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diff --git a/33950-h/33950-h.htm b/33950-h/33950-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96a80a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/33950-h/33950-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6530 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Brother Francis or Less Than The Least by Eileen Douglas. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h1 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; + margin-bottom: 2em; +} + + +.small { + font-size: 60%; +} + +.tiny { + font-size: 40%; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 65%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 3em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +td { + vertical-align: top; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.sidenote { + width: 20%; + padding-bottom: .5em; + padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; + padding-right: .5em; + margin-right: 1em; + float: left; + clear: right; + font-size: smaller; + color: black; + background: #eeeeee; + border: dashed 1px; +} + +ul.inbox { + list-style-type: none; + text-indent: -2em; +} + +ul.booklist { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + list-style-type: none; + text-indent: -4em; +} + +li { + margin-top: .5em; +} + +.centered { + width: 40%; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.bbox { + border: solid 2px; + padding: .5em; + width: 60%; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + text-align: center; + margin-top: 4em; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* Poetry */ +.stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem00 { + margin-left: 17em; +} + +.poem0 { + margin-left: 16em; +} + +.poem01 { + margin-left: 15em; +} + +.poem1 { + margin-left: 14em; +} + +.poem2 { + margin-left: 12em; +} + +.poem3 { + margin-left: 10em; +} + +.poem4 { + margin-left: 8em; +} + +span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Brother Francis, by Eileen Douglas + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Brother Francis + Less than the least + +Author: Eileen Douglas + +Release Date: October 2, 2010 [EBook #33950] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHER FRANCIS *** + + + + +Produced by Louise Davies, Rose Mawhorter, Steven Turner +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<h3>Transcription Notes:</h3> +<ul class="inbox"> +<li>All obvious punctuation errors were corrected.</li> + +<li>Both alms-giving and almsgiving appeared in the text. Almsgiving +has been retained.</li> + +<li>Both grey-green and grey green appeared in the text. Grey-green +has been retained.</li> + +<li>Both countryside and country-side appeared in the text. +Country-side has been retained.</li> + +<li>Both lawsuits and law-suits appeared in the text. Lawsuits has +been retained.</li> + +<li>Both unheard of and unheard-of both appeared in text. Unheard of +has been retained.</li> + +<li>Both any one and anyone both appeared in text. Anyone has +been retained.</li> + +<li>Both swineherd and swine-herd appeared in the text. Swine-herd has +been retained.</li> + +<li>Both lay workers and lay-workers appeared in the text. Lay-workers +has been retained.</li> + +<li>Both Bernard di Quintavelle and Bernard di Quintavalle appeared in + the text. The variation has been retained.</li> + +<li>p 1. Appenines has been corrected to Apennines.</li> + +<li>p 16. delapidated was corrected to dilapidated</li> + +<li>p 66. Appenines has been corrected to Apennines.</li> + +<li>p 116. amplication has been corrected to application.</li> + +<li>p 116. nomed was corrected to named</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + + + +<h3>THE RED-HOT LIBRARY.</h3> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Edited by Bramwell Booth.</span></h4> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h4>No. I.</h4> + +<h1><span class="smcap">Brother Francis</span><br /> + +<span class="tiny">OR,</span><br /> + +<span class="small">LESS THAN THE LEAST.</span></h1> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>BRIGADIER EILEEN DOUGLAS.</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/colophon.png" width="300" height="300" alt="colophon" /> +</div> + + +<h4>THE SALVATION ARMY BOOK DEPARTMENT</h4> +<div class="centered"> +<span class="smcap">London:</span> 79 & 81 Fortess Road, N.W. +<span class="smcap">Melbourne:</span> 69 Bourke Street<br /> +<span class="smcap">New York:</span> 120 West Fourteenth Street<br /> +<span class="smcap">Toronto:</span> Albert Street<br /> +<span class="smcap">Cape Town:</span> Loop Street<br /> +</div> +<p class="center"> +SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & <span class="smcap">Co., Ltd.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">4 <span class="smcap">Stationers' Hall Court, London,</span> E.C.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p class="center"><br />1911</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Second Edition.</i></p> + + + +<div class="bbox"> +<h4><i>Uniform with this Volume.</i></h4> + +<table class="smcap" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="books in the volume"> +<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td align="left">On the Banks of the River. A Brief History of the Last Days of Mrs. General Booth.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td align="left"> George Fox, the Red-Hot Quaker.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td align="left"> Helps To Holiness.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td align="left"> David Stoner; or, The Shy Preacher.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td align="left"> Red Flowers of Martyrdom.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td align="left"> Heart Talks on Holiness.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td align="left"> Commissioner Dowdle, the Saved Railway Guard.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td align="left"> Peter Cartwright: God's Rough-rider.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td align="left"> The Life of Lieut.-Colonel Junker.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td align="left"> The Soul-Winner's Secret.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td align="left"> Gideon Ouseley: An Old-Time Irish Salvationist.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td align="left"> Fletcher of Madeley.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td align="left"> The Cross Our Comfort.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td align="left"> Sighs From Hell.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td align="left"> What Hinders You?</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td align="left"> The Fruits of the Spirit, and The Whole Armour of God.</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="table of contents"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Chapter.</span></td><td></td><td align="center"><span class="smcap">Page.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">I.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Assisi and Francis</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_1">1</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">II.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Change</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_5">5</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">III.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Lonely Struggle</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_10">10</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IV.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Victory Without and Within</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_15">15</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">V.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Francis' Call</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_21">21</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VI.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Francis' Early Disciples</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_28">28</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VII.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Francis Called To Be a Saint</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_36">36</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">VIII.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Francis as a Leader of Men</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_44">44</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">IX.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Establishment of the Order</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_50">50</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">X.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Story of Clara</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_57">57</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XI.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The First Chapter</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_62">62</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XII.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Some of Francis' Converts</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_70">70</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIII.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Story of the Martyrs</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_80">80</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XIV.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">First Foreign Missions</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_87">87</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XV.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Francis' Visit To the Sultan: Discouragements</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_95">95</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVI.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Brethren of the Militia of Jesus Christ</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_103">103</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVII.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Clouds</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_111">111</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">XVIII.—</td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Last Days</span></td><td align="center"><a href="#Page_119">119</a> </td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + + +<hr /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p>The following pages have been written by my request +with a view to making the Soldiers of The Salvation Army +somewhat familiar with the life-story of one of the most +remarkable men this world has ever seen.</p> + +<p>While many and varied will be the opinions respecting +the methods employed by Francis of Assisi, and while +some will doubtless strongly dissent from these methods, +yet I think no serious follower of Jesus Christ can do +otherwise than admire the sincerity, devotion and sacrifice +of the man; and further, there can be, I think, no two +opinions as to his having taught and manifested to the +world what it means to be possessed entirely by the +Saviour's spirit.</p> + +<p>And what did that spirit produce? Surely it was the +same entire devotion of our all to the service of God and +humanity which we Salvationists daily teach. The difference +between our spirit and that of the subject of this +Memoir is, I trust, very slight, although the manifestations +of it are widely diverse. We are quite as extreme in our +demands as to poverty and solitude as he was, only that +we do not value these things for their own sake as he did. +We daily induce persons to leave earthly possessions and +prospects in order to go and seek the salvation of the +poor, amongst whom their future life is to be spent; and +we require our Officers to consecrate all they have to the +service of the Kingdom of God right through their career, +and to live always in a state of readiness to be sent away +from all they have known and loved—not, indeed, to live +in any cloister or hermitage, but in the solitude amidst +the crowd which must ever be more or less the lot of the +highest leaders of men.</p> + +<p>The system established by Francis was not adaptable to +family life, whereas it is our joy to show how as complete +a devotion to the good of others can be manifested by the +father or mother, who spend most of their hours in toil for +the support of those dependent upon them, as by the monks +and nuns of old, even when they walked in entire harmony +with the rules of their various orders.</p> + +<p>We have demonstrated that most people by the very +fact of their being engaged in business, and having to +fulfil the duties of family life, acquire extra power to +capture for God those who are still in the ranks of +worldliness and selfishness.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, we must always expect God to require from +time to time witnesses who might step out of the ordinary +path altogether in order to revolutionise the world for Him. +It were better far to aspire to so high and holy a calling +than to excuse in ourselves any less self-denial, any easier +life than this man's boundless love to Christ constrained +him to adopt.</p> + +<p>It is most melancholy to reflect that Francis died almost +broken-hearted over what he felt to be the unfaithfulness of +his brethren. We believe that God has guided us to plans +which, being consistent with the possibilities of modern +human life, are capable of being carried out fully and +always. But the vital question is the maintenance of that +intense spirit of personal devotion to the good Shepherd +and His lost sheep, which can alone render any such +scheme of life possible. To that great end may this book +minister, and God grant us grace and wisdom to raise up +generation after generation of soldiers, who will not only +drink in, but fully carry out that spirit.</p> + +<p> +WILLIAM BOOTH.<br /> +<br /> +<i>International Headquarters,<br /> +London.</i><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + +<hr /> + +<h1 style="margin-top: 3em;">BROTHER FRANCIS.</h1> + +<h4>OR,</h4> + +<h3 style="margin-bottom: 4em;">LESS THAN THE LEAST.</h3> + +<hr /> + + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Assisi And Francis.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem1"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Hands love clasped through charmèd hours,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Feet that press the bruisèd flowers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is there naught for you to dare,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That ye may his signet wear?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>You will not be likely to find Assisi marked on any +ordinary map of Italy. It is far too unimportant a place +for that. That is to say, geographically unimportant. +Assisi lies half-way up the Appenines. The houses, +which are built of a curious kind of rosy-tinted stone, +press so closely together one above the other on the rocks, so +that each house seems trying to look over its neighbours' +head. The result of this is that from every window you +have one of the grandest views in Europe. Above, the +mountains tower into the sky, and yet they are not so +close as to suggest crowding. Beneath lies stretched out +the Umbrian plain, the centre and heart of Italy. With +its rich harvests, plentiful streams and luxuriant vegetation, +it might well be called the Eden of Italy.</p> + +<p>The atmosphere is clear and transparent, and the nights, +with their dark blue cloudless skies, studded with myriads +of shining, sparkling stars, are better imagined than +described!</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Like a Prince.</i></div> + +<p>It was midway up one of the narrow steep little streets, +in one of those rosy-tinted houses, that Francis Bernardone +was born, about six hundred years ago. Only he wasn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +Francis just then. He was John. As a matter of fact +there was no such name as Francis known in Assisi, and +some think it was invented there and then for the first +time by Pietro Bernardone.</p> + +<p>When his baby was born, Pietro was far away, travelling +in France. He was a merchant, and his business often +took him away from home. As there were no letters or +telegrams to tell him the news, it was not till he got back +that he found he had a baby son, who had been duly +christened John at the parish church. But Pietro had no +idea of letting a little matter of this kind stand in his way, +and he told his wife, Pica, that the baby was not to be +John, but Francis or Francesca. And Francis he was.</p> + +<p>The neighbours didn't like it at all. Why should +Pietro set himself up to be so much better than other folks +that he must needs invent a name for his baby? In what +was his baby better than any of theirs? And so forth. +Oh, Assisi was a very natural little town! From his babyhood +these neighbours sat in judgment on little Francis. +There was nothing much about him that pleased them. +They disapproved of his dress, which was rich and fine, and +always according to the latest fashion; of his idle, free, +careless ways, of his handsome face, of his superabundance +of pocket-money.</p> + +<p>"Your son lives like a prince," a neighbour said once +to Pica.</p> + +<p>"What is that to you!" retorted Pica, "our son does +indeed live like a prince. Have patience, the day may +come when he will live like the Son of God."</p> + +<p>But in truth that day seemed long in coming, and the +neighbours might well be forgiven when they said among +themselves that young Francis Bernardone was being +utterly spoiled. It was quite true. Frank, gay, good-tempered, +easily led, fond of all kinds of beauty and soft +living, the life of indulgence and ease and pleasure that +he was brought up in was not the one that would best fit +him for the battle of life. Pietro was rich, and he was also +exceeding proud of his handsome gay son. It delighted +him more than anything else to hear people say that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +looked like a prince of royal blood, and he denied him +nothing that money could procure.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Young Manhood.</i></div> + +<p>As he grew up into young manhood, Francis nominally +assisted his father in his business as cloth merchant. His +duties, however, were very light, and he was known more +as a leader among the gay youth of Assisi than as a rising +business man. He was always chosen as the leader of +the sumptuous feasts that the young men of that era wiled +away the evening hours with. After the feast was over, +Francis used to lead his band out into the streets, and +there under those glorious starry skies they finished the +night singing the then popular love songs of France and +Italy. As Francis was intensely musical, and possessed a +very fine voice, he was indispensable at these revelries.</p> + +<p>He was almost twenty-five before he had his first serious +thought. Up to then life had been an enchanted dream. +Francis, with his handsome face, beautiful courteous manners, +and full pockets the centre of it. He had seen life outside +Assisi, for he had fought for his country and suffered +imprisonment. He had travelled a little, was fairly well +educated, and what was rare in those days spoke and sang +in the French language. Of God he seems to have had no +knowledge whatever. His kindly, polite nature led him to +much almsgiving, but that was merely the outcome of a +disposition which hated to see suffering.</p> + +<p>Francis' lack of religion is not much to be wondered +at when we look at the state of the church in his time. +Christianity had become old, its first freshness had worn +off, and its primitive teaching had fallen into decay. A +Christian's life was an easy one, and the service rendered +was more of church-going and almsgiving, than purity of +heart and life. In many instances those who filled the +office of teacher and preacher were corrupt, and lived only +for themselves, and the whole tendency of the times was to +the most extreme laxity.</p> + +<p>When almost twenty-five years old, Francis had a very severe +illness. For weeks he lay at death's door, and for weeks +after all danger was passed, he was confined to the house +too weak to move. As his weary convalescence dragged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +itself along, one absorbing desire filled his mind. If only +he could get out of doors, and stand once again in the sunshine, +and feast his eyes on the landscape below him! +Francis, like all Italians, was a passionate lover of his +native country, and at last, one day, he wearily and painfully +crawled out.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Things that Perish.</i></div> + +<p>But what was the matter? The sunshine was there. +It flooded the country. The breeze that was to bring him +new life and vigor played among his chestnut curls. The +mountains towered in their noble grandeur. The wide +Umbrian plain lay stretched out at his feet. The skies +were as blue, and the flowers as gay and sweet, as ever his +fancy painted them. But the young man turned away +with a sickening sense of disappointment and failure.</p> + +<p>"Things that perish," he said mournfully to himself, +and thought bitterly of his past life with its gaiety and +frivolity. It, too, was among the "things that perish." +Life was a dreary emptiness.</p> + +<p>It was the old, old story. "Thou hast made us for +Thyself, oh God, and the heart is restless till it finds its +rest in Thee." That tide which flows at least once in the +life of every human being was surging round Francis. +Happy they who, leaving all else, cast themselves into the +infinite ocean of the Divine will and design.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Change.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem0"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In this easy, painless life,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Free from struggle, care, and strife,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ever on my doubting breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lies the shadow of unrest;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This no path that Jesus trod—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can the smooth way lead to God?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>As health returned, Francis determined that he would +no longer waste his life. He had spent a quarter of a +century in ease, and pleasure, and amusement. Now, +some way or other, there should be a change. Religion to +Francis meant acting up to all the duties of his church. +This he had already done, and not for a moment did he +dream that there was in what he called "religion" any +balm for a sore and wounded spirit. It never occurred to him +to seek in prayer the mind of the Lord concerning his +future. Oh, no, it was many a long day before Francis +knew the real meaning of the word prayer. He was convinced +of his wrong, and determined to right it. That was +as far as he had got. What to do was now the great +question.</p> + +<p>Just about this time, a nobleman of Assisi, Walter of +Brienne, was about to start for Apulia, to take part in a +war which was going on there. All at once it occurred to +Francis that he would go too. He was naturally +courageous, and visions filled his mind of the deeds he +would do, and the honours that would be bestowed upon +him.</p> + +<p>He hastened at once to the nobleman and begged to be +allowed to accompany him. Permission was granted, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +Francis set about getting his outfit ready. His rich +costume was far more splendid than that of Walter himself, +and the trappings of his horse and his general +accoutrements were all in keeping, so that altogether +Francis was a very magnificent personage indeed!</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Voice.</i></div> + +<p>A few nights before he started, he dreamed a strange +dream. He was sleeping, and he thought somebody called +him out of his sleep.</p> + +<p>"Francis, Francis," said a voice.</p> + +<p>Then it seemed to Francis that he awoke and found himself +in a vast armoury. All around him hung shields and +spears and swords, and weapons of all kinds. But the +most curious part of it was that each weapon was marked +with a cross. In his heart he wondered what it could all +mean, and as he was wondering, the voice answered his +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"These are for thee and for thy followers," it said, and +then Francis awoke.</p> + +<p>It was an age when dreams were counted of much importance, +and Francis rejoiced over this of his. Heaven, +he said to himself, had smiled upon his enterprise. God +had undertaken to lead him by the hand, and to what +heights could he not aspire! Dreams of earthly honor and +distinction floated through his brain as he dressed, and +when he went downstairs everybody asked what made him +look so radiant.</p> + +<p>"I have the certainty of becoming a great prince," he +answered.</p> + +<p>Yes, truly, he was to be a prince among men! Could +he have seen then the rough road that God was preparing +for him, would he have drawn back? Happily for us, we +live a day at a time, and further than that our eyes are +holden.</p> + +<p>With a great deal of pomp and display, at the appointed +time Francis mounted his horse and set off. But his +journey was a short one. About thirty miles from Assisi +he was taken ill with an attack of his life-long enemy—the +fever—and forced to lie by. He chafed a good deal at +this, and wondered and pondered over the mysterious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +actions of a Providence which had so manifestly sanctioned +his expedition.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Master or the Servant?</i></div> + +<p>One evening he was lying half unconscious when he +thought he heard the same voice that spoke to him before +he started.</p> + +<p>"Francis," it asked, "what could benefit thee most, the +Master or the servant, the rich man or the poor?"</p> + +<p>"The Master and the rich man," answered Francis in +wonderment.</p> + +<p>"Why, then," went on the voice, "dost thou leave God, +Who is the Master and rich, for man, who is the servant +and poor?"</p> + +<p>"Then, Lord, what wilt Thou that I do?" queried +Francis.</p> + +<p>"Return to thy native town, and it shall be shown thee +there what thou shalt do," said the voice.</p> + +<p>It was characteristic of all Francis' after life that he +never stopped to query what looked like contradiction of +orders, but as soon as ever he was well enough he +travelled back home again. His ambition for future +greatness, and earthly distinction and honor, all seemed to +be lost sight of when the Divine voice spoke. For Francis +was convinced that God had spoken to him.</p> + +<p>It was certainly not easy for a nature like his to +return home whence a few short days before, he had +departed with such pomp and glory. His father was not +over rejoiced to welcome him back, but his friends, who +worshipped him, "the flower of Assisi," as they called him, +received him gladly. Things had been dull without +Francis. His merry songs and jests were missed at the +evening feast. For a time he took up the life he had +quitted. There was nothing else to do as far as he could +see. But he was changed. Even his companions were +forced to own that. He sang, and laughed, and jested as +usual, but the heart had gone out of his song and laughter, +and he was prone to fall into deep fits of meditation.</p> + +<p>It was a far from satisfactory life. He cared no longer +for what was once his very existence, and he knew not +as yet to what God would have him turn. He desired to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +serve God, and gave himself to almsgiving. He made a +pilgrimage to Rome, only to be disgusted with the miserable +offerings put into the treasury by the pilgrims.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Conflicts.</i></div> + +<p>"Is this all they spare to God?" he cried, and pulling +out his purse flung its contents among the rest.</p> + +<p>He was tormented and haunted by recollections of his +past mis-spent life, and for days he mourned over what +was beyond recall.</p> + +<p>There was a certain old woman in Assisi, horribly +deformed and hideously ugly. Francis, with his innate +love of the beautiful, recoiled in horror every time he met +her. She was a nightmare to him, and he would go far +to avoid seeing her. The devil, who is ever ready to work +on the weakness of a human soul, used this old woman to +torture him.</p> + +<p>"See," he said, "a picture of what you will become if +you persist in mortifying yourself, and leading a life +devoted to God. You will become as ugly and repulsive +as that old woman in time."</p> + +<p>The bare idea was agonizing to Francis. The old +woman turned up continually, and seemed to pursue him +like a phantom. The temptation may seem to stronger +souls an ignoble one, but it was an intense and severe one +to Francis. He conquered by yielding himself up to the +will of God. He accepted everything—deformity, ugliness, +pain—if it were God's plan for him. Then and only then +had he rest.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had given up his warlike ambitions and +returned to Assisi, he had been in the habit of going off by +himself into a cave or grotto, and there being alone with +his thoughts. Many a conflict did that cave see, as +Francis with tears and cries entreated the Lord to show +him how best to employ his life. It was during one of +these seasons that his spiritual eyes were opened. +Hitherto he had followed blindly an almost unknown God, +but he <i>had</i> followed and sought, and the end of his faith +was sight.</p> + +<p>It came upon him all at once. Christ—His love for the +sinner, His love for him—Christ, bleeding, dying, suffering,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +for very love—Christ the pure, long-suffering, merciful, +patient—Christ the Son of God made Man for us. A wave +of great joy swept over Francis, and he wept for very gladness +of heart. Here was his Master, his Lord. He had +found Him, and henceforth following was easy.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Lepers.</i></div> + +<p>Not one of the many translations of the life of Francis, +omits to mention his self-imposed mission to the lepers. +Assisi, like most foreign towns of the age, was infested +with lepers. They were not allowed to live in the towns, +but had houses (lazaretti) built for them quite outside. +Francis had a deep-rooted repugnance to a leper, and, in +passing a lazaretto, always carefully covered up his nose lest +any bad odour might reach him, and he always rode far away +in the opposite direction, if he chanced to see one in the +plains. Nothing shows the change in Francis more than +his alteration towards the lepers. One day, when out +riding, he saw a leper approaching. His first instinct was +his natural one to get away at once. His second, that God +required something more of him. Who was he, to loathe +and avoid a fellow-creature. Riding up to the leper, he +dismounted, gave him some money, and then without a +shudder, kissed the dreadful hand held out to him. He +had done the impossible, and from this time he constantly +visited the lazaretti, putting himself in personal contact +with the lepers, giving them money, and doing all he could +to lessen their sufferings.</p> + +<p>Of this period of his experience he writes long years +after:—</p> + +<p>"When I was in sin it was very bitter to me to behold +lepers, but the Lord Himself having led me amongst them, +I exercised mercy towards them, and when I left them I +felt that what had seemed so bitter to me was changed +into sweetness for my soul and body."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Lonely Struggle.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem2"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thou must walk on, however man upbraid thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With Him who trod the winepress all alone:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou may'st not find one human hand to aid thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">One human soul to comprehend thy own."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>A rough, stony uphill path, or rather track, under +grey-green olive trees, leading to a perfect tangle of +cypresses and pines. Somewhere in the tangle of cypresses +almost hidden from sight, lay a dilapidated ancient church, +which, long ago had been dedicated to the martyr Damian. +Up this stony track one day, stumbled Francis.</p> + +<p>His was now a solitary life. He was a complete puzzle +to parents and friends, and, indeed to a great extent he +was a puzzle to himself. His life in his father's house +was far from pleasant. Pietro's vanity had received a +serious blow from what he regarded as his son's "ignominious" +return to Assisi. He had been more than +willing to give him ample means for every pleasure, so +that he might mingle on an equal footing with the young +nobles of the land, but to see his money given lavishly to +the beggars in the street, and the lepers in the lazar-houses +was more than he could stand. A serious, ever +widening breach had formed between father and son. +Pica, poor woman, knew that, sooner or later, a rupture +would come, and much as she loved her strange son, she +could do nothing to prevent it. There was literally no +one who could comprehend Francis, much less render him +any spiritual aid. One faithful companion there had +been, who used to follow him round into the woods when +he went to pray, and stand at the doors of caves and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +grottos until his season of meditation was over, but after a +time, this friend had been obliged to leave him. Francis +tried timidly to tell people a little of what God was dimly +revealing to him, but his—to them—vague ideas only +resulted in mocking smiles, and assurances that he was +rapidly becoming stark, staring mad! So had things +come about, that in spite of himself, Francis was thrown +entirely and solely upon his new found Lord.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Prayer and its Answer.</i></div> + +<p>The cross lay heavy upon him that day, as he stumbled +up the tiny olive-shaded path, and lit upon the almost +ruined church. This was a direction Francis seldom +walked in, but to-day he had been so occupied with his +thoughts, that he scarcely knew where he was going. +Seeing the church, he passed in and knelt to pray.</p> + +<p>"Great and glorious God," was his prayer; "and Thou, +Lord Jesus, I pray Thee, shed abroad Thy light in the +darkness of my mind. Be found of me, Lord, so that in +all things I may act only in accordance with Thy holy +will."</p> + +<p>As he prayed, little by little a sense of peace, and a new +feeling of acceptance took possession of him. He had +known before that God had pardoned him for the past, +and was keeping him in the midst of trials and hourly +temptations, but this was something quite different. Jesus +accepted him, individually, his body as well as his soul, his +time, talents, all his being, and desired his labour and +assistance. The poor, lonely, crushed heart, was filled to +overflowing. He was conscious of a distinct union with +Christ. From this time forth, he was to know what it +meant to be crucified with Christ—to die daily.