The Irish standard., 1907-01-26
! ! FRENCH SITUATION
Battle Royal Between Inf.
sss ss deity and Christianity
Says a Leading Southern Pres
',s:.r j. byterian Paper.


IT, j, byterian Paper.
sssssRhe News and Courier OF Charles
Ton; S.. c., is the leading daily paper
n In that state and perhaps in the whole
South. Its editor in chief is Mr.. J. c.
4 sisaaphill,, one of the best known
in the state. In the
ri DStenber II issue Of his paper Mr..
4einphill makes magnificent defense
the Catholic Church and it's course
i;sthe struggle now going on in
ssFs~pte.
Sys.,zAppeal as we may to our religious
a gpFejudices. writes this scholarly and
journalist, land rejoice
q saH ssome of us are accustomed to do at
ND discontinue of the priests in this
sx69e, because our fathers also passed
h tlttpugh the fires of persecution for
sake, there is no mis-
d taxing the true tendency of the revo-
u lutiouary conditions in France.
Essasxf It were only the Roman Catholic
Church the outcome OF the struggle
u Would not greatly distress some of the
1 SEbArated brethren, at least. 1t is not
chs Roman Catholic Church, however,
D hGts Christianity that is at stake. 1t
ssdSas not make least difference there
Il s4g4e, whether We believe in the Pope
Esnrsnot nor what our UNCONVENTIONAL
N,tytews may be the fight in France is at
SBs1ottom the fight of the Christian world
SAwhatever the regiment or division or
branch of the service to which we be-
long. The Protestants have as much
i at issue in this struggle, in principle.
al 1.-THE Roman Catholics. They will not
4 lore SO mucn in property. their
Il Churches, or meeting houses, and
I sc1ools and seminaries and asylun1s
will not be seized and confiscated by
the .state-this time, they may even
preit to a certain extent by the heavy
4 hand which is laid on the Catholic
u temples and means of religion; but
4 the state is setting precedent which
/, will in time affect all religious socie-
\ hes in the freedom of their worship
and the security Of their property.
4 It Ii urged by the government that
4 the present aggressive measures have
4 been resorted to only to bring about
u separation between Church and State.
Il That is a plea which would almost
L -aeceive the very elect, but it is abso-
dns.France is for no other purpose than
II the subsection of the Church to the
olute control oe the state in all
4 matters relating to the freedom of
Forship. for the present, with the pur-
slpose, doubtless, OF finally directing the
Church in matters Of doctrine, so that
sswlfen Christ is run out of France the
ssS3acrifice of the Mass will be succeed
ss.edy by orgies Of flesh.
This is, We believe, a true repre-
ssntation of the religious side OF the
RR5controyersy of all who confess the
name Of Christ. whatever their denom-
hinftion; but there is another side that
il: reflects indelible disgrace upon the ma
sStional honor Of France and the bust
seneys integrity OF it's people. At the
tfme of the French Revolution the
Church passed through great crisis.
II Its property, to which the title was as
II sperfect as the title to any other prop
laerty in the country. was confiscated
ana turned u all sorts Of profane uses.
,,8sAfter the Revolution had passed. the
Wrench Assembly pledged the State to
naalke some return to the Church for
sNsaffhS. property which had been taken
N sssssaffoim It by: providing for the support
Npf the clergy and the maintenance OF
Kn,orship. the sum appropriated, how
Set, about one per cent on the value
8fO&ssthe property. confiscated by the
stAte. The agreement thus voluntarily
Shkered. into by the representative body
Sfsthe grenph people was the basis of
the Concordat between the Church and
S.ths State in the time of the great Ma
HApn. and lasted for one hundred
##sIears through all the political changes
Aioh have come to France. During
period there were many threat
II "a and actual departures from both
letter and spirit of the agreement,
State steadily all the while en-
ching upon the prerogatives of the
4rch until finally the Concordat was
aa9Sa<en fatty by the State. There has
sEer been in the history of the
e.ld.. we. believe, a. more conspicl-
AlnS example Of national perfidity and
slihonor.
n aIjlASVhat will be- the outcome Of the
atp ia E~,,,.o