The Pope Destroys His Arms
The following cablegram was received by the New York World from Rome, on March 6: “About 150,000 firearms, ancient and modern, are now being destroyed in a furnace specially constructed at the Vatican grounds. The bronze and copper fittings are melted down, while the steel swords and halberds are broken and sold as old iron. The only arms still retained for use at the Vatican are those of the Palatine Guards. Thus the pope signalizes his abandonment of all projects for regaining temporal power by force.” If the reason given for this act had been because Christ said, “My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight,” it would have seemed more like a compliance with the spirit of Christianity.