Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-08
PRIESTS ENTER ARMY
Separation Law Reaches Them
as Well as Students.
FORCED TO JOIN C0L0RS
Forty-Three Ecclesiastics of Quimper
Enter Barracks.
HAD SEEN SERVICE BEFORE
Funds Found at Versailles Endow-
ments Allowed by State-Peter's
Pence Offerings.
FORCED TO JOIN C0L0RS
HAD SEEN SERVICE BEFORE

PARIS January SIN the absence of
news OF important developments In the
church situation anywhere in France, the
reports coming in In the nature of routine
happenlngs give an Idea of the general SIT
uation. Today is the day fixed for semi
narists to report for military duty. Inc
pro-church papers point out that not only
students, but in many instances ordained
priests, are included among those thus
forced to join the colors
From the diocese of Quimper forty-three
ecclesiastics have entered the barracks 1or
two years nine of them being priests or
dained In 1905. All had previously served
one year. OF sixty-four recalled at Nancy
fifteen are priests, and of thlrty-two at
Bourges sixteen are priests. The Eclair
deplores the absence of enough protests
throughout the country or In parnafnenl,
more of which, 1t seems to believe, mish ii
have prevented the decision taken 10 recaii
the semnarists to arms.
The bishop of Versailles order for the
organization of denier du cutie imposes
a tax of 30 centimes per head upon the
parshioners, and says that the richer ones
must make up the deficit or the poorer.
The value of the securities found SATURDAY
at the Versailles seminary proved grea'et
than was reported. 1t Is now estimated az
s2aO 900 The suggestion having been MADE
that this sum represents the savings OF tiie
seminary and had been forgotten by the
seminary authorities, the bishops secretar!
writes explaining that the funds were eli-
dowhents by the faithful, authorized by
the state for the support of poor SEMI
narists He adds:
Legitimate Church Property.
"These securities were the legitimate
property of the church. We would have
been perfectly justified In keeping them In
our possession. but as the state knew thelr
whole detail, their removal would have ex-
posed us TO a law suit, which we would
surely have lost. That is why -biship
thought it was better to submit TO the IN
eVitable.
Reports from Montpelier give the details
OF many explosions from the presbyteries
There were no noteworthy incidents Many
Catholics are placing their homes at the
disposal of the priests.
one of the most delicate questions TO be
considered by the bishops at the coming
meeting at the Chateau de la Muette' which
has now been fixed for January - is the
proposed organization of an lnter-d1ocesan
denier du cultes. The Semaine Reiigieuse
diocesan denier du cultes. The trouble
arises from the difficulties the government
will raise if the organization partakes IN
any way of the nature of an association.
Swinders have already made their ap-
pearance, representing to Cathohc familles
that they are authorized to collect for the
denier du clutes. Te Semaine Religieuse
warns the public against contributing save
when unmistakable authorization is eX-
hbited.
More Pomp at Funerals.
Cardinal Richard has decided to permit
slight augmentation of pomp at funerals
and marriages, which were ordered to be
celebrated with extreme simplicity when
the separation law went into effect. Con-
currently, he will permit more money to be
spent for these ceremonies. This will
chiefly profit the lesser church function
aries The present rate fixed for funerals
of the first class is 5000 or 1920. accord
ing to whether there is a procession to the
cemetery or not. The maximum Is SEQ.
Under the new ruling of the cardinal the
minimum will be $3.50 and the maximum
SEQ
Under the practice before the separation
law the minimum was S17120 and the cost
could go to over 500 These figures refer
only to the money paid the church. The
payment 10 the cure is left to the family's
generosity.
The Rome correspondent of the Echo de
Paris learns that the holy see will no longer
accept offerings of Catholics to the Peters
Pence fund Hereafter all sums received
on this account will be devoted to the needs
OF public worship in France and the main
tenanCe Of the French clergy.
In order TO punish the Catholics Of the
canton Of Quend, seventy-six miles from
Amiens. who are preparing to form Gull
tural association under the church and
state separation law, Mgr. Dizien, the
bishop Of Amiens, has ordered the with
draWal or the parish priest at Sluenu, tnuS
compelling the suspension Of public wor-
ship there.
To Become Museums.
Minister OF Education BRAND announced
today that the bishops mansions, the rec
tories and seminaries taken possession of
by the government under the church and
state separation law will in future be de-
voted to educational and museum purposes.
The famous seminary OF St Supice will
become part of the Luxembourg Museum.
Finance Minister CaillauX has directed
the authorities of the mint TO substitute on
all coins the words liberty, equality and
fraternity" for the old device of God pro-
tect France" in accordance with the
amendment TO the budget appropriation FOR
-. --..In, Ii .llAEt cd hN Inc