The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 10, 1903. THE DYING PONTIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 938, 10 July 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JULY 10, 1903. THE DYING PONTIFF.

The westering sun draws near his

cloudy bed, Leo, and gradual darkness veils thy

head : .The sluggish life-blood in thy wi

tliered veins More slowly runs its course—wnat

then remains ? Lo ! Death is brandishing his fata)

dart, And the grave yearns to shroud thy

mortal part: But from its prison freed, the sou.

expands Exulting pinions to the enfranchised lands.

My weary race is run—l touch the goal: Hear,, Lord, the feeble pan-tings of my soul; If it be worthy, Lord, thy pitying breast Welcome it unto everlasting rest 1 May, I behold thee, Queen of earth and sky, Whose love enchained the demons lurking nigh The path to heaven ; and freely shall I own ’Twas thy sweet care that gained my, blissful crown !

The loregoing touching poem was composed in 1397* when Pope Deo l'elt the shadow of death beginning to fall upon him, and as one writer aptly, puts it, “ in splendid defiance of its power wrote tne lines which are considered amongst his strongest worn.” After that severe illness he made a wonderful recovery, but in all conditions lie possessed an extraordinary, mental vigor. He is now so near the end that any moment the sad tidings ol death may be expected. Each morning the cables 'have liad a most touching interest in their graphic though concise, references to the sick-chamber. All hope ibeing given up by, the able doctors, the Pope still resolutely, and .with the clearest intellect, maintains his post. He has been fittingly described as a “ man, genial, affectionate, cultured, with all the qualities of head and heart to make him humanly lovable as well as revered through the dignity of liis office.’V, Recently an accomplished writer thus wrote off His Holiness : “ Leo XIII., on -The 20th of February, celebrated his silver jubilee as Supreme Pastor of the Catholic Church. Sublime and noble figure ! Owing to his talents.,, his -zeal, liis wisdom, he holds one of the most prominent places in the field of modern and ancient history. He has governed the Church with- admirable wisdom and marvellous success. Intrepid defender of faith and sound; morals, he has fearlessly, and unceasingly protected the . one and the other against the dangers of invading! indifferentism which threatened the purity of religious principles and Christian morals. As zealous apostle of equity and rectitude he has not hesitated to recall to the minds of the poor as well as of the rich, of - the rulers as well as of the subjects, their respective duties for the welfare of the family and of society. His elevated soul has also been endowed with an extraordinary love for whatever is good and beautiful. Tne Protestant rulers are trying to surpass each other in honoring the shrewd sage now occupying the throne in the Vatican. Leo X 111.,. as Pontiff, diplomatist, and scholar, makes a figure in the annals of the Church and in the history of nations which will claim respect and veneration for centuries to come.” The latest cables give His Holiness a day or two to live and that he cannot last very long is borne out by the treatment deemed necessary by the doctors. “*•