Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29

| monks. The parish priests receive very
| small salaries, often scarcely sufficient to
| support them; they work hard and suffer
| many privations. while the monks are
] rich and made large profits. which they
| refused to contribute in any measure to
| the support of any institutions but their
| own. AS this money came from the pock-
cts Of their parishioners, the parish
| priests argued that it should be devoted,
| of the parishes in which 1t was collected.
| instead of being sent to Rome or invested
| in stocks. bonds and real estate to further
enrich the monastic orders.
The monasteries have been growing so
rich and powerful that the politicians
believed them to be dangerous to the
state, and one of the favorite. topics Of
discussion in the chamber of deputies, in
the newspapers and in political clubs was
whether the vows taken by monks and
nuns were inconsistent with the obliga-
lions of a citizen.
During the revolution of 1883 all religious
orders of seclusion were abolished, all the
monasteries and nunneries were confiscated
by the government. with much other church
property. The Jesuits have been expelled
from France several times. They have been
under the bans for years. but have never
taken any notice of the fact. If they were
expelled one day they would come back an
other, and resume their work.
At the restoration of the empire most or
the monastic orders returned, but have
never been legally recognized. They were
allowed to occupy their former monastertes,
nunneries and other buildings so far as
they existed. although the titles never were
restored and they were still prohibited from
owning property. The government retained
the ownership and allowed the monks and
nuns to use the buildings as their own
without rent The law prohibiting religious
orders to hold property was evaded by
placing the titles to real estate In the
names of individual members, who would
make wills in favor Of other individual
members in case of their death. Billions
of dollars of monastic property is still held
in that way, the titles being vested in in
dividuals, who have for years paid the
taxes. without claiming the exemption
formerly allowed to church property.
Some of the religious orders have enjoyed
enormous dividends from manufacturing
industries. The Carthusian brothers are
said to be the richest monks In the world.
During the last year in which they were
allowed to do business. their profits SUR
passed seven million francs. chiefly from
the sale of the liquor known as chartreuse.
Orders Treated as Business Concerns.
The chamber Of deputies began its at
tack upon these institutions by passing
law placing them upon the same basis as
ordinary business corporations, insurance
companies, railroads, etc, etc, and requlr-
ing them to take out charters. In order
to do business under the law they were re-
ouired to take out licenses, to furnish IN
ventories of their property and TO make
reports Of their earnings and expenditures
to the proper authorities. The government
then proceeded to tax millions OF property
belonging to the church.
All religious schools have been abolished.
All educational institutions conducted by
religious orders have been closed and the
children of France are now compelled 70
enter the public schools or private secular
institutions.
Most of the religious orders refused to
obey the offensive laws. They sold their
property or transferred ii to trustees and
left the country. Several tried to evade the
law by forming private corporations, but
the government smoked them out selzed
and confiscated their property ana appoint
ed receivers to make inventories and dis
pose of the assets to the best advantage.
The Carthusian monks endeaVored 10 re-
main and offered to obey the law. but the
chamber of deputies would not give them
a charter Their property was connScateo
and sold at auction, and they were expelled
from French territory. They crossed the
treuse factory near the city Of Terragone,
from which they are shipping their liquor
as usual.
I am told that $1,000 monks and nuns
have been expelled from France during the
last few years, but there is no way OF as
pertaining the exact number. Many of them
went to the United States, Canada and the
South American republics, but the larger
number went to Spain and Belgium (where
the invasion has become a political lssue),
and to England, Italy and Austria
The papal nuncio and the holy see pro-
tested in vain; the faithful Cathoncs In
France endeavored to overthrow the gov
and put in a conservative ADMIN
Istration friendly to the church, but such
thing is impossible. The liberal majority is
very large, and there are over 7ooooo public
big and little, every one or
whom is expected to vote for the party IN |
nd work earnestly as possible |
for their offices.
The first great fight came over the en-
forcement of the law requiring an lnVen-
.ory Of church property, including the orna-
nents and decorations of the churches and |
other religious institutions. The bishops |
and priests protested. They INSISTED tnat
the government had no right or authority
TO inventory property that did not belong 10 |
L. The government replied that the law
was passed as precaution, for the penent |
and the protection of the churches, IN order |
to avoid complaints and complications as 10
ownership in the futurel OF course the |
priests were powerless. They could not pre- |
vent the invasion of their sanctuarles by |
the assessors, and today list OF the con-
tents of every church anu otheF Ielisious
Institutions in France. with an appralse.
ment Of their value, is filed In the once OF
the secretary of the interior.
The Act of Separation.
And, finally, the law Of separation was
passed 1t withdraws all financial support |
from the government and places each par
sh church upon its own resources. 1t re-
lures the communicates to organize what
are called Associations Cultuelles" and
apply to the government for charters just
rs II they We're business corporations In
Iced what is known as the Law Asso-
cations places the church In each parish |
Upon the same basis as public library asso-
ia tons, clubs, benevolent societies. la bor
lnions and other organizations that are not |
Intended to make profits for their members
II stockholders. In other words the French |
parliament has placed the Catholic church
n the same relationship to the government
hat it enjoys in the United States except |
hat in case congregation refuses to Or
yaniZe itself into an association and assume |
'harge OF the house of worship and other |
the government, after the 18th |
II December next, will take possession and |
appoint trustees or 'liQudators" to dis
pose of the churches, parish schoolhouses |
ectories and other real estate, and their
'aluable contents, according to the inven-
cries that were made last year If the
members of church will not obey the law
md carry out its provisions, they forfeit
heir place of worship and all it contains
At the ministry of education and worship
he officials tell me Chat there is no inten-
ion of enforcing the law with any vigor
when 1t goes into effect next December |
The priests and the people win be given |