New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-11
NANTES AND THE NEW FRENCH LAW

The law of separation of church from state just
voted by the French Senate has not proved salts
factory to Protestant and Jewish communities,
whose clerical independence is somewhat curtailed
by it. as is that of the Roman Catholic clergy.
Some protests from Jewish and Protestant leaders,
published in France as the principle feat
ures of the separation bill were known have
been reproduced and commented upon. Here is the
latest protest issued in the Journal des Dsbats in
The name of Protestant communities The Ministers,
Senator, Deputies other advocates of the sepa-
ration bill said: This bill be attacked but
by those who want to put the state in the service
Of the church. The clauses relative to persons and
edlfces guarantee the exercise of worship with the
wisest and most generous liberalism The Parlia-
ment is about to give France an instrument OF
liberty"
Here is the contrary opinion Just published in
the Journal des Debats," the Oldest and most in
huential Liberal Conservative newspaper in Paris
Such ef1rmations are contrary to reality. To
demonstrate the evident made by those who
affect such OPTIMISM it is sufficient to compare the
text voted by the chamber with the principal pro-
visions of the Edct of Nantes. granted to the
Professionals by Henry TX in 1888. and revoked by
Louis XIV in 1850
The chamber bill prohibits worshippIng associa-
tons from receiving donao-s and legaces the right
OF accepting which was explicitly conferred
sistories by Article Kill OF the Particulars Of the
Edict Of Nantes Protestant churches lawfully ad-
ministered important legacies up to 1855. In con-
formity with the old discipline OF the Reformed, the
Edict granted to churches. the power to take
charge of the poor and to freely administer the
capital whose revenue was employed in aims The
Chamber bill completely secularizes charity; it for
bids worshipping associations from helping the
miserable. forgetting that 1t is Christianity which
has substitute the love OF another for the
selfshness of the pagans.
mo provision of the Edict of Nantes limited the
patriotism OF the consistories; the right of aug
menting their funds was not touched in any way:
they even could acquire real estate bringing
amount the reserve fund of worshipping associa-
tons, since 1t does not permit them to possess a
capital producing revenue sufficiently large to
insure in a permanent, proper manner the salary
of the church ministers.
The management of She properties of the con-
slStories was aOSoluteIy rree; no article In the
edlct submitted their accounts to the control of
the states agents. The present bill. on the con-
trary, gives to inspectors and other officials the
power according to their pleasure to demand ex-
animation Of the books and ledgers Of worshipptnS
associations
"As it is seen, from the standpoint of acquisition
OF values OF the property and management of eccle
sastical patrmony, the bill refuses to wor
shipping associations what Henry " granted to the
Protestants 1t takes the country three centuries
back, and places all the Christian churches under
regime less liberal than that which was accorded
in the sixteenth century to churches founded by the
Reformation
Conformity with this protest general assembly of
the Reformed churches was held at Montpelier on
ordered the division of the Reformed Church Of
France into several churches. each having It's dis
ton OF the French Reformation. ana VIII
paralyze the action OF Professionalism in our coun-
toy The General Assembly voted unanimously
that national synod SHAH meet soon, In order 70
practically the rights of the Protestant people to
determine the conditions in which they intend TO
affairs under the regime Of the separation Of
church from state"