Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-14
Local Clergyman Gives History of the Affair Which Has
 Startled the World
DREAM 0F POLITICIANS
For More Than Thirty Years The French Masonic Sect, this Clergyman Says. to
 Blame For It

In some quarters, where ignorance of the facts or malice prevails, there Is much ado made concerning the action of Plus X relative to the church question in France. The secular press in America, whilst giv-, ing the governments position, has been singularly silent as to the claims of the church. This communi- cation, though somewhat lengthy, will endeavor to present, only in com pendulum form, the history of the case from the viewpoint of the Cath ollie church. The present crisis is by no means of recent origin. The ulti- mate severance of diplomatic rela- tions with the Holy See has for more than thirty years been the dream of the politicians who ruled the des- tinies of France. As far back as 1883 M. Paul Bent advocated the idea, but found 1t inconvenient to press the subject too forcibly. To quote his own words: "The actual conditions in which the church lives are opposed tosthe realization of this principle. The church is yet too strong, she would recover from the blow. What, then, is to be done? Let us commence by changing con ditiOns to prepare the future triumph of the idea for which we to-day com bat"
 That the present condition in France is the realization of the cher ished object of the French Masonic sects is beyond cavil. One of the most influential Masonic representa- tiyes. M, Fernand Faure. in 1885, thus declared himself: "I maintain that We must eliminate religious in- fiuence In whatever form 1t may ex- press itself. I assert further that we ought to eliminate all metaphysics, or. to speak more plainly. every be- lief which Is not founded upon sci- ence, or the observation of facts" Whilst his special object was the destruction of the Catholic church. to accomplish that he would annihilate all Christianity. He con tlnues: 'The triumph of the Galilean has endured for twenty cen turies. The God-liar has died in his turn. Brother Masons, 1t pleases me to state that we have had our share in the ruin of these false prophets. The Roman church, found ed upon a Galilean myth, entered upon a rapid decay the very day that associations of Free Masons were es- tablished." Every law that Free Ma sorry favored had for It's ultimate object the breaking of the. concordat. As NJ. Masse declared: "The work (war against the church) will be unites church and state is completely broken"
 Sundcrcd the Concordat.
 It was in this spirit of hostility to the church and of forcing the sum dering of the concordat that M. Waldeck Rousseau introduced fin 1887 his bill on the religious associa- tions. Rousseau's successor was NJ. Combes, who in 1902 took up the movement to sever the relations that existed between Rome and France. With but one object fin view, to force Rome to take the initiative, he cen tralized all his energies upon forcing a quarrel. Throwing moderation and courtesy to the winds. he became the offensive. oyerbearing, menacing. bullying official with none of the old time French politeness that charac- terized even NJ. Rousseau in his deal ings.
 What are the charges which the government trumped up in its hostil- fty to the church? First. that the policy of the vatican has been stead fly hostile to the Third Republic. Now the Third Republic had no more sincere we'll wisher than Leo XIII. The letters of the late pope show that. from the day on which he was elected to the papacy to the day he breathed his last, the policy of the vatican on the continent was largely guided by the interests and require ments of the French Republic. so much 90. indeed. that Leo XIII made many bitter enemies because of his uncompromising position for the Third Republic. Standing on the broad platform that the church is not identified with any particular | form of government. republican or monarchical. but that she freely &C., knovledkes the established oonstitu- ton. he called upon all Catholics. whatever might be their private opin- Ions. to rally around the republic which vas then. de fscto. the accept ed government of France That the rapai announcement was Of en0r- onus advantage to the Republic vas freely admitted by such strong gov ernmenfaI partisans ss y-F1ules Faure ia 1888. M- SPuller. minister of worship in 1884. even by M- Wal deck Rousseau ia 1901
 The hostility came not from Rome. but from such radical frebrznts as y- Paul Bert. vho pushed forward Inc anti-Cafholic policy with all the |hatrpd ant bftser anino<ity Of which .he u1s capable In this he vas abiy l second>d and- indeed. entirely | ecli>rrd. by N- Conbe> The re- .Ixsons were expelled fhe volzntary | .Sl1cois built bJ CatAol5<1 uers