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 "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 " (p. 420). He
regards the solution of the problems of
existence as " a priori impossible," and
thinks that " one grain of common sense is
of more value than a bushel of theories "
(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