</p> + +<p>As he knelt there among the ruins and decay, it seemed +to him that a voice spoke to his soul thus—</p> + +<p>"Francis, dost thou see how my house is falling into +ruins? Go and set thyself to repair it."</p> + +<p>"Most willingly, Lord," he answered, hardly knowing +what he said.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>For the Benefit of St. Damian's.</i></div> + +<p>Now, respecting the incidents we are about to relate, +there are many and various theories. Some say the +revelation made to Francis, referred to the spiritual work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +to which he had not as yet received his call, others there +are, who blame him and call him rash and hot-headed, +and accuse him of running before he was sent. We are +not prepared to give judgment one way or the other. God +has not promised us that we shall never make mistakes, +and if Francis made a mistake, God certainly over-ruled +it, and made it work to His glory, as He has promised +"all things" to work for those who love Him. Again, +God has His own ways of working, mysterious and curious +though they often seem to us, and what looks like "the +foolishness of men," often redounds to His greatest praise. +But to return to what really happened.</p> + +<p>Francis rose from his knees, and sought the priest who +had charge of St. Damian's. He pressed all the money he +had about him into his hands, begged him to buy oil and +keep the lamp always burning, then rushed off home. +Saddling his horse, he loaded it with the most costly +stuffs he could find, and rode off into a neighbouring town, +where they found a ready market, and realized a goodly +sum. When his stuff was all sold, he disposed of his +horse too, and returning on foot to St. Damian's, he +placed a well-filled purse in the priest's hands, told him +with much satisfaction what he had done, and begged him +to have the church restored at once. To his utter consternation, +the priest refused, saying he dare not take so +large a sum unless Pietro Bernardone approved.</p> + +<p>Poor Francis was in despair. He flung the money on a +window seat in disgust, and begged the priest at least to +give him a shelter for a few days. That much bewildered +man, hardly knowing what to say or do, consented, and +Francis took up his abode with him.</p> + +<p>But not for long. Pietro, when he found his son +did not return home as usual, made enquiries and found +where he was located. He was very anxious and uneasy, +as he was sure now that his son was afflicted by a religious +mania, he would have to renounce all the high hopes +he had formed for him. However, he resolved to make a +determined effort to recover him, and set out with a large +party of friends to storm St. Damian's. They hoped that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +Francis would listen to reason, and consent to follow them +back quietly to Assisi.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Lonely Struggle.</i></div> + +<p>But Francis never waited to receive them. An uncontrollable +fear took possession of him, and he fled and hid +himself in a cavern he alone knew of. His father's party +ransacked the priest's abode, and all the country round, +but they had to return home baffled.</p> + +<p>For a month, Francis remained shut up in the cavern. +An old servant who loved him dearly, was let into the +secret, and used to bring him food. During this month +he suffered intensely. It was the first time in his life he +had ever suffered contradiction—the first time in his life +he had ever had anyone really, openly opposed to him. +To be sure, people did not understand him, but they had +never shown him any animosity. A sense of utter failure +oppressed him. It was a hard trial to one of his temperament, +and if his consecration had not been very real, he +would never have stood the test.</p> + +<p>He wept and prayed, and confessed his utter nothingness, +his weakness, his inability to accomplish anything of +himself. Never in his life had he felt weak and incapable +before. Then humbly he entreated that God would +enable him to accomplish His will, and not permit his +incapacity to frustrate God's designs for him. A consciousness +of Divine strength was manifested to him as +never before. It was as if a voice said, "I will be with +thee, fear not." Strengthened with a strength he never +knew heretofore, he came out of the cavern and made +straight for his father's house.</p> + +<p>That day as Pietro Bernardone sat at work indoors, the +voice of a mighty tumult was borne in to him. Such a +clamour, and yelling, and shouting he never had heard +in Assisi in all his time! Rushing upstairs he looked out +of the window. It seemed as though the entire populace +had turned loose, and were buffeting someone in their +midst.</p> + +<p>"A madman, a madman," yelled the crowd, and sticks +and stones and mud flew from all sides.</p> + +<p>"A madman, a madman," echoed the children.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>Determined not to lose the fun, Pietro hastened out into +the street, joined the crowd, and discovered that his son +Francis was the madman in question! With a howl of +rage, he rushed upon him, dragged him into the house +with oaths and blows, and locked him up in a sort of +dungeon.</p> + +<p>During the succeeding days, he and his wife did all they +could to persuade Francis to return to his old mode of life. +Pietro entreated and threatened, Pica wept and caressed, +but all in vain.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Command from God.</i></div> + +<p>"I have received a command from God," was their +answer, and "I mean to carry it out."</p> + +<p>At last, after some time, Pietro being absent for several +days on business, Pica unlocked the dungeon and let her +son go free.</p> + +<p>When Pietro returned, he cursed his wife and set off to +St. Damian's to fetch Francis back. But Francis declined +to go. He said that he feared neither blows nor chains, +but God had given him a work to do, and nothing, nor +nobody would prevent him carrying out that mission. +Pietro was struck by his son's coolness, and seeing that +force would be no use, he went to the magistrates and +lodged a complaint against his son, desiring the magistrates +to recover the money that his son had given to the +church, and to oblige him to renounce in legal form all rights +of inheritance. The magistrates seem to have been much +shocked at Pietro's harshness, but they summoned Francis, +who would not appear. When asked to use violence, they +said—</p> + +<p>"No, since your son has entered God's service, we have +nothing to do with his actions," and utterly refused to +have anything further to do with the case.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Victory Without and Within.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem1"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"For poverty and self-renunciation<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The Father yieldeth back a thousand-fold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the calm stillness of regeneration,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Cometh a joy we never knew of old."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Pietro was not avaricious. He cared nothing for the +money as money. His plan now was to cut off all supplies, +and when his son, who had always been accustomed to the +daintiest and softest of living, and was in no way inured +to hardship, found that he was now literally a beggar, he +would, after a little privation, come to his senses, and sue +his father for pardon. This was his idea when he sought +the bishop and made his complaint to him. The bishop +called Francis to appear before him.</p> + +<p>On the appointed day he appeared with his father. The +venerable bishop, who was a man of great good sense and +wisdom, heard all there was to hear, and then turning to +the young man, he said—</p> + +<p>"My son, thy father is greatly incensed against thee. +If thou desirest to consecrate thyself to God, restore to him +all that is his."</p> + +<p>He went on to say that the money was not really +Francis', and therefore he had no right to give away what +was not his, besides God would never accept money that +was an occasion of sin between father and son. Then +Francis rose and said—</p> + +<p>"My lord, I will give back everything to my father, +even the clothes I have had from him!"</p> + +<p>Returning into a neighbouring room, he stripped off all +his rich garments, and clad only in a hair under-garment, +laid them and the purse of money at his father's feet.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>One Father.</i></div> + +<p>"Now," he cried, "I have but one father, henceforth I +can say in all truth "Our Father who art in Heaven!"</p> + +<p>There was a moment of dead silence. Everybody +present was too astonished to speak, then Pietro gathered +up the garments and money, and withdrew. A murmur +of pity swept through the crowd as they looked at the +young man standing half-naked before the tribunal. But +no sentiments of pity stirred Pietro. Easy and good-natured +when things went according to his liking, he was +equally hard and unbending if his will was crossed. It +was to him a rude awakening out of a glorious, golden +dream, and from his standpoint life looked hard.</p> + +<p>When Pietro departed the old bishop threw his own +mantle round the young man's shoulders, and sent out for +some suitable garment. Nothing, however, was forthcoming +except a peasant's cloak belonging to one of the +gardeners. This Francis gladly put on and passed out of +the bishop's hall—a homeless wanderer on the face of the +earth.</p> + +<p>He was not inclined to return to St. Damian's at once. +He desired solitude, so he plunged into the woods. As +he travelled he sang with all his might praises to God in +the French tongue. His singing attracted the notice of +some robbers who were hidden in the fastness of the woods. +They sprang out and seized him, demanding—</p> + +<p>"Who are you?"</p> + +<p>Francis always courteous replied,</p> + +<p>"I am the herald of the Great King. But what does +that concern you?"</p> + +<p>The robbers laughed at him for a madman, and after +they had made game of him for a time, they tore his garment +from his back, and tossing him into a deep ditch +where a quantity of snow still lay, they made off crying,</p> + +<p>"Lie there, you poor herald of the Good God!"</p> + +<p>When they had disappeared Francis scrambled out stiff +with cold and clad only in his one garment, and went on +his way singing as before.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Kitchen Assistant.</i></div> + +<p>Happily his wanderings speedily brought him to a +monastery among the mountains. He knocked at the door<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +and begged for help. The monks regarded this strange +half-naked applicant with much suspicion, and one can +hardly blame them. Nevertheless they received him, and +gave him employment in their kitchen as assistant to the +cook, to do the rough and heavy work. His food was of +the commonest and coarsest, and it never seemed to occur +to any of them that he would be the better for a few more +clothes. When his solitary garment appeared in imminent +danger of dropping to pieces he left the monastery and +went on a little further to a neighbouring town where a +friend of his lived. He made his way to this friend and +asked him out of charity to provide him with a worn garment +to cover his nakedness. The case was manifestly an +urgent one, and the friend bestowed upon him a suit of +clothes consisting of a tunic, leather belt, shoes, and a +stick. It was very much the kind of costume then worn +by the hermits.</p> + +<p>From here he started back again to St. Damian's. He +stopped on his way to visit a lazar-house, and help in the +care of the lepers. He had quite gotten over all his early +antipathies, and it was a joy to him now to minister to +those poor diseased ones. Probably he would have spent +a much longer season here if it were not that again he +seemed to hear the same voice calling him to repair the +ruined church. So he left the lazar-house and proceeded +on his way. He told his friend the priest that he was in +no way disappointed or cast down, and that he had good +reason to believe that he would be able to accomplish his +purpose.</p> + +<p>There was only one way in which he could attain this +end. Money he had none, neither did he know of anyone +who loved God and His cause well enough to expend a +little of their riches in rebuilding His house. Next day +saw him at work. Up and down the streets of his native +town he went begging for stones to rebuild St. Damian.</p> + +<p>"He who gives me one stone shall receive one blessing, +he who gives me two will have two blessings, and he who +gives me three, three blessings."</p> + +<div class="sidenote">"<i>He is quite Mad.</i>"</div> + +<p>The people were unable to do anything at first from pure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +astonishment. Francis Bernardone, the gay cavalier, the +leader of feasts and song, sueing in the streets like a common +beggar! They could hardly believe their eyes! +"Truly the fellow was mad," they said to each other! But +he did not look mad. His smile was as sweet as ever, and +the native, polished, courtly manners that had won for him +so many friends, now that they were sanctified, were doubly +winning. It was impossible to resist him, and stones were +brought him in quantities. Load after load, interminable +loads he bore on his back like a labourer to St. Damian. +Up the steep little path he toiled between the grey green +olives, on and into the tangle of cypress and pine, and +there stone by stone with his own hands he repaired the +crumbling walls. It was a long wearisome toilsome work, +and told considerably on his health.</p> + +<p>"He is <i>quite</i> mad," reiterated some as the days passed +from spring to summer, and from summer to autumn and +from autumn into winter again. But there were others +who watched him with tears in their eyes. <i>They</i> +knew he was not mad. They realized that a great power +had changed the once refined man into a servant of all—even +the constraining power of the love of Christ, and they +shed tears when they thought how far they came +short.</p> + +<p>The priest of St. Damian's was deeply touched at +Francis' self-sacrificing work, and often grieved when he +saw him doing what he was physically so unfitted for. He +conceived a violent admiration for his young lodger, and in +spite of his poverty he always contrived to have some dainty +dish, or tit-bit for him when he returned to meals. Now +Francis always had been particular as to his food, he liked +it well served, and he was also very fond of all kinds of +sweets and confectionery. For a time he thanked his +friend and ate gratefully the pleasant dishes he had provided. +One day as he sat at dinner the thought came to +him "what should I do if I had nobody to provide my +meals." Then he saw for the first time that he was still +under bondage to his appetite. He enjoyed nice food, it +seemed necessary to him—but was it like that Life he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +so earnestly strove to copy. Francis sat condemned. The +next moment he jumped up and seizing a wooden bowl he +went round the streets from door to door begging for scraps +of broken meat and bread. The people stared harder than +ever, but in a little time his bowl was quite full, and he +returned home and sat down to eat his rations.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Beggar.</i></div> + +<p>He tried hard, but he turned against them with loathing. +In all his life he thought he had never seen such a horrid +collection! Then, lifting his heart to God, he made another +trial and tasted the food. Lo and behold it was not bad, +and as he continued his coarse meal he thought that no +dish had ever tasted better! Praising God for victory he +went to the priest and told him that he would be no +further expense to him, from henceforth he would beg his +meals.</p> + +<p>When Pietro heard that his son had added to his +eccentricities by begging for his food his anger knew no +bounds! When he met him in the streets he blushed with +shame, and often cursed him. But if his family were +ashamed of him, there were many among the townsfolk +with whom he found sympathy. Help came in on all +sides, and at last the walls were repaired, and the church +was no longer in danger of tumbling into a mass of ruins. +What was needed for the inside was got in the same way +as the stones, and pretty soon a congregation was forthcoming.</p> + +<p>One of the hardest sacrifices God required from Francis +connected with this work was one evening when he was +out begging from house to house for oil to light the church. +He came to a house where an entertainment was going on, +a feast very similar to those he had so often presided over +in his worldly days. He looked down on his poor common +dress, and thought with shame what a figure he would cut +among the gay, well-dressed crowd within. For a moment +he felt tempted to skip this house. But it was only for a +moment; reproaching himself bitterly, he pushed in and +standing before the festive gathering, told them simply +how much he had objected to coming in, and for what +reason, adding that he feared his timidity was counted to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +him as sin, because he was working in God's name, and in +His service. His request was taken in good part, and +his words so touched all present that they were eager to +give him the aid he sought.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>St. Damian's Finished.</i></div> + +<p>After St. Damian's was quite restored, Francis set to +work and did the same for two other equally needy churches +in the vicinity. One was St. Peter's, and the other St. +Mary's or the Portiuncula. The second one became +eventually the cradle of the Franciscan movement. Here +he built for himself a cell, where he used to come to pour +out his soul in prayer. When his work of repairing came +to an end, he gave himself up to meditation, his whole +idea being that he would henceforth lead the life of a +recluse. But God disposed!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Francis' Call.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem0"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Oh, my Lord, the Crucified,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who for love of me hast died,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mould me by Thy living breath,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the likeness of Thy death,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While the thorns Thy brows entwine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let no flower wreath rest on mine."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>But Francis kept a listening ear. God's word was his +law, and though he to a certain extent planned what he +would do next, yet he left himself entirely free in his +Lord's hands, and at His disposal. Had he not remained +in this attitude of soul, or had he become wise in his own +conceits, or failed to keep his heart and soul fresh with +the first vital freshness of regeneration, what would have +become of the great Franciscan movement that was destined +ultimately to stir the world? God alone knows. <i>He</i> keeps +count of lost opportunities, calls neglected, soul stirrings +lulled to barren fruitless slumber!</p> + +<p>The natural tendency of a soul which has been awakened +to great action, and accomplished daring feats, is—the first +strain passed—to relax, or settle down. It is only the +minority that struggle and fight and get the victory over +this subtle temptation. The same principle applies in a +larger scale, and that is why it is so many glorious religious +movements have run a course and then dwindled into +mediocrity, the later disciples carving for themselves a +medium way.</p> + +<p>Francis' life-work might easily have dwindled into +nothing just here. He had not the least intimation that +the Lord demanded anything more of him but that he +should love and serve Him all the days of his life, in an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +ordinary unobtrusive manner. Two years had been spent +in repairing the churches, and Francis was now between +twenty-seven and twenty-eight years of age.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>His Commission.</i></div> + +<p>It was on the twenty-fourth of February in the year +1209 that he received his call to direct spiritual work. +That morning he went to church as usual, and the words +of the Gospel for the day came to him direct from Jesus +Christ Himself.</p> + +<p>"Wherever ye go preach, saying, 'The Kingdom of +Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast +out devils. Freely ye have received, freely give. Provide +neither silver nor gold nor brass in your purses, neither +scrip, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor staff, for the laborer +is worthy of his hire.'"</p> + +<p>These words were a revelation.</p> + +<p>"This is what I want," cried Francis, as he left the +church, conscious for the first time that he had wanted +something. "This is what I have long been seeking, from +this day forth I shall set myself with all my strength to +put it in practice."</p> + +<p>Immediately he took up his new commission. He threw +away his shoes, his stick, his purse, and put on the coarse +dress of the peasant of the Apennines, and girded it with a +rough piece of rope, the first thing he could find. Thus +equipped, he set out a true Knight of our Lord Jesus +Christ, and for the first time in his life began to talk to +the people he met about their souls. That eloquent fiery +tongue, that was destined to make him one of the orators +of the age, had not yet become unloosed, and Francis was +simplicity itself. Indeed, he did not at first attempt to +make anything like a speech or sermon. His efforts were +directed towards people whom he was acquainted with, and +these he urged to repent in the name of the Lord. He +told his own experience, and spoke of the shortness of life, +of punishment after death, of the need of heart and life +holiness. His halting words struck home, they pierced +like a sword, and many thus convicted, repented and +turned from their evil ways.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Sanctified Leader of Men.</i></div> + +<p>For over two years now, Francis had lived a solitary,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +and—humanly speaking—a lonely life. He had, however, +during that time proved the sufficiency of God. We do +not read that he ever longed for a human friend, one that +could understand and sympathise with him, so richly had +God supplied his every need. But the time had come when +his solitude was to end. God was about to raise him up +friends. Again he was to take up his old position as a +leader of men, only a sanctified one.</p> + +<p>Bernardo di Quintavelle was a man of birth and position. +He was a few years older than Francis, and as he lived in +Assisi, he had full opportunity of watching all Francis' +vagaries, for so his actions looked to him at first. However, +as time passed, and Francis' supposed mania failed to +develop into anything very dangerous, Bernardo puzzled +and wondered. What was it, he asked himself, that had +so completely changed the gay, frivolous, ease-loving +Francis Bernardone, into a poor hard-working beggar? +Was he really as good and holy as the common people +began to whisper to themselves? We must bear in mind +that vital religion in Assisi was at its lowest ebb, and the +kind that worked itself out in daily life and action almost +unknown.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon Bernardo determined to study Francis close +to. Again and again he invited him to his house, and the +more he saw of the gracious, humble, God-fearing, Francis, +the more he liked him. One night he asked him to stay +till the next day, and Francis consenting, he had a bed +made up for him in his own room. They retired. In a +short time Bernardo was, to all appearances, extremely +sound asleep. Then Francis rose from his bed, and +kneeling down began to pray. A deep sense of the Divine +presence overflowed him, and he could do nothing but +weep and cry, "Oh, my God, oh, my God!" He continued +all night praying, and weeping before the Lord.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Bernardo.</i></div> + +<p>Now Bernardo, who was only pretending to be asleep in +order to see what Francis would do, was greatly touched. +God visited him too that night, and spoke to his soul so +loudly and clearly that he dare not do ought but follow the +light that that night began to glimmer on his future path.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +Little he thought into what a large place it would ultimately +lead him.</p> + +<p>Next morning, true to his new-born inspiration, he said +to Francis—</p> + +<p>"I am disposed in my heart to leave the world and obey +thee in all that thou shalt command me."</p> + +<p>To say that Francis was surprised is to say too little! +He was astonished—so astonished that it was difficult to +find words in which to answer. That the people he +influenced would rise up and desire to share his life, with +its privations, and eccentricities had never as yet occurred +to him. His sole and only aim had been that his every +individual act and thought should be in conformity to +that of our Lord Jesus Christ. But "I, if I be lifted +up, will draw all men unto Me," and Francis, by his +humble life and work, had brought that Blessed Life +wherever he went. This is the Divine design for every +faithful soul that seeks to truly follow its Master. The +man who could live and spread holiness as an ordinary +day-laborer and stone-mason was now to receive a greater +charge. As soon as he recovered from the first surprise of +Bernardo's statement, he said—</p> + +<p>"Bernardo, a resolution such as the one thou speakest +of is so difficult, and so great an action, that we must take +counsel of the Lord Jesus, and pray Him that He may +point out His will, and teach us to follow it."</p> + +<p>So they set off together for the church. While on their +way there that morning they were joined by another +brother called Pietro, who said that he too had been told +of God to join Francis. So the three went together to +read the Gospels and pray for light.</p> + +<p>Francis was soon convinced that Bernardo and Pietro +were led of God, and joyfully welcomed them as his fellow-laborers. +They took up their abode in a deserted mud +hut, close by a river known as the Riva Torto. And that +mean little hut was the cradle which contained the beginning +of a work that spread itself into every quarter of +the globe.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Egidio.</i></div> + +<p>"Francis," said Bernardo, a little later, "What wouldst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +thou do supposing a great king had given thee possessions +for which thou afterwards hadst no use?"</p> + +<p>"Why, give them back to be sure," answered Francis.</p> + +<p>"Then," said Bernardo, "I will that I sell all my +possessions, and give the money to the poor."</p> + +<p>So he did. Land, houses, all that he possessed he sold, and +distributed the proceeds to the poor in the market-place. +One can easily imagine the sensation this caused in Assisi, +and how almost the entire population thronged to the spot!</p> + +<p>The news of this day's doings spread into all the country-side. +In a town not far from Assisi, a certain young man, +called Egidio, listened intently while his father and mother +discussed Bernardo and Francis and went into their history +past and present, and speculated on their future. Little +they thought as they talked that their cultured, refined son +was drinking in every word, and that his soul was being +strangely stirred. Before the week was out, Egidio had +received the Divine touch that fitted him to respond to the +call—"Follow Me." In the marvellously colored dawn of +an Italian morning, Egidio rose and "followed."</p> + +<p>Arriving in Assisi at a crossway he was at a standstill. +Where should he look for Francis? Which of those roads +should he take? While he thus alternately debated with +himself, and prayed for guidance, who should he see +coming along out of the forest where he had been to pray, +but Francis himself! There was no mistaking that curious +bare-footed figure, with its coarse robe of the color known +to the peasants as "beast" color, girded with a knotted +rope! Egidio threw himself at Francis' feet, and besought +him to receive him for the love of God.</p> + +<p>"Dear brother," said Francis, who during the past week +had learned not to be surprised when he received candidates +for his work. "Dear brother, God hath conferred a great +grace upon thee! If the Emperor were to come to Assisi +and propose to make one of its citizens his knight or secret +chamberlain, would not such an offer be joyfully accepted +as a great mark of honor and distinction? How much +more shouldst thou rejoice that God hath called thee to be +His Knight and chosen servant, to observe the perfection of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +His Holy Gospel! Therefore do thou stand firm in the +vocation to which God hath called thee."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>First Apostolic Tour.</i></div> + +<p>So bringing him into the hut Francis called the others +and said—</p> + +<p>"God has sent us a good brother, let us therefore rejoice +in the Lord and eat together in charity."</p> + +<p>After they had eaten breakfast Francis took Egidio into +Assisi to get cloth to make him a "beast-colored" uniform +robe like the others. On the way Francis thought he +would like to try the young man and see what kind of a +spirit he had. So upon meeting a poor woman, who asked +them for money, Francis said to Egidio—</p> + +<p>"I pray you, as we have no money, give this poor woman +your cloak."</p> + +<p>Immediately and joyfully Egidio pulled off his rich +mantle and handed it to the beggar, whereat Francis +rejoiced much in secret.</p> + +<p>It was a united household that assembled under the +rude roof of the mud hut by the Riva Torto. Four young +men bound together in love, and resolved to serve God +absolutely in whatever way He should show them, we +shall see, ere long, how God used these human instruments +which were so unreservedly placed at His disposal. They +were very happy for a few days, and gave themselves up +almost entirely to prayer; then Francis led them into the +seclusion of the woods and explained to them how the +Divine will had manifested itself to his soul.</p> + +<p>"We must," he said, "clearly understand our vocation. +It is not for our personal salvation only, but for the +salvation of a great many others that God has mercifully +called us. He wishes us to go through the world, and by +example even more than by words, exhort men to repentance, +and the keeping of the commandments." Bernardo, Pietro +and Egidio declared that they were willing for anything, and +so the four separated, two by two, for a preaching tour. Of +Bernardo and Pietro history is silent, but nothing could +have been more simple than the Apostolic wanderings of +Francis and Egidio in the Marches of Ancona. Along the +roads they went wherever the Spirit of God led them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +singing songs of God and Heaven. Their songs together +with their happy countenances and strange costume, +naturally attracted the people, and when a number would +collect to stare at them, Francis would address them, and +Egidio, with charming simplicity accentuated all he said +with—</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Sermonette.</i></div> + +<p>"You must believe what my brother Francis tells you, +the advice he gives you is very good." But don't for a +moment imagine that Francis was capable of giving an +address. Far from it; he was, truth to say, very little in +advance of Egidio, the burden of his cry being—</p> + +<p>"Love God, fear Him, repent and you shall be forgiven;" +then when Egidio had chorused,</p> + +<p>"Do as my brother Francis tells you, the advice he +gives you is very good," the two missionaries passed +singing on their way!</p> + +<p>But the impression produced was far beyond their +simple words. The religious history of the times tells +us that the love of God was almost dead in men's hearts, +that the world had forgotten the meaning of the word +repentance, and was entirely given up to lust and vice and +pleasure. People asked each other what could be the object +these men had in view. Why did they go about roughly-clad, +bare-foot, and eating so little. "They are madmen" +some said. Others "Madmen could not talk so wisely." +Others again, more thoughtful, said, "They seem to care so +little for life, they are desperate, and must be either mad, +or else they are aspiring to very great perfection!"</p> + +<p>When the four had been through almost all the +Province they returned to Riva Torto, where they found +three new candidates clamoring for admission. Others +followed, and when the numbers had increased to about +eight, Francis led them to a spot where four roads met, +and sent them out two and two to the four points of the +compass to preach the Gospel. Everywhere they went +they were to urge men to repentance, and point them to a +Saviour who could forgive sins. They were to accept no +food they had not either worked for, or received as alms +for the love of Christ.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Francis' Early Disciples.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem2"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Then forth they went....<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Content for evermore to follow him. In weariness,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In painfulness, in perils by the way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Through awful vigils in the wilderness,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Through storms of trouble, hatred and reproach.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Bernardo di Quintavelle is perhaps the most important +of these first followers, inasmuch as he ultimately took +his place as Leader of the Order of Friars minor, which +was the name the Franciscans first gave themselves. We +have already told how Bernardo came to join Francis, +and take upon himself the same vows. From that day his +faith and trust in God and His call to him never wavered. +That was the secret of his tremendous strength of soul. +The strength of a man who is sure of his call and its +divinity is as the strength of ten.