orhood,
with whom they were on the most intimate terms.

In the course of time Jose found the companionship of Tito increasingly
unendurable, and so he welcomed the formation of another friendship
among his mates, even though it was with a lad much older than himself,
Bernardo Damiano, a candidate for ordination, and one thoroughly
indoctrinated in the faith of Holy Church. With open and receptive
heart our young Levite eagerly availed himself of his new friend's
voluntary discourses on the mooted topics about which his own thought
incessantly revolved.

"Fear not, Jose, to accept all that is taught you here," said Bernardo
in kindly admonition; "for if this be not the very doctrine of the
Christ himself, where else will you find it? Among the Protesters?
Nay, they have, it is true, hundreds of churches; and they call
themselves Christians. But their religion is as diverse as their
churches are numerous, and it is not of God or Jesus Christ. They have
impiously borrowed from us. Their emasculated creeds are only
assumptions of human belief. They recognize no law of consistency, and
so they enjoy unbridled license. They believe what they please, and
each interprets Holy Writ to suit his own fantastical whims."

"But, the Popes--" began Jose, returning again to his troublesome
topic.

"Yes, and what of them?" replied his friend calmly. "Can you not see
beyond the human man to the Holy Office? The Holy Father is the
successor of the great Apostle Peter, whom our blessed Saviour
appointed his Vicar on earth, and constituted the supreme teacher and
judge in matters of morals. Remember, _Jesus Christ founded the
Catholic religion_! He established the Church, which he commanded all
men to support and obey. That Church is still, and always will be, the
infallible teacher of truth, for Jesus declared that it should never
fall. Let not Satan lead you to the Protesters, Jose, for their creeds
are but snares and pitfalls."

"I know nothing of Protestant creeds, nor want to," answered Jose. "If
Jesus Christ established the Catholic religion, then I want to accept
it, and shall conclude that my doubts and questionings are but the
whisperings of Satan. But--"

"But what, my friend? The Popes again?" Bernardo laughed, and put his
arm affectionately about the younger lad. "The Pope, Jose, is, always
has been, and always will be, supreme, crowned with the triple crown
as king of earth, and heaven, and hell. We mortals have not ma