The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-23
PRIESTHOOD In SORE STRAITS.
FRENCH CURE TAXES TO WOOD
TURNING FOR a LIVING.
Government BnI to Regulate worship sure
20 Pass M senate. but MAY BE
Amended-CaIhOlIc Papers P~rophesy
Regime oT Barbarisn = Industries Hat.
sneeLal cabLe pr,pafsh o rye suN.

ChurCh bill, which passed. the InarnOer OF
Deputies yesterday, will so to the Senate
IN Wednesday. 1t is expected that It viii
PASS there promptly with even less debate
than in the Chamber, for the Right Is not
strong in the senate. though there h a
DO ssh ility Of amendments being made by
the Senate II ii should be found to be de-
sirsble. The Temps points out this evening
that certain unspeoifio passages In the bhi
ought TO be clarified by the Senate.
Most Of to-day's papers exhibit great
repression in commenting on the bill and
Yesterday proceedings, II indeed there
was any strong emotion or imperative con-
yiction 10 repress. As a matter of fact the
new bill is received much as a matter OF
course. Little feeling Is shown and no
excitement is manifested. Newspaper
organs which are strongly Catholic take
the approved attitude that the Church Ia
invinoibie and will prevail. but do not say
how. Government organs still counsel
moderation and do not fear that there will
be any departure therefrom by Premier
Clemenceau.
The SoIei, for instance. says deliberately:
Persecution is soon to proceed with vigor,
harberity is soon TO come, submitting
France 10 a vile. odiOus despotlsm without
honor and without God Premier Glenn
enceau and Minister Of Public Worship
B,isnd, however, have said there will be
10 persecution, and seem ermin IN
their resolution.
The Steele, which while far from being
pro-church il far from radical, sums up
the independent political view somewhat
ironically by saying; 1T is evident that
the Pope aims to bring back Catholics TO
the days of the catacombs. That has lis
advantages and Disadvantages. The adj
vantaRes, which are doubtful, consist in
inspiring Catholics to such a degree OF
exasperatiOn that they would leave the
c~atacombs, which, by the way, they will
find disturbed by an underground railroad,
aud return TO the surface to destroy not
idols but the republic. This form Of en-
thusiasm could not degenerate into a habit,
for il is fatiguing. The chief disadvantage
is that ian striving to bring back the days OF
the cataoombs the Pope may only bring
back Little Father Combes.' This is unu-
Aually sardOuic for the Steele, and is the
bitterest of to-day's comments.
There is an aspect Of thu whole subject
q which has bssa little dealt with as yet
by the local press which touches the heart
of the Church body near and deep. That
rs the question Of financial support. A
report from one section Of the country
where 5000 was formerly appropriated
by the Church budget says the Indications
are that with the utmost efforts only 81 500
will now be raised. Already the priests
Of some poorer parishes are applying for
work at lay occupations. One has gone
TO woodturning. promising his parishioners
10 return to them for any ministrations
they may need or when they are able to
support a church.
IA Puf laurnan aa wall IA NIpF1Vm0n are
sIfeady finding that their means OF liveli-
hood has been taken way through the re-
duction OF the Church's Financial position,
and some Of them who are direct sufferers
by the religious war are already making
their voices heard. Reports from Nancy
state that manufacturers OF church orna-
ments have been driven to open factories
abroad. A bellmaker whose business dates
back for centuries has moved to Switzer-
land. The effects Of a maker of church
statuary who dice recently we're sold at
auction the other day, and statues which
would ordinarily bring 500 francs were
sold for ten francs. Employers are dis
missing hands employed in embroidering
t~hasubles, stoles and banners. These en-
ployers are quoted as saying that tbeir
sales have diminished at the rate OF 5000
a year each. In the last two years they
have dismissed no workers except W
errand boys.
The Mayor of Avignon made an artistic
discovery of the highest importance the
other day while visiting the ancient palace
az the Pc prs, which until recently had
lecn used as a barrack. Struck by the
le uty Of the decoration in q room which
was formerly the pspal bedroom he thought
the walls must have been decorated with
- .aa..b H.. bod lDng baan rDuaraA
with several coats of w~hitewesh. Anti
cuarians have always held that rich hang
iags covered the base walls. The Mayor,
however, experimental and found that
wonderfully preserved ~frosooes of the
fourteenth century lay under the white
wash, and that the oolors, except green,
retained all their original brightness. So
far six human figures and one or a dog
have been brought to light.
Able Pasduier, administrator OF the
Church of the ~Sorboane, has received
Official notice that his service will no longer
be required. 1t il generally believed that
the Government intends to allow the sacred
character Of the building to lapse, and
this causes much regret. The church
was built in 1885 and il n perfect example
Of Louis XIII. style. 1t contains the tomb
Of Cardinal Richelieu, which is the work
OF Girardon.
ROME, Dec. Pin the course Of con-
versation to-day with a prelate who had
called to present his Christmas greetings,
Cardinal Merry del Val, referring to the
French crisis, said: THE war that is
being waged is Gods war, as it is not one
between France and the Catholic Church
only. but between France and Christianity"
The correctional tribunal at Nantes has
sentsnced the sisters Maisonnsuve, aged
~ and %, the daughters Of a municipal
functionary, to a months imprisonment
without repTieve. They we're accused OF
biting and splitting on soldiers during the
evacuation of the bishopric.
The clerical GduIOis says the Government
Intends 10 transfer the Bourse du Travail,
which is the headquarters OF the Workers
Union and similar organ i~zations, to the new
cathedral of the Sacre CGur at Montmartre.
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