The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-26
THE HUGuENors OF FRANCE.
Rev. jean Kantz D'OrioI at the Inde-
pendent Church.

Huguenot minister. addressed large con-
gregation at the independent Presbyterian
Church yesterday morning upon the
Protestant revival in France and the work
which is now being done by the Hugue-
not church In evangelizing the masses of
that country. As stated in yesterdays
Morning News Rev Mr.. D'oriors mission
in this country is to arouse interest in
this evangelical work and to secure aid
and cooperation.
Having resided for some time in Eng
land and having spent altogether about
twelve months in this country Mr.. Dc riol
speaks the English language fuenty. His
text was Come over into Macedonia and
help US" and upon this he based an able
presentation of the subject, together with
much interesting information as to the re-
ligious conditions in France.
The Protestant revival in France, Mr.
D'Oriol stated, has been one of the mark
ed events of the last decade. Although
the Catholic Church is very strong in
France, very large proportion of the
people are arrayed against il. Inhdelity
ana atheism are rife among the upper
classes, but among the masses of the peo-
pie generally who have fallen away from
the Catholic Church there is a desire for
religious instruction, and they naturally
turn to the Huguenot Church as one of
the historic institutions of France. The
demands upon the Huguenot Church or
CARNATIONS for assistance of this kind
have become SO great that they are una
bic to supply the demand, and many APP
peals have had to go unanswered. A
great work has been done, however, and
many new churches have been constitut-
ed, not single member of which was
born in the Huguenot faith.
While we have to meet the opposition
of the Catholic Church, of course" said
Mr.. D'Oriol, there is no such bitterness
as would result from an attempt in this
country by Protestants to wean any large
section of Catholics from their faith The
reason for this is that the material avail
able Is SO large that we do not often
come into direct conflict with the Cath
olic Church in fact we do not make a
policy of proselyting, and we deprecate
abuse OF the church and priests to which
many of those who have fallen away
away from that faith are Inclined we find
it easier, in fact, to deal with those who
have simply been neglected by the Cath
Ole Church, rather than with those who
are in opsn and bitter antagonism to it,
IN France, said Mr.. DOriol, "a large
proportion of the population is arrayed
against religion of any kind. The last CEN
sus showed S0C0.0C0 people in France of
no religious belief. This position is chiefly
to the Catholic Church. These people have
for the most part have never known any
church but the Roman Catholic, and to
them Catholic and Christian are syno-
nymous terms. Being imbued with this
view, they are disposed to antagonize re-
ligion in any form. Our work has been
largely successful among the peasant or
farming class and among the miners and
Vror inc -.,lT
France, We have, however, a great many
influential men among our membership.
In fact, 1t is frequently commented upon
that the number of Protestants in high
official positions and in the educational
institutions of the country is out of all
proportion to our numbers"
The church was founded by Calvin in
the early part of the, sixteenth century,
and he'd its first synod in 1857. 1t has sur
vived since through centuries of persecu-
ton. After the French revolution we
were granted the same rights as the ad-
herents of other churches, but the fire.
quent governmental changes in France
were greatly to our disadvantage Since
the establishment of the present Republic
we have been given every privilege extend
ed to other churches, and have no Difficult
ties in obtaining our rights in the courts
There are now over 100000 PROTESTANT in
France, the great ma jorily of them mem
btiS Vi NiG IluSuGuOl AnufCN. Inc l4Q-
therans have membership of about 80.
Co., and there are a few Baptist and Meth
odiSt churches. The church is Presbyte-
rian in its faith and form of government.
differing but little in these respects from
Presbyterians of other countries. Under
the republic the church has taken On new
strength, and during the last ten years
there has been a remarka BILE movement
toward Professionalism. The demands upon
us have become so great that we feel
justified in seeking outside assistance.
We are not a wealthy people, and this
work of church extension is only one of
several carried on by u.s. We have quite
large foreign mission work in the
French colonies, and one which prov
very expensive last year because of the
necessity of reorganiZing the church in
Madagascar where the Jesuits had taken
advantage OF the disturbed condition of
affairs politically to greatly interfere with
our work"
Mr.. D'Oriol expects to remain in the city
several days and will arrange for a meet
ing of all those disposed to take an inter-
est in the work which he represents. THE
work is one" he said, (which should in
terest not alone all descendants of the
Huguenots and all Presbyt erans, but all
members of evangelical churches gener-
ally. l hope that Savannah will at least
undertake the support Of enc of our new
churches. Our ministers receive small
salaries and the sum desired will not be a
large one"
II will be of interest to many people in
Savannah to know that Mr.. D'Criol is a
nephew of M. Scheurer-Kestner, the In. -
vice president of the French Senate, who
was chiefly Instrumental in briug-
ing about a retrial of the
celebrated Dreyfus case. my I'M
Gle was a Protestant" said Mr.. DOriol,
'and il was at the instance Of Protestant
friends that he was led 10 investigate the
Dreyfus matter and to take the initiative
in bringing about q new trial. He knew
the cost, the opprobrium and the abuse
which would be heaped upon him, but he
had the moral courage to undertake the
work. In this he was aided by other Lead
ing Protestants. The cost was MOI less
than he anticipated. He was assailed on
every side ana lost his position as vice
president OF the Senate He undoubtedly
died of broken heart"
Besides his religious work Mr.. d Oriol
Is well versed in French literature and has
delivered number of lectures upon this