Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-11
The Bond of One Thousand Years Standing Is Severed at
 Present
SOME TOUC CHING SCENES
ln Many oi the Churches When the Faithful Went 10 Mass This
 Morning.--Men Were
 NOliceably Absent.

Paris, Dec 11.-This is a historic
 day for France. The struggle whicf
 began in 1880 with the banishment
 of the Jesuits ended to-day with the
 legal rupture of the bond which fol
 practically a thousand uninterrupted
 years had united church and state
 By refusing to make the required
 declaration under the public meeting
 law of 1881, public Catholic worship
 except by schismatic organizations
 tomorrow becomes illegal.
 The scenes in some of the churches
 were extremely touching. Not in
 years had there been such an at
 tendance at mass. The number of
 women was especially conspicuous,
 but was noteworthy as indicating the
 religious indifference of the male
 population. Although seven-eighths
 of the inhabitants of this city are
 nominally Catholics. in no parts of
 the city were the churches crowded. Even at Notre Dame cathedral, where solemn high mass was celebrated, the edifice was only half filled.
 The officiating clergy read the reg
 ular offices for the week as usual. without referring to their illegal status tomorrow. Nevertheless, the depression of the Catholics was mani- fest. Many women emerged from the cathedral with their eyes stream ing with tears.
 But, on the eve of the struggle. 1t Is becoming apparent that both the government officials and higher ec- clesiastics are resisting the advice of the incorporate. Minister of Public Worship Briand announces that the government "cannot be driven into the trap of closing the. churches" and Cardinal Richard, the archbishop of Paris. has strongly censured the placarding of appeals to the clericals to make violent resistance to the off, cers of the law. No violence" he says, but passive resistance to the unjust law. after exhausting all pro- tests at every step"
 This is the disposition of the high CT ecclesiastics, but their followers evidently are preparing to assume the role of martyrs. abandon the church. es and organize private worship.
 Cardinal Richard and many of the bishops have begun to remove their private effects from the episcopal mansions and the clergy are prepar- ing to leave their rectories and move into hired lodgings. The parish priests have received many offers of places in which to hold religious ser vices, but there is no indication that they intended to take advantage of the sole remaining chance to retain their churches, namely. by making the declarations called for by the law.
 The government is calm. although the ministers realize that additional legislative power will be necessary if serious trouble occurs. Receivers have been appointed to assume charge of the sequestered property and three policemen will be stationed tomorrow at the doors of all the churches to report violations of the law. But, as such violations can only be tried in the police courts. and as the penalties are only 15 francs fine and fifteen days Imprisonment. with the right of appeal, sterner measures are necessary and the government will probably accept the bill intro duced in the chamber of deputies yes terday by M. Meunier. republican. providing that all buildings occupied by ecclesiastics shall definitely escheat to the state. the departments and the communes upon the enactment of the law providing for the separation of church and state and at once make arrapgements that the sequestered property shall not be used. like the hospitals, for special purposes or pub lie charities. to suppress the pensions of the clergy who do not conform with the laws of 1905 and 1881 and 10 summon all the priests of military age to the colors. to serve their time fin the army with other Frenchmen liable to military duty.
 The tone of the republican press indicates that if the pope imagines that an uncompromising attitude will compel the French government to |open negotiations with the vatican he has woefully mistaken the temper |of the people. which favors a more hostile rather than a more concflia- |tory attitude. The Republique Fran lease says: "The time has passed when a pope |eould successfully threaten to release French subjects from their allegiance. Defiance of the law will only expose |the priests to. being regarded as the |subjects of a foreign power. by which | they would forfeit their rights as |Frenchmen-"
 After a meeting of the cabinet min |Isiers to-day 1t vas announced that l lon December 14 Premier Ciemenceau |viiI ask parliament to suppress the i |psnsions of the clergy. to liquidate , |ths public property of Catholics and |to distribute the presbyteries. sem |Inarjes, and co on
 It is also positively stated that the I |ouvsrnmsnt has decided to expel I |fron France Mgr Nontagnini. secre- | |tnfy of the papal nuneiafare ct Rar1s. |vho has fvpronentsi ths vatican here I G1o tno rocn11 c t1s pnDnI nnnc14 | Mn1nUR 11u1nU1rl - msl1fo1