The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-05
ReIIrionin France.

state OF religion In france, III is necessary to |
90 back some distance-indeed, to the first |
revolution This is pretty nigh a century, |
and yet so closely did events succeed one an-
other in that interval that it seems but yes
terday.
During the Reign of Terror there occurred in |
France religious incidents Of such character |
that never did modern people see the like and
never, to all appearance, will anything equally |
monstrous be seen again, even in that coun-
try There is no question here of the spolia-
ton of the Church. of the act for the organi-
zation of the elergy, and of the prosecutions
of every kind which ensued, and which sup
piled few more pages to the martyrology.
Those were events attended by very painful
results for individual victims, and by very
deplorable violations of principles but, after
all, more than one people have been as vio-
lent and as covetous-have been just as mad,
and have committed similar faults
Nowhere, however, but in France was
there ever seen the spectacle of whole ma
ton, by means of its legal and constitutional
representatives. abjuring Christianity and
attempting to substitute a new religion, set
up by public Decree in place of the ancient
and venerable faith in which the country had
been living for twelve centuries, and in which
all civilized nations still continued to live.
What this new creed was-the worship of
Reason, inaugurated by Robespierre-the is
no need of calling to mind The bare re-
membrance of it makes the heart heave with
indignation and disgust. The worship of
Reason and Fraternity was worthy accom-
paniment of the guillotine, the sounds of
which re-echoeda a hundred times day through
the public streets of Paris.
That fearful state of things, combined with
scandals and murders, scenes of blood and
ribaldry-that hateful comedy which was
played in the gutter amidst the grinning of
idiots-lasted more than ten years, God knows
hat To ha hon naprNlaf
ceased only with the Concordat of 1901; and,
among the services at that time rendered to
French society by the First Consul, this was
by no means one of the least. The ancient
religion, on accommodating itself to new re-
quirements, was re-established, and the resto-
ration of the old affairs was one of the hand
soonest and most reassuring actions of the
epoch at which General Bonaparte victorious
on hundred battle-felds, obeyed the voice of
wisdom, while he reposed on his blood-stained
laurels.
The Concordat is in many points open to
criticism; but under the circumstances which
then existed, it was, beyond gainsaying the
best thing to be done, as is proved by the
fact that this compact between Church and
State has endured for seventy years without
any notable modification. The dogma of in
fallibility may possibly result In the overthrow
or, at the very least, in the unsettlement of
the fabric; but that will be the fault of the
Papacy. The nation does not even demand
its modification; and, without being perfectly
satisfied, continues to abide by the contract,
and does not dream of tearing it up.
The state of religion under the guiding
hand of Napoleon was very complex; but,
generally speaking, the clergy of France were
grateful, and showed to the second Charlie
magne the submission to be expected of
them. Every knee was bowed before the
terrible dictator. The Church formed no ex-
&c
wherein the Emperor was ranked with God,
proves that the clergy were not behindhand
in servility and baseness Even the persecu-
tions of which Pope Plus VII was the pitiable
object did not open the eyes of the French
clergy; or, at any rate, they were as those
who have eyes and see not, neither do they
understand. The personal violence suffered
by the worthy pontif appeared to affict
their spirits, but did not enlighten theil
minds. There was not one startling protest
At the fall of the empire the clergy resumed
quite as matter of course, under the resto
ration of the elder branch, the authority they
had enjoyed before the revolution; and, hav
ing already been very powerful under Louis
XVIII considered themselves for a shor
space absolute masters of affairs under Charles
Y, whom they dominated.
The Jesuits at that period were one of the
greatest causes of anxiety to the Libera
party, and the Martignac ministry, in 1928
covered itself with honor by satisfying jus
though exaggerated suspicious. During tn
whole reign of Louis Philippe, the clerg,
having shared the defeat of legitimacy, mad
common cause with it, and never ceased t.
sulk; they even caused temporary embarrass
ments, and in 1914 M. Theirs did not con
slider it beneath him to bring up law fo
once more putting a check upon Jesui
audacity. Negotiations were opened with Rome
and ii was the unfortunate Rossi who wa
"A entrusted with the conduct of them, whe
: Gregory XVI died and Plus TX assembled tn
] Pontifcal throne, which he occupies still.
Under the Republic, the clergy, who ha
blessed the trees of liberty and hailed tn
downfall of the younger branch as a gret
deliverance, were liberal enough but, as 500
as they could, they ranged themselves on I'll
side of Bonapartist pretension, and, withol
approving of all the conditions of the ne
regime, set about seeking advantage ther
from with a barefaced cupidity which NJ {
Montalembert has more than once felt boun
to stigmatize. During the eighteen yeal
that the Empire has lasted, the Church h
lived on very good terms with it. For IL
second of December there had been acclaim
ton; for the perjurer absolution; for Il
Saviour of Society glorifcation; for the ms
whose Right is from God adulation. III
same course was pursued persistently, an
as the Prince was generous at the expense
the State, every one had scarcely thought b
yond increasing his share in the budget, and t
principles of eternal justice and moral
were clean forgotten. You may count
your fingers the prelates who have put OPP
sition into practice, and you will find b