The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-10-14
The French Naval Disaster-Letter of
Portuguese Bishops-A Priest Scien-
tist-An M. P.'s Generosity-6el-
fast and Home Rule.

The coincidence that the terrible
catastrophe which has overwhelmed
France should have befallen vessels
so typical, in their names, of the new
regime has been commented on by
more than one. Liberte has been
blown to atoms and La Republique
has suffered severely. Many brave
men have been hurled unprepared into
eternity, by what may be an accident,
or a crime transcending anything yet
attempted. For it is said that the
absence of the commander and the
captain, both socialists, give colour to
the rumour that the explosion was the
work of anarchists. Narrowing tales
are told of the explosion. Pieces of
. the ship tore great rents in the can
vas folds of the chapelle ardent
erected on the Toulon Quai and con-
tanning the bodies OF eight seamen
who perished only a few days pre-
viously by the spontaneous combus-
ton of powder on another war vessel.
All the clergy in Toulon fastened to
the hospitals and the water-side and
many of the severely injured men re-
ceived the last Sacraments before they
died. One priest hearing the. report
and seeing from his window over
looking the harbor the mass of twist
ed iron sinking Immediately stood up
and gave the final absolution in arti-
culo mortis over the swirling waters
covered with falling bodies. The
Bishop of Freyjus has been to the
hospital many times to console the
wounded and has had several private
interviews with the Maritime Prefect
regarding the obsequies which are of
a pubic character and will be carried
out by the ecclesiastical authorities at
the wish of the Maritime Prefect and
the relatives of the men. The Gov
ernment is furious, but in the present
state of public feeling dares not in
terfere, though it is anxious to ar
range a civil ceremony afterwards in
order to save the officers of state the
ordeal of being present at a Requiem
Mass.
1t may seem a far-fetched notion
that the anarchists should commit
such a senseless and dastardly crime
as this, but there is evidence of ex-
traordinary under influences at work
both in the army and the navy. Should
war come upon France heaven help
her were it not for her Catholic sons.
Some French soldiers have just laid
before their Colonel, who has placed
it before the military authorities, an
extraordinary attempt to corrupt
them, which would certainly have done
a great deal of harm had they not,
like honest Catholics, taken the mat
ter to their priest and acting on his
advice laid it before their Colonel.
1t seems before they joined these
men we're stonemasons and they We're
asked to join guild into which they
paid so much money and from which
they would receive a certain sum dur
ing their military training. They did
so, and few days ago received from
this guild the ten francs each to
which they were entitled, but the
money was accompanied by q circular
of such a reasonable nature, rousing
them against their superiors, melting
to revolt, to treachery and to deser-
ton in time of war, that the men
refused to touch the money. On the
advice of the chaplain they went to
the Colonel having collected all the
circulars and all the money. The
commanders desired the Ministry of
War to enquire into the society in
question. But so far no enquiry has
been instituted.
Liquidator Makes Reparation.
Another liquidator of religious prop
erty who has just died at Bordeaux.
M. Crouseilhes repented sincerely be-
fore he passed away and begged for
priest who reconciled him to the
Church and administered the last Sac
raments. No suspicion of misuse of
the funds entrusted to him for secu-
lar purposes attaches to his name;
nevertheless, in reparation for under
taking work which was robbery of
the Church, he left a large sum to
the Cure of Bordeaux who attended
his on his death-bed.
Letter of Portuguese Hierarchy.
The Portuguese Bishops have ad-
dressed very noble and touching re-
ply to their brethren of France who
recently condoled with them on the
persecution they endured The letter
which is signed by the Patriarch OF
Lisbon and the Archbishops of Braga
and Evora, expresses confidence that
the time. nf trial will uOt last forever
and that the Church will again rise
triumphant in Gods good time from
the hands of her enemies. Next to
divine consolation and the happiness
they feel in the blessing of the Holy
Father the Bishops say that nothing
SO touches and strengthens them as
the prayers and encouragement OF