</p> + +<p>It was Bernardo whom Francis deputed in the early +days of the work to go to Bologna, and labor there. +Bologna was the centre of the universe, as far as learning +and culture went, to the Italians of that day. As soon as +Bernardo and his followers showed themselves in the town, +the children, seeing them dressed so plainly and poorly, +laughed and scoffed, and threw dirt and stones at them. +They accepted these trials manfully, and made their +way to the market-place. The children, who followed +them here continued to pelt them with stones and dust, +and pulled them round by the hoods of their garments. +Day after day, and day after day, Bernardo and his little +handful returned, though they could never get anybody to +give them a civil hearing. Poor fellows, during those +first few days, they all but starved.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Great Saint!</i></div> + +<p>There was a doctor of the law, who used to pass round +by the market-place every day, and seeing Bernardo +patiently put up with such insult and contempt, wondered +much to himself. At last he arrived at a conclusion.</p> + +<p>"This man must be a great saint."</p> + +<p>Going up to him, he said—</p> + +<p>"Who art thou, and whence dost thou come?"</p> + +<p>Bernardo put his hand into his bosom, and gave him +what was then the rules of the Order. This was in other +words the Divine commission that Francis had received +through the Gospel for that February day, "Go ye forth +and preach the gospel, &c."</p> + +<p>The doctor read it all through and then, turning to some +of his friends who were standing by, said—</p> + +<p>"Truly, here is the most perfect state of religion I have +ever heard of; this man and his companions are the +holiest men I have ever met with in this world! Guilty +indeed are those who insult him! We ought, on the +contrary, to honor him as a true friend of God!"</p> + +<p>Then addressing Bernardo, he said—</p> + +<p>"If it is thy wish to found a convent in this town, in +which thou mayst serve God, I will most willingly help +thee."</p> + +<p>Bernardo thanked him, and said—</p> + +<p>"I believe it is our Saviour Jesus Christ who hast I +inspired thee with this good intention, I most willingly +accept the offer, to the honor of Christ."</p> + +<p>Then the doctor took them home with him and entertained +them, and presented them with a convenient building, +which he furnished at his own expense.</p> + +<p>In a short time, Bernardo was much sought after, on +account of the holiness, together with the brilliancy of his +sermons. The whole town was at his feet, people came +from far and near to hear him, and thousands were +converted.</p> + +<p>When things were at a height, Bernardo turned up +unexpectedly one day in Assisi, and presented himself +before the astonished gaze of Francis.</p> + +<p>"The convent is founded at Bologna," he said, "send<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +other brothers there to keep it up, I can no longer be of +any use; indeed, I fear me that the too great honors I +receive might make me lose more than I could gain."</p> + +<p>Francis, who had heard a great deal of the honor and +praise that had been lavished upon Bernardo, thanked God +that He had revealed to him the danger his soul was in, +and sent someone else to Bologna.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Elias.</i></div> + +<p>In striking contrast to Bernardo was Elias. Elias was +quite as clever and brilliant a man as Bernardo, but he +never seems to have become really sanctified. His pride +was a constant stumbling-block, and was for ever appearing +in some new shape or other. Sometimes it would be in +an over-weening desire to rule, and then his rule would go +far and beyond that of Francis', in fastings, and similar +austerities. Again, we have a picture of him arraying +himself in a garment of soft cloth, which could only be +said to be "modelled" after that worn by his brethren. +Finally, he lapsed altogether, declared that his health was +too delicate to stand coarse food and plain living, and left +the Order. For some time he was an open backslider, but +it is currently supposed he was converted before he died. +The story of his life is a sad one. Looking back over these +lapse of years, one can easily see what he might have been, +and how painfully he fell short. The grace of humility +never adorned his character for long. He could not see +that in God's sight he was less than least, for him it was +impossible—</p> + +<div class="poem1"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"To lay his intellectual treasure,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At the low footstool of the Crucified."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Egidio always remained faithful to his first trust. He +also never wavered, never looked back. In the different +glimpses we get of his life, we see very clearly the mode of +living prescribed by Francis. His intention was never +that his disciples were to live on charity, but that they +should work for their bread, money being totally forbidden. +Work brought them down to the level of the common +people, and on the same plane they could more easily reach +their hearts and consciences.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Question.</i></div> + +<p>Egidio, refined and educated though he undoubtedly was, +seems to have been able to put his hand to anything. When +on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he was detained at Brindisi, +he borrowed a water jug, and, filling it, went round the town +selling water, and crying "Fresh water! Fresh water!" +like any of the ordinary water-carriers. On his way back +he procured willows, and made baskets, which he sold to +supply himself with food. He was always very particular +not to take more than he considered was fair for his work.</p> + +<p>Obedience was another of Egidio's strong points. He +believed in his call, he believed in Francis, he never +questioned an order, even when it was manifestly not +altogether a wise instruction he received, he still considered +that "obedience was better than sacrifice."</p> + +<p>Masseo appears to have had very little idea what kind +of a life he was entering upon, when he first joined the +band. He was not a spiritual man by nature, but by +degrees he learned to look at the inside of things instead +of the outside, and to know a little of the mind of God. +Masseo was big and handsome, with a decided gift of speech. +We are told that because of his physical attractions the +people always gave to him the nicest and daintiest portions +of food. It was a matter of no little wonderment to him +when he discovered that for all a certain kind of people +were attracted by his appearance, yet he had little or no +power to convict them of sin, and make them long to be +good. Francis by this time had lost all his good looks +and become pale and worn and thin with work. Masseo +compared himself with Francis greatly to his superior's +disadvantage. At last one day he said to him—</p> + +<p>"Why is it? Why is it?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Francis.</p> + +<p>"I mean to ask thee," said Masseo, "why all the +world goes after thee? Why all men wish to see thee, to +hear thee, and to obey thy word? Thou art not handsome, +nor learned, nor of noble birth. How is it then that men +go after thee?"</p> + +<p>The answer which Masseo received, made him see what +kind of a character he had come in contact with, and from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +that day there was no more faithful and adoring disciple +than handsome Masseo.</p> + +<p>"Would you know the reason why all men come after +me?" asked Francis. "It is because the Lord has not +found among men, a more wicked, a more imperfect, or a +greater sinner that I am, and to accomplish the wonderful +work He intends doing, He has not found a creature more +vile than I upon earth; for this reason He has chosen me +to confound beauty, greatness, birth, and all the science of +the world, that man may learn that every good gift comes +from Him, and not from the creature, that all may glory in +the Lord!"</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Sylvester's Avarice.</i></div> + +<p>Sylvester was the first priest who joined Francis. +Though a priest, he was possessed of very little true +religion, and was inclined to be somewhat avaricious. +When Francis was rebuilding St. Damian, Sylvester had +sold him some stones, for which he had been well paid. +Now, he happened to be among the crowd in the market-place +when Bernardo was distributing his fortune, and +it occurred to him that he would get some of it for himself. +So going up to Francis, he said,</p> + +<p>"Brother, you did not pay me very well for the stones +which you bought of me."</p> + +<p>Francis, who had not a spark of avarice in his nature, +handed him a handful of coins without stopping to count +them, saying,</p> + +<p>"Here, are you sufficiently paid now?"</p> + +<p>"It is enough, my brother," said Sylvester, taking the +money and moving off.</p> + +<p>But from that hour he never knew a moment's peace. +His action haunted him, he could neither sleep by night +nor rest by day. The difference between Francis and +Bernardo and himself came vividly before him, he repented +of his sin, and as soon as ever his affairs would permit—about +a year later—he joined Francis.</p> + +<p>There are some historians who declare that Ginepro was +mad. The majority, however, dispute this, and say that +what looked like madness was simply zeal—zeal, perhaps +untempered with discretion. Ginepro was devoted, self-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>sacrificing +and faithful. He mourned over his mistakes, +and was always ready to acknowledge himself in the wrong. +It was with the greatest difficulty that he was taught that +he mustn't give away anything, and everything he could +lay hands on. When he saw anyone poor or ill-clothed, he +would immediately take off his clothes and hand them over. +He was at last strictly forbidden to do this. A few days +later, he met a poor man who begged from him.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing," said Ginepro, in great compassion, +"which I could give thee but my tunic, and I am under +orders not to give that away. But if thou wilt take it off +my back I will not resist thee."</p> + +<p>No sooner said than done, and Ginepro returned home +tunicless. When questioned he said—</p> + +<p>"A good man took it off my back and went away with +it."</p> + +<p>It was necessary to clear everything portable out of +Ginepro's way, because whatever he could lay his hands on +he gave to the poor.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Almost a Murder.</i></div> + +<p>His great humility on one occasion nearly led him to +the gallows. There was a cruel tyrant named Nicolas, +a nobleman living near Viterbo, whom all the town hated. +This man had been warned that someone would come in +the guise of a poor beggar and take his life. Nicolas gave +orders that the castle was to be strictly guarded. A few +days later luckless Ginepro appeared in the vicinity of +the castle. On the way thither some young men had +seized him, torn his cloak, and covered him with dust, so +that he was a sight to behold for rags and dirt! As +soon as he came near the castle he was taken as a +suspicious character and cruelly beaten. He was asked +who he was.</p> + +<p>"I am a great sinner," was the answer. He certainly +looked like a ruffian!</p> + +<p>When further asked his designs he explained,</p> + +<p>"I am a great traitor, and unworthy of any mercy."</p> + +<p>Then they asked if he meant to burn the castle and kill +Nicolas.</p> + +<p>"Worse things than these would I do, only for God,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +he replied. Such a hardened, boldfaced criminal never +stood before a bar!</p> + +<p>He was taken, tied to a horse's tail, and dragged through +the town to the gallows. If it had not been for the intervention +of a good man in the crowd, who knew the friars, +he would have been hung.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Ginepro's Dinner.</i></div> + +<p>"Brother Ginepro," said one of the friars one day, "we +are all going out, and by the time we come back will you +have got us a little refreshment?"</p> + +<p>"Most willingly," said Ginepro, "leave it to me."</p> + +<p>Out he went with a sack, and asked food from door to +door for his brethren. Soon he was well laden and +returned home.</p> + +<p>"What a pity it is," said Ginepro to himself, as he +put on two great pots, "that a brother should be lost in +the kitchen! I shall cook enough dinner to serve us for two +weeks to come, and then we'll give ourselves to prayer."</p> + +<p>So saying, he piled in everything, salt meat, fresh +meat, eggs in their shells, chickens with the feathers +on, and vegetables. One of the friars who returned +before the others, was amazed to see the two enormous +pots on a roaring fire with Ginepro poking at them alternately, +protected from the heat by a board he had fastened +round his neck. At last dinner was ready, and, pouring +it out before the hungry friars, he said complacently,</p> + +<p>"Eat a good dinner now, and then we'll go to prayer, +there'll be no more cooking for a long time to come, for I +have cooked enough for a fortnight."</p> + +<p>Alas! one historian informs us, "there was never a hog +in the campagna of Rome so hungry that he could have +eaten it."</p> + +<p>But, in spite of all the curious tales we read about the +blunderings of this simple soul, his name has been handed +down through the ages as that of a saint; for the highway +of holiness is such that a wayfaring man, though a fool, +shall not err therein.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A True Franciscan.</i></div> + +<p>Leo, whom they called "the little sheep of God," who +became Francis' secretary, was one of the best loved of the +disciples. In Leo, Francis' soul found rest and help and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +comfort. His nature was simple, affectionate and refined, +and in every respect he was a true Franciscan.</p> + +<p>There are others whose names we find among the early +Franciscans, but the foregoing are those who stand out +most prominently.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Francis—Called to be a Saint.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem0"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"God's interpreter art thou,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the waiting ones below<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twixt them and its light midway<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Heralding the better day."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>We have seen Francis as a young man, gay, careless, +pleasure loving, kind-hearted, a leader at every feast and +revel, known to his companions as a thorough good fellow. +We have watched the first strivings of the Holy Spirit in his +soul, and marked his earnest attempts to follow the light +that then began to penetrate his hitherto dark soul. We +have followed that glimmering light with him, step by +step, seen him persecuted, mocked, stoned, beaten, watched +his lonely wilderness wrestlings when there was no human +eye to pity, no human arm to succour. We have seen, too, +how, little by little, this thorny pathway led to a closer and +more intimate acquaintance with God, for which acquaintance +Francis counted his sufferings as nothing, and the +world well lost.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>"Saint" Francis.</i></div> + +<p>Francis was not an extraordinary character in any +sense of the word. He was what he was simply and solely +by the grace of God, which is ever free for all men. He was +not a man created for the hour. He was a vessel, cleansed +and emptied, and thus fit for the Master's use, and God +used him, as He always uses such vessels. The whole +secret of his sainthood lay in his simple, loving, implicit +obedience. Not the lifeless obedience that one renders to +inexorable law, but the heart-felt, passionate desire to +serve, and to anticipate the lightest want of the One +Object of the affections! That baptism of personal love<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +for God and union with Christ was poured out upon +Francis in the black hour of what looked to him complete +failure; when hunted and pursued, he sought refuge from +his angry friends in the caves of the earth. The gift that he +then received he never ceased to guard and cherish, and +other blessings were added to it, for God has promised, "To +him that hath it shall be given." And God gave liberally, +good measure, pressed down, and running over. But the +gifts which were Francis are ours too, by right of grace +Divine—to be had for the faithful seeking, and kept by +pure, faithful, and obedient living—"Called to be saints." +The few? One here and there in every century? Oh, no. +"Called to be saints," are the myriad souls who have +received the Divine touch of regeneration. This is the +calling and election of the redeemed; but oh, how few +there are that make them <i>sure</i>!</p> + +<p>Five years had now elapsed since that spring morning, +when, weak and ill from fever, Francis dragged himself out +of doors, to look again on the glorious landscape that he +thought would bring him health and healing. The story of +his disappointment we have already told. During those +five years Francis made gigantic strides in heavenly +wisdom and knowledge, and we feel that we cannot do +better than to pause in our narrative and try to give you +some idea of the spiritual personality of the man, whose +name even now the people were beginning to couple with +that of "saint."</p> + +<p>In appearance Francis was a thorough Italian. He was +rather below than over the ordinary height, his eyes and +hair were dark, and his bearing free and gracious. He was +chiefly remarkable for his happy, joyous expression. This +he never lost: even when illness had robbed him of his good +looks, the light in his eyes, and the smile on his lips were +always the same.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Holy Boldness.</i></div> + +<p>The most striking points of Francis' character are, perhaps, +his humility, his sincerity, and his childlike simplicity. +Humble Francis was not by nature. There was +nothing in his training to make him so, and everything +that would tend to the growth of pride and arrogance. But,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +with his conversion, humility became one of his strongest +convictions. He truly considered himself less than the least, +and he held it to be an offence against God if he ever let +himself, or his little feelings and prejudices, stand in the way +of accomplishing what he believed to be for the extension +of the Kingdom. It seemed as though he had no feelings to +be hurt. What most people would call justifiable sensitiveness, +Francis would call sin. He went straight to the +mark, and if he did not accomplish all he wanted to at first, +he simply tried again, and generally succeeded sooner or +later.</p> + +<p>In places where the Friars were not known, Francis often +found it a little difficult to get permission to preach in the +churches. At a place called Imola, for instance, where he +went to ask the bishop for the use of the church, the +bishop replied, coldly and distantly:—</p> + +<p>"My brother, I preach in my own parish; I am not in +need of anyone to aid me in my task."</p> + +<p>Francis bowed, and went out. An hour later, he +presented himself again.</p> + +<p>"What have you come for again?" asked the bishop, +angrily. "What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"My lord," answered Francis, in his simple way, +"when a father turns his son out of one door, the son has +but one thing to do—to return by another."</p> + +<p>This holy boldness won the bishop's heart.</p> + +<p>"You are right," he said. "You and your brothers may +preach in my diocese. I give you a general permission to +do so. Your humility deserves nothing less!"</p> + +<p>Francis never considered himself at liberty to "shake the +dust" of a city off his feet unless he had tried and tried +again and again, to get a hearing there; indeed, nothing +convinced him of the uselessness of his quest unless he +were thrown out neck and crop, then it was more than +likely he would gather himself up, and try another +entrance! He entirely forgot himself in his love for his +Master.</p> + +<p>His love of truth was with him almost a passion. +Between his thoughts, and his words, and his actions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +there was a perfect agreement, neither one contradicted the +other; he saw to it that it was so, knowing that nothing +hurt the Gospel of Christ like insincerity or double dealing. +Distractions in prayer he looked upon as secret lies, and +saying with the lips what the heart did not go with.</p> + +<p>"How shameful," he used to say, "to allow oneself to +fall into vain distractions when one is addressing the great +King! We should not speak in that manner even to a +respectable man!"</p> + +<p>On one occasion he had carved a little olive-wood vase, +probably meaning to sell it for food. But, while at prayer +one day, some thought connected with this work came into +his mind, distracting his soul for the moment. Instantly +he was full of contrition, and, as soon as he left his prayer, +hastened to put his vase into the fire, where never again it +could come between his soul and God!</p> + +<p>One day, on meeting a friend on the road, they stopped to +converse. On parting, the friend said, "You will pray for +me?" To which Francis replied, "Willingly." Hardly +was the other out of sight, when Francis said to his +companion,—</p> + +<p>"Wait a little for me; I am going to kneel down and +discharge the obligation I have just contracted." This +was always his habit. Instead of promising and forgetting +as so many do, he never rested till he had fulfilled the +promise he had made.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Fox-skin.</i></div> + +<p>During the last two years of his life he was often very +weak and ailing. One cold winter, his companion, seeing +that the clothes he was wearing were very thin and patched, +was filled with compassion on his account. He secretly +got a piece of fox-skin.</p> + +<p>"My father," he said, showing him the skin, "you +suffer very much from your liver and stomach; I beg of you +let me sew this fur under your tunic. If, you will not have +it all, let it at least cover your stomach."</p> + +<p>"I will do what you wish," said Francis; "but you +must sew as large a piece <i>outside</i> as in."</p> + +<p>His companion couldn't see any sense in this arrangement, +and objected very strongly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The reason is quite plain," said Francis: "The outside +piece will show everybody that I allow myself this +comfort." They had to give in at last, and Francis had +his way.</p> + +<p>"Oh, admirable man," writes a friend after his death; +"thou hast always been the same within and without, in +words and in deeds, below and above!"</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Temptation.</i></div> + +<p>On another occasion, he tore off his tunic, because, for a +brief moment of weakness, he harbored the thought that he +might have led an easier life, and still serve God. Like other +men, he might have had a settled home, and lived a tranquil +existence. It was a passing temptation, but Francis, +tearing off his coarse garment, emblem of the Cross that he +strove to follow, cried—</p> + +<p>"It is a religious habit—a man given up to such thoughts +would be a robber if he wore it." Nor did he put it on +again till he felt he could do so with a pure heart and clean +conscience.</p> + +<p>With the crystal transparency of his inner and outer life +went a simplicity that was akin to that of a little child. +His sermons and addresses were of the very simplest and +plainest. Though Francis was undoubtedly one of the +orators of the age, his fiery words and burning language +were such that even the most unlearned could easily +follow. His theme was simply Christ, and Christ crucified +for our sins, and an exhortation to repentance and holy +living. Learned ones pondered his words and marvelled +wherein lay his power, little dreaming that his very plainness +of speech was his strength.</p> + +<p>His delight in the beauties of nature never left him. +Sunset and sunrise, mountain and plain, river and sea +alike, filled him with joy, and all spoke to him of the glory +of God. Flowers always gave him especial pleasure. He +insisted that his disciples should always reserve some +portion of their gardens for the growth of flowers as well as +vegetables, "to give them a foretaste of the eternal sweetness +of Heaven." When the brethren went to the fields to +chop wood, Francis always warned them to take care of the +roots, so that the trunk might sprout again and live. To<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +take life of any kind was intolerable to him. For this +reason he always lifted the worms out of his path and laid +them at the side of the road, lest an incautious traveller +might crush them.</p> + +<p>His love and power over animals are almost too well +known to need mention. He always spoke of them as his +brothers and sisters. He disdained nothing. All were to +him alike beautiful, because the work of his God. For a +long time, he had a tame sheep, that followed him about +wherever it could get a chance. This sheep always seemed +to know exactly how to behave under all circumstances. +When the brethren knelt at prayers, it knelt too; when +they sang, it joined in with a not-too-loud little bleat!</p> + +<p>Near his room, at the Portiuncula, there lived a grasshopper +in a fig-vine. This little insect would hop on his +finger at his bidding, and when told to "sing and praise +the Lord," used to chirp with all its might! Birds, insects, +and even fishes and wild animals, we are told, all recognized +in Francis a friend, and readily did his bidding.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Two Small Mites.</i></div> + +<p>Francis' love for God was supreme, and his belief that +God loved him never wavered. To make people love and +know God was his one burning desire. It was not so much +God's service he delighted in as God Himself. He never +lost sight of the Master in the Work, and to a large extent +this was the key to all his success. His work was the outcome +of his love. After we have received, the first natural +impulse is to give. Francis possessed "two small mites," +an ancient historian writes—"they were his body and his +soul. He gave them both, bravely and freely, according to +his custom."</p> + +<p>Whatever came—joy, sorrow, success, failure, pain, +weariness, sickness, insult, or favor—Francis took as direct +from the hand of God, and blessed Him for all. Why +shouldn't he? His heart was right, he had the assurance +that his ways pleased God, and his faith was not dependent +upon knowledge. He was content, nay, glad to trust where +he could not see, confident in the belief that "nothing +could hurt a sanctified soul." His disciples could not +always follow him so far. Some of them, when they saw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +their master suffering—as he did suffer severely in his last +days—thought that God might have led His beloved Home +by a less painful road. One of them once gave expression +to his feelings thus:—</p> + +<p>"Ah, my brother, pray to the Lord that He may treat +you more gently. Truly, He ought to let His hand weigh +less heavily upon you."</p> + +<p>Hurt to the quick, as well as indignant, Francis cried:—</p> + +<p>"What is that you are saying? If I did not know your +simplicity I should henceforth hold you in horror! What! +you have the audacity to blame God's dealings with me!" +Then, throwing himself on his knees, he prayed:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Lord God! I give Thee thanks for all these +pains I endure. I pray Thee to send me a hundredfold +more if such be Thy good pleasure! I willingly accept all +afflictions. Thy holy name is my superabundant joy!"</p> + +<p>Nothing could ever make Francis say that anything in +his lot was "very hard." His love was too loyal, his trust +too complete.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Rejoice Always.</i></div> + +<p>Joy was one of his cardinal articles of faith. "Rejoice +always!" was a divine command, and one not to be overlooked. +As a young man, he had been of a bright, +joyous nature, but easily plunged into depths of sadness and +melancholy. God taught him upon what to base his joy, +and, when he had torn down all earthly external devices, +led him to derive his all from the true source. He held +joy to be the normal state of those whom God loves—the +fruit of Christian life, without which everything languishes +and dies.</p> + +<p>"The devil," Francis always said, "carries dust with +him, and whenever he can, he throws it into the openings +of the soul in order to cloud the clearness of its thoughts +and the purity of its actions. If joy knows how to defend +itself and subsist, then he has had his spite for nothing; +but if the servant of Christ becomes sad, bitter or unhappy, +he is sure to triumph. Sooner or later, that soul will be +overwhelmed by its sadness, or will seek for false joys or +consolations. The servant of God who is troubled for any +reason" (Francis always allowed that causes for trouble in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +this world are innumerable) "must immediately have +recourse to prayer, and remain in the presence of his +Heavenly Father till the joy of salvation has been restored +to him, otherwise, his sadness will increase and engender +a rust in the soul."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Duty of Cheerfulness.</i></div> + +<p>This duty of cheerfulness Francis impressed upon all +with whom he had to do.</p> + +<p>"My brother," he said to a friar, of doleful countenance, +one day, "if thou hast some fault to mourn, do it in secret, +groan and weep before God, but here, with thy brethren, be +as they are in tone and countenance."</p> + +<p>His conviction of this duty was so strong that, during +one large gathering of the friars, he had this advice +written in large letters and posted up.</p> + +<p>"Let the brethren avoid ever appearing sombre, sad and +clouded, like the hypocrites, but let them always be found +joyful in the Lord, gay, amiable, gracious—as is fitting."</p> + +<p>Amiability and graciousness he also considered amongst +the virtues—courtesy, he called it. And courtesy he always +said was akin to charity, her younger sister, who was to go +with the elder one and help to open all hearts to her! An +historian writes thus of Francis: "He was very courteous +and gracious in all things, and possessed a peace and +serenity that nothing could disturb. This sympathy and +benevolence was expressed on his countenance; his face +had in it something angelic."</p> + +<p>His songs and hymns were the outcome of his perpetual +joy in the Lord. In those days there were no popular +religious hymns or songs. People praised God in Latin, +with psalms and chants. Francis never found that these +gave vent to his feelings, and so, with the help of one of +the brothers—Pacificus, a trained musician—he began to +write his own; and soon, wherever the friars passed, they +left a train of simple melody in their wake. It was Francis, +and his brethren, who first turned the Italian language into +poetry, and gave it that impetus which has since rendered +it the typical language for song.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Francis—as a Leader of Men.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem3"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Thou whose bright faith makes feeble hearts grow stronger,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And sends fresh warriors to the great campaign,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bids the lone convert feel estranged no longer,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And wins the sundered to be one again."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Little did Francis think, as he piled up stone after +stone upon the walls of St. Damian, that the day was not +far distant when he should begin the building of a +spiritual temple, built up of "lively stones," with Christ +Himself as the "chief corner-stone." Yet it was even so. +That day when, in obedience to the heavenly command, +he stripped off his shoes and mantle, he laid the first +stone. From that hour his spiritual building proceeded, +and he who had fancied his work completed, found that it +was but barely begun! Dead souls, in whom the Story +of the Cross could no longer arouse even the most transient +emotion, were awakened and convicted when they saw it +lived out before them—a living epistle. We have seen +how souls quickened by Divine power, and led only by God, +came and joined themselves to Francis, choosing him as +their leader, and accepting as their rule of life the +revelation made to him, through the gospel, for that +memorable February day. To those that followed Francis, +God made no more definite manifestation of His will other +than that they were to join themselves to him and lead +his life. Manifestly, he was their God-appointed leader, +and as simply and obediently as he had pulled off his +mantle and shoes, he accepted the human trust bestowed +upon him. And well he fulfilled that trust!</p> + +<p>To the very last hour of his life, Francis was true to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +first principles. Never for one moment did he wander out +of the narrow path in which God had set his feet at the +beginning of his career as a leader and teacher of men. +As literally as it was possible he modelled his life on that +of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the most noted Atheist +writers of the present century says that in no age has there +been so close a copy of the life of Christ as that portrayed +by Francis and his followers.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Alms.</i></div> + +<p>The most well-known of all the Franciscan characteristics +is their poverty. Though at times they asked alms +for Christ's sake from their neighbours, that was not the +ideal Francis had before him as their regular mode of life. +It was that all should work with their hands at whatever +they could best do, and in return receive an equivalent for +their labour in food or clothes. "All the brothers who +have learnt a trade," Francis said, "will exercise it, those +who have not must learn one, and keep to the exercise of +it without changing. All will receive everything necessary +for the support of life, except money, in remuneration of +their work." "When the brothers are in want of the +necessaries of life, they shall go and ask for alms like any +other poor man," was another of his directions. This was +a great trial to some who would have gladly learned the +most menial of trades. But there were times when there +was no demand for labor, and there was nothing for it but +to beg or starve. This latter Francis would not allow, +and, repugnant though the former might be, it had to be +done. Not that he ever forced anyone. He began by +doing this ignominious duty himself, saying as he did +so—</p> + +<p>"My beloved brethren, the Son of God was far more +noble than the noblest of us, and yet He became poor upon +earth. It is for love of Him that we have embraced +poverty, therefore, we must not be ashamed to resort to +the table of our Lord (thus he always spoke of alms). +Rejoice then to give good examples to those brethren +whose firstfruits ye are, that they in future may have +nothing to do but follow you."