The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-27
AN IMPORTANT REFORM
FRENCH PARLIAMENT MAY DIVORCE
CHURCH AND STATE.
Salaries of Catholic Clergy May BE
Cut on. Thus Saving Thirty MIL
lion Francs a Year.
peciaI 10 the Indianapolis journal.

NEW YORK, Oct. ga new law against
the Roman Catholic Church Is to be sub
mitted to the French Parliament. The new
measure proposes to abolish the Ministry
OF Public Worship in order TO save the
eXchequer the annual sum Of thirty million
francs that the state now pays for the
support of the churches in France. The
present arrangement dates back to the
French revolution. when the property of
the church was absorbed by the state and
an agreement between Plus VI and Napo-
leon L placed the church under state con-
troll in return for which it was to be sup
ported by state funds. This agreement is
yet in force. and under 1t the French gov
eminent pays the salaries Of all French
bishops. canons and parish priests, well
as the running expenses of the churches
French Catholics contribute little. individ-
ually, to the support of their churches.
Should the proposed law be passed the
church in France will be practically de-
prived of all means of support, but will
gain one point, in that it will be independ-
ent from state officials. One of the rea-
sons. however. that makes Catholics fear
such action by France Is the effect that II
would be likely to have on Italy, in which
country similar financial conditions prevail
between church and state, and where the
government would be very glad to save
the amounts annually paid to the church
The American Baptist Home Missionary
Society is TO have new headquarters in
New York as one of the results of the Rev.
DR.. George T. Lorimers going to that city
as pastor of the MadisOn-avenue Church.
When the call was extended to Dr. Lori
mer he was told that if he would accept il
money would be Forthcoming for the cree
tion of a building which, while it would
contain the auditorium of the church and
such other accommodations as might be
needed for its activities, would be eSpe-
cially constructed with a view TO its being
a general Baptist headquarters, in which
all the societies located in New York might
be housed. While the plan is similar to
that which led to the erection of fremont
Temple in Boston. from which DIR. Lorimer
has just resigned, in one important feature
it would be differently carried out. The
money for its erection will be entirely
raised and no incubus in the shape Of a
mortgage will be allowed to rest on ii. Mr..
John ID. Rockefeller is said TO be much in
terested in the plan. and Will doubtless con-
tribute toward its realization. will many
other prominent Baptist laymen.
Xxx
The church affiliations Of President
Roosevelt have been much commented
upon since he succeeded to the presidency,
and surprise has been manifested that he
should continue to make his Washington
church home in the little German Reformed
Church on street That his choice is dis
appointing to the attendants at some of the
larger and more fashionable Washington
churches is no secret. Those who know the
character of the President and the tradi-
tons of the Roosevelt family can appreci-
ate his action. For generations the family
has been connected with the Dutch Re-
formed Church and the President has been
n member of the Collegiate Church of that
body in New York for many years. There is
no Dutch Reformed Church in Washing
ton. but the German Reformed Church is
so closely related to IL historically that eX-
cept in q few differences of ritual they are
substantially the same. In going to the
German Reformed Church, therefore, the
President feels that he is attending his own
church. The Dutch Reformed Church is a
body of about 10000 members and has its
main strength in New York where il was
the first church organized in colonial times,
New Jersey, Michigan and the Dutch set
Elements of the Northwest. The German
Reformed Church has a slightly larger
to be found in Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Ohio and the middle West.
Army and navy work of the Young Men S
Christian Association has become so thor
oughly organized that il can almost be said
that wherever the United States govern
ment sends its soldiers and sailors associa-
ton secretaries will either go along or very
soon follow. The department now enjoys
the distinction OF having "A branch so far
north i'm Alaska that with the exception OF
one mission station II is the furthest north
that Christian work is done in North Amer
lea. The branch has lust been established
at Fort Egbert and is the fifth TO be opened
i'm Alaska 1t already numbers among its
members about $50 men. The increase in
the size of the army adds TO the amount
of work that can be done by the depart
ment which Is systematically making its
plans TO have Y NJ c. A. workers in every
post and permanent buildings I'm as many
as possible.