Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-31
Seeding Clergyman Is
Sorry for His Actions.
Willing to Make Amends and
Wants to Be Reinstated.
Schism Among French Catholics al North
Broukfisld, Mass, Is Healed.

North Brookfield, Mass, July 30
Inc schism among the Misunderstanding
people OF North Rrookfied has been
healed, 1t is believed for all time A let
Ter written by Rev. John Berger who
started the movement to found an in
dependent church, was read publicly
yesterday by Rev. Humphrey J. Wren,
the pastor. at all the masses celebrated
at ST. Joseph'S Catholic church in
which Father Berger asks to be par
doned Tor starting a parish in North
frookfeld without authority and asks
10 be taken back into the church. The
communication was addressed to Bish-
op Thomas Beaver of Springfield and
was dated Port Even. n. Y.
Il beg to be pardoned," Father Ber-
her wrote, "for the wrong 1 committed
in stating in your diocess a parish
without authority. I beg you to pardon
my transgressinns and | am willing to
make amends Tor my wrong which will
satisfy your offended authority. [ do
beg you to withdraw the censure of the
church. For the past two years 1 have
led a quiet and edifying life and | am
anxious to gain the holy right and priv
ilege of celebrating the sacred mass
|
GIGS to all North Brookfield people and
make known to them my contrition and
| do wish so far as possible to repair
all wrongs and scandals l have caused
in North Brookfcld."
Some of the French Catholics who fol-
lowed Father Berger in his independ-
ent religious movement, were in the
church when the letter was read, but
the majority were not there. Since the
original division they have not returned
to s.. JOseph'S church. and there is
much speculation as to whether they
will follow their erstwhilc leader in his
petition to be reinstated
The North HroOkficld controversy had
its conception as far back as 1895 At
that time st. Joseph's Catholic church
was one of the largest parishes in the
diocese. 1t was composed of number
of Trench-speaking people for whom
there was a French curate and for
whom sermons were said in French.
Then began a movement among them
to form separate parish and a church
Of their own. The movement grew and
finally the French people asked Bishop
Beaver for a separate parish and
church. The petition was refused them
as it was thought there were not
enough French people OF support
church. The refusal inspired a move
ment of secession. In the midst of the
general excitement. Rev. Jean Berger
who claimed to be a regular priest, ap-
peared in North BrOokfield. He immc-
diGtcly arrayed himself on the side of
the French people and began holding
masses in the different houses of the
French people.
In the meantime the regular French
church.
The SeparatiSt movement finally Gull
mrated in the erection of a church ed
face by the French people and about
100 of them handed together under the
religious title of St. AIMS Independent
church. a sensation was caused in the
town when several months later an Off
cial message was received from Rome
accommodating the French people
who attended the new church and then
Father Berger as well. Furthermore,
Catholics were forbidden to enter st.
AIMS. Gradually the attendance at the
French church dwindled. Then the
church edifice burned; by what means
the fire started. no one seemed to know.
The destruction of the place of wor-
ship seemed to extinguish all desire of
the French independents further to as
Sem5le as independent rCliGioniStS.
Many however, never returned to their
cid church.