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Holy Poverty.</i></div> + +<p>But there were other reasons why Francis was so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +devoted to poverty. In all his doings he is remarkable for +clear common-sense. Money and possessions of any kind +were in those days a fruitful source of dispute and quarrels +of all kinds; therefore, as Francis reasoned, it were better +that the Knights of Christ should possess nothing. Then +again in the priesthood, though the individuals themselves +possessed nothing, yet large sums of money and great +possessions had been amassed by convent and monastery, +until, at the period of which we are writing, the luxury and +gluttony of priest and monk was a favourite joke, and +the splendour of their buildings well-known. As to +buildings, Francis would very much have preferred to have +none. Since this was impossible, he had everything built +at the least possible expense. Just rough beams put +together, and the joinings filled with sand. Even then +this uncouth mass had to be property of someone outside +the community!</p> + +<p>"Only on this condition," Francis said, "can we be +considered as strangers here below in accordance with the +apostolic recommendation." Certainly, no one could accuse +them of luxury. The furniture of the houses was of the +poorest. Beds, often of straw, cups and plates of wood or +clay, a few rough tables, and a small number of books in +common to the brothers, were all the rooms contained. +Carefully and jealously did Francis guard against the first +appearance of relaxation on the part of himself or his +followers. He would have thought God's commands to +him broken if any new-comer found in his community anything +that he had given up upon leaving the world.</p> + +<p>As to clothing, we have already seen what were Francis' +views in this respect. The rough robe of "beast color," +tied in with a knotted rope, is still to be seen to-day in +many parts of the world. But Francis very well knew +that a certain kind of vanity can easily lurk in even the +coarsest of garments. He was, therefore, constantly on +the watch, and was always severe if he saw the least +deviation from the rule. "It is an infallible sign," he +always said, "that fervour is cooling in the soul." He +never allowed his disciples to have more than two tunics.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It may be that one suffers a little," he said, "but +what sort of virtue is that that cannot suffer anything! To +try and avoid all mortifications under plea of necessity is a +cowardly way of losing occasions of merit. It is what the +Hebrews would have done had they gone back to Egypt."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Fatherly Care.</i></div> + +<p>It was more by personal example than anything else +that Francis led his followers in the Divine steps that he +was so confident had been also marked out for him. And +his people believed in him and loved him. They were convinced +that through him spoke the Divine voice, and that +his way was God's way. And he was worthy of their belief +and their love and their esteem. He loved them with +a devoted, generous love. By his entire forgetfulness of +self and his constant devotion to their needs, he was theirs, +always to "serve." Many stories are told of his gentle, +delicate kindliness and fatherly care. Once, one of his +flock had gone a little too far in depriving himself of +natural food. That night, in the silence, came a voice +from his room which groaned softly, "I am starving, I am +starving of hunger!" Francis, who was awake, rose +quietly, and, getting together some food, went to the +starving brother and invited him to eat with him, so as not +to hurt his feelings or let it appear that he had been overheard. +After he had eaten, he explained to him the evil +of not giving the body what was necessary for it.</p> + +<p>Another brother, who was ill, had a great longing for +grapes, but feared to indulge himself in case he should be +breaking his vows. Francis found out, some way or other, +how he felt, and, going to him, led him out into a vineyard, +and, gathering some rich clusters, seated himself on +the ground, and, beginning to eat, invited his companion +to join him. If any were weak and ailing, it was always +Francis who was first to take a vessel and go out and beg +for more nourishing food for his ailing comrades. A +mother could not have been more tender than he was.</p> + +<p>In a very great measure Francis possessed the discernment +of spirits. He seemed to know intuitively what people +were thinking about. One day, during the last years +of his life, when he had been obliged through bodily weak<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>ness +to ride on an ass, he surprised the brother who was +trudging alongside him, by getting off and saying—</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Francis' Tact.</i></div> + +<p>"Here, brother, get on, it is more fitting that you, who +are of noble birth, should ride, rather than I, who am of +humble origin."</p> + +<p>The brother immediately fell on his knees and, asking +forgiveness, confessed that he had been grumbling to himself +that he, whose family would never have had anything +to do with that of Pietro Bernardone's, had been obliged to +follow the ass of Francis Bernardone!</p> + +<p>Another brother was greatly troubled because he thought +Francis did not love him. He told himself that Francis +hardly ever noticed or spoke to him, and then he began to +argue that probably God, too, paid no attention to him. He +determined to see his leader about it. As soon as ever he +appeared before Francis, and before he could get out a +word, Francis said—</p> + +<p>"It is a temptation, my brother, believe me, it is a +temptation. I have the truest affection for you, and you +deserve this affection. Come to me whenever you want, +and we will talk things over."</p> + +<p>One can easily imagine the joy of the once forlorn brother!</p> + +<p>Not only could Francis move the crowds and hold them +spell-bound with his fiery words, but he had also the power +to reach and touch men's hearts in private. He was +always accessible to that individual, be he saint or sinner, +who was in need. In times of darkness and depression, +he was the support of the brothers. He knew well +the stages that a soul passes through after it has taken the +final step of separateness from the world. In critical +moments he was theirs to soothe and comfort with prayer +and advice. It was not only the faltering saint that he +lavished his tenderness upon; he was just as careful of the +faulty and ungrateful, and nothing could exceed the love +with which he strove to lure them back when he saw they +were inclined to go ever so little astray. "A superior," he +used to say, "is more of a tyrant than a father if he waits +to interfere until a fault has been committed or a fall has +occurred!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>No Alternative.</i></div> + +<p>However, in spite of his tenderness, Francis could be +iron strong when there was any question of right and +wrong. Those who were not of his mind were obliged to +get out from among the brothers. There was no alternative, +no easier way made for anyone. "Little Brothers" or +"Friars Minor" they called themselves, a name which +then meant "servant of all" or "least of all," and woe +betide anyone who departed from the spirit of this name!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Establishment of the Order.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem4"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Would you know, oh world, these Warriors; Go where the poor, the old,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ask for pardon and for heaven, and you offer food and gold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With healing and with comfort, with words of peace and prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bearing His greatest gift to men—Christ's chosen priests are there."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>It was not long before the little hut by the Riva Torto +was full to overflowing. The number of brethren had increased +so, that there was only just space for them to lie +down at night, each under the beam upon which his name +had been chalked. It was a poor abode enough, but poor +though it was, they were not destined to have its shelter +long. One day when they were all engaged in prayer, a +peasant noisily threw open the door, and driving his ass +right on top of the kneeling occupants cried—</p> + +<p>"Go in, go in, Bruno, we shall be better off here."</p> + +<p>There was nothing to do but get out. The hut was not +theirs, and neither was there room for an extra man and +a beast! They next betook themselves to the Portiuncula, +where they built themselves huts or cells. The Portiuncula +was the last church that Francis restored, and one +always especially dear to him. A little later it was given +to the friars for their own use.</p> + +<p>From the Portiuncula the brothers travelled all round +the country-side, two by two, in true apostolic fashion. +Some followed the peasants into the fields, and as they +shared their labors, sang and talked of the love of Christ. +For days, perhaps, they would live and eat and sleep with +the field hands, and then pass, always singing, on their +way, leaving hearts that had been touched, behind them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +Others sought the lazar-house, and spent their time in +helping the brothers tend the sick. They were always +welcome here, and very often difficult cases were reserved +for their care. In the towns they met with a very +different reception. There they were considered "fair +game" for anybody who wished to tease or persecute or +mock them. Some people called them mad and lazy, +others who believed in their good intent said that if they +wanted to be religious, there were plenty of Orders they +could join which would not be so austere. Even the +Bishop of Assisi, who always called Francis his son, said +to him once,</p> + +<p>"Your way of living, without owning anything, seems +to me very harsh and difficult."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>On the Right Lines.</i></div> + +<p>Francis, sure that he was on the right lines, replied,</p> + +<p>"If we possessed property we should have need of arms +for its defence, for it is the source of quarrels and lawsuits, +and the love of God and one's neighbor usually finds +many obstacles therein! This is why we do not desire +temporal goods."</p> + +<p>As the months went on, Francis and his doings attracted +more and more attention. They were the talk of the +country. The families of those brothers who had given +away their possessions could not forgive them for so doing, +and attacks from these quarters were bitter and severe. +Disappointed heirs could find nothing too evil to say +against the foolishness and madness of their friar relatives. +From this point of view, many families found the brotherhood +very alarming, and parents trembled when their sons +took any interest in it, lest they too should join it. The +clergy naturally felt somewhat distrustful of the doings of +these strange lay-workers. So, taking it altogether, +whether he liked it or not, Francis was the most talked of +man in Assisi. The more people flocked to him and got +converted, the more his enemies slandered him.</p> + +<p>It was this state of things that led him to take his +entire force—numbering twelve—to Rome, and there beg +the Pope to sanction their mode of work. It was a bold +undertaking, and when it was first presented to the twelve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +they shrank back in horror at the presumption of such a +thing! But Francis had made up his mind and nothing +could move him.</p> + +<p>How was he, Francis, young, without any interest, and +a stranger to all churchly usages, to get to see the Pope? +the brethren asked him.</p> + +<p>Francis didn't know. Probably he cared less. Anyway, +God had told him to go.</p> + +<p>Then the brethren pleaded their simplicity. How they +should look—travel-stained, bare-footed, and coarse-robed, +at the court of Rome! This argument carried no weight +whatever with their leader, and his faith prevailing, they +set out. Just as they were about to start, Francis said +"Let us choose one of us to be our Chief. We will go +whither he wills to go, we will sojourn where he wills us +to sojourn." The rest agreeing, Bernardo di Quintavelle +was chosen as leader.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Bishop Guido.</i></div> + +<p>As soon as they arrived in Rome they discovered that +unexpected help was right at hand. Guido, the good +Bishop of Assisi, was in the city, and he met them +accidentally just as they arrived. He was a little discomposed +at first—seeing the entire brotherhood he immediately +jumped to the conclusion that they were about to +settle in Rome. However, Francis soon told him the +object of their journey, and he promised to do the very +best he could for them. Guido had a friend in Rome, +Cardinal John, of Sabina. This man was godly and +devoted, one who had never been carried away by the +grandeur of his position, and he was always a friend of +anybody who tried to work for God. Guido had already +told him the story of Francis, and said that it was his +belief that God meant to do great things through that +simple man and his followers. Now that they had turned +up so unexpectedly, he hastened to introduce them to John +and let him judge them for himself. The Cardinal saw +them, and talked to them, and was convinced in his own +mind that they were divinely led. Still, he thought he +would like to try Francis a little further. Taking him to +one side, he asked him a number of questions about his +work and its difficulties.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is beyond your strength," he said, when he had +heard him, and went on to advise him to join some already +existing Order, or else, if he liked, lead the life of a hermit. +Francis listened politely, but still kept to his purpose.</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," persisted the Cardinal. "It is much +better to follow the beaten tracks."</p> + +<p>Francis, equally persistent, kept to his point, and then +the Cardinal, who would have been sorry had his advice +been taken, entered heartily into his plans, and promised +to support him with the Pope.</p> + +<p>As these interviews occupied several days, Francis +became impatient at the delay. Nobody knows how he +did it, but he succeeded unaided in getting into the Palace, +and presenting himself and his brethren before the +astonished eyes of the Pope! The Pope was walking in a +secluded gallery, meditating mournfully on the declension +of the Church of God, and trying to think what would +remedy the growing evils, when his meditations were +abruptly cut short by what looked to him like a troop of +beggars. He was annoyed, and sent them off about their +business before they could explain what they wanted.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Dream.</i></div> + +<p>That night the Pope dreamed a strange dream. He +thought he saw a tiny palm tree spring up at his feet, +which immediately grew and grew till it became a splendid +tree. When he awoke, the conviction was strong in his +mind that the poor man he had turned away the day before +was none other than this little tree. And as he was +thinking over his dream, Cardinal John came in, and +said—</p> + +<p>"I have found a man whom I look upon as very perfect. +He is resolved to follow literally the teachings of Christ, +and I have no doubt that God intends to make use of him +to reanimate faith on the earth."</p> + +<p>The Pope was struck with what he said, for he was convinced +in his own mind that this was none other than the +man he had driven away. He concealed his feelings from +the Cardinal, and merely said he should like to see him. +The Cardinal sent for Francis and his twelve, who speedily +appeared, and the Pope saw at once they were the beggars<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +of yesterday. He welcomed Francis warmly, and went +into the rule he had drawn up for his life, and that of his +brotherhood. This rule has not come down to us, but +from various sources we learn that it was merely a +string of Bible verses, Christ's directions to His apostles, +including those that had been Francis' own commission. +The Pope listened to all that Francis had to say, then he +said—</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Hesitation.</i></div> + +<p>"My children, the life to which you aspire seems hard +and difficult. Doubtless your fervor is great, and we have +no anxiety on your account, but it is our duty to consider +those who will come after you. We must not impose upon +them a burden they cannot bear. All this requires serious +reflection." Then he dismissed them, saying he would lay +the matter before the Cardinals.</p> + +<p>Well, the question was put to the Cardinals, and they +talked and talked and talked. One said one thing, another +said another, and most of them had some objection to +raise. They said he went beyond due limits, that human +nature could not long endure such a life, and altogether +they showed by their conversation, how very, very far they, +the leaders of a Church who claimed to follow the steps of +the lowly Nazarene, had departed from the initial simplicity +of the Gospel. Probably some idea of this sort was +in Cardinal John's mind when he rose to address the +Assembly. He did not say very much, but what he said +went straight to the point.</p> + +<p>"If we refuse the petition of this poor man on the plea +that his rule is difficult, let us beware lest we reject the +Gospel itself, for the rule which he desires us to approve of +is in conformity with the teachings of the Gospel. For us +to say that Gospel perfection contains anything unreasonable +or impossible is to rise up against the author of the +Gospel and blaspheme Jesus Christ."</p> + +<p>The force of his words went home, more especially as +the rule was entirely composed of Scripture verses!</p> + +<p>Still the Pope hesitated. He could not come to any +immediate decision.</p> + +<p>"Go my son," he said to Francis, "and pray to God<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +that He may let you know that what you ask is from Him, +and if it is we will grant your desire."</p> + +<p>For several days Francis gave himself up to prayer, and +his next interview with the Pope convinced him that these +poor beggars had a mission from God. He withheld his +approval no longer. Embracing Francis, he said to the +little band—</p> + +<p>"Go with God's blessing and preach repentance to all, +in the way that He is pleased to inspire you with."</p> + +<p>A few days later the little party were on their way home +again, overflowing with joy. For a fortnight they lingered +in a little town called Orte. Some historians say they rested +awhile from their labours, others that they were attacked +with fever in crossing the Campagna. Be that as it may, +it was here that Francis endured one of the severest +temptations of his life. The beauty of the scenery, the +delicious quiet, after the anxious time he had just gone +through in Rome, all conspired to make him think that after +all perhaps a life hidden from the world and devoted to prayer +and meditation would be just as acceptable to God as the +more laborious one of preaching and teaching. But he +did not remain long under this spell, and in a little time +they were all back in Assisi.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Order Established.</i></div> + +<p>It was at this point that Francis began first to shine as +an orator. Of course the news of his visit to Rome spread +all around, and more than ever he was an object of interest. +The priests of St. George, who had educated him, asked +him to preach in their church. This service must have +been a success, because when the Bishop Guido returned +to Assisi, he asked Francis to preach in the cathedral. +Here Francis surpassed anything he had ever done before, +and the large cathedral was too small to hold the crowds +that flocked to hear the young man. Men and women +came in from all the country-side, monks came down from +their mountain monasteries, and learned and simple all +agreed that "never man spake like this man!"</p> + +<p>Yet, as we have said before, his words were of the +simplest. He preached repentance, not merely a lip +repentance, but kind that worked itself out in daily life.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +"If you have defrauded any man," he said, "restore unto +him that which is his." This sort of plain, practical +teaching was rapidly dying out. It came fresh to the +people, and they were stirred mightily."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Less than the Least.</i></div> + +<p>After their return from Rome, they began to be known as +the Friars Minor. This was the way in which they got +their name. One day a brother was reading aloud the +Rule of the Order, and when he came to this passage, +"and let the brothers be less than all others," it struck +Francis very forcibly. He stopped the reader, and said—</p> + +<p>"My brothers, I wish from henceforth that this +fraternity should be called the Order of Minors." +Minor being the word in the original that expresses the +idea of "less than the least." And this was the name +they bore for many a year. It was an expressive and +suitable one. Less than the least of all the brethren—that +was what they desired to be. They were essentially of the +people, they wore the garb of the poorest, and shared their +life with its toils and privations.</p> + +<p>There was also another reason for this name, some historians +say. Just before Francis formed his Order, there was +an Order of Friars established in Italy, who spent their +time in working among the poor. "Little Brothers of the +Poor," they called themselves, and it was in contradistinction +to them that Francis called himself "Minor," or +less than the "Little Brothers."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Story of Clara.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem3"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"So faith grew.... The acknowledgment of God in Christ,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Accepted by thy reason solves for thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All questions in the world and out of it."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>One of the most interested listeners in the Cathedral, +the day that Francis preached his first sermon there, was +a little girl of sixteen. Her name was Clara Scifi, and +she was of noble family. From her childhood she had +been accustomed to hear discussed among the elders the +follies and madness of Francis Bernardone. Clara had +always been a good child, and from babyhood delighted to +distribute food and alms of all kinds to the poor. When +she was old enough to understand all Francis' principles, +she was greatly drawn to them, though she kept her +feelings to herself. A cousin of hers became a friar, and +this naturally intensified her interest in the Friars Minor. +But when she went to the Cathedral, and, for the first +time saw and heard Francis for herself, it was like a +revelation straight from God.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Clara that he spoke directly to her, and +that he knew all her secret sorrows, and personal anxieties! +Oh how she longed to have some part in his great work! In +those days such a thing as a girl leaving her home for any +reason except to be married or immured in a convent, and +never seen, was unheard of, and when Clara made up her +mind that she would break away from her idle luxurious life +and become a servant of the poor, she knew that she was going +to do an unheard-of thing, and that never while the world +stood, would she get permission from her father, Favorina, +for any such undertaking! Clare's mother, Ortolana, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +a pious woman, but even if she were to give her consent, +it was quite certain her husband would not. Therefore +Clara determined not to tell her mother what she was +thinking about doing.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Clara's Decision.</i></div> + +<p>During the year that ensued after that preaching in the +Cathedral, Clara saw a great deal of Francis, and the +more she saw of him, and heard him talk, the surer she +became that God was calling her to leave home and friends. +So one March night, accompanied by two servants, Clara +left her beautiful home, and set off for the Portiuncula, +where Francis and the brothers were waiting to receive +her, and welcome her as a sister in the Lord. Singing +hymns, they led her into the little church, and after a short +service, during which they read her the Rules, her beautiful +long hair was cut off, and she robed herself in a garment +of coarse, ash-colored stuff, tied in at the waist with a rope. +After this she was conducted to a convent, some two miles +away, where the Benedictine nuns gave her a temporary +shelter.</p> + +<p>Francis was too simple and unworldly to think of the +possible consequences of this step of Clara's. He was sure +that God had called her, and he was equally sure that her +friends would never give their consent to her leaving home +and becoming an apostle of poverty; therefore, as God had +revealed His will, it must be done at once. It also never +occurred to him that this was likely to develop into a +second Order of his Brotherhood, and an extension of his +work. He only saw a soul anxious to leave the world and +all that pertained to it, for Christ's sake, and his only +thought was to provide it a way of escape, just as he would +have cared for a sparrow escaping from the hawk, or a +rabbit from the snare.</p> + +<p>Next day Clara's irate parents arrived at the convent. +They saw Clara, and begged and entreated, and threatened, +but all to no purpose. She would not come away. She +was absolutely unmovable. At last, seeing that she was +so determined, they gave up any idea of carrying her away +by main force, and listened to her while she talked to +them, and explained her position that she was consecrated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +to the living God, and that nothing should come between +Him and her. Her parents struck by her words consented +to leave her, and went away promising not to trouble her +again.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Agnes.</i></div> + +<p>But the troubles of the house of Scifi were not yet over. +A fortnight later, Agnes, a child of fourteen, ran away to +join her sister. Agnes had always been intensely devoted +to Clara, and besides, she too had been longing for some +more satisfactory mode of life. It cannot be said that +Clara was surprised when Agnes knocked at the door, for +ever since her consecration she had prayed that Agnes' +heart might be touched too, and that she might be led to +follow her out of the world. Therefore she received Agnes +with open arms.</p> + +<p>"Ah, sweet sister," she cried, "how I bless God that +He has so quickly heard my earnest prayer for thee!" +Agnes kissed her and declared that she had come never to +leave her, and together they braced themselves for the +storm that they felt was coming. And a terrible storm it +was! Favorina enraged at losing another daughter, took +twelve men relatives and proceeded without delay to fetch +her home by main force if necessary. However, they +smothered their rage at first, as best they could, and said +quietly to Agnes—</p> + +<p>"Why have you come here? Get ready and come +home."</p> + +<p>Then, when she refused to leave Clara, one of them fell +on her with kicks and blows, and taking her by the hair +tried to drag her away.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my sister," she cried to Clara, "come and help +me; let me not be torn away from my Lord."</p> + +<p>Poor Clara could do nothing but follow her weeping. At +last, worn out with her struggles—or, as the legend says, +she became so abnormally heavy—they were obliged to drop +her. Clara, reproaching them for their cruel treatment, +begged of them to give the child back to her. Not +knowing what else to do they returned, much disappointed +at their failure.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The "Poor Ladies."</i></div> + +<p>This action of Clara and Agnes opened the way for many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +who were hovering on the brink. As soon as they were +established at St. Damian's, which the Bishop of Assisi +placed at their disposal—they were joined by one woman +after another, many their own personal friends, and thus +the second Order of what was then called "Poor Ladies," +was founded. The rule that they followed was very much +like that of the brothers, except in regard to the missionary +life. Women in those days never preached! The "Poor +Ladies" supplied the passive side of the organisation, and +by their prayers and supplications, supported the active +workers. Their daily needs were met by what we should +call lay-sisters, women for whom a life apart from the +world was impossible. At first the people of Assisi +brought the ladies the food they needed, but when a +little later this first ardour cooled down, the lay-sisters +took it upon themselves to provide regularly for their +necessities.</p> + +<p>However, the Sisters themselves were by no means idle. +They spun thread, and made linen altar-cloths, and all +that was needed for churches round about. Then Francis +was always sending the sick and ailing to St. Damian's +to be nursed, and for some time it was quite a hospital. +Clara, who was eventually put in charge of St. Damian's +was as rigid as Francis in her conviction as to the advisability +of possessing nothing. When her father died, she +was his heir. It was a very rich inheritance she came in +for, but she commanded that everything should be sold, +and the proceeds given to the poor, and not a penny of it +went to enrich the convent. After her father's death +Clara had the joy of welcoming her mother and younger +sister Beatrice into her family!</p> + +<p>Clara was always a true Franciscan. All through her +life which was a long one, she kept faithful to the principles +of the Order, and never would she yield to any dispensation +that deviated from the narrow path that Francis trod. +When offered certain properties by a Church dignitary, on +the plea that the state of the times made it impossible for +women to possess nothing, she gazed upon him with +speechless astonishment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>"I want no Release."</i></div> + +<p>"If it is your vows that prevent you," the worthy man +went on, "you will be released from them."</p> + +<p>"No," she cried, "I want no release from following +Christ."</p> + +<p>She was a staunch defender of Francis. She also +defended him from himself! Many a time in hours of +dark discouragement, when he was sorely tempted to fly +away, and shut himself up to a life of prayer and contemplation, +she pointed out to him the sheep who, without a +shepherd, were wandering to their own destruction, and +drew him back again into his God-marked path. Her +teaching, and her mode of caring for her sisters was very +similar to that of Francis with his disciples.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The First Chapter.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem00"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"No rushing sound we heard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We saw no fiery token,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Only our hearts were stirred,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For God had spoken."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>The temptation to seek a life of quiet and retirement +followed Francis all his days. Invariably, after any new +departure or special victory he was attacked in that quarter. +Why he should have been so troubled when his call to +follow Christ was so clear, we are not qualified to say +definitely. In all probability this temptation of his was +akin to Paul's "messenger of Satan" and thorn in the +flesh that buffeted him, lest he should be unduly exalted. +The most interesting point to us nineteenth-century +Christians is, that by the grace of God Francis never +yielded to this temptation—that having once put his hand +the plough, he never turned back, but remained faithful +to the end.</p> + +<p>We must take into consideration that the Order of which +Francis was the founder was in itself unique. It stood +alone in the annals of Church history. It was a novelty +in the Church. All other existing orders followed a totally +different line of action, or rather inaction. Their disciples +were shut up in solitude, and devoted themselves to their +own sanctification. When they worked for sinners it was +by praying for them, by example, and by a little preaching. +They never came face to face with the outside world. +Their lives were remote, apart. These facts may have +had something to do with Francis' periods of darkness +and indecision. A pioneer's life has its own peculiar +temptations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Darkness.</i></div> + +<p>Perhaps the worst season of darkness that Francis had +was after the establishment of the second Order. An +internal agony seized him. Was he, he asked himself, +not trying to do something superhuman in uniting a contemplative +with an active life. So often he had been told +by people much wiser and cleverer than himself that the +life he had marked out was humanly impossible! He +wrestled and prayed, but nothing could dissipate the heavy +blackness that spread itself over his pathway. He +determined to appeal to his brethren and follow their +advice. His appeal for help gives us a striking instance +of how subtly Satan can take the form of an Angel of +Light.</p> + +<p>"My brethren what do you advise me?" he asked. +"Which do you consider best—that I should attend to +prayer, or that I should go and preach? I am a simple +man, that speaks without art. I have received the gift of +prayer more than of speaking. Besides, there is more +profit in prayer. It is the source of grace. In preaching, +we only distribute to others the gifts we have received. +Prayer purifies the heart and affections. It is the union +with the one true and solid Good. Preaching makes the +feet of even the spiritual man dusty. It is a work that +distracts and dissipates, and leads to relaxation of discipline. +In short, in prayer we speak to God, and listen to Him. +In preaching we must use much condescension towards +men, and living among them it is often necessary +to see, hear, think, and speak like them in too human +fashion. These are very serious objections. And yet +there is a reason that seems to give it most weight with +God. It is that His only Son left the bosom of the +Father to save souls, and to instruct men by His example +and word. He gave all He had for our salvation. He kept +nothing for Himself. Therefore it seems to me more in +conformity with the Divine Will that I renounce a tranquil +life and that I go to work abroad. But what is your +advice? Speak! What do you think I ought to do?"