The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-07
GOLDEN JUBILEE or CATHOLIC
JOURNALIST.

JOURNALIST.
On December is, one of the most
valiant of the Belgian Catholic dailies,
the "Bien Public" Of Client, celebrated
the golden jubilee of it's chief editor,
the Count Guillaume Verspeyen. In
the Church of ST. Michael, in presence
of the Bishop of Client and of great
gathering of Catholic politicians and
journalists At noon banquet was
served in the large hall of the Catholic
Club, at which some three hundred
guests were seated. The hall was
tastefully decorated with the Papal
and Belgian colors, at one end of it
being hung an admirable portrait of
the veteran journalist who has been
not unfittingly called the Louis Veuillot
of Belgian Journalism. But this
compliment cannot quite justly be
paid to him without certain linn
itations. WELDING. pen as alert,
and dealing with it as many deadly
blow as ever did his French brother
in-arms with his, there has ever been
self-restraint and a measured force
that in the opinion of some, who did
not sufficiently allow for the circum-
stances in which the great French
journalist had to combat, detracted
| from his eminent services to the Cath
Ole cause in France. Among the
guests who came to do honor to the
| Belgian journalist were the Bishop of
Client; M. Cooreman, President of the
Belgian Chamber of Deputies; M.
Schollaert, Prime Minister; M. Van
den Heuvel and M. Helleputte, Min
listers; the Governor of the Province;
the Burgomasters of Client and
Bruges; many senators and deputies
and the representatives of the leading
Catholic newspapers of Belgium, and
many personal friends of the editor of
the 'Bien Public
/ The Prime Minister referred to the
distinguished career of the jubi-
larian, who, even when he was but
an undergraduate of the university
had proclaimed that Catholics were
not children Of the bondswoman but OF
the free. "He has ever" added the
Premier, fought nobly for our rights
and liberties. We wish all to enjoy
liberty, but we also demand it for our
selves, especially in the education and
bringing up of our children. The neu
trail school is not enough for us; we
demand religious education for oul
children, and we mean to have it Sc
cured for them" These words were
loudly applauded, as echoing the prom
ises so lately made at the opening Q.
the Belgian parliament in the kings
admirable speech. Be it here noted
that so far the Catholics of Belgium
have not as yet secured that full guar
antee for the religious education Of
their children that they have right
to exact. .ss
Guillaume Verspeyen's career as 6
} journalist has proved him to be truly
an able editor. A glance through the
large volume of his collected articles
would readily show this, while the
high position the 'Bien Public" though
a local paper, has won in the Cath
Ollie press more than proves his ability
while his great services to his religion
and his country have been recognized
by the Sovereign Pontiff, who created
him Roman Count, while his kins
conferred on him the Order of Leopold
On the present occasion, the Count re
ceived special mark of the pope:
: esteem and affection in an autograph
letter from Plus x. But if Verspeye1
has been an able editor, he has Otter
shown himself a ready, eloquent speak
er. The yearly speeches he delivered
at the meeting of the Peters Penc
, Associations at Client were Away
! heard with attention and admiration
both for their form and their matter
) He made happy response to tn
t congratulations of his friends. H
: said his position that day reminds
him of an obscure French poet, no
: even an academician, who one day wa
5 seated in public park. To his sui
t prise, great folk and small, as the
passed him by, reverently bowed be
fore him. What, wondered the poe1
had he done to become all at once tn
: object of such respect? Then an oil
i woman passed by who bowed low an
n devoutly crossed herself. The poe
f looking up, then saw that fixed in tn
! tree under whose shade he sat was
statue of saint, to whom all thes
marks of respect were being paid. "Tt
day." said the speaker, 'I feel it is nc
@ me that you would honour, but tn
Il Cross which figures on the title-page {
|. the 'Bien Public with it's legend, I
n hoe signo vinces.' When I became
v journalist, I made four vows, which
q here renew, and faithful to which
hope to die. The first was one of do
trinal purity; the second of obedienc
to the Church; the third, to be confer
with literary poverty, not to cast asid
an article because it did not fully sa
isfy my literary ambitions; and, fourtl
ly, vow of stability, to stick to til
e post where God had placed me-" Il
!, :, quoted advice that at the outset of h
- career sanity Jesuit, Father Van de
= Kerkhove, had given him: "Be eve
! obedient, and in difficulties have r
y course to your confessor and to yot
= parish priest; if they do not satist
= your conscience, then consult yot
= Bishop; if he does not quiet you, 6
- to the Pope; and if you are still res
y less, then betake yourself to prayer.
,e M. Verspeyen concluded his speed
J. by saying that he thought it sour
u philosophy to be satisfied with his 1ot
O. that while he went on foot, he nevt