p. 484 | GIORDANO BRUNO

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 12, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 31.

GIORDANO BRUNO.

THIS eminent philosopher of the Italian Renaissance revolted from Roman Catholicism, became a reverent but independent thinker—what we now term a theist—and lectured and wrote with distinguished success in France, England, and Germany; but at last was seized in Venice by the Papal Inquisition, and, after seven years’ imprisonment in Rome, was ex-communicated on February 9, 1600, and on February 17 was burned at the stake. On June 9, of this present year, a statue of him was unveiled in the same city with imposing ceremonies. As many as 30,000 persons marched in the procession, including deputations from all parts of Italy. The national and most of the municipal officials attended, and Deputy Bovier delivered an oration, in which he declared that the occasion marked the birth of a new religion of free thought and liberty of conscience, which would be worse for the Papacy than the loss of the temporal power.

The Pope is reported to have been greatly depressed. He ordered the doors of the Vatican to be closed during the ceremonies at the monument, caused the sacrament to be exposed in expiation of the deeds of the citizens, and, refusing to see anyone, passed three days at his devotion in his private chapel. He had good reason for his depression, for the popular demonstrations so general, so deliberate, and so successful, meant that the power of the Papacy has lost much of its hold upon Italy, and still is losing it steadily. But his manifestations of feeling, however natural and consistent, were exceedingly impolitic, and can but injure his own interests. They meant, and are certain to be interpreted as intended to mean, that he and the Papal Church, of which he is the head, still indorse the execution of Giordano Bruno, and gladly would put similar modern thinkers to death because of their opinions, were it safe to do so.

Let Americans recognize the real nature of Roman Catholicism, as thus revealed, and let us be careful how we yield it any broader footing among ourselves! We must be fair toward it, but also firm. It always and everywhere has proved itself to be the same in essence and purpose. If we are beguiled into believing it more trustworthy and less dangerous here than it has been elsewhere, we shall deserve the fate which we shall bring upon ourselves.—Congregationalist.