The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-11
CATHOLIC
WOMAN'S
CLUB MEET
Interesting Address byFr. Dow.
Iin { on "Ths Religious Quss-
tion In France. Z"

The members OF the Catholic womsns
club assembled Al La Sale hall on Broad
way last evening TO hear the Rev. Father
Austin Dowlipg speak on The Religious
Question I'm France"
Prior 10 Father Dowlings address,
brief business session was held, and IL
was resolved 90 discuss at the next meet
ing the matter OF allying the club with the
international Catholic Truth society.
Father DowBngs address commanded
marked attention. in the course OF which
he said in part:
Since July 1. 1871. France has been en-
gagged IN "A war with tho Catholic church.
The present government has been the
longest In existence I'm the 2S years OF
the republic. IL is a combination OF Rad
icals and Socialists.
CoMMUNisTIC PRINCIPLES.
ut lands the principles OF the commune
and celebrates the anniversary or the
September msssacres. IL Is proceeding
methodically with It's work. First, ~ re-
moved the religious orders. Ii did 40
because they were preachers and teach
ers. Their preaching was sedtion. their
teaching treason. In It's eyes; the charity
superhuous In commonwealth which ~
about 10 experience the benefits OF coll
lectivism or az applied socialism. Their
alleged wealth OF a million OF frans was
n bait 90 the taxpayers. although pre-
viously they had paid more than double
mites have been practically bsnished or
destroyed. and their goods confiscated.
not as In 1889. when the goods OF the
clergy were given up with the promise OF
reasonable annuitIes. but now without IN
yestigation and without compensation "
any kind.
This has not been done without pro-
test ar without hardship. The courts
have been Appeared 20 IN vain; previous
I hut n
no purpose The government cannot and
will not authorize men and women 10
! give up the right OF man. although.
singular 10 relate. IL does authorize some
communities, such as the Christian
Brothers and the Little Sisters OF the
Poor. who relinguIsh the rights or man,
But that lie probably only for season.
FANATICS INVADE CHURCHES.
Since April France has been the
theatre or rioting and the most violent
demonstrations Churches have been In
vaded by such fanatics as the ex-Abbe
! Charbonnel with the result that the
parish priest instead or the disturbers
has been fined and his government su-
/ pend suspended. The most loathsomc
| obscenities and blasphemies have been
! SUNG and uttered IN the presence OF the
members OF the government and as n
homage to oSthem. The divisions between
| deeper
! But the law OF associations Is not the
| end OF the matter Now the education
law must be handled France has sys-
| tenn OF national education eliminating
I I'm the university--a system designed to
| make children militant unbelievers. II
! is not as here that there Is an Austen
tion OF the teaching OF religion In the
| schools. but rather root and branch II is
| irreligious. To so to church Is TO be a
! Clerical and 20 be Clerical is 70 he
untitled for teaching in the schools of
| France. high or low. Naturally many
/ parents have baked at exposing their
] children 10 this hideous training. The
! Cathode promary schools OF France had
between 100000 and 100000 children.
| The colleges and high schools had some
| 10000 pupils: that II about as many as
| attended the lycees. The religious con-
| Quoted these schools in virtue OF the
| Falloux law OF 1850. That has now been
| repealed. Even the members OF author
ized communities have been declared In
| capable OF teaching. Soon II Will be an
nounced that secular priests may not be
teachers because OF their vow OF cell
bacy. that being the chief disability OF
| the religious"