The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-25
English PassiOnists, I'm Whose Behalf
Ambassadors Porter Interceded,
Among Those Expelled.
VAIN PLEA OF A CATHOLIC
WHO SAID THE ORDERS WERE
SPREADERS OF CIVILIZATION,
And that Their Missions All Over the
World Would BE Supplanted by
Those of Other Nations.

PARIS, March 24-The Chamber Of Depu-
ties, by vote of 3O4 to 246. tonight rejected
all the applications for authorization made
by the religious preaching orders. The en-
tire session to-day was devoted to a discus
sion of the governments bill which opposes
the application of the preaching orders for
authorization, and the Chamber, by its vote
refusing to pass the discussion of the
clauses of the bill, thereby declined to
consider the applications separately for au-
thorization to remain in France. but re-
jected them all by single vote. Among
these orders who are thus expelled from
France is the English Passionist Order.
which conducted a church in the Avenue
Hoche for English and American Catholics.
and in behalf of which British Ambassador
Monson and United States Ambassador
Porter recently interested themselves.
M. Plichon (member of the Catholic party
which rallied to the republic) opened the
debate in favor of the preaching orders,
arguing that these orders, especially the
Capucins. had been the pioneers of civiliza-
ton in all parts of the world and had con-
tributed towards spreading French infiu-
ence throughout the East where they had
made France beloved. had created French
schools and had aided in the development
of French interests. If they are suppressed.
the speaker said, they will be replaced by
foreigners. In Japan the Marianists are
the official professors at the university and
thus aid in developing French influence in
that country. The role of the French re-
ligious orders in the East is so important
that French Ambassador COnstans consid-
cred 1T his duty to distribute the prizes at
the college OF the French congregations in
Constantinople. The Jesuit medical school
at Beirut is a prosperous institution, wide
iy extending French influence in Turkey.
At the time of the Armenian massacres,
continued NJ. Plichon, the Franciscan SUI
perior was killed and the missionaries be-
haved admirably and saved numerous
Christians. Does the majority" asked the
speaker, wish to destroy our missions in
the East, which Germany ardently covets
If our Jesuit missionaries in Madagascar
and Tunis disappear they will be replaced
by Englishmen. Our missions teach the
natives to love France TO such point that
it may be said that every man in the East
has two countries-first his own and then
France.
M. Rabier, the reporter of the bill, ex-
planned the considerations which decided
the refusal of authorizations to the preach
ing orders. The latters only aim, declared
M. Rabier, was to accomplish a political
move and make the lay society subservient
to their designs and they must not be al
lowed TO continue the fatal work
After Able Gayraud Catholic Repub-
lican) had further argued the cause of the
orders, Premier Combes briefly summed up
the government case. he argued tndI
there was no politics in modern society for
the religious congregations. The country
had regular clergy to whom the con-
cordant reserved the work of preaching and
the exercise of public worship. The ten
dency of the religious orders was to sub
stitute themselves for the regular clergy.
1t was not peace but war that the preach
ing monk brought in the folds of his gown.
The monks had conducted campaign
against the conquests of the republic and
against all Republican progress. Their aim
seemed to be to stimulate hatred of Re-
publican laws and to make appeals for re-
dictionary revolts.
1--WE have a right" concluded the pre-
mier, Ito refuse legal existence to these
| congregations. who only attack our in
| situations. The hour is decisive one. If
| you do not follow the government in the
work We have undertaken you will be turn
| ing hack twenty years, and that would be
| a mistake, which am convinced the Re
| publicans in this chamber will not COM
nit
| M. Combes was much applauded through
| out his speech and received an ovation from
| him supporters as he left the tribune.
| The vote on the bill was then taken.