Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 3.djvu/161

 JOHN HUSS 107 lecture in his university in 1398. In 1400 he was appointed confessor to the Queen of Bohemia ; and in 1401 he became president of the philosophical faculty of Prague. The corruptions of his day, especially among the Romish priesthood, early suggested deep thoughts to this ardent man, and he found a few who were like- minded with himself among those who re- sided at Prague. Some of these entered into an arrangement for spreading truth as purely as it was then known ; Huss was chosen their preacher, and there, in a place appropriately called " Bethlehem," or the House of Bread, he " refreshed the common people with the bread of holy preaching." The impression which he produced was profound. A fer- vent love, a holy life, glowing appeals, and a gentle manner, all helped to make him a master in grace, but soon brought him into collision with dark, mediaeval minds. Here, then, is another decided and heroic man who has entered the ranks of the friends of truth. He will have much to do and much to endure his patron will become his persecutor, and his friends will cast him out if he is to assail the corruptions of the year 1400. But Huss was not the man to be damped by danger. His only inquiry was, What is duty ? he will do it at all hazards, and let us consider how ; for in considering it, we see another example of the need of heroic decision in a world like ours, if man would really benefit his brother man. As early as the year 1391, the Bohemian reformer was studying the works of the great Englishman of that age ; and all these things helped to urge him fonvard in the path in which he resolved to move. An arch- bishop might thwart him, and try to put him down. A whole university might oppose some of his measures. Wickliff s books might be burned, and loud re- monstrances be heard. As a result, students, variously estimated at from 5,000 to 44,000 might forsake the university of Prague. But unmoved by such com- motions, Huss went boldly forward. But, intrepid as he was, Huss needed all his intrepidity. One of his friends was first thrown into prison, and then banished for his boldness ; and Huss had to appeal to the archbishop, the chief agent in the persecution. " What is this," he cried ' that men stained with innocent blood men guilty of every crime- shall be found walking abroad with impunity, while humble priests, who spend all their efforts to destroy sin ... are cast into dungeons as heretics, and must suffer banishment for preaching the gospel ? " Matters soon reached a crisis. Huss was summoned to Italy to defend his doctrines, and all Bohemia v/as roused by that step. The future martyr was not permitted to go it would have been to sacrifice his life. Meanwhile Queen