee High School - Napanet Yearbook (Nappanee, IN)

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fflprr abr (Erusabrs, ffinlg ISars? By VERNON CULP K worst outrages of fanaticism and cupidity have been perpetrated in thenameof religion. Never in any great struggle, religious or irreligious, lias such a lack of humane jurisprudence been demonstrated as in those propagated in the name of Christianity. Under the Influence of men who pretended Christianity, and who declared the extermination of Intldels and heretics to be a pious duty, the most sanguinary wars and murderous expeditions were conducted. But in doing tills, the true principles of Christianity were indifferently trampled under foot, and the elements of barbarism were adopted. For a number of centuries a martial spirit had gradually been introduced Into the Catholic church. In its long continued contact with barlarous nations, the church was constantly losing its purity. At the beginning of the Mediaeval Ages the religion was almost exclusively extended among the people by the patron saints: but after the rise of Papacy, when the Popes received temporal powers, if the people could not be persuaded to accept their religion, resort was taken to arms. Society soon became very corrupt. The laws were no more enforced, for the Rulers and Church otllcials were themselves some of the greatest promoters of vice. By confessing their crimes and wicked intentions to the clergy, the people were promised absolution from sins, if they would live in seclusion as an indication of their penitence: or by paying a sum of money, in proportion to the greatness of their crime, called Indulgences. In tills manner the Catholic church grew rich from the vices of mankind. This practice of indulgences, including also absolution from future sins which people would commit, led men to indulge In still greater crimes. This tendency to believe that the clergy could forgive sins connected with ignorance and superstition culminated in the successful mustering of the Crusades. For many years great multitudes made pilgrimages to Palestine. Devout people considered it a pious duty, and they thought all manners of maladies would be cured, and a divine blessing would be received by those who visited the places made sacred by the presence of Christ while here on earth. Pilgrims, who returned from a pilgrimage, were looked upon with great respect by the masses. A rumor having been spread that the cross, the inscription and the nails used at the crucifixion of Christ, were found, the tide of pilgrims at once increased. Bands containing thousands now set out for Jerusalem. At the time when the enthusiasm for making pilgrimages was at its height, a great revolution occurred in the East which proved to be detrimental to pilgrimages. Jerusalem was wrested from the Saracen caliphs by the Setjukian Turks, a prominent Tartar tribe. They were jealous proselytes of Islam. These at once began to persecute the pilgrims and the Syrian Christians in every way possible: destroying their.sacred places or turningthem into stables: forbidding them to carryout the principles of their religion: and even murdering great numbers. All Christendom was greatly moved by these atrocious deeds. If it was a pious duty to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, how much greater the duty would now be to deliver Jerusalem from the infidels. These insults heaped upon the Christians at Jerusalem led to the preaching of the Crusades. To Peter the Hermit, is ascribed the immediate cause of the first Crusade. He was a native of France and was fairly educated. Being filled with a devout longing to see the Holy Land, legend describes him as setting out on a pilgrimage. When he arrived at Jerusalem and saw with what injustices and persecutions the pilgrims and Syrian Christians were aftlicied, lie went and poured out his soul to the patriarch and wept as he was told yet more outrageous deeds committed by the Seljukian Turks. % When he had promised the patriarch that the Christians of the West would come to their rescue, he was given a letter to the Pope at Home. After the Pope had read tills letter, he extolled Peter for the zeal lie manifested, and with promises of aid, sent him throughout tiie country to incite the people to action. While the West was being made to apprehend the serious state of atlairs in the East, the Turks were constantly advancing in Asia Minor until Constantinople, the capital of the eastern Roman Empire was threatened. Evidently only by sending speedy aid to the East, could this city with its great treasures of art and sculpture, lie preserved from falling into the hands of the infidels. With Constantinople In their hands, an invasion of Europe would probably follow. The safety of all Christendom seemed to be at stake. The Pope, Urban 11, now became very vehement for the undertaking of the proposed wars. He saw an opportunity for establishing his authority over his rival, Clement 11, who was set up by the Germans. Now, to carry out Ids contrivance, he formally presented the subject to the Church Council of Piacenza. Nothing being accomplished here, lie brought it before the Council of Clermont which was held later in the same year. At this Council the Pope was one of the chief speakers. When lie had again vividly expressed the »