The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-24
People Resent Order to Close
CODgrGgatiOnist Schools
CROWDS LEAN TO SISTERS
Religious Outbreak Recalls the Scenes
Enacted Twenty Years Ago
When M. Ferry Ordered Ex-
pusion of the Jesuits.

Paris, July 2S.-The agitation provoked
by the order of Prime Minister Combes
to close the Congregationist schools re-
calls to some extent the scenes enacted
when NJ. Ferry, then premier, expelled
the Jesuits in 1880. Demonstrations in fa-
vor of the nuns and the teaching frlars
are taking place in Paris and many places
in the providences where the projects pre-
sented themselves at the schools and or
dered that the institutions be closed. Up
to the present, however, no serious in
cidents has been recorded.
The Nationalists have Joined the Cleri-
Gals in engineering the agitation. and
their leaders are in the forefront of the
effervescence in Paris.
Considerable sympathy has been work
ed up on behalf of the nuns, and their
schools have been made the particular
objects of demonstrations. The elericals
called upon their sympathizers to meet
outside Of the school conducted by the
sisters of st. Vincent de Paul, in the
northeast quarter of Paris which was
closed this afternoon and considerable
crowd gathered there, compelling a large
body of police and mounted municipal
guards to form a Gordon in the streets
leading to the school. A few trihing col
lislons occurred between the clerical and
counter demonstrators. who replied to
the clericals cries of Long live the good
sisters" and '"vive la Liberte," with
Down with the priests" and Long live
the republic"
Deputy Arrested but Released
A Nationalist member of the cham
ber of deputies was arrested while try
ing to force his way through the police
Gordon, but was subsequently released.
Anti-clerical meetings in the Latin
Quarter this evening led to some effer-
vescenee, but no noteworthy disorders.
A few students. followed by a crowd
composed of the rougher element,
marched UP and down the Boulevard st.
Michael till q late hour, chanting anti
clerical refrains and shouting, Down
with the priests and the Pope" but these
fed at the sight of the mounted guards
and patrols.
The greatest excitement in the province
is displayed In the clerical stronghold of
Brittany, where the peasants have gath
cred in front Of the nuns schools in sew
eral places and declare they will not al
low the nuns to be expelled. AT Lander
neau a crowd of farmers and women have
mounted guard before the school of the
White Sisters awaiting the arrival of the
police. The inhabitants of the village of
Ploudaniel, who also are guarding the
sisters school. seized a lay schoolmaster
and thrashed him with nettles.
At La Bresse, In the department of
Vosges. the commissary of police, accom-
panied by gendsrmes, thrice tried to ap-
proach the Consrega gationist school in or
der to effect it's closure, but was obliged
to abandon the attempt because of
the threatening attitude of the popula-
ton.
Brought the Sisters Back.
At St. Amroix, near Mines, the demon
strators detached the horses from the
carriages which were conveying the sis
ters to the railway station and dragged
the vehicles with their occupants, back
to the convent. shouting, Down with
the tyrants." The gendarmes were power
less to prevent the demonstrators from
carrying out their plans and reinforce
ments had to be summoned. Against this
and sir lar Incidents, however, must be
set off the addresses in support of the
government, voted by many municipal
councils.
While considerable sympathy is felt
with the sisters personally, Prime Min
lster Combes undoubtedly feels that he is
supported by the mass OF the country
and is not likely to recede from the
position he has taken. The trouble ia
caused mainly by the ambiguity of the
wording of the law of associations, which
has led branches of the congregations
such as the schools now closed, to sup
pose that their position was legalized
by the request for authorization by head
quarters. This was even me interpreta-
ton of the matter accepted by M. Wal
deek-Rousseau. the former Premier, but
Prime Minister Combes takes a contrary
view.
The Temps takes M. Combes severely
to task. The establishments now closed,
says the Temps, appear to have been
drawn into a trap and the paper points
out that there are not enough lay schools
to receive all the children turned into
streets. and that, primary instruction be-
ing obligatory, the government should
have provided accommodations in the Of
fetal schools. Twenty thousand children
in Paris alone will need schools. The
Temps asks what the government intends
to do, and adds:
"If 1t allows the schools to ask for
authorization and to reopen in the au-
tumn, 1t was not worth while to take
the trouble to close them with such great
noise.'
DESPERATE KILLS OFFICER.