West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-08-09

he may not forget that language "If she
wants lesson in French let her come aud
take one in the courts, " he adds.
III
Well, in the Grand Review another Drey-
fusite you know of in America, Yves Guyot.
suggests rather than prophesies that France
will some day become Protestant Does
that surprise you Yet /, is not so surpris-
ing II you think of il. The qualities of the
French mind and character are eminently
adapted for Protestanism-shrewd, logical,
not easily deceived once the first glsmor of
some precious dogma has worn off such are
the French. But FIRST let me say that when
/ speak of France do not mean Paris nor
when speak of Paris do think of France.
They are two countries, almos; two national.
tiles, aud though, politically and arts,cally,
Paris rules France, IL is only specifically
and she gives France neither religion nor
morality. That is done by Rome, for the
priests educate the intellectual and moral
forces of the nation aud the priests take their
instructions from Rome. But for Napoleon
the Frst--a priestdespiser if ever there was
one-Francc might easily have become Pro
testant at the Revolution; in fact Napoleon
was widely reviled for supporting the foreign
influence of the Pope and for signing the
Concordat with him in 1901. The Concor.
dat IS the base of the present French relig.
ious system Bu, Napoleon uId not do
without the Pope, or rather his ambition
made him suppose he could make the Pope
his yassal, and through the Pope foreign
countries. lie brought the Pope Of his day
to Paris, you remember, for his coronation
and when the Pope offered to place the
crown on his head, he very cleyerly seized il,
placed il on his head himself, and then ON
that of his Empress Now the result of the
Concordat is that the foreign Catholic system
has grown into the French mind and habits
and the government cannot get rid of it ifit
would The government, il is true, noni-
mates the 90 French bishops, bu, the Pope
has an absolute veto, and as the 5000 cures
are irremovable, and the 1000 Wears entire.
ly in the hands Of the bishops, the govern.
ment cannot dispossess them am far from
saying or thinking there is disposition on
large scale 10 France to turn to Protestant.
ism. County life in France is ihc abomina.
lion Of desolalion, and the Catholic church
with its glitefing ceremonial, its fetcs, and
its clever priesthood are almost the sole
means of Intellectual distraction and amu,e-
ment for the people Literature is not spread
and read through France as in the United
States. only say there Is Protestant
movement of considerable force and that
vast numbers Of French people de5pse The
French clergy and their ways. May, Ger
tainiy, detest The confessional. Whe,acr
anything will happen to arenzthel tie
movement speak of. or TO hopelc isly dis.
credit the Catholic Church in France. no o e
can say. One thing seems Obvious Unl.gl
there shall be some great mors change,
some species of purgatiou France must con-
linue 10 sink IN the icac Of nations lks
Italy, Spain, Belgium, and other Catholic
or largely Catholic nations.
III
was talking the other day to Arch Bishop
Ireland Of St. Psnl about the use of English
lin the Catholic Church. lie thinks iha
church will one day use thing but English /
and reminded me chat 6e Maisire So prophe.
sled hundred years ago. n ever such a
thing does happen, II the ! attn mass al d |
the gay ritual that bccomrs necessary owing /
10 fhs mass's failure tO nca Size worship- /
psr's heart, is ever anglcissl, q vi1 D.. at /
any rate FIRST step towards reform.
i IT
To tufn 10 another subject. ycl one not |
wholly iuclcycnt. foreign languages, Mr. /
Chsrlemagne Tower, the United states Am I
bassador TO Russia, has written letter 90 the /
New York Times Paris Exposition edition /
emphasizing the importance 60 Americans Of /
learning foreign languages. Me- Tower as
sers thai not only in diplomacy but in trade /
is a sound knowledge Of foreign languages I
necessary, and all the more now that Amer. /
lea IS entering upon new and far of fields Of /