The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26
SACRE CGUR SOON
TO Be CONSECRATED
Church on Montmartre Hill
Nearly Finished After
Thirty-nine Years.
IT'S COST IS $4,000, OOO
Marie Marguerite, in Dream
Was Commanded to Build
Temple.
IT'S COST IS 100000
Special correspo.dencs to TaE Sun.


PARIS, July 1T.-After thirty-nine years
the Church OF the Sacre C9ur. on the
hill OF Montmartre, u to be officially con-
secrated. The date chosen, October II,
has a special Significance In the history
81 the church, for II Is the fete day or
Marie Marguerite, who, like Joan OF Arc.
heard voices and saw visions which com
manded her not 70 save the country but
to build a church on the top OF Mont
martre.
Louis XIV, occupied with his own
pleasures and ambitions. disregarded an
invitation to undertake the work. and
Louis XVI. persisted on the scaffold before
he was able to carry out the pisus inten-
lions he had founded while In prison.
The future is mine" said Napoleon. and
he wished to build a temple upon the
mount where each successive peace might
be proclaimed. but In his case there was
| no peace. only successive wars.
The events OF ls70-7l directed the
Catholic mind to the project again Pious
persons at Poiters wished to invoke the
| protection OF God by erecting a temple 10
| his worship In Paris. Momentarily al
lowed to lapse. the idea was taken up by
| Catholics In Paris. The difficulty was to
establish communication with the outside
world. for the city was invested. Balloons
were tried, the pigeon post and even rhe
| bribery of secret agents, but all failed
|
added its horrors TO the var that the en-
\ terprise took practical shape.
| The War Minister wanted the site fol-
a fort, but, better inspired. Mgr. Gu'Sert
the Cardinal Archbishop of Pats cried
Your fort will do no good and may hi
citadel than yours" Whether or not ht
was moved by the argument, the Minister
gave up his projec; and on July 23. 1873
the National Assembly authorized the pur-
chase of land for the church and ever
permitted the Cardinal TO proceed by ex
preparation. The large majority which
supported the bill shows how feeling IL
Parliament has since changed on quss
lions OF church and state.
Two years later the first stone wa
laid with impressive pomp and in tn
presence OF $4,000 persons gathered IRON
all parts OF France. Almost inevitabl.
the plan OF the architect which pre-
scribed Byzantine church, was sever ell!
criticised, but 1t ultimately trumphcd
The public saw the folly of attemptirl
, to rival the Gothic glories o' the thir
teenth century by acting Montmartre Z
the splendid series OF Chartrcs. O
Amiens. OF Rouen and Notre Dame.
on pillars within the sanctuary arpea
the arms Of towns OF France which hav
contributed to the building fund Fac
a stone may be said TO bear the nam
OF some community. a town or village. c
~ an Individual Catholic, Affairs 10
: Patrick and to 81 John the Baptist MAJ
" the offerings of Ireland and Cnnadi
: Deputies worklngmen. students ana eve
- schoolboys have their part In the ere'
d ton Of this striking and majestic mon'
u ment 10 the Catholic spirit OF France
Only now, after all these years, Is IN
Ie fabric complete enough to he ready fc
10 conservation. The great bronze doors hav
n lately been put in, the paving Is scarcel
ID finished and some of the affairs, bespeaf
" ing the devotion OF different parts
% France. are stlll unbuih In Its preseI
Is ate the huge white building under i
A. imposing dome has cost 100000 tn
1t Is precisely the sum which Napoleon PR
n. posed to spend on his Temple OF Peace.
~ 1t has been the aim OF those wi
r founded the church 10 address themselv'
T. to all classes OF society, and the san
10 spirit prevails to-day in the great Sundf
~ services, at which from 1900 and 2,o'
ly men are present In the nave. These wo
ts shippers are drawn from every section
be the community Academicians and office
Sc OF the army and navy sit side by si'
a with artisans. small shopkeepers and d
very poor