A story for every day...
Religious scholars.
Most of the great scientists were believers.
Among the famous naturalists who illustrated the XIXth century, a considerable number had the faith: we will quote for France only Cuvier, Arago, Cauchy, Ampère, Pasteur, de Lapparent. It is therefore false that science and faith are at odds, for if this were so, all these scientists would have become unbelievers. One can rather say the opposite according to the proverb: Little science leads away from God, true science brings back to it.
Joseph II and the bailiff.
Joseph II (d. in 1790) often mixed incognito with the people in order to become aware of their situation and their needs. During a famine, when the price of wheat had risen enormously, he sent considerable supplies to Bohemia to be distributed to the poor. At the same time, he personally went to the country to check on the employees in charge of the distribution. He arrived in a small town near Prague: in front of the town hall there was a long row of carts loaded with grain. When he mingled with the people who were standing near the wagons, he learned that the convoy had been in town for a long time, that for hours the drivers had been waiting in vain for the unloading and the people for the distribution, but that the bailiff did not even pretend to come. The emperor presented himself in his disguise in the house of the bailiff, and remonstrated with him, because he was letting these poor people wait without reason. The bailiff replied that he had no orders to receive from a stranger and that he knew what he had to do. The emperor then opened his houppelande and showed his uniform, saying to this official who had become pale with confusion: “I am the emperor, I dismiss you from your office, you no longer have to deal with the distribution of grain.”
– If this bailiff had recognized the emperor, would he have dared to treat him with such hauteur? Certainly not. In the same way, if men knew God, they would not offend Him by sinning grievously – the knowledge of God is the foundation of an honest life.
