The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-01-17
PROGRESS OF FRENCH PROTES.
TIA N,TTSM

|
TANTISM.
| A few facts on this subject just now
offer very special interest On Novem-
! Der last was consecrated at Dion q
handsome Protestant church or temple,
/ the first strange to say, possessed by
the capital of Burgundy. The Edict of
| Nantes did not authorize Protestant
churches in provincial capitals, or
"chefs-lieux de baillage," Hence the
Huguenots of Dion and it's neighbour
hood were compelled to attend service
at Is-sur-Tille, little town fifteen
miles off. In 1856 came the Revocation,
that political crime which, in the words
of the first French historian living,
literally decapitated France, derpiving
the country of its moral, intellectual and
commercial elite" All places of wor-
ship dedicated to the Reformed religion
were RACED to the ground, and whole
villages (see I'm Village Bourguignon)
sous Pancien Regime par A. Hugqe-
nin) We're terrorized into abjurgation.
For one hundred and fifty years the en-
emies Of religious tolerance might in
deed fatter themselves that they had
uprooted Noncomformity throughout
the Cote dor. sixty years ago, how
ever, there settled at Dion q group of
French Protestants from Alsace, chief
ly artisans The tiny nucleus increased
amazingly, magistrates, military men,
professors and others swelling the
ranks; in 1899 both state and municipal
ity came forward. Dijon was named
'chef-lieu dun consistoire," and an ele-
CANT little chapel Of the Hotel de Vile,
rformerly the ducal palace, was as
signed to Protestant worship.
But mark, sir, the change wrought
within the space assigned to two gene
rations. On November last when for
the first time in Diionnais history the
bell of Prots SAINT church mingled
with the sound Of others, between seven
and eight hundred responded to the
summons, and simple as Is the ceremo-
ny Of conservation in the Reformed
church. mere laying Of the Bible on
the pulpit and taking possession in the
name of that church, ecclesiastical
pemp could add nothing to it's impress
siveness.
The church is mainly due to the lega-
cy of an Alsatian lady, but gifts have
been added, q retired army captain pre-
senting the bell. A presbytery and
schools are in course of erection. The
town council of Dion, with the munifi-
cence and impartiality we are accus-
toned to expect from French public
bodies, has made free gift of the site.
add for the benefit of English tour
lists that the new temple is only
stones throw from the Hotel de la
Cloche, and that they will be cordially
welcomed within its precincts.
But this conservation is by no means
an isolated fact, no mere straw showing
which way the wind blows. Just two
days before similar ceremony on a
smaller scale had taken place at Bourg-
en-Bresse, the little town so fantastical-
ly transformed by Matthew Arnold int,
a valley. Here the new church oc2u-
pied the site of the old, the first temple
erected in that neighborhood and burnt
to the ground in 1919 And still they
come, these welcome signs of a great
Protestant revival throughout the
length and breadth of France. On No
vember % was consecrated new
church at La Bergerie (Charente Infe-
rieure), and a few days later the tenn
pie of Batsnolles, Paris. If we glance
at the Protestant agenda or calendar Of
last year we find that no less than
Twelve new places or worship were in |
augurated between January and De- |
cember of 1897 schools, of course. being
to each spiritual center New
accredited organs must also be taken
into account, one and all ever displaying !
the highest moral tone. Thus we find |
the modest little Protestant (September
4, 1890 raising it's voice against the |
horrible increase of bull-fighting in |
France, an anus ment which,
although strictly illegal, is not only |
winked at, but patronized by represent
Eatives Of the government. Adherents !
to the cause Of temperance are stoutly
rallied by Protestant organs, and, on
This head no less an authority than M.
Fouilee writes: 1T is greatly to be re-
GREETED that the clergy (French Roman