Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-13
RELIGIOUS War
is FACING FRANCE
Some French Catholics Enthu.
siastic for War.
STATE AND CHURCH DIVIDED

Tuesday with the Legal Rupture Of
the Bond Which, for . 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 Sesults, 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 of women was especially large
and was noteworthy as indicating the
religious indifference Of the male pop
ulace. Although sevenreights 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 edifice was
only half filed. The officiating cler-
Ky 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 on the eve OF the struggle, II
became more apparent that both the
government officials and higher &C.
cleslastlcals are resisting the adyice
OF the Incorporate, The minister
OF public worship, BRAND, announces
that the government cannot be driv.
en- into the trap of closing the church-
es !" and Cardinal Richard, archlbish-
op OF Paris, has strongly censured the
plaearding OF appeals TO the clericals
10 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 at every STEP"
This Is the disposition so far as
the higher ccclesIastics are concern
cd. but their followers evidently have
no Intention to submit and are pre-
pairing to 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 is
preparing to leave their rectories and
move into into hired lodging. II Is
announced that the parish priests
have received many Offers Of places
In which 10 hold religious services
but there Il not the slightest indica-
ton that they intended to take advan-
tage OF the sole remaining chance 10
retain their churches. namely. by max
ing tho declarations called for BY The
law. The government continues 70
present a calm front. although the
ministers realize that additional leg
is,atlve power will be necessary 4 Sc
rious trouble occurs,
Receivers have bern appointed every
where 10 assume charge OF the SCI
Queatered property and three pOlice-
men win b. stationed a. the eoors OF
each of the churches 10 report viola
tions OF the law: but as such viola
lions can oniy BE- tried n she police
courts and as the penalties, only rs
france fue and rs dAys imprisoamcni,
With tAe Tlght to appeal, siernef
measures may Be Necessary, and the
roxernment viii probably accpt The
AlI lnsroducrd m the chamber - Dep
utles 81 ~. Menief. republican. pro
vlaing that an huIidlnEs. presayievies
ana 80 Ca occupied ~ occiesiastica.
sball deHnitc,y oseheai 90 ne state,
the derartmenis ard tAe eonmusea
en- ths eaactnFrt o. the law pcovitinE
Tor tha soparatioa 0f ehurcA ant state
ana az once uiake arfaaEctrPnia that
lae Eterl7isret pfprefiy s1al rot bt