</p> + +<p>The respective merits of the question had been so equally +weighed that it is not surprising that the brethren, one and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +all, declared themselves unable to give any advice. For +several days they conferred, but no clear light shone upon +their conferences. It was an important matter to decide, +because the whole future conduct of the Order hung upon +the decision. As Francis would walk, so also would tread +his disciples. This fact, together with the general uncertainty, +pressed heavily upon his soul. One of the +most spiritual of Francis' historians says that God +permitted him to pass through this darkness, because He +wanted His servant whom He had already made a prophet, +to learn by a striking example, that no inspiration comes +to us from ourselves. And more than this. He wished +the merit and glory of preaching to be consecrated by a +species of oracle that could only be attributed to Him.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>How the Answer Came.</i></div> + +<p>This is how the answer came.</p> + +<p>Francis, always little in his own eyes, was never +ashamed of inquiring of any one, the simple as well as +the learned, the imperfect as well as the perfect, if +he thought that by so doing he would be the better +able to extend the Kingdom. In the present instance, +getting no light from the brethren, he sent a message +to Brother Sylvester, who was now a very old man, +and lived by himself on a mountain, and another to +Clara, asking them to pray that God would reveal to them +his will. The old priest, and the young girl and her +companions, gave themselves up to prayer, and God who +declares that He will be inquired of, revealed to them His +will.</p> + +<p>When the messages came, as they did together, Francis +was on his knees praying. Both messengers carried the +same message. It was God's will, they said, that he +should leave his solitude, and preach the Gospel.</p> + +<p>Immediately, without losing a moment, Francis got up, +put on his mantle, and set of. All his doubt had vanished +at once.</p> + +<p>"Let us go, my brethren," he said. "Let us go in the +name of the Lord!"</p> + +<p>It seemed as if he were possessed by a new spirit. +Never had he been so fervent. Never had his ardor been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +so intense. To all that he did God set His seal in a truly +marvellous manner! The inhabitants of the various +villages flocked to hear him, and they almost stood upon +one another to find places in the churches and cathedrals. +In those days the cathedrals and great churches were not +seated. The people stood all the time. The men to the +front, and the women very often far behind. When there +was a large crowd, the crush was fearful.</p> + +<p>In Ascoli some thirty men from the Church joined the +Minors, and were given the habit. After this event, +Francis could not show himself in the street without being +surrounded by a crowd. When once he came into a town +the population had no thought for any one but him. The +churches were filled as soon as ever it was known he was +going to speak. Even in the streets they eagerly gathered +up his words. Thus it was everywhere he went through +Central Italy. His name was in everyone's mouth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Great Tree.</i></div> + +<p>It was some time now since the building at the +Portiuncula had become far too small to accommodate all +who wished to join the Friars. There had been nothing +for it but to overflow into the neighbouring provinces. It +is a matter of some regret that but little of the history +of this extension has been preserved. We shall see how +Bernardo of Quintavelle, and Guido of Cortona, established +branches of the Order, and no doubt the story of other +new ventures would have been equally interesting, but all +that history has handed down to us is a list of names. The +tiny seed that Francis had sown in weakness was rapidly +becoming a great tree. Though this progress was gratifying +to him, it also caused him some suffering. By +nature he was intensely affectionate, and when one by one +he had to send out from him his old companions to take +charge of distant branches, his heart was sad indeed.</p> + +<p>One day while he was thinking, as he often did, about +his absent friends, the thought occurred to him that +something might be done to alleviate this separation. +Something, too, that would benefit the entire Order. +Twice a year it was arranged that all the brethren, new +and old, should meet at the Portiuncula. This idea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +proved to be so good that it became one of the fundamental +rules of the Order.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Curious Scene.</i></div> + +<p>The first of these "Chapters," as they were called, was +held after Francis had completed his tour in Central Italy. +The brethren came from far and near. They came pouring +in from all quarters, up from the valleys, and down from +the mountains, and from the shining sea-coast, streams +of brown-robed, bare-footed men of all classes and conditions +of life. And what were they coming to? A little church +and convent as poor as themselves, where there were not +even provisions enough on hand to supply one-hundredth +part of the hundreds that were flocking there with one meal! +But in perfect faith and trust they came, plodding along +under the blazing sun, some rapt in meditation, others +saluting all they met with their gentle salutation, "the +peace of God."</p> + +<p>Such a sight was never seen in Italy before, and from +castle and city poured glittering vividly-colored groups to +see the wonderful sight. The richly-colored garments of +the crowd, and the gaily-decked cavalcade from the country +and castle formed a brilliant foil to the brown-robed stream +of friars. The Portiuncula is situated on one of the lowest +slopes of the Appenine hills, below it stretches the wide +plain. This was the guest-chamber. There were no other +beds than the bare ground, with here and there a little straw. +But we need not pity them as far as sleeping out of doors +goes, because the Umbrian nights are of all things most +beautiful. The air was soft and warm, and the brilliant +blue-starred heavens above did away with any need of +artificial light.</p> + +<p>Francis met this crowd with great pleasure and cheerfulness, +though he had not a crust to offer them. When they +were all assembled he told them with sublime faith to +give no thought as to what they were to eat or drink, but +only to praise God. And his faith was rewarded. The +people came from Perugia, Spoleto, Foligno, and Assisi, +and from all the neighboring country to carry meat and +drink to that strange congregation. They came with +horses and asses, and carts laden with bread and cheese<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +and beans and other good things, and besides this they +brought plates, and jugs, and knives; and knights, and +barons, and other noblemen, who had come to look on, +waited on the brothers with much devotion. It was such +sight as once seen could never be forgotten.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Three Grades.</i></div> + +<p>In these chapters Francis was at his best, and happily +the historians of the time have preserved for us details +of his mode of work. He was there to spend and be +spent. His one desire was that the brethren should gain +a renewal of spiritual strength in the days passed together, +and at the same time that the Order in general should +be benefited. To attain the first end, he employed what +we have pointed out before as being one of his strongest +points—private and individual dealing. As we have also +already intimated, we feel sure that the greater part of his +phenomenal success resulted from this. In his own mind +he had the brethren carefully graded. There were three +divisions. First, the fervent; second, the troubled in +spirit; and thirdly, the tepid. The correctness with which +he assigned everyone to his proper place was well-nigh +divine. At the time of writing the fervent were numerous, +but they were likely to be carried away by an exaggerated +zeal. Some of them wore chains, and were ruining their +health with over-watchings and fastings. Francis boldly +forbade this. He would have none of it. He spoke to +such kindly and tenderly, but he also spoke forcibly in +commending that reason which must regulate piety, as it +regulates human life. By precise and detailed rules he +delivered the fervent from exhausting their strength before +its time, and thus preserved them for their work. But it +was not an easy task that of controlling the fervent, +especially when there was a spice of self-will in addition +to the fervency.</p> + +<p>In a large community, such as Francis now had on +his hands, there is always sure to be a large percentage +of troubled ones. Francis well knew this, he +knew that the devil was always on the alert, that trials +without and within are the lot of every mortal. These +troubled ones found in their leader a tower of strength. To<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +him they poured out their most secret confidences. The +difficulties they had with uncongenial brethren, their +interior doubts and fears, and awful dread that such +might one day cause them to fall away. Francis showed +all such the sincerest compassion. They knew and felt +or that he loved them. His sympathy was a remedy +in itself. They left him cheered and refreshed and +strengthened.</p> + +<p>Human weakness is never slow in showing itself, and +the tepid were easily recognized. They were generally +those who had made a very good beginning, but had +allowed their zeal to cool and were becoming unfaithful to +the grace God had given them, and to the rules of the +Order. Francis was always gentle to these as he +was gentle to all, but he knew how to maintain his +authority—to reprove, blame, and correct. He followed the +Divine recommendation, "If thy brother shall offend thee, +go and rebuke him between thee and him alone." His +happiness was complete if he could gain the tepid brother.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Duty of Humility.</i></div> + +<p>In the general meetings where all the brethren were +assembled he dealt with the interests of the whole work. +He was very strong at these times on the duty of humility.</p> + +<p>"Make yourselves small and humble to everyone," he +would say, "but above all, be humble to the priests. The +care of souls has been entrusted to them. We are only +auxiliaries, to do what they cannot do." They were never +to enter any field of labor without the invitation, or at least +the consent, of the local clergy. And then, when they had +received this permission they must never act as though +they were masters. This policy acted well. The local +clergy had no misgivings in seeking their assistance. They +knew that these men would not try to make the people +discontented with their own pastors, but rather sow +content.</p> + +<p>Another spirit Francis strove to get into his followers—that +was the spirit of tolerance. He warned them against +carrying their attitude, in regard to riches, to excess, and +to say that all men must see as they did or remain unsaved. +Other reformers had done this and were extinguished.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +The rule of poverty was God's leading for Francis. All +men he recognized were not called to follow this track, +though some of his disciples, in their enthusiasm, would +have it that they were. To them Francis said—</p> + +<p>"Do not use the sacrifices you impose upon yourselves +as a weapon. Beware of haughty reproofs. We must +show the same mercy that has been shown to us. The +God Who has called us may also call them by-and-bye. I +wish all that are here never to call the rich anything but +brothers and lords. They are our brothers, since they +have the same Creator as we, and they are our lords also +because without them we could not persevere in the +poverty that we have made our law."</p> + +<p>This spirit of tolerance was to extend to the sinners. +He did not like to hear them berated.</p> + +<p>"Many who are the children of the devil to-day," he +said, "will become true disciples. Perhaps they will go +before us. This thought alone ought to keep us from all +violence of language. We have been sent to bring back +to the truth those who are ignorant and in error. That +is our office, and one that is not accomplished by the use +of cutting words and sharp reproaches.... It is not +enough that our compassion be in words only. The important +thing is that it should be in our deeds, that all +who see us may, by occasion of us, praise our common +Father, Who is in Heaven."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Holiness.</i></div> + +<p>He was also strong on holiness. He taught that there +must be a true light within that shines only from a clean +heart, before it can shine on the outer world, and without +this no good work could be accomplished. Francis was +full of the grace and wisdom of Jesus Christ. Of the +spiritual effect of the first chapter a historian writes—</p> + +<p>"The brethren valued the gift they had received. Not +one of them cared to talk of profane matters. They talked +about the holy examples given by some amongst them, and +sought together ways of growing in grace and in the knowledge +of Jesus Christ."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Some of Francis' Converts.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem01"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ah, the people needed helping—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Needed love—(for love and Heaven<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Are the only gifts not bartered,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They alone are freely given)."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>It is rather a pity that there have not been more +detailed accounts handed down to us of the converts who +could point to Francis as their spiritual father. It would +have given us yet another side of that life which was the +most glorious spiritual light of the dark age in which he +lived! From the few that we meet incidentally, here and +there, we have no doubt that such documents, were they +forthcoming, would be of immense value. But, alas, the +age in which Francis lived was not an essentially literary +one, and writing was one of the accomplishments left to +the few! So we must therefore make the best of such +scanty material as we have at our disposal, and try to give +you an idea of the different species of humanity that were +attracted by the kindly, gracious, Christ-like personality of +Francis.</p> + +<p>We have seen how at first, he had no idea of his call +extending any further than himself and his own life and +conduct. Then one by one, at first, and more quickly +afterwards, men ranged themselves under his standard, +and claimed him as their leader. Naturally, and simply, +he took up his new position, and the duties attached +thereto. He seemed to know by intuition those whom +God had singled out to be his followers, and one after +another heard Francis, as the voice of God calling them to +leave all and follow the lowly despised Christ.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Soldiers in the Christian Army.</i></div> + +<p>One of the first of these was a laborer named John.</p> + +<p>It was always a great grief to Francis when he saw a +church left dirty and neglected. It gave him positive pain +to think that anyone could neglect the House of God, and +give it less care than they would their own homes. When +he went on different preaching tours he used to call the +priests of the locality together, and beg of them to look +after the decency of the churches. He was not content +merely to preach, but often he bound stalks of heather +together and made himself a broom, and set to work and +showed them an example.</p> + +<p>One day he was busily engaged in sweeping out a church +when a peasant appeared. He had left his cart and come +to see what was going on. After he had stared for a time, +he went over to Francis and said—</p> + +<p>"Brother, let me have the broom and I will help you." +He took the broom, and finished the church.</p> + +<p>When his task was ended, he said—</p> + +<p>"Brother, for a long time, ever since I heard men speak +of you, I have decided to serve God. I never knew where +to find you. Now it has pleased God that we should meet, +and henceforth I will do whatever you command me."</p> + +<p>Francis was convinced that he would make a good friar, +so he accepted him. This John was renowned afterwards +for his piety, the other friars admired him greatly. He +did not live very long, and after his death, Francis used to +love to tell the story of his conversion, always speaking of +him as Brother <i>Saint</i> John.</p> + +<p>Angelo Tancredi was a young knight, rich, and of noble +family. Francis met him one day in the neighbourhood of +Rieti. He had never seen him before, he knew nothing +whatever of him, but inspired by God, he went up to him +and said—</p> + +<p>"My brother, thou hast long worn belt, sword and +spurs. Henceforth thy belt must be a rope, thy sword the +Cross of Jesus Christ, and for spurs thou must have dust +and mud. Follow me. I will make thee a soldier in the +Christian Army."</p> + +<p>Angelo's heart must have been prepared by God for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +this call, because we read that "the brave soldier +immediately followed Francis as the Apostles followed +our Lord."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>New Recruits.</i></div> + +<p>Those who lived with him say that he was distinguished +by a "glorious simplicity," meaning, no doubt, +that while he accepted the humility of his new life, he +retained something of his distinguished manners, and +chivalrous bearing. He was a personal friend of Francis', +and one to whom he could always unburden his soul.</p> + +<p>Guido of Cortono is said to have been a born Franciscan. +Passing through Cortono, on a preaching tour, Francis +found him ready, and almost waiting for him. He was a +young man of singular purity of character. He had neither +father nor mother, and lived quietly on the means they +had left him. What was over from his income, he gave to +the poor. After he had heard Francis preach, he went +up to him and begged that he would come to his house, +and make it his home as long as he stayed in Cortono. +Francis consented, and as he and his companion followed +Guido home, Francis said—</p> + +<p>"By the grace of God this young man will be one of +us, and will sanctify himself among his fellow-citizens."</p> + +<p>After they had eaten and rested, Guido offered himself +to Francis to be one of his disciples. Francis agreed to +receive him upon condition that he should sell all his goods. +This was done, apparently on the spot, for we read that +the three went round the town, distributing the money. +After this Francis conducted Guido into the Church, and +there clothed him with the "beast" colored robe.</p> + +<p>Guido retired to a place outside the city, and became +the founder of a branch of the work. A small monastery +was built, and such of his converts in the locality, as +were called to be friars, Guido received.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the very talk about what Francis was doing, +was used of God to re-kindle the flame of love to Him in +hearts where it had nearly been extinguished. Simply +hearing of the crowds that were seeking forgiveness of sins, +roused others to a sense of their eternal needs. Amongst +this number was John Parenti.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>Parenti was a magistrate, a clever, thinking man, who +lived in the neighbourhood of Florence. He had long +been very careless about his soul, and what little religion +he ever had had was fast slipping out of his careless hold. +He had heard of Francis, and the reformation that was +taking place in Umbria, and meditated long and deeply on +all that he heard, wondering, no doubt, if there was really +"anything in it," or was it not "all mere excitement." +Still, he was more than ever convinced that he himself had +very little religion to boast of.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Swineherd and his Pigs.</i></div> + +<p>One evening he was taking a walk in the country when +he met a swine-herd. This youth was in great difficulty +over his contrary flock. As is the nature of pigs, mediæval +or otherwise, they went in every direction except that in +which they were wanted to go! Parenti stood looking on +amused at the boy's efforts. With much labor at last he +got them towards the stable door, and as they were rushing +in he cried—</p> + +<p>"Go in, you beasts, go in as the magistrates and judges +go into hell!"</p> + +<p>It was only the uncouth speech of an equally uncouth +swine-herd, but God used it to the salvation of his soul. +He began to think about the dangers of his profession, +and the state in which he was living, and where he should +really go to if he died. The business of salvation looked to +him that evening as the only one worth taking up, and the +straight and narrow road the only safe place.</p> + +<p>He went home and confided all his hopes and fears to +his son. Together they decided that they would go and +find Francis, and tell him they wanted to change their +life. They saw Francis, and before they left him, they +had made up their minds to become friars. They came +back, sold all their goods, and then put on the garment of +the Order. Parenti was a valuable acquisition to the +Order, and rose to considerable eminence in after days.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Prince of Poets.</i></div> + +<p>Perhaps one of the most remarkable of Francis' converts +was Pacificus, as he was known in the Order. This +man was a noted poet and musician. He was known +throughout Italy as "The King of the Verses," and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +considered to be the very prince of poets. He excelled in +songs, and was greatly appreciated everywhere. His supremacy +was so undoubted that several times he had received the +poet's crown from the hands of the Emperor of Germany, +that very same crown that afterwards adorned the brows +of Petrarch and Tasso. He was visiting at San Severino +when he met Francis.</p> + +<p>A house of "Poor Ladies" had just been founded in +this place, and Francis was preaching in their chapel. +Some friends of Pacificus had relatives among the "Poor +Ladies," and as they were going to visit them they asked +him to come along too. He went, and as Francis was +preaching they stopped to hear him. The tone, and the +eloquence of the preacher, arrested Pacificus, and he could +not hide his emotion as one truth after another struck his +conscience. Francis perceiving that one hearer at least +was touched by his words, turned the point of his discourse +straight at him. The longer Pacificus listened, the more +he was convinced not only that the hand of the Lord was +upon him, but that a great work was required of him. As +soon as the sermon was over, he asked to speak with +Francis. That conversation completely won Pacificus. +Francis spoke to him of the judgments of God, and the +vanities of the world.</p> + +<p>"Enough of words," cried the Poet, "let us have +deeds! Withdraw me, I pray you, from men, and restore +me to the supreme Emperor."</p> + +<p>Francis was always a lover of decision, and the next day +he gave him the habit, and took him on to Assisi with him. +Ever after this the poet was known as Pacificus, in memory +of the peace of Christ that that day flowed into his soul. +His life was beautiful in its simplicity. His historian +writes, "he seemed rather to forget what he had been, +than have to make any violent effort to force himself to a +new life." In other words, his life "was hid with Christ +in God."</p> + +<p>This conversion of Pacificus attracted a great deal of +attention and did much towards advertising the Franciscans +all over Europe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Professor Pepoli.</i></div> + +<p>Professor Pepoli filled an important chair in the Bologna +University. He was converted through the preaching of +Francis in Bologna. Of this preaching an eye witness +writes:—</p> + +<p>"I, Thomas, Archdeacon of the Cathedral Church, +studying at Bologna, saw Francis preach in the square, +where nearly the whole town was assembled. He spoke +first of angels, and men, and devils. He explained the +spiritual natures with such exactitude and eloquence that +his hearers were astonished that such words could come from +the mouth of so simple a man. Nor did he follow the +usual course of preachers. His discourse resembles rather +those harangues that are made by popular orators. At the +conclusion he spake only of the extinction of hatred, and +the urgency of concluding treaties of peace and compacts +of union. His garment was soiled and torn, his person +mean, his face pale, but God gave his words unheard of +power. He even converted noblemen, whose unrestrained +fury had bathed the country in blood, and many of them +were reconciled."</p> + +<p>Professor Pepoli came under the spell of this preaching. +A little later all Bologna was electrified by hearing that he +was about to give up his professorship and become one of +Francis' disciples. His friends did all in their power to +keep him. They pointed out to him how much he loved +his studies and the glory that was his. All in vain. Professor +Pepoli had already been accepted by Francis.</p> + +<p>Three years later he died, greatly mourned by an entire +monastery of which he had been the founder.</p> + +<p>If there were one class of men that Francis took more +interest in than another, after the lepers, it was the thieves +and robbers that abounded all over Europe. One day a +number of them came begging at the monastery. Angelo +Tancredi opened the door to them and, true to his soldierly +instincts, was very wroth at their impudence.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Robbers.</i></div> + +<p>"What!" he cried, "Robbers, evil-doers, assassins, +have you no shame for stealing the goods of others, but +would you devour the goods of the servants of God? You +who are not worthy to live, and respect neither men or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +God. Get you hence, and never let me see you here +again!"</p> + +<p>The robbers departed, full of rage. Francis next +appeared close on their heels, carrying with him some +bread and wine that had been given to him. Angelo told +him of the impudence of the robbers, and how he had +served them. To his surprise, Francis was much grieved +at his conduct, and reproved him for his cruelty.</p> + +<p>"Go at once," he said, "and take this bread and wine +and seek those robbers till you have found them, and +offer them this bread from me, then ask their pardon, +and pray them in my name to no longer do wrong, but fear +God."</p> + +<p>Angelo departed, while Francis stayed at home and +prayed for the success of his undertaking. The robbers +were found, and Angelo brought them back to the monastery +where they not only sought the pardon of their sins, but +became friars, and lived and died in true holiness.</p> + +<p>One day Francis and some of the friars were passing +round the foot of a great castle. It was evident there was +some festival going on inside! The banner of the house +floated over the gates, and the sound of trumpets were +heard half over the country-side. The young Count of +Montefeltro was about to be knighted.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Francis, suddenly inspired, "let us go +to the Castle, and with God's help perhaps we may make +some spiritual knight."</p> + +<p>As soon as the ceremony was ended, and the company +began to pour out into the courtyard, Francis stood up on +a low wall and began to preach. He spoke of the worthlessness +of all earthly pleasures compared to the heavenly +ones. He showed what the love of God could do in the +human soul, pointing them to the apostles and martyrs as +illustration, and contrasting the chivalry of the Christian +heroes with that which was human glory only. It was an +appropriate subject, and the people listened attentively.</p> + +<p>Amongst the audience was a valiant knight, Count +Orlando, Lord of Chiusi. Immediately after the sermon, +he went to Francis and said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>—</p> + +<p>"I should like to talk to you about the salvation of my +soul."</p> + +<p>"Most willingly," replied Francis, always courteous, +"but this is not quite a fitting moment. You must honor +those who have invited you. First go and dine with them, +and after the repast we will converse at leisure."</p> + +<p>Count Orlando did so, and returning to Francis they +talked together. Very soon Orlando was happier than he +had ever been in his life before, because he knew that his +sins were all pardoned. Before he parted with Francis he +said—</p> + +<p>"I have in my domains a mountain called La Vernia. +It is exactly suited to men who wish to live in solitude. +If it please thee I will give it to thee most willingly."</p> + +<p>Francis accepted the offer, and the mountain was used +as a place where the brethren could go to pray, and rest +when worn out with the fatigue of their work. It was +really a huge plateau on top of a steep mountain, covered +with trees. Amongst these, some little cells were constructed, +and a quieter, more restful place it would be hard +to imagine.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Peasant's Advice.</i></div> + +<p>It was when Francis was climbing this mountain +once, that a peasant, who took him up on his ass, asked +him—</p> + +<p>"Are you the Francis of Assisi that is so much talked +of?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Francis, "I am."</p> + +<p>"Well," responded the man, "You will have hard work +to be as good as they say you are. They have such confidence +in you, it is difficult for you to be equal to it, at +least that is <i>my</i> opinion."</p> + +<p>Francis was charmed with this opinion, and thanked the +man for his charitable advice, but before that journey was +ended, the peasant was convinced that Francis was as +good as "they" said he was.</p> + +<p>Our readers must not imagine that Francis' converts +were all men. Far from it. Many women, besides Clara +and Agnes, had to thank God that he ever came their way +and taught them how to love and serve God.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote">"<i>Our Brother Jacqueline!</i>"</div> + +<p>There was Jacqueline. She was of noble family, and +though she did not leave the world like Clara, yet she +served the cause right nobly. She was a most unusual +woman for her times. We are told that "she was not +afraid of business!" She went in person and treated +with the Benedictines, and induced them to give up certain +buildings in favor of the Friars Minor. All her riches +and influence she put at the disposal of the Franciscans, +who had no more active patron than Jacqueline. Francis +used to call her jokingly "our brother Jacqueline!"</p> + +<p>On one of the last tours Francis was able to make, he +suffered much from pain and depression. To cheer him, +says a historian, God gave him a piece of work to do for +Him. He was passing through a place called Voluisiano, +when a young lady, the wife of the baron of the place, ran +after him. When she caught up with him she was very +much out of breath. Francis looked at her with interest, +and asked—</p> + +<p>"What can I do for you, Madam?"</p> + +<p>"I want you to bless me," she said.</p> + +<p>"Are you married?" went on Francis.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said the girl, "and my husband is very +stern. He sets himself against my serving Jesus Christ. +He is my great trouble. I have received a right will from +Heaven, and I cannot follow it on account of him. Will +you pray that God may soften his heart?"</p> + +<p>"My daughter," Francis said in great compassion, "Go, +I am assured your husband will become your consolation. +Tell him this from God and me, 'Now is the time of +salvation, recompense will surely come.'"</p> + +<p>Then he gave her his blessing.</p> + +<p>The lady went home, and finding her husband, gave him +Francis' message. The Spirit of God carried it to his +inmost soul.</p> + +<p>"He is right," he said to his wife, "Let us serve God +together, and save our souls in our own house!"</p> + +<p>"The Lord be praised," cried his wife, and together +they thanked God for the gift of His wonderful salvation. +They lived for a great many years in godliness and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +holiness, and passed away to be with Christ, the one in +the morning and the other in the evening of the same +day.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Catalogue of Names.</i></div> + +<p>Other equally interesting incidents, we have no doubt +cluster round what, unfortunately, the historians present +to us in the form of a catalogue of mere names.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>Chapter XIII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Story of the Martyrs.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem0"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"God the Father, give us grace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To walk in the light of Jesu's Face.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God the Son, give us a part,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the hiding place of Jesu's Heart.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God the Spirit, so hold us up,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That we may drink of Jesu's Cup."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>They were five in number. Their names were Berard, +Peter, Otho, Adjutorius, and Accurtius. When they first +started out for Morocco, a sixth, Vital, was with them, +but at an early stage of the journey he fell sick, and rather +than the mission should be delayed on his account he +insisted on their leaving him behind. He never recovered, +but died about the same time as his brothers were +martyred.</p> + +<p>About these martyrs historians are divided in their +minds. Some say that they were foolish and extreme and +courted persecution, others declare that they were animated +by the Holy Ghost, and others that it was a part of God's +great plan for the encouraging of the Franciscan movement. +Certain it is, that in their case, the blood thus spilled was +fruitful, and brought to life rich fruit, and we have no doubt +that to-day they are among that mighty throng who are +clothed in white raiment, and bear palms in their hands, +who on earth "counted not their life dear to them." The +memory of such souls is always fragrant, and supreme +love, even though it may appear ill-regulated, is better +than a tepid affection which is unworthy the name.