Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-13
RELIGIOUS WAR
is FACING FRANCE
Some French Catholics Enthu.
siastic for War.
srArE ANO CHURCH OIvIDED

struggle winch bcBdh W looD G"NSN
Tuesday with the Legal Rupture Of
the Bond Which, for a Thousand
Years, United Church and State.
Paris, Dec. 12.-Tuesday was an
historic day for France. The strug-
gle which began In 1880, with the
Punishment of the Sesuits, ended to-
day with the legal rupture Of the bond
which for practically a thousand unin-
terrupted years had united church and
state. BY refusing to make the re-
quired acquisitions under the law OF
1881 Catholic public worship by the
Schismatic organizations Wednesday
becomes illegal. The scenes In some
Of the churches were extremely touch
ing. Not in years had there been
such an attendance at mass The
number Jf women was especially large
and was noteworthy as indicating the
religious indifference Of the male pop
ulace. Although seyenr eighis Of the
inhabitants Of this city are nominal
ally Catholics, in no parts Of the city
were the churches crowded Even at
Nortre Dame, where a solemn high
mass was celebrated. the edihce was
only half filled. The officiating cler-
gy read the regular Offices for the
week, as usual, without referring to
their Illegal status tomorrow. Never
theless the depression OF the Catho-
lies was manifest. Many women
emerged from the Cathedral with their
eyes streaming with tears and linger-
ed on the pavement to discuss what
to do when the. clergy are turned
out of their churches.
But an the eve OF the struggle, II
became more apparent that both the
government officials and higher &C.
clesiastlcals are resisting the advice
OF the incorporate. The minister
OF public worship, BRAND. announce
that the government cannot be driv.
en- into the trap OF closing the church,
es i" and Cardinal Richard, archlbish-
op OF Paris, has strongly censured the
placarding OF appeals 10 the clorieals
TO make violent resistance to the OFF,
GERS OF the law. mo violence" he
says. but passive resistance to the
unjust law, after exhausting all pro-
tests ut every step"
This Is the disposition so far as
the higher ecclesiastics are concern
ed, but their followers evidently have
no intention TO submit and are pre-
pairing 20 assume the roll Of martyrs.
abandon the churches and organize
private worship.
Cardinal Richard and many OF the
bishops already have begun the re-
moval Of their private effects from the
episcopal mansions, and the clergy II
preparing to leave their roctorles and
move into into hired lodging. Il Is
announced that the parish priests
have received many offers OF places
IN which TO hold religious services,
but there IL not the slightest ludiea-
ton that they intended 10 take advan-
tage OF the sole remaining chance 20
retain their churches. namely, BY max
Ing the declarations called FOR by the
law. The government oOntnues 10
present a calm front. although the
ministers realise that additional leg
islative power viii be necessary z Sc
ri0us trouble occurs.
Receivers have been Appointed every
where 70 assume charge OF the So
quaslered property and three police
men wiz be stationed a. the Doors %
each az the churches 10 report viola
tlons o. the law; bat a. such viola
tions can oaly BE- tried IN the police
courts and a. TIE penalties, OILY 10
francs ane and rs days impyisoament,
with ne rlEht % appeal. nernef
measures may - necessary, aud the
soyernmeut WI pr0Naoly accept TIE
hlii lniroduced On ne chamber cf Dep
utles By ~. ncnief. reaublicaa. Pm
tle.ng that az huliAnEs, presoyteyics
aad - az oocnalcd By occisslasitcs.
thaii tcaniieif esgaeei 60 ne state.
the afraftneris aaA tho ccmmsncs
a. ne ceacimecl cf 10 law proritlEs
Coz tbe sepsratica 81 Church ana state
ana ~ eeee aaks arrarEleaFcta t1El
tns seccfgiffe1 rfeFegig scai ret BE