"The third evil spirit which is corrupting the Church does not disguise itself as an angel of light, for it well knows it cannot deceive; it is satisfied with the garb of common, human honesty. This is the spirit of avarice. The Vicar of Christ dwells in this royal palace as he dwelt in his episcopal palace, with the pure heart of poverty. Many venerable pastors dwell in the Church with the same heart, but the spirit of poverty is not preached sufficiently, not preached as Christ preached it. The lips of Christ's ministers are too often over-complaisant to those who seek riches. There are those among them who bow the head respectfully before the man who has much, simply because he has much; there are those who let their tongues flatter the greedy, and too many preachers of the word and of the example of Christ deem it just for them to revel in the pomp and honors attending on riches, to cleave with their souls to the luxury riches bring. Father, exhort the clergy to show those greedy for gain, be they rich or poor, more of that charity which admonishes, which threatens, which rebukes. Holy Father!----" Benedetto ceased speaking. There was an expression of fervent appeal in the gaze fixed upon the Pope. "Well?" the Pontiff murmured. Benedetto spread wide his arms, and continued: "The Spirit urges me to say more. It is not the work of a day, but let us prepare for the day--not leaving this task to the enemies of God and of the Church--let us prepare for the day on which the priests of Christ shall set the example of true poverty; when it shall be their duty to live in poverty, as it is their duty to live in chastity; and let the words of Christ to the Seventy-two serve them as a guide in this. Then the Lord will surround the least of them with such honors, with such reverence as does not to-day exist in the hearts of the people for the princes of the Church. They will be few in number, but they will be the light of the world. Holy Father, are they that to-day? Some among them are, but the majority shed neither light nor darkness." At this point the Pontiff for the first time bowed his head in sorrowful acquiescence. The New Rome BY ROBERT BUCHANAN (See page 367) A thousand starve, a few are fed, Legions of robbers rack the poor, The rich man steals the widow's bread, And Lazarus dies at Dives' door; The Lawyer and the Priest adjust The claims of Luxury and Lust To seize the earth and hold the soil, To store the grain they never reap; Under their heels the white slaves toil, While children wail and women weep!-- The gods are dead, but in their name Humanity is sold to shame, While (then as now!) the tinsel'd Priest Sitteth with robbers at the feast, Blesses the laden blood-stain'd board, Weaves garlands round the butcher's sword, And poureth freely (now as then) The sacramental blood of Men! The Priest and the Devil BY FÉODOR DOSTOYEVSKY