</p> + +<p>The five travelled by way of Portugal, where they were +well received. At Seville they stopped in the house of a +Christian merchant for eight days, which time they spent in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +prayer. At the end of the eight days they informed the +gentleman why they had come, and further said that they +were about to commence a little preaching in Seville. +Seville was at this period in the hands of the Moors. +The poor merchant was utterly horrified at their proposals, +he threw every obstacle in their way, telling them that +they would do no good, and only make it hard for the +Christian merchants who were allowed to trade there! +Needless to say, such worldly reasoning had no effect upon +the disciples of Francis.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Preaching in at Mosque.</i></div> + +<p>Their first attempt was, of all places, in a mosque! +While the Moors were engaged in devotion one day, they +were electrified to hear a loud voice proclaim to them Jesus +Crucified. They immediately rose up and drove the +intruders out with blows and curses. The five next +repaired to a larger mosque, and sought to obtain a +hearing there. Again they were thrown out. Then a +brilliant idea occurred to the leader, Berard.</p> + +<p>"We will go to the King," he said. "If we gain him, +the victory over the others will be easy!"</p> + +<p>In spite of all difficulties, they managed to gain +admission to the Court, and present their plea. The +King was enraged at their audacity, and ordered them to +be scourged and beheaded, which was the summary mode +in which justice was dealt out in that era. If it had not +been for the intercession of the King's son, this sentence +would have been carried into effect, as it was they were +taken away and imprisoned in a tower.</p> + +<p>A few hours later all Seville gathered to see a strange +sight! There, on top of the prison tower, stood the +five, brown-robed, bare-footed strangers, singing with all +their might praises to the one true God! They were then +taken and thrust into the darkest and deepest dungeon. +But as solitary confinement was unknown then, they found +that they had a congregation all ready to listen to them, +and, as long as they stayed there, they never ceased to +preach repentance to the prisoners.</p> + +<p>They were not left in prison very long. The King sent +for them again, and began by coaxing them to leave off<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +preaching. He promised them riches and honor, if they +would only stop talking about Jesus Christ. They thanked +him courteously, and Berard said—</p> + +<p>"Would to God, noble prince, you would show mercy to +yourself! You need it more than we do. Treat us as you +will, you can, at the utmost, only deprive us of life, and +that is a matter of little moment to us who hope for +eternal joys!"</p> + +<p>What to do with these strange men the King did not +know! Their courage and heroism he could not but +admire, still they were very dangerous. After a consultation +with his officers, they decided that the best thing to +be done was to get them quietly out of the country. +Accordingly they were placed in a vessel bound to Morocco. +This exile filled the five with joy! At last they were to +begin work in an infidel country!</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Don Pedro.</i></div> + +<p>Now, Don Pedro, the brother of King Alphonso of +Portugal, a nominal Christian, had had some kind of a +dispute with the King, in consequence of which he had +come to live in Morocco. Notwithstanding his Christianity, +he had been placed at the head of a Mussulman army. +To him the missionaries repaired. By this time their +personal appearance was anything but improved. Suffering +and imprisonment had done their work, their faces were +wan and thin, and their garments were all but in rags. +Nevertheless, Don Pedro received them kindly, and +promised to befriend them. He warned them against +being too extreme, cautioned them to moderation, and +begged that they would not expose themselves to danger.</p> + +<p>But Don Pedro knew nothing about that love, which is +as fire in the bones, and is strong as death; so strong that +no barriers can keep it within bounds. The next morning +found the missionaries hard at work. They had learned +that there was going to be some kind of a public procession +through the town as the King was going to visit the tomb +of his ancestors.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Prison and Torture.</i></div> + +<p>A procession to the five meant people, a concourse of +sinners and infidels, a glorious opportunity, and if they +did not make the best of it, they would be unworthy the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +name they bore. Just as the King was passing, Berard, +who could speak Arabic, mounted a cart and began to +preach. Instead of stopping when the royal train +passed, as a Mussulman would have done, he waxed more +vehement. To the King this seemed either insolence or +madness, and having charitably decided on madness, he +ordered the missionaries to be banished. Don Pedro, who +by this time had had enough of his troublesome guests, +gave them an escort to the nearest seaport, and hurried +their departure. Again he reckoned without his host. It +was to the Moors the five were sent to preach, and to the +Moors they were bound to go, so they escaped from their +escort, returned to Morocco, and began to preach again in +the streets.</p> + +<p>This was too much for the King, and he had them thrown +into the vilest of dungeons, where for several weeks they +languished in great misery, with barely enough to eat. +One of the nobles of the Court who was secretly inclined +to the Friars, advised the King to let them out, but place +them under proper care. This was done, and they were +handed over to the unfortunate Don Pedro, who was far +from cheerful at seeing them back again. He was about +to start off on a military expedition into the interior, and +not daring to leave his awkward charge behind, he took +them with him. Nothing much is known of their doings +till they got back again to Morocco, whereupon they began +their preaching again without any more delay. Yet again +the King commanded that they should be thrown into +prison, and this time they were sentenced to torture. +Albozaida was the name of the officer who was to carry +out this sentence. In his heart he pitied and admired the +missionaries, and notwithstanding the order he had +received, he merely had them shut up, and begged of the +King to pardon them. But it was no use. The King was +very angry, and demanded that his will be carried out +without delay. So there was nothing for Albozaida to do +but to hand them over to the executioner.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The End.</i></div> + +<p>Alas for them! this man was a renegade Christian, and +no torture was too great for him to inflict upon them. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +were dragged through the streets with cords round their +necks, they were beaten, they were rolled over pieces of +glass and broken tiles, and when evening came, vinegar +was poured into their open wounds, lest the night should +bring too much cessation from pain. But they smiled at +pain, and praised God in the midst of the greatest tortures. +This treatment failing to kill them, the King desired to see +them again. He spoke to them at first as though he had +never seen them before.</p> + +<p>"Are you the impious men who despise the true faith, +the madmen who blaspheme the Prophet of the Lord?" +he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh King," they replied, "far from despising the true +faith, we are ready to die for it. It is true that our faith +is not your faith."</p> + +<p>The King did not appear to be displeased with this bold +statement. He had another argument at hand. He sent +for a number of richly-dressed women, and presenting +them to the missionaries he said, "If you will follow +the law of Mahomet, I will give you these women for +wives, and you shall have positions of honor and power +in my kingdom. If not, you shall die by the sword!"</p> + +<p>"Prince," they answered, "We want neither your +women nor your honors. Be such things yours, and +Jesus Christ ours. Make us suffer all your tortures, kill +us. Pain will be light to us. We look to Heaven!"</p> + +<p>Maddened by his own insufficiency the King got up, +seized a sword, and cleft their heads as though he were +but a common executioner. Thus perished the first +Franciscan Martyrs.</p> + +<p>And did they accomplish nothing? Was their mission +an utter failure, as some historians write it? Let us see +for ourselves.</p> + +<p>As soon as the missionaries had been killed, the mob +took their bodies, and dragged them in the mire, and horribly +mutilated them. However, Don Pedro, who up till now +had been but a very poor representative of the Church of +Christ, was deeply touched by the death of the five, and +his once half-sleeping conscience was awakened into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +activity. He got possession of the battered bodies, and +resolving that he would have nothing further to do with +the enemies of Christianity, took them, and went back to +his own country. As soon as he arrived at Coimbra, King +Alphonse came out to meet him, and with great rejoicing +the remains of the Missionary Martyrs were carried to +the Church.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Fernandez.</i></div> + +<p>Amongst those who followed in the train of the king was +a young man some twenty-five years old, of noble family, +named Fernandez. This young man was tremendously +stirred by the story of the martyred five. Their life and +death spoke to his soul as nothing had ever done before, +he longed to follow in their steps. He had a great deal of +conversation with certain Franciscans who lived in a settlement +hut outside the town. They came sometimes and +begged at his door, and he used to question them.</p> + +<p>One day he said—</p> + +<p>"If I became one of you, would you send me to the +country of the Saracens, that like your holy martyrs I +might shed my blood for the faith?"</p> + +<p>They replied, saying, it was the wish of Francis that +his people should go and preach to the infidels.</p> + +<p>"If that is so," said Fernandez, "bring me the habit of +your Order and let me put it on."</p> + +<p>Without any pomp or ceremony Fernandez put on the +coarse robe, changed his name to that of Anthony, and, +bidding good-bye to his family, joined the Franciscans. To +go into all the details of his story would take too much +space, but Fernandez became one of the shining lights of +the Franciscan movement, and many rose up to call him +blessed!</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Father of Souls.</i></div> + +<p>He went to Africa, but it was not God's will that he +should labor there. A violent fever reduced him to such a +degree of weakness that he had to leave the country. He +set sail, meaning to return to his native land and get +restored in body, but a storm drove the vessel on to the +coast of Italy. He preached there for a time and then +went on to the Portiuncula, where Francis was presiding +over a gathering of the brethren. There God showed him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +that Africa and a martyr's crown were not for him, and +cheerfully accepting the work that God meant for him, he +became the father of thousands of souls.</p> + +<div class="poem01"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Oh, what, if we are Christ's,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is earthly shame or loss?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Bright shall the crown of glory be,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When we have borne the cross.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Keen was the trial once,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Bitter the cup of woe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When martyred saints, baptized in blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Christ's sufferings shared below.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Bright is their glory now,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Boundless their joy above,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where, on the bosom of their God,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">They rest in perfect love.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Lord! may that grace be ours,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Like them in faith to bear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All that of sorrow, grief, or pain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">May be our portion here!<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></div></div> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">First Foreign Missions.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem4"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"They are gone where Love is frozen, and Faith grown calm and cold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where the world is all triumphant, and the sheep have left the fold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where His children scorn His blessings, and His sacred shrine despise."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>It was about the time of the first chapter that Francis +began to feel drawn to foreign fields. The Franciscans +had now spread all over Italy, and there was a general +desire shown by the brethren to extend their ministrations +outside that country. It would appear that at its close, a +small number of the brethren were sent out to evangelize +the various countries of Europe, Portugal, Hungary, +Germany, etc.</p> + +<p>For himself Francis had a larger and more daring +scheme.</p> + +<p>It was the time of the Crusades. All Christian Europe +was bending its energies to wrest the tomb of our Saviour +out of the hands of the Saracens. Band after band of +Crusaders had marched into the Sultan's territory—to +suffer defeat and death. Francis was too much of a +soldier and knight not be stirred by the tales of bravery and +daring which were rife everywhere. But he had his own +opinions.</p> + +<p>"Is there not," he asked himself, "a more beautiful +way of gaining the desired end? Why all this bloodshed? +why this wholesale hurrying of men to perdition? +why all this strife between the children of one Father? +Why has no one ever tried to gain these infidels over on +Christ's side? How many lives might be spared, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +what an increase there would be for His Church if they +succeeded!"</p> + +<p>It was a noble thought, and one worthy of Francis. +The more he pondered these matters the more convinced +he became that it was his duty to put his ideas into practice. +He told some of the brethren his purpose, and they, convinced +that God led him, made no objection, and in a very +short time he was ready to begin his difficult and dangerous +undertaking. Peter of Cantani was appointed to take the +government of the Order during his absence.</p> + +<p>Francis, and his companion, whose name we are not +told, embarked at Ancona. How they got their passage +without any money we do not know, but it is evident that +they managed it somehow. When they were well out to +sea, such a storm arose as caused them to seek refuge on +the coast of Illyria. It was supposed at first that the delay +would only be one of a few weeks, but the stormy weather +persistently continuing, it soon became evident that it +would be impossible to cross the Levant at that season of +the year. This was a great disappointment to Francis, but +he was far from being discouraged. He determined to +return to Ancona. A vessel was about to sail, and he +presented himself as a passenger, but as he had no money +they refused to take him on board.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Dilemma!</i></div> + +<p>Here was a dilemma! But help was at hand. One of +the ship's officers, a good man, was touched by the harshness +with which the missionaries were treated, so he went +to Francis and told him that he would take them on board. +He conducted them down into the hold, and hid them +behind some horses there. Hardly had they been deposited +when an unknown friend brought an enormous basket of +provisions, and, giving it to their benefactor, said—</p> + +<p>"Take this, take great care of it, and as the need arises, +distribute it to the poor brethren you have hidden."</p> + +<p>The need soon arose. Another fearful storm beat the +vessel about to such an extent that the voyage was prolonged +far beyond the usual limit. Provisions were +exhausted and a famine threatened the unhappy crew. +Then Francis, hearing of the distress, crept out from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +among the horses, explained his presence, and said that he +had food which he would be glad to share with them. The +legend tells us that the food was miraculously made to +last the voyage; the real fact was probably that the +basket contained large supplies of beans, and lentils, and +macaroni, and such Italian foods that swell in the cooking, +and go a long way.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>In Spain.</i></div> + +<p>Arriving at Ancona, Francis began to preach. He had +a wonderful time, and a great number of clerics and laymen +joined the Order. Part of them Francis took with +him to the Portiuncula, and offered them to God as the +price of his failure! After watching over them for a few +weeks, he left them in good hands, and turned his attention +again to foreign mission work. The east had been closed +to him, but that was no reason why the west should not +open. The enemies of the Christians were as powerful in +Spain and North Africa, as in Egypt and the Holy Land. +The infidels had just been defeated in battle, and all +Europe was talking about the victory gained at Las Navas +Tolva. The heart of Francis mourned over these defeated +ones. "Supposing they had been defeated," he argued, +"their natures were still unchanged, their souls were still +unsaved." He began to question if their need was not his +call. He thought he heard them crying, "Pass over and +help us!" He offered himself to God for this work, and, +taking with him his well-beloved Bernardo di Quintavalle, +set out for Spain. He had another rough experience of +the sea, but this time he reached his goal without any +mishap.</p> + +<p>It was autumn when they landed in Spain, and without +loss of time, they set off for the interior. At the outset of +the journey, a little incident occurred which, though +unpleasant at the time, God over-ruled for good. They +were passing a vineyard, and Bernardo, who was very +thirsty, plucked a bunch of grapes to refresh himself with. +This was quite an allowable action in Italy, but Spain +appeared to have a different code of morals, and one of the +servants of the owner seized Bernardo, called him a rogue +and a thief, and insisted upon his paying for what he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +taken. Bernardo explained that he had no idea of doing +wrong, and that he did not possess the smallest piece of +money. The man snatched at his mantle, and said that +would have to pay for it. But Francis, without discussing +the matter with the servant, insisted upon seeing the +owner of the vineyard. To him he explained the state of +affairs; the mantle was given back, Bernardo was +apologized to, and the good Spaniard did even more, he +offered his services to Francis, and threw open his house, +which became a sort of hostelry for the Order, and any +brother was always welcome, night or day, to the best that +there was.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Will of the Lord.</i></div> + +<p>Francis' intention was to go straight to the Mussulmans. +He even talked of reaching Morocco. But God led him to +stay in Spain longer than he had expected. People were +converted everywhere, and branches of the work were +established. Who took charge of these new ventures we +are not told; doubtless friars from Italy were sent +there.</p> + +<p>Just as he began to see his way clear to go to the +Mussulmans, he was seized with a violent fever. For +some time he lay between life and death, and when at last +he began to get well, it was perfectly evident that there +could be no talk of his going to Morocco. Always submissive, +Francis accepted this as the will of the Lord and +returned to Italy. The reason why he was led back to the +Portiuncula at that particular time seemed to him quite +plain afterwards; for, when he got there, he found a +number of learned and noble men waiting to offer themselves +to him.</p> + +<p>Exactly what Francis did after this is not quite clear. +Probably he preached round about the North of Italy, and +visited the various branches of the work, instructing +novices, and establishing fresh centres. At the beginning +of the next year we find him attending a conference in +Rome, respecting the recovery of the Holy Land. While +here, he met Dominic for the first time. Dominic was +the founder of another kind of Friar Order. He conceived +a great admiration for Francis, and tried very hard to get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +him to consent to amalgamate the two. This Francis +never would consent to do, and the two always remained +distinct.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Ugolin's Visit.</i></div> + +<p>The decision of the conference was that the Pope himself +should lead a crusade into the Holy Land. He left +Rome in May, and passed through the valley of Assisi, +where Francis was presiding over a general Chapter. At +Perugia he was taken ill with fever. One of his near +relatives, Cardinal Ugolino, accompanied him. This man +had heard a great deal about Francis from Cardinal Paul, +who had just died, and he thought that now would be a +good chance to see for himself. Accordingly, followed by +his magnificent suite, he travelled back to Assisi. All he +saw filled him with wonder; it bore to him the mark of +true holiness. What struck him most was the poverty of +it the brethren. He had no idea they carried it so far. He +went through the roughly constructed cells, saw the beds +made of straw, more like the lairs of wild animals, and +he could not restrain his tears.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" he cried to those who were with him, "what +will become of us who need so many superfluities in our +lives!"</p> + +<p>Ugolino did not stop there. He felt impelled to offer +himself to fill the place of Cardinal Paul as Protector of +the Order.</p> + +<p>"I offer myself to you," he said to Francis; "if you +wish it, I will be your helper, counsellor, and support!"</p> + +<p>Francis first of all thanked God, and then he answered, +"It is with all my heart I salute you, the father and +Protector of our religion. I wish all my brothers to you consider +you as such!"</p> + +<p>There are some historians who declare that this friendship—for +a very real friendship sprang up between Francis +and Ugolino—was no advantage to the Order, but rather +harmed it. There is no evidence of this among the best +authorities; they lean rather to a contrary opinion, and +we are inclined to believe ourselves that the Order would +never have developed as it did but for Cardinal Ugolino. +He went back and told the Pope what he had seen, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +the old man rejoiced greatly. It was the last joy he had +on earth, for he died a few days later.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Growth of the Order.</i></div> + +<p>Time went on, the Order spread and spread till it was +impossible for one man to do justice to the whole. To +meet the growing need for oversight, Italy was divided +into several provinces, these provinces were to be directed +by brothers who were called "Ministers" or "Provincial +Servants." Francis named Peter Catani for Umbria, +Elias for Tuscany, Bennet of Arezzo for the Marches of +Ancona, John of Stracchai for Lombardy, Daniel for +Calabria. Then it was also decided that Bernardo di +Quintavelle was to take charge of Spain, and John of +Penna, Germany. Francis himself was to take France, a +land he had always been especially drawn to. It was +through the intervention of Ugolino that he forewent this +mission. Francis stopped at Florence on his way to tell +him of his journey. Ugolino saw what Francis could not +see, that in view of all their new ventures he could not +afford to leave the country just then. Francis argued that +he could not stay at home in safety and let the brothers go +abroad on dangerous missions, it would raise talk. +Ugolino wanted to know if Italy wasn't big enough for +him. Francis replied that God had raised them up for +the good of the whole world.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," said Ugolino, "but in any case <i>you</i> cannot +go away yet without imprudence. Your Order is only +just started, you know the opposition it met with at first; +its enemies are not yet disarmed, and your presence is +necessary to defend and maintain it."</p> + +<p>Francis saw that Ugolino spoke wisely, and he gave in +and stayed at home. For some time he was the guest of +the Cardinal, and their mutual liking for each other was +greatly increased. The more Ugolino saw of Francis the +more he loved him, and though he could not see eye to eye +with him in everything at first, he eventually came round +to his ways. As much as possible Francis lived his simple +manner of life in the Cardinals palace. He prayed and +meditated, he went out to preach and to beg, and he even +brought back his alms into the palace! One day there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +were a great many people at the table, and Francis was +eating the scraps he had begged. Some of the guests +began to joke him about it, but Francis maintained that +his food was angels' bread, and if they liked he would share +it with them. All—prelates, knights and nobles—accepted +willingly, some ate their portion, others put it by +to keep as a memento. But Ugolino was a little hurt. +He took Francis aside and said—</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Quarrel.</i></div> + +<p>"Ah, my brother, wherefore all this begging; you hurt +me. Do you not know that my house is yours and your +brethren's?"</p> + +<p>"My lord," answered Francis, "I have not affronted +you; I think I have honored you by imitating in your +house our Lord Jesus Christ who taught us to love poverty. +For, indeed, I mean only to follow the footsteps of my +Master!"</p> + +<p>The Cardinal bowed his head.</p> + +<p>"Do, my brother, what seems good to you," he said, +"the Lord is with you!"</p> + +<p>This visit of Francis' to Florence resulted in the +establishment of a large convent on the borders of Tuscany +and Umbria. This is how it came about. The powerful +family of the lords of Baschi were divided. The three sons +were in open rebellion on account of questions of personal +interest, and they were doing their best to drag into this +quarrel the numerous friends of their clients and vassals. +It was plain to be seen that bloodshed would be the outcome. +Francis was very much grieved when he heard of +this dissension, and felt that he must do his best to stop it. +Accordingly, he visited the three brothers, Ugolino, +Buonconte and Ranicu, in turn, and entreated them in the +name of Christ to desist. He succeeded in accomplishing +his end, they laid down their arms, amicably settled the +vexed question, and a charter of reconciliation was drawn +up. Then, wishing to show their gratitude to Francis, +they presented him with a beautiful hill, and, building a +monastery on it, begged of him to send friars to establish a +work there.</p> + +<p>A little later, the Cardinal presided over what was known as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +the "Chapter of Mats," so called because the brothers lived +under little tents made of matting. He was very much +surprised at all he saw, and said he never expected to find +a well-disciplined army! This was a very important +Chapter, and many new Provinces were formed. It was +conducted very much like the preceding ones.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Failure of the German Mission.</i></div> + +<p>It was either in the middle or just before this Chapter, +that the German-Hungarian expedition returned. Their +mission had been an utter failure! When questioned as +to the reason of this failure, they answered, unanimously—</p> + +<p>"No one knows us; our dress, our loneliness, excite distrust. +The clergy have united to drive us away, they +called us heretics, and left us without defence or protection. +We fell into the hands of wicked men and thieves, who +ill-treated us; we had to come away!"</p> + +<p>This sounded very badly, but the explanation of it lay in +the fact that they did not understand the language of the +people they went to! How it happened that they were +sent, not knowing the language, we cannot say. Perhaps +Francis thought that French and Italian would be spoken, +or, at least, understood in these countries, or it may be he +expected them to be endowed with the gift of tongues. +Those who went to Germany knew but one word of the +language, "ja"—"yes." In the first town they entered +they attracted a great deal of notice, and people asked +them if they would like food and a lodging. They did not +understand a word of what was said, but they smiled and +said "ja." Finding themselves well treated, they determined +to use this expression on all occasions.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, the next one asked them if they were +heretics, and had come to Germany to preach an evil doctrine. +When they again smiled and answered "ja," to their grief +and amazement, they were cast into prison, and after having +been ill-treated for some time, were driven out of the country.</p> + +<p>At the close of the "Chapter of Mats," Francis announced +that he was about to proceed to Egypt to preach to the +Sultan. Ugolino had decided that things were now on +such a solid foundation that he could with safety leave the +Order while he took this long journey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Francis' Visit to the Sultan. Discouragements.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem01"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"I must not fail<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor be discouraged. In the work of God<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No man may turn or falter."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Francis and his companion Illuminato set out for Egypt +with the intention of making straight for the Sultan. They +travelled with one of the Crusading parties, which, by a +curious coincidence, was commanded by John of Brienne, +brother to that Walter of Brienne whom Francis would +have enlisted under, only God sent him back to his native +town! That Francis made a good impression upon the +Crusaders we know, for one of their number writes of +him:—</p> + +<p>"We saw Brother Francis, Founder of the Order of Minors, +arrive; he is a simple man, but very lovable, and dear to +God as well as to men, and is much respected by all."</p> + +<p>The impression the Crusaders made upon Francis was +not so favorable! There was a great deal of discord +among them. The Knights looked down on the men-at-arms, +and the men-at-arms called the Knights treacherous. +Francis had grave doubts as to the result of <i>their</i> expedition +from the beginning. Immediately upon landing, the +Crusaders had planned to do battle with the Saracens. +This line of action was totally opposed to Francis' ideas of +Christianity.</p> + +<p>"I know, by a revelation of the Lord," he said to +Illuminato, "that they will be defeated in this attempt. If +I tell them so, they will treat me as a madman; and, on +the other hand, if I do not tell them my conscience will +condemn me. What do you think I ought to do?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My brother," said Illumiuato, who was a man of +virtue and intelligence, "what does the world's judgment +matter to you? If they say you are mad, it will not be +the first time they have said so! Do not burden your +conscience; fear God rather than man!"</p> + +<p>So Francis was true to his conscience, and warned the +Crusaders, but they laughed him to scorn! They rushed +into a battle, and were utterly defeated. Six thousand +Christians were killed or taken prisoners. During the +battle Francis was very anxious and unhappy, and often he +wept bitterly for those whom he had tried to save!</p> + +<p>Now that force had failed, Francis felt that his time +had come. He would go to the Sultan. The Crusaders, +what were left of them, in their turn, tried to dissuade +him. They told him that he could not get from one camp +to another without being killed, and that the Sultan had +offered a golden reward to anyone who would bring the +head of a Christian. He replied that he did not fear death, +and would make the attempt. First though, before he +set out, he went to one of the Cardinals who were with +the Crusaders, and told him what he proposed doing. A +contemporary writer preserves for us this interview. He +writes, probably in a letter to some friend—</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Two Clerks.</i></div> + +<p>"Now I must tell you that two Clerks (Francis and +Illuminato) were in the Army, and they came to the +Cardinal. They said that they would go to the Sultan to +preach, and they wished to go with his leave. The +Cardinal said they should not go with his leave, for he +knew well if they went they would not escape. Still they +said, would he suffer them to go, and much they prayed +him. Then, when he heard that they had so great a mind +to go, he said thus: 'I do not know your thoughts at all, +but beware if you go that your thoughts are always to +God.' They said they only wished to go for great good, if +they could accomplish it. Then the Cardinal said they +could go if they wished, and they departed from the +Christian host into the host of the Saracens."</p> + +<p>Francis was full of confidence. As he travelled he +sang, "Though I walk in the midst of shadows of death,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +I fear no evil." On his way he met two little sheep. +This sight gave him much cheer.</p> + +<p>"Be of good comfort," he said to Illuminato, "it is the +accomplishment of the words of the Gospel, 'Behold I send +you as sheep in the midst of wolves.'"</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Saracens.</i></div> + +<p>And the wolves were not very far behind. They appeared +in the shape of some Saracen soldiers, who taking them at +first for refugees or envoys let them go quietly on, but +when they found out that the brethren had no message and +that they not only refused to give up the Christian religion, +but had come to preach it, they abused them and loaded +them with chains. Francis never lost his presence of +mind. He knew one word of Arabic, and that was +"Soldan"—Sultan. As the soldiers beat him he cried +lustily "Soldan, Soldan," and they understood that he +wanted to be taken to their Chief.