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 VAN DEE VELDE

VANNUCCi

Turkish- German Dictionary). His Auto biography, which was written in English (The Story of My Struggles, 2 vols., 1904), contains a section on religion (pp. 418-31), and tells us that he was entirely Agnostic. He was convinced that &quot;religion offers but little security against moral deterioration, and that it is not seemly for the twentieth century to take example by the customs and doings of savages &quot; (p. 420). He regards the solution of the problems of existence as &quot; a priori impossible,&quot; and thinks that &quot; one grain of common sense is of more value than a bushel of theories &quot; (p. 429). D. Sep. 15, 1913.

VAN DER YELDE, Emile, LL.D., Belgian Socialist leader. B. 1866. Ed. Brussels Free University. Besides his degree in law (1885), Van der Velde, who was a brilliant student, took degrees in social science (1888) and political economy (1892). He was called to the Bar at Brussels in 1885, and practised with distinction. From an early age he had been interested in social questions, and in 1894 he became Socialist deputy for Charleroi and leader of the party. Since 1900 he has represented Brussels in the Chambre, and his great ability and high character have done much to promote its advance and check the Clericals. He is professor of sociology at the Brussels New University and Director of the Solvay Insti tute ; and he founded the Anti-Alcoholic League, and worked zealously for the pro motion of agricultural co-operation. His works deal with economics and sociology (Devolution regressive en biologie et en sociologie, 1897 ; Le collectivisme ct I evolu- tion industrielle, 1900 ; etc.) ; but, like nearly all the Socialist leaders on the Continent, he is a firm Agnostic and humanitarian.

YANINI, Lucilio, Italian writer and martyr. B. 1585. Ed. Rome University. Vanini made a thorough study of philo sophy and theology; but he caught the spirit of the Renaissance, and applied him- 829

self rather to science. Later he studied under Pomponazzi, and then took a course of law at Padua University. He entered the Church, and was ordained priest ; but the atmosphere was oppressive, and ho travelled in Switzerland, Germany, Hol land, and France, propagating his Ration alist views wherever he went. Being driven from France in 1614, he took refuge for a time in England, and was imprisoned for forty-nine days in the Tower of London. He was now known all over Europe as a brilliant and aggres sive Rationalist, and a formidable critic of Scholasticism. He returned to Paris, where the clergy renewed their hostility, and he retired to the South of France. For a time he acted as chaplain to the Marshal de Bassompierre, and wrote a seemingly pious Theistic work, Amphithea- trum Mtarn Providentia (1615), with the design of securing peace. His later work, De Admirandis Natures Regina Deaquc Mortalium Arcanis (1616), was Pantheistic, and more justly reflects his philosophy. Even the Pantheism is feeble, and one suspects that he was really, or almost, Agnostic. The book was burned by order of the Sorbonne, and he was charged with Atheism. For a man who went even beyond Giordano Bruno, such an. age was merciless, and the splendid spirit of Vanini was brutally extinguished. His tongue was cut out, he was strangled, and his body was burned. It is said that, in refusing the ministration of the priest, he pointed out to him that, while Christ died in anguish, he (Vanini) met death with serenity. D. Feb. 9, 1619.

YANNUCCI, Professor Atto, Italian historian. B. Dec. 29, 1810. Ed. Pistoia Seminary. He entered the Roman priest- .iood, and was for some years professor of .iterature at the ecclesiastical college of Prato. A profound student of Latin litera ture, he published learned commentaries on Tacitus, Sallust, Catullus, and nearly all the ancient Roman writers. The increasing demand for reform in the Papal States 830