The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-26
MIDNIGHT MASS
OMITTED IN THE
FRENCH CHURCHES

Paris, Dec. 26.-Christmas has come ana
gone In France without the Christmas
midnight mass, and personal inquiry
would he necessary to find out who felt
koenly this deprivation. Really midnight
mass was celebrated I'm various places
where the devout could assemble. just as
there Is mass daily In the churches, and
the devout attended without any embar-
rassment whatsoever. but the spectacle
hunters, who have been numerically the
greatest factor in the midnight mass.
went their several ways without seeming
10 mind this grave change ordained by
the church.
Devout worshppers 10 the number OF
thousand made their way TO the great
Church OF the Sacred Heart In Montmar-
tire, where midnight mass was said. They
were admitted through the sacristans
door Most Of them departed after the
mass, but many fingered 10 pray for the
churce's whlfare and i'm silent adoratlon.
This incident only emphasized the lack
OF deep interest shown elsewhere, a lack
which goaded some OF the church papers
into a nearer approach TO open war on
the government than has been shown IN
many weeks.
The Authorize says frequently that next
wear when the peasants leave their cot
tages and step into the cold night they
will see a light on hill, light siinilas
20 that Of the star of Bethlehem. CROWDS
will gather in a barn, open 10 the winds
Of heaven. to celebrate feast to which
the churches are closed.
The Libre Parole says:
Sadness and despair are met on every
hand. yet at times one utters horrible
laugh, produced almost involuntarily by
.N-l. a. lC q N
Illogical and so grotesque that IL com
pels a laugh. IL seems that men going
10 the scaffold must laugh that way
The anti-church organs on the other
hand. speak in quite matter-of-fact way.
The Aurore says that the abolition OF the
midnight mass here Is an episcopal lock-
out, with a plain purpose. namely, there
Is no midnight mass: persecution is be-
ginning II adds there Is not Catholic
I'm France who does not know II there Is
no midnight mass II Is by the will OF the
bishops.
The Humanite says: Behold church
which when not prosecuted, persecutes
itself. 1t is she who extinguishes in the
heavens the star OF the wise men, She
had best have care lest the eyes of her
children lose their habit OF searching In
the night for the light But really. why
does she suppress the midnight mass and
Vet ordain that other masses contineY
than on other days and she appears rath-
or as desiring TO provoke agitation"
IL remained for church sympathizer
10 cause the only public agitation In Paris
Yesterday At the corner OF the Grand
Boulevard and Rue Richilieu there is
window known for years to thousands
OF tourists, swells and Frenchmen where
public men are carlcatured in drawings
that are changed daily. The caricaturs
yesterday showed Cardinal Richard with
Deputy Denys Cochin hanging 10 his
shoulders I'm way which offended
Catholic Journalist, Henri Bruchard. Bru-
chard being, apparently, a prudent man,
did not act impulsively. but went up to
q policeman standing near the window
and inquired what would happen IL he
smashed the window. The policeman po-
litely informed him that Il would be nee
essary TO arrest him, whereupon Bruchard
violently struck the window with his cane
and bade the officer do his duty. After
acknowledging his guilt at the station
house and declaring that he had acted
because his conscience was violated by
the caricature Bruchard was liberated.
He promptly wrote letter TO the evening
papers of Amens.
In the various communes OF the Somme
new declarations have been made 10 the
number Of 46.
The first instance OF the closing OF a
church under the separation law has oc-
CURED at ay-Sur-indre, where the
mayor in writing ordered the cure to
leave both the presbytery and the church
edifice, which he declared the communal
authorities would take over in pursuance
OF the law. The cure consequently left
the ediice. which was closed. The ques-
tion Of the legality OF the mayors action
is arousing considerable controversy.