The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-26
NO MIDNIGHT MASS REVOLT.
FRANCE AT LARGE IGNORES RE-
LIGIOUS PRIVATION.
Private Celebrations for the Devout Ac-
centuate Genera IDdir ference Press
on Both Sides. However. IndulEes I'm
Bitter Tall -Picus window smasher.

Special Cable Despatch 10 THE SUN.
PARIS, Dec. 25.-Christmas has come
and gone in France without the Christmas
midnight mass, and personal inquiry would
he necessary to find any one who felt the
privation keenly. Really, midnight mass
was celebrated in various places where the
devout could assemble, just as there is mass
daily in the churches, and the devout at
tended without any embarrassment what
soever; but the spectacle hunters. who have
been numerically the greatest factor in the
midnight mass, went their several ways
without seeming to mind this grave change
ordained by the Church.
Devout worshippers, to the number OF a
thousand, made their way to the great
Church Of the Sacred Heart in Montmartre,
where midnight mass was celebrated.
They were admitted through the sacristan's
door. Most OF them departed after the
mass, but many fingered to pray for the
Church's welfare and in silent alteration.
The incident only emphasized the lack OF
deep interest shown elsewhere, a lack which
goaded some of the Church papers into a
nearer approach to fanatic abandon than
has been shown in many weeks.
The Autorite says fervently that next year
VAAtNA NbV * N AeaN AAtA NA6 oANA
step into the cold night they will see a light
on a hill. a light similar to that OF the Star Of
Bethlehem. Crowds will gather in a barn.
open to the winds OF heaven, to celebrate Il
feast to which the churches are closed.
The Libre Parole says:
Sadness and despair are met on every
hand, yet at times one utters a horrible
laugh, produced almost in~voluntarily by a
aft,,a 4so, xuhtnh fhnttUh afrnNiOna ia so
illogical, so grotesque, that it compels a
laugh. 1t seems that men going to the
soaffold must laugh that way"
The anti-Church organs, on the other
hand, speak in quite a matter Of fact way.
The Aurore says that the abolition of the
midnight mass here is an episcopal lockout,
with a plain purpose, viz, to create the
idea that as there is no more midnight mass
persecution Is beginning. II adds that
there is not a Catholic in France who does
not know that il there is no midnight mass
it is by the will Of the Bishops.
The Humdnite says:
Behold a Church which when mot perse-
cuted persecutes itself. 1t is she who ex-
tinguishes in the heavens the star OF the wise
men. She had best have a care lest the
eyes of her children lose their habit of
EN1IOIlhB III NAV ABh " NhAo AhhbH DAN
really, why does she suppress the midnight
mass and yet ordain that other masses con-
tinuep She is no more enace on Christ
mas than on other days, and she appears
rather as desiring to provoke agitation"
1t remained for a Church sympathizer
to cause the only public agitation in Paris
to-day. At the corner Of the Grand Boule-
ward and Rue Richelieu there is a window
known for years to thousands OF tourists.
swells and Frenchmen. where public men
are caricatured in drawings that are changed
daily. The c~aricature to-day showed
Cardinal Richard, with Deputy Denys
Cochin hanging TO his shoulders in a way
which offended a Catholic journalist.
Henri Bruchard.
B~ruchard, being apparently a prudent
man, did not act impulsively, but vent up
to a policeman standing near the window
and inquired what would happen if he
smashed the window. The policeman
politely informed him that it would be
necessary to arrest him. Thereupon
Bruchard violently struck the window with
his cane and babe the officer DO his duty.
After ackno wledging his guilt at the station
house and declaring that he had actsd
because his conscience was violated by
the caricature, Bruchard was Liberated.
He promptly wrote a letter to the evening
papers of Amiens. 7
In the various Of the Somme
new declarations have been made to the
number OF forty-fve.
The validity OF eighty associations cultu-
elles, formed despite the Papal interdic-
ton, will soon be tested in the courts. NJ.
Vannesson, president Of the association
at CuIey, has summoned NJ. Camus, treas
urer Of the vestry. to surrender the parish
books and property. NJ. Camus replied
by questioning the legality Of the associa-
ton, which retained Able Hutin as priest
after The Bishop Of Verdun had suspended
him.