</p> + +<p>The Sultan was called by the Arabs, Malek-Camel, or +the "Perfect Prince." He was very far from being a +perfect character, but for a Mussulman, he was not +ferocious. When Francis and Illuminato came before +him they saluted him. Malek-Camel saluted them, and +asked if they wished to become Saracens, or had they come +with a message.</p> + +<p>"Saracens we will never be," they said, "but we have +come with a message from God that will save your life. +For we say that if you die under this law you are lost, and +for that we have come to you, and if you will listen to us +we will show you that you are lost!"</p> + +<p>The Sultan said meekly that he had very good Archbishops +and Bishops of his own.</p> + +<p>"Of this we are glad," the missionaries replied, "send +and fetch them."</p> + +<p>So the Sultan actually sent and fetched eight. He told +them what they were wanted for, and repeated to them +his conversation with Francis. But there was no mercy +in this quarter.</p> + +<p>"Sire," they said, "thou art expert in the law and art +bound to maintain and guard it; we command thee by +Mahomet, who gave it to us, that their heads be cut off.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +We will hear nothing that they say, we command thee to +have their heads cut off." With that final decision they +filed solemnly away, leaving Francis, Illuminato and the +Sultan alone.</p> + +<p>"Seigneurs," the Sultan said, "they have commanded +me by Mahomet and the law to have your heads cut off. +This the law commands. But I will go against the law, +for else I should render thee a very poor reward for having +risked death to save my soul."</p> + +<p>In a second interview he had with them he promised +them possessions and lands if they would only stay with +him!</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Francis, "if you will be converted, with +your people I will gladly remain." Then, a bright idea +striking him, he went on—</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Trial by Fire!</i></div> + +<p>"Your priests will not talk with me, perhaps they would +be more ready to act. Have a great fire lighted, I will go +into the fire with them, and you will see by the result +which faith is the surest and holiest."</p> + +<p>When Francis had begun this speech there were a +number of priests standing round about, but before he had +finished they had quietly taken themselves off! The idea +filled them with horror! The Sultan perceiving their +absence, remarked sarcastically—</p> + +<p>"I do not think that any of <i>my</i> priests are inclined to +face flames and torture for the defence of their faith."</p> + +<p>Francis couldn't understand how anybody with a real +faith could refuse to have it tested! He offered to go into +the fire alone, and if he were burnt it was to be considered +due to his sins, but if God protected him, the Sultan was +to own Him as Supreme. But the Sultan would not hear +of any such trial. He was amazed and astonished at the +absolute faith and trust of the man before him.</p> + +<p>With this refusal Francis retired. He was followed by +rich presents from the Sultan, all of which were promptly +returned. The Sultan begged of him to take them for his +Churches and Order, but Francis persisted in his refusal, +and seeing that there was no germ of real religion in the +Sultan's heart, he returned to the Crusaders' Camp. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +was heavy and sore in soul because he felt his mission to +be a failure.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Victory.</i></div> + +<p>But if he had failure in one direction, he had victory in +another. The news of his visit to the Sultan spread, and +wherever he was, people flocked to see and hear him, and +recruits such as he had never expected, began to gather +round him. The following fragment of a letter written +by one of the Crusaders to a friend, shows us how they +regarded his work.</p> + +<p>"Master Regnier, Prior of St. Michael's, has entered +the Order of Friars Minor. This Order is making rapid +progress in the world, because it exactly reproduces the +form of the Primitive Church, and closely imitates the life +of the Apostles. The Superior of these brethren is +Brother Francis, a man of such goodness that we all hold +him in veneration. After he came among us, so great was +his zeal that he did not fear to go into the Army of our +enemies, and preach, during several days, the Word of God +to the Saracens. He had not much success, but on his +departure, the Sultan King of Egypt asked him secretly to +pray for him that he might be guided by an inspiration +from above, and attach himself to the religion most +approved by God. Colin, the Englishman, one clerk, and +two other of our companions, to wit, Michel and Master +Mathieu, to whom I have entrusted the care of my Church, +have also entered the Order of Minors, and I can hardly +keep back the Cantor and several others! As to myself, +with my body weakened, and my heart oppressed by all +these separations, I aspire to end my life in peace and +quiet."</p> + +<p>Thus when Francis failed, God caused even that failure +to be productive of good. The whole question of failure is +a very subtle one, and it is a matter of grave doubt as to +whether God's errands ever do really fail—what we call +failure according to our preconceived ideas, may simply be +God's way of working. True, the Sultan was not converted +(though there is a legend to the effect that when he +was on his death-bed he sent for a Franciscan friar, and +professed conversion), but to-day, at time of writing, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +Franciscans are spread out all over the Holy Land. They +have schools and churches and orphanages in every part of +the country.</p> + +<p>Seventeen years later, John of Brienne, the Commander +of the Crusade, after fighting many battles, and rising to +great earthly glory, became converted and entered a branch +of the Franciscan brotherhood then established in the +Holy Land. This was no doubt due to the influence of +Francis, who by the power of God alone, subdued the +enemies of Christ.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Trial.</i></div> + +<p>Upon returning to Italy, a sad trial awaited Francis. +He had determined to visit Bologna on his way back. The +long sea-voyage and hot climate of Egypt had weakened +him very much, so much so that it nearly happened that +he passed on without paying the promised visit. Several +of the brethren round about had met Francis on his way, +as naturally he halted at any monastery on the route. The +conversation that he heard among these brethren troubled +him not a little. He heard that there had been important +additions made to the humble house the lawyer had given +to Bernardo when he came first to Bologna. What put +the finishing touch to his sadness was when an inhabitant +of the city alluded to the building as "the Friars' house," +then he knew they had departed from their first principles, +for there was no "me" or "mine" in the Order of the +Friars Minor. It was a heavy blow to him, sick and +smarting under a sense of failure as he was, and he +declared that he would not shelter under its roof, but +would go elsewhere and beg for hospitality. He sent a +message to the monastery to command every one of them +to turn out at once! This was done instantly, and even +those who were ill were carried into the street! A +historian, who was a friar at the time, writes, "he who +writes this history was one of the number; he was +taken out of his bed and laid in the street like the +others."</p> + +<p>This summary proceeding naturally caused a tremendous +stir in the city, and what the outcome of it would have been +we cannot say if Ugolino, who seems to have had a knack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +of turning up at every crisis, had not appeared just then. +He went to Francis, and with great difficulty succeeded in +quieting him. He would never have done this had he not +been able to assure him that the house was his and in no +way belonged to the friars. When Francis saw that the +brethren were in no danger of becoming proprietors, he +allowed them to go back and consented to preach in the +city. History tells us that that preaching was one of the +most glorious on record. It was through it that Professor +Pepoli joined the Friars Minor. But Francis felt keenly +that the government of a multitude is difficult and that increase +of followers does not invariably mean increase of +joy. For several years after this he rather discouraged +than encouraged people to enter the First Order.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Orphans.</i></div> + +<p>But the whole Bologna affair made a deep impression +upon Francis. For the first time in his career his brave +spirit suffered defeat, the first declension in principle, +together with his own failing strength was too much for +him. At the next Chapter he presided over, which was +soon after his return from Egypt, he publicly resigned from +the position of Minister General. No one seems to have +been prepared for this action beforehand.</p> + +<p>"From this moment," he said, "I am dead to you, but +here is our brother, Peter Cantani; he it is whom both +you and I will henceforth obey."</p> + +<p>The brethren were broken-hearted.</p> + +<p>"What!" they said through their tears, "are we to lose +our father and become orphans?"</p> + +<p>Then Francis stood up and prayed—</p> + +<p>"Oh my Lord, I commend to Thee this day, this family +which Thou hast entrusted to me. My infirmities, Thou +knowest, make it impossible for me to take care of it. I +put it into the hands of Ministers. If it come to pass +through their negligence, their scandals, or their too great +severity, one of the brethren perish, they will give account +to Thee at the Day of Judgment."</p> + +<p>No entreaty or argument could get Francis to alter this +decision. He was a man in the prime of life, and, +humanly speaking, he ought to have had long years of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +service before him. Perhaps he felt that already his days +were numbered, and that it was only a question of a few +years at most.</p> + +<p>As long as he lived his successors were known as Vicar-Generals. +He would only consent to preserve the title and +rights of Minister General. This arrangement had no serious +results as far as Peter Cantani's government went. He +was a good man, and carried out Francis' idea exactly, so +that Francis could leave all to him, and with a clear +conscience, devote himself to visiting the centres and +preaching. But, unfortunately, Peter Cantani's reign was +a brief one; he died a very short time after his promotion +to the Vicar Generalship.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Storm Clouds.</i></div> + +<p>From the death of Peter Cantani till his own death, the +storm-clouds of internal struggle gathered round Francis' +path. His life was not to be all one long, if hard worked +for, success. No! life is not lived thus; there is the dark as +well as the bright in its mosaic, but it is sad, we say in our +humanity, when the dark work is done at the end. But +God, Who is the chief Workman, knows best how He +wants His work ordered; He has His eyes on the beautiful +end, while we fix ours tearfully at the unfinished, and, +therefore, inexplicable pattern.</p> + +<p>There was yet, however, one unalloyed joy in store for +Francis before he entered upon his last dark years of +service, one of the greatest social reforms the world has +ever known—the establishment of the Third or Tertiary +Order of Brothers Minor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">"Brethren of the Militia of Jesus Christ."</span></h3> + +<div class="poem0"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"A dream of man and woman,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Diviner but still human,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Solving the riddle old,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shaping the Age of Gold.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The love of God and neighbor,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">An equal handed labor;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The richer life where duty<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Walks hand and hand with beauty."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>The idea of this Third Order had been in Francis' mind +for a long time; in fact, as far back as his first journey to +Rome, when the entire brotherhood numbered twelve! +On his way home to Assisi he had preached in every village +and town he passed. One day, as he was preaching in the +vicinity of a large feudal castle, the whole establishment +turned out to hear him, and when he had finished, his +listeners, lords and ladies, officers and retainers, threw +themselves at his feet, announcing their intention to follow +him wherever he went, and renounce the world for ever. +Never was preacher in such a plight! There they stood, +the tears running down their faces, husbands and wives +and little children, soldiers, bower-maidens and pages, the +entire retinue that ordinarily made up the household of a +mediæval lord. Francis knew that it would not be possible +to carry off the lot; beside, there was no Second Order +then, and what could he do with the women and children? +So he calmed them by telling them that he would endeavor +to create an Order into which they could come without +shaking the foundations of the universe!</p> + +<p>Little he thought that the Third Order was destined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +to make even more stir in the world than the First or +Second.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>What must we do?</i></div> + +<p>As the years passed by, Francis was continually met with +the question, "What must we do now we are converted? +Teach us how to live!"</p> + +<p>It was a very important question, and a very natural +one, for the first instinct of a healthy, newly-converted +soul is to spend and be spent for its Master. Strange as +it may seem to us in these days of Bible readers, district +visitors, and lay workers of all kinds, it was a very difficult +question to answer. The Church, which as yet was the +Church Universal, not having suffered any disruption, +knew nothing of lay help, other than setting its members +to pray, and give alms. A change of life and action had +long since ceased to be preached. Francis and his +followers had revived the old Apostolic doctrine of +repentance and conversion and holiness of life and thought. +As many as could join the First and Second Orders were +well disposed of, but the countless multitude who were unable +to leave home and friends, were the, as yet, unsolved +problem. Francis soon saw that his work would be, to a +large extent, a failure if something were not done in the +way of organizing his converts. This fact was again +pressed home upon him the year after Peter Cantani was +appointed Vicar General.</p> + +<p>He was preaching in a little village called Cannara, and +his hearers, who comprised the major portion of the +village, were so carried away with his words, that they besought +him with tears to take them into his brotherhood. +This he refused to do, saying—</p> + +<p>"You are not able, nor ought you to do anything of the +kind. I will think of you, and I will seek, and with God's +blessing I will find a life more within your compass."</p> + +<p>This promise he found he had to renew wherever he +went.</p> + +<p>"What must we do?" the people asked him..</p> + +<p>"We cannot forsake our wives!" said the husbands, +and "We cannot leave our husbands!" said the wives. +"How shall we save ourselves?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>The Third Order.</i></div> + +<p>After a little, the active mind of Francis found the +way out. He would form a new Order of converted men +and women, who would be linked on to the First, and so, +without leaving the world, they could enjoy the peace and +strength of a truly religious life. Such an idea had never +been heard of before, and the success of the new institution +far surpassed all expectations. It seemed as though men's +hearts and minds had been waiting for it, to judge by the +numbers that sought admission.</p> + +<p>The rules of the Order were very simple and based +almost entirely on the Sermon on the Mount. The +"Tertiaries," as they were called, were required to put an +end to all hatred, and to restore all ill-acquired gain, not +to engage in lawsuits, to practise the commandments of +God, to wear a plain dress, and abstain from all worldly +gaieties, such as theatre-going, dancing, etc. No one +might speak of his or her neighbor's faults. They were to +eat the plainest of food and to avoid a variety of dishes. +Then there were various advices given as regards cleanliness. +Mediæval folk seldom reckoned cleanliness among +the virtues to be cultivated. No one was to appear in Church +in soiled or torn clothes, because, in so doing, they showed +disrespect to God, and never should there be stain or spot +on their garments, for outside purity is in some sort a +reflection of inward purity. Houses and furniture also +had to be plain and clean. They spent what time they +had in visiting the sick, and helping those who needed +help out of the surplus of their goods.</p> + +<p>Before anybody was admitted into the Order, an +investigation was made into his or her life, respecting +personal character and relations with their neighbors. If +he were found with goods not belonging to him, or to be at +enmity with anyone, he was not admitted until he had +repented and done his first works.</p> + +<p>In every place where a congregation of the Third Order +existed, there was a "Visitor" who was also a Minor of +the First Order. It was his duty to oversee these +"Tertiaries," and give them instruction.</p> + +<p>Such was the Order in which people of all grades and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +classes hastened to enrol themselves. It was first opened +in June, and at the end of that year we find branches of it +in Tuscany, Umbria, and the Marches of Ancona. A wave +of blessing seemed to pass all over Italy. It does not +appear that Francis established any other fraternity of +the Third Order except the First, and from that the others +spread out into all the earth.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Strong Order.</i></div> + +<p>The "Tertiaries," or "The brethren of the Militia of +Jesus Christ," as someone called them, multiplied to such +an extent that very soon they attracted more attention than +was altogether pleasant. The different bishops of Italy +opposed them, and wrote to the German Emperor, +Frederick II., who was a man of bad character and openly +irreligious.</p> + +<p>"The Friars Minor have risen up against us!" they +wrote. "They have publicly reproved our life and +conversation. They have destroyed our rights, and +brought us to nothing. And now, as the finishing stroke +against our power, and to deprive us of the devotion of the +people, they have created two new confraternities, which +include men and women. Everyone runs into them!"</p> + +<p>Frederick was frightened. He saw a gigantic army +ready to fight for the Church at a word of command, +because one of the bye-laws of Tertian rule forbade the +Tertiaries to carry offensive weapons save in the defence of +the faith of Jesus Christ, or in defence of their country. +From this time Frederick, who was always fighting against +the Church, became their bitterest enemy, and persecuted +them wherever they were to be found. If it had not been +for the influence of Cardinal Ugolino, who vigorously +protected the Third Order after Francis' death, Frederick +would, probably, have been able to wipe it out of existence, +or what would have been worse, it might have existed only +in name. As it was, it grew and spread and struggled for +its rights, till it became one of the most powerful religious, +social and political influences the world has ever felt. To +go into the details of this would occupy too much space, +therefore, we shall turn our attention to a few of the first +Tertiaries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Lucchese.</i></div> + +<p>The <i>very</i> first was a man called Lucchese. This man +was young, good-looking, and ambitious. He was a tradesman, +and his ruling motive in life was to vie with the +nobles. This, after a time, became a passion with him. +He knew the only way to success lay through riches. +Therefore, he determined to be rich. He began to +speculate in grain, and bought up as much as he could, +and thus created an artificial famine in his village. Then, +when the want was greatest, he resold his stores at +enormous prices, and his fortune was made.</p> + +<p>But God was looking after him, and, one day, when he +was sitting alone, the thought of what he had done came +before him in all its hideousness. He saw that there was +something more in life besides merely pursuing riches, and +"what would it profit him," something asked him, "if he +should gain all his heart was set on, and be eternally +lost in the end?" From that hour he was a changed +man.</p> + +<p>After consultation with his wife, Bonadona, he sold +the greater part of his goods, and distributed their price to +the poor. He kept only a house and a garden of four +acres, which he cultivated with his own hands. This was +a hard life for one who had been used to luxury. His +house soon became the "poor man's inn" for the district. +Thither came the poor and needy in troops, and never +were they sent empty away.</p> + +<p>Such was Lucchese's life when he met Francis, just at +the time when the necessity for the Third Order was +pressing most heavily upon him. Lucchese opened his +heart to Francis, and told him how much he longed to +make up for the wrong he had done in the past, and live a +life well-pleasing to God.</p> + +<p>"For some time," said Francis, who felt, as Lucchese +talked with him, that the man and the hour had both +arrived, "I have been thinking of founding a Third Order, +in which married people will have an opportunity of +serving God faithfully. You can be the first to enrol +yourself."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Lucchese's Work.</i></div> + +<p>Then he explained the form which he intended to give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +this Order, and Lucchese gladly enrolled himself, and +Bonadona declared that she would join her husband. +Encouraged by this good beginning, Francis publicly +announced his intentions, and a number of men and +women came and offered themselves to him. So, one day, +in the Church, in the sight of many spectators, he clothed +them in a simple, modest dress of ash-grey, and the first +group, or rather the first fraternity, was formed.</p> + +<p>Lucchese persevered nobly in his good works. He was no +longer content with merely helping those who came to him, +but he travelled great distances to find the suffering. +Sometimes he was to be seen leading three or four poor +creatures, and carrying the weakest of them on his back! +When once they were in his house, he cared for them, body +and soul, and many of them were converted, and some +joined the Third Order. Close to where Lucchese lived, +there were large tracts of swampy, malarial country. +Every summer fever was sure to break out there. +Lucchese saw this place now as a beautiful field for +Tertiary labor. He bought an ass, and, loading it with +suitable drugs and food, he went down into the fever +swamps, and did his best in the capacity of doctor and +nurse and priest all in one. His wife was always ready to +help him in all his good works.</p> + +<p>His death is reported to have been "serene and grand +as that of a patriarch." He and his wife were both taken +ill together. She got worse rapidly, and they came to tell +him of it. They carried him to her side. Kissing her an +affectionate farewell, he said—</p> + +<p>"Oh, my beloved and devoted companion, we have +served God together in all affection. Wait for me, we +shall be permitted to go together to the unspeakable +joys!"</p> + +<p>He returned to his room and lay down in great weakness. +Those around saw that his last hour had come.</p> + +<p>"My dear brother," said one of the Friars Minor, who +stood beside him, "be strong and prepare thy soul to +appear before thy Saviour."</p> + +<p>Lucchese raised his head a little and smiled.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My good father," he said, "If I had waited till now +to prepare my soul I should still have confidence in God's +mercy, but to tell the truth I should leave the world with +less security, on account of the terrors of the passage."</p> + +<p>But the passage had no terrors for Lucchese. He raised +his arms and said—</p> + +<p>"I feel myself free and ready, not through my merits, +but through those of our Lord Jesus Christ." A few +minutes after the death of his wife, he, too, followed her +to Heaven.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Dinner Party.</i></div> + +<p>Once, when passing through Rome, Francis was asked +by the chief of a powerful house to dinner. As he was +going into the palace of the noble, he descried a number +of poor people congregated in the court, to whom food was +being distributed. Unable to resist the opportunity, he +went down and sat among them! Matthew de Rubeis, +his host, was looking out of the window and saw this, so +he came out and joined him, saying—</p> + +<p>"Brother Francis, since you will not come to me, I +must come and sit with you." And with the most courtly +air he announced to the astonished crowd that he and +Francis would eat with them.</p> + +<p>After that dinner, during which no doubt Francis +expounded his doctrines, Matthew de Rubeis was enrolled +in the "New Militia." He was the first Tertiary in +Rome.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Little Rose.</i></div> + +<p>Little Rose, though not actually a contemporary of +Francis, is always reckoned in as one of the first +Tertiaries. She was one of those children who seem +born with deep religious feeling. She always, from her +earliest dawning intelligence, loved God with all her heart +and soul. She was a beautiful child, very lively in disposition, +and she loved to go out into the streets and sing +hymns. Before she was ten years old, she began to preach +against those who tried to undermine the faith of our +Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the chief was the German +Emperor, Frederick II. The Archbishop of the town had +written a letter warning his people against the dangers +that beset them, and nowhere did his appeal take deeper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +root than in the heart of little Rose. She, childlike, spoke +out boldly what her friends were thinking in their hearts. +Standing in the street, on a large stone, she preached that +the Emperor was an enemy of the true faith, and must be +resisted, and that the standard of the faith must be kept +high at all costs. Those who thought just so encouraged +her, but those who were staunch supporters of the wicked +Emperor went to the Prefect of the town, who belonged to +their party, and declared—</p> + +<p>"If you do not send away Rose and her parents, we will +drive you away yourself."</p> + +<p>The Prefect was frightened. He sent for Rose and her +parents, and when they appeared he ordered them, on pain +of being cast into prison, and having their goods confiscated, +to leave the town. It was then the middle of winter, +snow had been falling for some days, and the roads were +nearly impassable. The parents begged to have the +sentence postponed for a little.</p> + +<p>"It is death," they said, "to go now."</p> + +<p>"Well, you can die then," answered the Prefect. "I +want nothing better."</p> + +<p>So they took their child and set off. They did not die, +however. God took care of them, and they safely reached +Soriano, where they lived in peace and quiet, till the death +of the Emperor, a year later, allowed them to return home +again.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Clouds.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem00"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"For gold must be tried by fire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As a heart must be tried by pain."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>It seems a rather strange turn of events that put +Elias in the place of the gentle, devout, Peter Cantani. No +one could doubt Elias' efficiency. That was beyond all +question, but that he had a proud, self-willed spirit was +also indisputable. Francis' mind at first turned towards +Bernardo di Quintavelle as Peter's successor. He always +had a peculiar love for this, his first son. But though +Bernardo had risen to considerable importance in the +Order, yet for some time he had been harassed with +interior temptations, and had been subject to great +darkness. Though Francis was not troubled very much by +this experience of Bernardo's, saying "It is a trial, he will +come out of it, and be the greater for it afterwards," yet +he did not think it wise to put him in any new position of +authority, as his own trials would not leave him quite free +for his work. So Bernardo was passed over, and Elias +filled the vacant Vicar Generalship.</p> + +<p>Elias' Government was active. Splendid order reigned +in all the communities. He was unequalled for clearness +of business views, and his preaching was greatly sought +after.</p> + +<p>Some historians say that with all Francis' gifts of perception +he never until it was too late saw into Elias' +character, and that the pride and self-will which were so +evident to others were hidden to him. Elias loved show +and external greatness rather than interior goodness and +holiness. He loved Francis, but he thought he was far<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +more capable of filling the Vicar Generalship than he. He +regarded Francis as one to be admired, not imitated. It is +quite certain that if Francis had had the faintest idea that +the Order would suffer through Elias, he never would have +elected him.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Germany Again.</i></div> + +<p>Elias entered his new appointment in a blaze of glory. +He had come from the Minister Generalship of Tuscany, +the most important post in the Order, which he had +managed in a very skilful manner. Then another event +had just happened which added to the lustre of his +reputation. A celebrated German preacher, Cesar of +Spiers, had attended his preachings and entered the Order. +Elias was installed at the next Chapter before five thousand +brethren. It was at this Chapter, that on the seventh day +they had to beg of the people not to bring them any more +food, and even then they had to prolong the Chapter two +days, in order to eat up all the provisions that had been +donated! Elias presided at the last sitting, which was the +one when the brethren received their appointments. We +have told you how unfortunate the first German expedition +had been and how the poor brethren returned more dead +than alive with fright. Well, during the course of this last +sitting, Francis felt impressed that they ought to make +another attempt for the salvation of Germany. As he was +not very well that day, and unable to make himself heard, +he pulled Elias by the tunic, and whispered to him aside. +Elias stood up and said—</p> + +<p>"My brethren, this is what the Brother tells me," +they always called Francis "The Brother." "There is a +country, Germany, whose inhabitants are Christians, and +full of devotion. You have often seen them passing +through our country walking in the sunshine with long +sticks and great boots, singing the praises of God. +Several of our brethren have already been amongst them. +They did not succeed, and had to come back. Now I compel +none of you to undertake this mission again, but if +anyone is sufficiently filled with zeal for the glory of God +and the salvation of souls to venture upon it they can give +in their names."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>An Unwilling Volunteer.</i></div> + +<p>A wave of horror ran through the assembly, for no +mission was more dreaded, but very soon they recovered +themselves, and about ninety gave in their names, several +of whom were of German origin. Among this last number +was Cesar of Spiers, who was appointed Minister for +Germany. A rather amusing incident occurred in connection +with this expedition.</p> + +<p>The ninety volunteers were all told to come out of +the ranks, and stand together till those who were to go +were chosen. As they stood waiting there a certain brother +called Giordano, who was one of those most scared at the +idea of a mission to Germany, and had taken good care +not to volunteer, thought he would go and have a look +at them.</p> + +<p>Giordano had a spirit of investigation that would have +led him into the ranks of journalism had he lived only a +few centuries later!</p> + +<p>"They will certainly die," he said to himself, "and it +will be as with the martyrs of Morocco. I shall not even +have known them by name."</p> + +<p>With that he took himself off on an unauthorized interviewing +tour, and accosting each one he said,</p> + +<p>"Who are you? What is your country?" Then, as +he told himself, when he heard of their martyrdom, he +could say, "Oh, I knew this one, and the other one." It +was not a very lofty object, but it was an exceeding +natural one.</p> + +<p>In time his investigations brought him to a brother who +was a bit of a wag, and who, unluckily for Giordano, +knew of his horror of Germany.</p> + +<p>"I am called Palmerio, and I come from Gargano," he +replied meekly, when questioned, "but, my brother," he +continued, "you are one of us, you are going too."</p> + +<p>"No, no, I am not," cried Giordano. "I only want to +know you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you are," insisted Palmerio, and taking him +by the shoulders, he held him amongst the volunteers. +Giordano was still struggling for liberty when Cesar was +appointed Minister, and told to choose those out of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +ninety whom he would like to have with him. Several +of the brethren who had entered into the joke with +Palmerio surrounded him, and begged him not to leave +out brother Giordano.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>To go, or not to go.</i></div> + +<p>"I'm not going. I'm not going," cried Giordano.</p> + +<p>Cesar looked at him, and seeing he was a suitable candidate, +was inclined to have him. He, knowing that his +countrymen were neither savages nor man-eaters, and that +there was not the slightest danger to fear, was rather at a +loss to understand the fuss.</p> + +<p>"Will you or will you not go to Germany? You must +decide," he said to Giordano.</p> + +<p>This threw Giordano into great perplexity. If he did +not go to Germany, he feared his conscience would condemn +him, seeing that he was chosen, and if he went, the +Germans were ferocious, and he <i>knew</i> he would not make +a good martyr! He consulted a Brother who had been +robbed fifteen times during the last Hungarian mission.</p> + +<p>"In your place," advised the man, "I should not +choose. I would say I shall neither go nor stay. I will +do as you say."