The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-10-14
FRENCH PRIESTS WHO
 HAVE ADOPTED TRADES Great Changes the Separa- tion Law Has Pro-
 duced. PRIESTS HARDiAT WORK Farming, Gardening, Bee keeping, Matchmaking,
 and Decorating.

ing ways to make up for the loss of stipends occasioned by the Separa- ton law, a large number of French priests bravely took matters into their own hands and set about sup porting themselves by adopting trades. Here we had a wholly new conception of the sacerdotal life, so new that It aroused general amaze ment To some, the priest-admin- istrator of the sacraments, shepherd of human souls, Intermediary be- tween heaven and earth--seemed forbidden to descend from the serene heights where his mission placed him. To others because or the attitude of mind fixed by the Concordat hum dred years ago, he was an official and the stopping of his pay left him an official still so whether from the point of view of respect or from the point of view of administrative posi- tivism, nobody dared face the hypo- thesis of an alliance of the priesthood with professional and remunerative labor.
 And yet, long before there was talk of separation, there were priests who followed trades and professions. Among the most deservedly famous of these precursors, should mention the Chanoine Brlsacier who must be the dean of ecclesiastical labor for he began his career as an architect fif- teen years ago. A puplI of the Tours seminary, he was enabled to share the archaeological researches of the learned Abbe (since Chanoine) Bour- asse, and warred against the vandal- ism of those who were restoring" the churches He found in the judici- ous employment of brick vaulting a way to repair the old temples econ omically and got his system introduc- ed in spite of administrative opposi- ton.
 I might also cite rne Abbe Choy- CT of fingers, Q sculptor of great tal- ent, to whom we owe, among other works, the beautiful altar-piece of La Saiette: Pore Beni likewise a sculp- tor, who founded hourishlng school at PoitierAs the Abbe Migne, whose print-shop has been of great service to the clergy: Dr. Lecoq, cure of Gu senier. whose reputation as a physi- clan was widespread; the Abbe Vi- vet, director of the Beauvals School of Agriculture, an eminent electrician. and many others, such as the Abbe Van Holleheck cure of Saint Paul lez- Beauvals, an excellent painter, or the Abbe Clavel, cure of Polienas, q superb matchmaker.
 The present movement had its spor- adic beginnings in the domain of lpersonal anxiety for the future. Al the same time, the press exploited the jidea, Then it found its theorist and 1 exponent; the Abbe Louis Ballu wrote book on "The Trades Availa- ble for the Priests of Tomorrow, ir which he examines the difficulties that beset them, ana makes out 6 program of sacerdotal labor. H. argues that the object Is not to anass a fortune but to earn a quarter of { days wage, since tho priest has nt family to support Hence the prlest'' | itiJOl allQluS ilO tlltti hAllAN SAhPVNllApA with that of other workers.
 The Abbe Ballu reviews the tradel he regards as possible of adoption 4 first agriculture in the form of spe ciallzed cultures and the production of seeds; also of flowers, for essence making, asparagus, and grapes fo the table. Kitchen gardening has it yloao 4no ouA an ,,,io,1,f oloo fba ra fu ling of medicinal plants. As a cor ollary, there IS the distillation of ma terlals for perfumery, the raising O silkworms, and finally bookkeeping Then come carpentry, sculpture, ant watchmaking La petite meeanique' offers great resources; with the de velopment of cycling and motoring, { little shop will do for repairing. Th' making of jewelry, engraving metals and mosaic work are crafts that re quire no staff of helpers and no com lplicated outfit. So with bookbinding weaving, Illuminating, the making oi 1 druggists specialties, baking, color ing, and embroidery-esp tha of chasubles and church ornaments Even high art may be attempted.
 | And the Abbes LerouX, Chassignoi and Ballu have organized the Ali ance of Workman Priests, To join i Iyou must be French priest and work with your hands from five hours a week to five hours day. Tn nc case do the workers cut down theil regular routine as servants of tht church. They regard manual labor as Ian element of the apostolate ant at the same time means of econom. ic emancipation. M. Ballu has turn ! typesetter; the Abbe LerouX raise: Vegetables
 The Alliance has prospered magnifi' gently from the very outset, and day by day 1t grows. It publishes { monthly magazine, printed by nuns while the rest of the work is done by priests. Its editor writes me: "Wt have subscribers in all the depart ments and fifty outside France; Eng lishmen, Americans and Germans art interested in the Alliance of Work men Priests, and our cooperative eff forts in behalf of the French clergy Comrades In China and Australia show lively sympathy with our under taking, which, thank God, is a com plete success! This month we hav
 gained thousand new subscribers.
 The good humor and the confidenc
 that characterize this letter are to b
 found in all those I have receives
 while gathering material for this ar | flnIn Thn Ahha EraHArid ppliECJ6 I cure of Vacheres, writes; There is Il dull season in my business. I repai clocks, sewing machines, watchef
 locks, reaplng machines, threshini } machines, childrens toys, etc, I bint