The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-11
HE DEEIES
THE BISHOP.
Pastor Ordered to Desist From
Priestly Authority.
BUTSTILLH 0LDSMASSES
Canonical Warning Unheeded By Rev
James Rerger-Letter Ignored and
French Secession Leaders Still
Confident Star Chamber At.
tempt at Mass Frustrated.

North Broolfeld, Sept 10-The
abused dignity of the church of Rome
has asserted itself. A week ago The
Spy announced what would happen if
the French dissenters of ST. Joseph's
parish pursued the course they had
mapped out and today official con-
Gemnation was given the action of Rev.
Jean Berger, with the French seces-
sionists of North Brookfield.
The news was, therefore, not entirely
a surprise, and now to those who pro
fess to believe in the Roman Catholic
religion, it is a certainty that the
French people, who are the followers
of Rev. Jean Berger, have set up
sect OF their own, and are for the pres
ent outside the church of Rome. Just
how severe a penalty it will be neces-
sary to inflict before the headstrong
leaders will admit the error of their
way, is not known, but certain it is that
the Catholic church will no longer toll
crate the abuses that are being prac-
uced against it in North Brookfield.
Rt Rev. Thomas d. Beaver, head
Of the Catholic church in the diocese
of Springfield, and the representative
SIdSDGQ
crisis and taken decisive action He
has warned priest Berger to desist be-
lore the molly anger Of the church smites
nm, and gives him the canonical warn
ms that unless he does so, proceedings
VIII be at once begun against him
Inc official documents came to town
last night, and care was taken to see
that the Rev. Jean Berger received the
letter sent him from the bishop. Copies
OF the letter We're sent to Rev. Hum
phrey j. Wrenn, pastor of St Joseoh's
church, and they We're read at each of
the three masses today in both the
English ana French languages. The
documents bear the episcopal seal
which, with the following, makes All
exact copy of the letter.
Thomas Daniel Michael salutis
siehifier Miseratione divinia ct
sanctae sedis apostolieae gratia
eplscopus Campifontis.
st. Michaels Cathedral,
Springfield, Mass
BY these letters attention is drawn
to the canonical irregularity of your
position in presuming to exercise,
without episcopal appreciation, the
prlestly functions within the do
cese' of Springfield
We herein convey to you in all
Charity the canonical warning that
unless you Immediately desist from
the exercise of priestly functions
WITHIN the limits of the diocese of
Springfield, we shall proceed
against you as contumacious usur-
per of priestly jurisdiction
Given at our episcopal residence.
this ninth day of September, 1899.
With the counter signature of our
secretary.
Thos. D. Beaver.
Bp. of Sp'g'd.
2. S. Fitzgerald,
sec.
To Rev Jean Berger.
Last night a messenger was sent to
priest Berger with a copy of this letter,
so that he. would have no excuse for
saying he had not received it. This pre-
caution was taken because priest Ber-
ger is known to be somewhat pec1lliar
on the subject of letters. having said
he wrote to Bishop Beaver letter.
which the bishop has never received.
A week ago today priest Berger told
me spy reporter that he wrote to
BISHOP Beaver from his home near
New York city, and now it transpires
that the bishop did not receive anv such
letter, and, knowing this, the French
people cling to him
Moreover, DR.. L. e. Dionne saws that
in an interview with priest Berger he
asked him from whom he had authority
~ NciliS 1iSlSs anu Was answered, from
my bishop. Then being asked who
was his bishop, he said it was the
bishop of his origin, otherwise the bish-
op who ordained him. and that when
he was reminded that this bishop had
been dead for about a dozen years and
could not possibly have had any ink
ling of the present trouble here, priest
Berger was dumbfounded, and could
but complain that DIR. Dionne was an
other Labori
Before reading the letter from the
bishop, Father Wrenn referred to the
unwarrantable conduct of this strang-
er, saying: This man is a priest. He
is just as much priest as l am, but [
blush to think that he is a priest. /
have nothing against him personally.
but in his last days may God have mer-
cy on him for the dastardly work he is
now doing in deluding good people and
taking souls from God. He was or
dained priest with the holy JUNCTION
on his forehead, and he knows too well
what he is doing.
But priest as he is, he has no right
in this parish or diocese without epis-
copal authority, and were he even a
bishop he could not exercise his func-
tons in,this diocese without permission.
He is a priest; but remember that LII
offer. the fairest of angels, became the
blacklist of devils Remember. too. the
chosen IL, apostles Of God There were
but II, and ! of the u was a traitor