</p> + +<p>Giordano followed this advice, and was chosen for +Germany! He got the better of his fears and worked +bravely, and his journalistic talents were used in compiling +a valuable chronicle, which tells how the Minors were +established in Germany.</p> + +<p>The next most important event in the history of the +Order was the establishment of a school for theology and +training. This was begun by Anthony, whom you will +remember best under the name of Fernandez, and who +was led into the Order by the death of the five Morocco +martyrs. He was not only deeply religious, but very +learned. Upon hearing him preach one Easter, some of +the brethren who were present got the idea that a school +was needed in the Order, and that Anthony would make a +splendid head. They laid this plan before Elias, who +highly approved of it, and undertook to present it to +Francis. To convince Francis was quite another matter, +and for some time he would not hear of it. But Elias was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +a clever reasoner, and he got Francis at last to listen to the +plans. Still he hesitated. His ideal had always been +Apostolic preaching, and he dreaded any change in his +beloved Order. At last he gave in, and wrote his consent +to Anthony thus—</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Definite Rule.</i></div> + +<p>"I consent to your teaching holy theology to our brethren, +on condition that such teaching does not stifle the spirit +of prayer, either in yourself or others. I hold firmly to +this point, for it is our rule."</p> + +<p>Whether this step was a good or bad one, we cannot +say. We only know that under Anthony no harm came of +it, but rather good. With all his brilliancy and keenness +of intellect, and in spite of the way men ran after him and +honoured him, he still kept his simple faith and humble +spirit.</p> + +<p>After the Chapter we have already described, Francis +took a tour with Elias into his late province, Tuscany, and +then, on his return, he set himself down to compile a +definite and comprehensive rule for the benefit of posterity, +and to which future generations would be able to refer. +Probably the laxities of Elias, which were beginning to make +themselves manifest, strengthened Francis in his determination +to leave his articles of faith behind him in such +tangible form that there could be no questioning the +principle and line of action. Elias' influence was being felt +all round. The devotion to poverty was not what it once +was, and the love of authority and office was doing its deadly +poisonous work in the hearts of some. Francis' decision +to draw up a definite rule was far from agreeable to Elias +and his set.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, it was done. Taking with him Leo and +Bonizio, Francis went off to a hermitage, and there he +dictated the new rule. On his return to Assisi he gave it +to Elias to read, telling him to take care of it. When Elias +read it, he found that it entirely did away with many of +his most cherished plans, so a few days later, when +Francis asked him for the rule again, he said that he had +lost it. Francis answered never a word. He returned to the +same solitude with the same companions, and dictated the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +Rule a second time. This Rule has been handed down to +us intact. It is very largely an amplication of those first +verses of the Gospel which were to Francis his call to his +life-work. It is remarkable for its clearness. If any +Brother transgressed this Rule, he did it with his eyes +open, and knew what he was doing too. There is no sign +of any laxity in it. As Francis advanced in years, he +became more and more strongly attached to that +simplicity of faith and work which was the light of all +his life.</p> + +<p>At the next Chapter a copy of the Rule was given to all +the Brethren. They were told to carry it about with them +always, and learn it by heart, and repeat it often to +themselves.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Keeping Christmas.</i></div> + +<p>It was drawing near Christmas time when this Rule was +finally passed by the Church, and as Francis was in Rome +just then he determined to put in practice an idea which +long had been simmering in his brain. It was an innovation, +but then he was convinced that it would make men +think more deeply of the Holy Baby that was born to bring +peace and goodwill to earth. Accordingly, he sent the +following message to a nobleman named John, who was +devotedly attached to Francis:—</p> + +<p>"I wish to keep Christmas night with you, and, if you +agree, this is how we will celebrate it. You will choose +a place in your woods, a grotto if there is one, you will +put in it a manger and hay: there must be an ox and an +ass also. It must as much as possible be like the manger +at Bethlehem."</p> + +<p>All was prepared, and when Christmas night came an +immense multitude, carrying torches and lighted tapers, +poured through the dark, midnight woods to the grotto. +The Brethren sang carols as they came, and these were +caught up by the people till the forest resounded again and +again. Francis himself led this mighty procession to the +manger, and there, standing at its head, the oxen and asses +pressing close beside him, and the flaring torches lighting +up the whole with an unearthly lurid light, he preached to +them about the meek and lowly Jesus, Who came to earth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +to be despised, persecuted, and put to death. It was a +time of much blessing, and that night saw a dawning of +"peace and goodwill" in souls once darkened and lifeless.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>A Great Task.</i></div> + +<p>But all this time, ever since he returned from Egypt, +Francis' health was slowly but surely failing. Weak and +ill, and with the lurking fear that the principles of the +Order were being undermined, his last two years of life +were anything but peaceful ones. Not that there was +anything done openly—that was the misery of it; an open, +bold innovation could have been taken hold of and dealt +with, but Elias was far too politic and clever to do anything +that might lead to his being put out of office. Any +question of departure from the rules that came up, he +always blamed on the Provincial Ministers, and professed +to be as grieved over their failure as Francis himself +though secretly he supported them. He carefully gave all +the truest Franciscans appointments far away from Assisi +and Francis, and kept those of his own mind near home. +This was not a bad thing for the ultimate success of the +Order, because it preserved the real spirit abroad, and +when Bernardo di Quintavelle stepped into Elias' +place, ultimately, he had all his foes close to hand +round home, where the Franciscan principles had taken +deepest root.</p> + +<p>It was hard for Francis when one after another of his +faithful followers came to him, and with tears reproached +him for having given them into the hands of another. +When they at last took in the fact that though the spirit +might be willing, the flesh was too weak to do what it had +once been able to do, their sorrow knew no bounds. +Some of them were almost a little selfish in their grief.</p> + +<p>"You will pass away," said one. "Your family will +remain in the valley of tears. Who can take charge and +direct it after you? If you know of one on whom your +mind can rest, I conjure you to tell me."</p> + +<p>"My son," said Francis, with tears, "I see no one +around me equal to this task of being shepherd to so great +a flock."</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Foes.</i></div> + +<p>Thus, tortured by bodily pain and weakness, and tor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>mented +by unseen foes and enemies of all that he counted +dearest and most sacred, he entered upon the two last dark +years, which were his Valley of the Shadow before the +Eternal Sun rose, never to set again.</p> + +<div class="poem1"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">God of my life, through all my days<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My grateful powers shall sound Thy praise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My song shall wake with opening light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And cheer the dark and silent night.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When anxious cares would break my rest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And griefs would tear my throbbing breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy tuneful praises, raised on high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall check the murmur and the sigh.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When death o'er nature shall prevail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the powers of language fail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Joy through my swimming eyes shall break<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mean the thanks I cannot speak.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But oh, when that last conflict's o'er,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I am chained to earth no more,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With what glad accents shall I rise<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To join the music of the skies!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The cheerful tribute will I give<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Long as a deathless soul shall live;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A work so sweet, a theme so high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Demands and crowns eternity!<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></div></div> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Last Days.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem01"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sin can never taint thee now,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor doubt thy faith assail,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor thy meek trust in Jesus Christ<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the Holy Spirit fail;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And there thou'rt sure to meet the good,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whom on earth thou lovedst best,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where the wicked cease from troubling,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the weary are at rest."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>Slowly, but surely, the time came when Francis was +compelled to drop all attempt at work. We do not read +that he suffered or grieved over this—not even when the +blindness which had been gradually creeping upon him +suddenly climaxed, and he was plunged into almost total +darkness. In the midst of all, his faith shone brighter +and brighter, and his love for God grew in intensity. His +confidence in God was such, that when he found himself, +in what ought to have been the prime of life, a broken-down, +pain-tortured wreck, not the faintest shadow of a +regret for the golden years that "might have been," had +his path been a less stormy one, ruffled the interior calm +of his soul. His life had been lived, and was being lived +in the will of God, and nothing outside that will could +possibly happen to him. So, in the serene confidence that +<i>all</i> things—no matter how disastrous they might appear to +human understanding—would surely work together for +good, he lay down in his narrow cell at the Portiuncula, to +<i>suffer</i> the Divine will with the same glad, ready obedience +with which he had heretofore hastened to perform it. In +no instance do we read of his faith failing him. Not for +the smallest fraction of a second. The story of his last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +days is one of the most vivid pictures of the triumph of +a soul over every earthly hindrance. It has its parallel in +the story of Gethsemane and Calvary.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">"<i>Thy Will be Done.</i>"</div> + +<p>Before we continue our narrative, let us for a moment +take a realizing view of Francis, his condition and circumstances. +As we have said before, his health was utterly +undermined. We are told that "the stomach could ill bear +food, the internal organs were the seat of constant sufferings, +and all the members were weakened and painful." +Add to this almost total blindness, and we have a state of +body that would in itself be sufficient excuse for any phase +of soul-difficulty, darkness, or depression, had such assailed +him. But how much worse than his bodily pains must +have been the heart-agony he suffered through the insidious, +elusive disease that was sapping the vitality of the vast +organization of which he was the tender Father. To the +very dregs Francis drained that cup of failure and defeat, +which all who are called to lead the vanguard of Christ's +conquering host, have at some time or another to drink +more or less deeply. That is the time when the cry, "If +it be possible, let this cup pass from me," is wrung from +the tortured soul, and thrice happy are those who, out of an +intimate knowledge of God, can add, "Not my will, but Thine +be done," assured that it is best simply because it is His. +But it is only those who know God and enjoy Him, who +have confidence enough in Him not to demand His reasons—those +whose lives have not been mere service alone—who +can triumphantly and victoriously cry, "Thy will be done." +Such was Francis. Such were those of the whitest of +God's saints, and a like eternal, triumphant victory is ours, +if we, too, are willing to pay the full price—a life of utter +self-renunciation.</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>An Operation.</i></div> + +<p>But to return. Up to the time when Francis became +blind, he had steadily refused to see any doctor or take any +medicine; but after much persuasion, on the part of the +brethren and Ugolino, who firmly believed that the Order +would suffer collapse if Francis died, he gave in to their +request, and tried every remedy the Assisian doctors +presented. But he became no better, and from Assisi he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +was taken to Rieti, to consult an oculist there. He +suffered everything from the rude, barbarous surgical +treatment of the times, which knew little beyond cauterization, +bleeding, and drawing-plasters. But, as he became +rather worse than better, the Rieti oculist, who had learned +to love him, took him on to Siena, to see an old, celebrated +oculist who lived in that town. This man said that there +was nothing for it but an operation—a very painful one, too, +for he would have to cauterize his patient from the eyebrows +to the ears. Francis said he was ready to undergo +it. He thought to himself that this was a glorious +chance to show that Christ's soldiers could be as brave as +any others. One moment only he shuddered. This was +when the doctors were heating their instruments in the +fire, and he knew that soon he would have to endure +them. In those days only the very stoutest-hearted +submitted to operations, the majority preferring to die +untortured. One can hardly blame them, as there were no +means known by which the faculties could be deadened.</p> + +<p>Before the hot irons touched him, Francis prayed, and +then addressed the fire thus:</p> + +<p>"My brother fire: among all beautiful things the Lord +has created thee, beautiful, strong, useful. Be gentle to +me this hour. May God, who created thee, temper thine +ardour, that I may be able to bear it." With that he +gave himself into the surgeon's hands, and without a +groan he underwent the operation. The brethren who +were with him, ran away the moment it began. Francis +called them back.</p> + +<p>"Oh, faint-hearted cowards!" he said, "Why did you +run away! I tell you in truth the iron did not hurt me! +I felt no pain."</p> + +<p>Then, turning to the doctor he said, "If it be not well +burnt, thrust it in again."</p> + +<p>The doctor, who knew the terror most people felt at such +operations, exclaimed in amazement—</p> + +<p>"My friends, this day I have seen wonders!"</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Failing Health.</i></div> + +<p>For a little time the operation seems to have succeeded, +and the winter passed away with alternations of good and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +bad health. Francis spent the largest portion of his time +in prayer and meditation, and after that he was able to see +the number who daily begged for the privilege of visiting +him for consultation and help. His memory, writes a +historian, served him for a book, and furnished him with +the principles and facts he needed on every subject. "The +important thing," Francis used to say to himself, "is not +to have understood a great number of truths, but sincerely +to love each truth—to let each one penetrate the heart by +degrees, to let it rest there, to have the same object in +view for a long time, to unite one's self to it more by the +sentiment of the heart than by subtle reflections."</p> + +<p>In the early days of spring Francis was seized with such +a violent hemorrhage that everyone thought his end had +come. Elias was hastily sent for, but before he could +arrive all immediate danger was past. However, as soon +as he was able, Francis determined to travel back to +Assisi. His was the true Italian nature, whose heart +always turns towards home, as a sunflower to the sun! +He must have had a revival of strength just here, because +we read of his standing on a stone in the cemetery at +Cortona, preaching to the people. But he was not deluded +into thinking that this meant recovery. Oh, no, he told +the people plainly that he was on his way to Assisi to die.</p> + +<p>For two months he stayed in Cortona, detained there +by the people, who refused to part with him, and then he +was seized with dropsy and fever. He begged to be taken +back to his native land. It was his last wish, and they +at once carried out his desire. For fear the Perugians—through +whose town they had to pass—would also try +to detain him, Elias sent a messenger to the magistrates +of Assisi asking them for an escort back. The magistrates +immediately sent a party of armed men on horseback, +chosen partly from the nobles, and partly from the +principal men of the town. They surrounded the litter +in which Francis was laid, and the journey commenced. +It was a curious procession, the worn invalid, lying on his +hard couch, and borne by his brown-robed, bare-footed +brethren, and round them the brilliant costumes and gay<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +trappings of the nobles and their prancing horses. Did +Francis, we wonder, compare his present position with +that day some twenty years back, when hunted and +hounded through his native town, he was glad to take +refuge in a cave! If he did, we may be sure that to God +he gave all the glory.</p> + +<div class="sidenote">"<i>For the Love of God.</i>"</div> + +<p>Francis took a keen delight when as it happened he was +able to prove to his gay escort by ocular demonstration the +power of his beloved poverty. They were stopping at a +tiny mountain village in order to let him rest, and as they +had no food, the men set out to buy some. They came +back a little later, very discomfited and not a little cross. +The people had refused to sell them any, saying loftily, +"We are not shopkeepers."</p> + +<p>"We are reduced to living upon your alms," the men +said to Francis, "we cannot find anything to buy."</p> + +<p>Francis enjoyed their dilemma hugely.</p> + +<p>"You have found nothing," he explained, "because +you have trusted in your money more than God. But +return where you have been, and instead of offering money +ask food for the love of God. Do not be ashamed; +since sin came into the world all we have is alms, it is of +the charity of the Great Almoner that we receive what we +call our possessions."</p> + +<p>The knights took courage, and became for the time +beggars, and, asking food "for the love of God," received +all they wanted!</p> + +<p>After this halt they reached Assisi in another stage. +The old Bishop Guido came to see his "son" as soon as +he arrived. The moment he looked at him he knew that +his days were numbered, and he entreated him to let +himself be moved to his house, where he could have more +comfort. This was done, but nothing could really ease +Francis' sufferings. The swelling that had begun at +Cortona disappeared, and he rapidly became terribly thin. +He could not make the slightest effort without terrible +suffering, and his eyes were so bad that he could barely +distinguish light from darkness—feeling alone remained, +and we are told that every part of his body was the seat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +of sharp pains! The doctors declared they could not tell +what kept him alive!</p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Farewell to Assisi.</i></div> + +<p>"My father," said one who was tending him once, "Do +you not think you would suffer less under the hands of an +executioner?"</p> + +<p>"My brother," answered Francis, "my dearest and +sweetest wish has always been, and still is, to do what +God demands of me; with all my soul I desire to conform +myself in all things to His pleasure and will, but martyrdom +would be less difficult to bear than three days of this +illness. I mean speaking of the suffering it brings, not of +the recompense it merits."</p> + +<p>As the suffering days lengthened into months, Francis +seemed to rise above himself. He lay there smiling and +calm, and every hour his soul became more strong and +vigorous. Not that he was by any means free from +temptation. We read that "his soul bore the most violent +assaults without flinching."</p> + +<p>In October he was taken back to Portiuncula. His one +desire now was to die near the spot where God had first +revealed Himself to him. He was placed on a litter, and +slowly the bearers descended the mountain.</p> + +<p>"Turn me towards the town," he said when they +reached the valley, and sitting up with a painful effort, he +gazed for the last time in the direction of Assisi.</p> + +<p>"Be blessed of the Lord," he said solemnly, "O town +faithful to God. Many souls shall be saved in you and +by you."</p> + +<p>His first duty when he arrived at home was to make +what he called his will! This is a recapitulation of the +fundamental principles of his life, and a short account of +the first early days of the brotherhood. He charges all to +be true to the one rule of the Order.</p> + +<p>"I absolutely forbid," he writes at the close, "all my +brethren, whether clerks or laymen, to put glosses on the +Rule, or on this writing, saying, 'thus it ought to be +understood,' but as the Lord has given me grace to +dictate purely and simply, understand them simply and +without gloss, and put them in practice unto the end."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<div class="sidenote"><i>Light at Eventide.</i></div> + +<p>Wise Francis, his knowledge of human nature was only +equalled to his charity and long-suffering!</p> + +<p>After this piece of work was accomplished he quietly +resigned himself to die, and holding up his hands to +Heaven, cried—</p> + +<p>"Now, Oh Christ, I have nothing to keep me back! I +shall go freely to Thee."</p> + +<p>The end came rapidly. Each day found him weaker +than the preceding one, and it was with difficulty that he +was able to speak to those around him. Fifty of the +brethren, who were then at the Portiuncula, knelt round +his bed.</p> + +<p>"My father," said one of them, bending over him, +"your sons will have no father. In you we lose the light +of life. And now forgive those present and those absent +for all the sins they have committed. Bless them once +more."</p> + +<p>"My son," said Francis, "God is calling me! I forgive +my brethren, those present and those absent, all +their sins and faults. I absolve them as much as I can. +Tell them so, and bless them in my name."</p> + +<p>He then asked them to read him the history of the +Passion in St. John's Gospel, and then a part of the one +hundred and forty-second Psalm. As they were reading the +seventh verse:</p> + +<p>"Bring my soul out of prison that I may praise Thy +name," he closed his eyes and slept peacefully in Jesus.</p> + +<p>His glorious death took place just a few days before he +entered his forty-sixth year, twenty years since he received +his call to repair the Church, and eighteen since he founded +the Order of Friars Minor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">The Salvation Army Printing Works,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6.5em;">St. Albans</span></span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr /> +<h2>SALVATION ARMY PUBLICATIONS</h2> + +<h3>BY GENERAL BOOTH</h3> + + + +<ul class="booklist"><li><b>Salvation Soldiery.</b> Stirring Addresses on the Requirements of Jesus Christ's Service. Every page full of Burning Truths. 156 pages. Illustrated. 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GENERAL BOOTH</h3> + + +<ul class="booklist"><li><b>Life and Death.</b> Stirring Addresses to the Unsaved. Thoughtful and Powerful Appeals. 206 pages. Half Calf, <b>5s.</b>; Cloth, Gilt, <b>2s. 6d.</b> Cloth, <b>2s.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b></li> + +<li><b>Godliness.</b> Searching Disquisitions on Important Phases of the Spiritual Growth. 177 pages. Half Calf, <b>5s.</b>; Cloth, Gilt Edges, <b>2s. 6d.</b>; Cloth, <b>2s.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b></li> + +<li><b>Practical Religion.</b> One of the grandest books of the age. Invaluable for Teachers of Sanctification. 214 pages. Half Calf, <b>5s.</b>; Cloth, Gilt Edges, <b>2s. 6d.</b>; Cloth, <b>2s.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b></li> + +<li><b>Popular Christianity.</b> All seekers after True Religion should read this book. 198 pages. Half Calf, <b>5s.</b>; Cloth, <b>2s.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b>; Special Cheap Edition, <b>6d.</b></li> + +<li><b>Aggressive Christianity.</b> Series of Papers on Christian Warfare. 193 pages. Half Calf, <b>5s.</b>; Cloth, Gilt Edges, <b>2s. 6d.</b>; Cloth, <b>2s.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> +<h3>BY MR. BRAMWELL BOOTH</h3> + + +<ul class="booklist"><li><b>On the Banks of the River.</b> A Brief History of the Last Days of <span class="smcap">Mrs. General Booth</span>. Cloth, <b>1s.</b>: Paper, <b>6d.</b></li> + +<li><b>Books that Bless.</b> A Series of Pungent Reviews, reprinted, by request, from 'The War Cry.' 191 pages. Cloth, <b>1s. 6d.</b>; Linen, <b>1s.</b></li> + +<li><b>Servants of All.</b> A Description of the Officers of The Army and their Work. 167 pages. Cloth, Bevelled Boards, <b>1s. 6d.</b>; Cloth, <b>1s.</b>; Paper, <b>6d.</b></li> + +<li><b>Bible Battle-Axes.</b> A Reprint of Short Scripture Studies from 'The Field Officer' magazine. Carefully revised. 178 pages. Cloth, <b>1s.</b></li> + +<li><b>Our Master.</b> Thoughts for Salvationists about their Lord. 168 pages. Cloth, <b>2s.</b></li> +</ul> + +<hr /> +<h3>BY COMMISSIONER BOOTH-TUCKER</h3> + + +<ul class="booklist"><li><b>Consul Booth-Tucker.</b> With Frontispiece of the Consul, and other Portraits. Half Calf, <b>5s.</b>; Cloth, Gilt, <b>1s. 6d.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b></li> +</ul> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE RED-HOT LIBRARY</h3> + + +<p class="center">Cloth Boards, <b>1s.</b>; Paper, <b>6d.</b> per volume</p> +<ul class="booklist"> +<li>No. 1.—<b>Francis the Saint, or, Less than the Least.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Eileen Douglas</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 2.—<b>On the Banks of the River.</b> A Brief history of the Last Days of <span class="smcap">Mrs. General Booth</span>. By <span class="smcap">the Chief Of Staff</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 3.—<b>George Fox, the Red-Hot Quaker.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Eileen Douglas</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 4.—<b>Helps to Holiness.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel S. L. Brengle</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 5.—<b>David Stoner; or, The Shy Preacher.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Eileen Douglas</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 6.—<b>Red Flowers of Martyrdom.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Eileen Douglas</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 7.—<b>Heart-Talks on Holiness.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel S. L. Brengle</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 8.—<b>Commissioner Dowdle, the Saved Railway Guard.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner Railton</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 9.—<b>Peter Cartwright: God's Rough-Rider.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner Railton</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 10.—<b>Lieut.-Colonel Junker.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner Railton</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 11.—<b>The Soul-Winner's Secret.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel S. L. Brengle</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 12.—<b>The Life of Gideon Ouseley.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner Railton</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 13.—<b>Fletcher of Madeley.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Margaret Allen</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 14.—<b>The Cross our Comfort.</b> Selections from the Writings of <span class="smcap">The Late Consul Emma Booth-Tucker</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 15.—<b>Sighs from Hell.</b> By <span class="smcap">John Bunyan</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 16.—<b>What Hinders You?</b> By <span class="smcap">Mrs. Colonel Brengle</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 17.—<b>The Fruits of the Spirit</b>, and <b>The Whole Armour of God.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Eileen Douglas</span>.</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE WARRIORS' LIBRARY</h3> + + +<p class="center">Cloth Boards, <b>8d.</b> net; Half-Cloth Boards, <b>6d.</b> net per volume</p> +<ul class="booklist"> +<li>No. 1.—<b>Catherine Booth: A Sketch.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel Mildred Duff</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 2.—<b>A School of the Prophets.</b> A Sketch of Training Home Life. By <span class="smcap">One of the Scholars</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 3.—<b>Our War in South Africa.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner Railton</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 4.—<b>The Warrior's Daily Portion.</b>—I. By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Eileen Douglas</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 5.—<b>The Way of Holiness.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel S. L. Brengle</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 6.—<b>Kingdom-Makers in Shelter, Street, and Slum.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Margaret Allen</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 7.—<b>Three Coronations.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel Mildred Duff</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 8.—<b>The Life of Oberlin.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner W. Elwin Oliphant</span>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></li> + +<li>No. 9.—<b>Farmer Abbott.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Margaret Allen</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 10.—<b>The Warrior's Daily Portion.</b>—II. By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Eileen Douglas</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 11.—<b>The Life of Hedwig von Haartman.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel Mildred Duff</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 12.—<b>The Life of Gerhard Tersteegen.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner W. Elwin Oliphant</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 13.—<b>The Life of Colonel Weerasooriya.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner Booth-Tucker</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 14.—<b>Bernard of Clairvaux.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Margaret Allen</span>.</li> + +<li>No. 15.—<b>Harvests of the East.</b> By <span class="smcap">Brigadier Margaret Allen</span>.</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> +<h3>HEROES OF THE CROSS LIBRARY</h3> + + + +<p class="center">Cloth Boards, <b>2s.</b></p> +<ul class="booklist"> +<li>No. 1.—<b>Savonarola: Italian Preacher and Martyr.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner W. Elwin Oliphant</span>. 224 pages.</li> +</ul> + +<hr /> +<h3>THE LIBERTY LIBRARY</h3> + + +<p class="center">Cloth Boards, <b>1s. 6d.</b></p> +<ul class="booklist"> +<li>No. 1.—<b>When the Holy Ghost is Come.</b> By <span class="smcap">Colonel S. L. </span><span class="smcap">Brengle</span>. 205 pages.</li> +</ul> +<hr /> +<ul class="booklist"> +<li><b>Standards of Life and Service.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner T. H. Howard</span>. 178 pages. Cloth Boards, <b>2s.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b></li> + +<li><b>The Story of German Song.</b> By <span class="smcap">Commissioner W. Elwin Oliphant</span>. With Frontispiece of Martin Luther and other Illustrations. 243 pages. Cloth Boards, <b>3s. 6d.</b></li> +</ul> +<hr /> +<ul class="booklist"> +<li><b>The Romance of The Salvation Army.</b> By <span class="smcap">Hulda Friedericks</span>.<br /> With Preface by <span class="smcap">General Booth</span>. Illustrated. 216 pages. Cloth, Gilt, <b>3s. 6d.</b>; Paper, <b>1s.</b></li> + +<li><b>Essays and Sketches:</b> Including—'Social Amelioration,' by <span class="smcap">Dean Farrar</span>; 'London at Prayer,' by <span class="smcap">Chas. Morley</span>; 'Truth about The Salvation Army,' by <span class="smcap">Arnold White</span>; 'The Salvation Army as a Social Force,' by <span class="smcap">Fred A. McKenzie</span>; 'Legal and Financial Aspects of The Salvation Army,' by <span class="smcap">L. A. Atherley-Jones, K.C., M.P.</span>; 'The People of the Abyss,' by <span class="smcap">Charles Ray</span>; 'Lazarus at Breakfast.' by <span class="smcap">Frank Lush</span>, etc. 272 pages. <b>2s. 6d.</b></li> + +<li><b>Christianity of the Continent.</b> By <span class="smcap">Jesse Page, F.R.G.S.</span> <b>1s. 6d.</b></li> + +</ul> +<hr /> +<p class="center"><i>The Publishing Department, 79 & 81 Fortess Road, London, N.W.</i></p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brother Francis, by Eileen Douglas + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHER FRANCIS *** + +***** This file should be named 33950-h.htm or 33950-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/9/5/33950/ + +Produced by Louise Davies, Rose Mawhorter, Steven Turner +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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