The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-01-19
with persecution.

is uncertain. Some derive 1t from the
German word 'Eidgenossen, meaning
members united by an oath, others from
the French provincial word Hugo
Charles TX l56o74). }. the regency of the
night applied to French Protestants,
because it was only when night had set
in that they held their meetings. During
the minority of Francis II. 1859 60) and
Charles TX Q560 74), the regency Of the
Queen mother, Catharine de Medici. the
Huguenots grew daily in numbers. New
ertheless, the ratio was never even as to
100 Catholics. At the death Of Francis
H., when liberty of conscience was grant
ed them, besides burning and pillaging
churches and monasteries, they tortured
and massacred~ Catholics whenever and
wherever they could. Hey]in, Protest
ant, tells US in his history that in time
of q profound peace, they fell upon and
murdered the whole clergy who COM
posed the procession of Corpus Christi
in the city Of Painters; and later on COM
mitted similar outrages at Montanban,
Radez, Valence end other places.
".rhe historian Alzog, quoting the
French historian Audin, remarks that it
is we'll es tablished fact that Marshal
Montgomery had 300 Catholics butchered
at Orthez. It is also we'll established
fact that from two to three hundred
monks were either murdered or pitched
into the wells, that others we're buried
alive, finally, that as many as fifty cathe
drals and five hundred churches of less
Importance were demolished. In very
truth they so abused the freedom grant
ed them that they resolved to become
the masters of France. They constituted
an independent party in the very heart of
the French nation. They had their own
treasury to support themselves in the
wars against their sovereigns. Admiral
Cohgny furnished 10000 men, and de-
clared that they would be obliged to
take up arms against the King if he re-
fused to aid the Protestants of Flanders
(Walsingham's dispatches quoted by
Diggs). Imagine some sect writing thus
to Congress and carrying it's threat into
execution. How long do you think they
would be tolerated? N t as long as it
takes to read this letter. And then con-
slider these sectaries, proclsiming to fol-
low the sacred Scriptures as their Rule
of Falth--where st. Paul teaches the
very contrary.
II cannot do better than quote the
historian Birkhauser in this entire mat
ter. The Importance Of the case will
excuse the length Of the citation:
"The Cslviuists, i. 9. Huguen OTIS,
formed not more than hundredth part
of the population; yet, not content with
the federation which had been granted
to them, they aimed at the destruction
of the Catholic Church in France, even.
if necessary, by the overthrow of the ex-
listing form Of government. For this
purpose they resorted without scruple to
reasonable intrigues and alliances with
Protestant England and Germany.
They turned traitors to their country.
By express treaty (September 20, 1852
with the Huguenots, Queen Elizabeth
sent them 5000 men and in return was
put in possession of Havre and Dieppe.
Envoys were sent to Germany to levy
Protestant troops, who we're to pay
themselves by pillage and plunder and
to live at the cost of the .Papists'
"'To oppose the reasonable designs
Of the Huguenots the Duke of Guise
organized league Of the Catholics.
Everything betokened war. An acci-
dental affray, which Protestant writer's
term the massacre of Vassy,' but in
which the Calvinists were the aggress-
ors, was the signal for the actual out
break of hostilities. France was soon
divided into two hostile camps that at
tackled each other with bitter animosity
and religious fan atheism. Long and ter
rible was the contest between the tur-
bulent Protestant minority and the de-
termined Catholic majority, who fought
for their religion and their country.
The civil war, which began in 1862, last
ed, with but brief intervals, until 1923, q |
period Of about seventy years; and long
afterwards the fire which continued to
shoulder beneath the ashes, burst at
times into flames Acting upon the re-
solutions Of the Calvinist synod Of
Nismes Q562l the Huguenots attempted
to root out what they were pleased to
call idolatry.' Whereveff it was possible,
they put an end to Catholic worship, or
violently interrupted It; they forclbly
compelled Catholics to listen to the
sermons Of their preachers and assist at
Protestant services. They pillaaed|
Catholic churches and monasteries and
laid whole provinces waste. They burnt
down hn ndreds of towns and villages,
Conttn.,ed o. Eighth Page. .sls