Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-11-13
SPARTAN SPIRIT
Of french PRIEST
Digs bell out of Ruins, erects
Altar in the Street and
Celebrates Mass.

Verneu!l, Nov. lat matters
not" cried the old able. crossing
himself before the gaping hole in the
front OF h parish church at YER
neuil. God is eternal and by His
grace we shall survive"
The six-inch shell that went
through the hole had carried the
door with it and blown out part of
the side wall. A smaller hole in the
clock tower marked where q three
inch projectile had cut through, and
the dial lay shattered at Able
Schmtdt's feet. Another shot had torn
from its hanglngs the old church bell.
the front and Obstructed the entry.
Another shot had made a great open
ing in the ROOF and the shell explod-
ing inside had demolished the altar
and the relinquary lay buried beneath
a heap OF stone, mortar and splinters.
But the four walls remained erect
n the steeple seemed to hold its
pointed head up with the Same dig
nited fortitude with which the ven
cradle able braved the iron hand Of
the destroyer.
Five days before the Germans had
made short forced halt around YER
neuil, and when they passed through
1t was to seek shelter for a great num-
Der of victims Of the French artillery
which had halted in its retreat to
check h pursuers. The vicar Of the
parish was among the 10000 priests
with the French army, whose line al
ready extended far to- the south. Most
of the Inhabitants Of the parish had
fled or sought refuge. and the Able
Schmidt was nearly alone to aid the
German surgeons n nurses to take
care of these grievously torn soldiers,
most of whom lay upon bundles Of
| StYa m in fho oh1roh itco1f ENo~ th~nA
days. night and day, he cared for the
enemy's wounded with the same de-
votion Is if they were of his own
country. Then, in the frantic hurry
of the retreat before the allies, he en-
deavored, rs far as possible, to ease
the pain caused by their transport
into all sorts Of improvised ambul-
ancee.
The last of the wounded had scarce
ly quit the town. when the booming
of cannon was heard from two direc-
tions almost simultaneously, and from
the German lines the shells began to
fall into the little village. When the
French came through. the church was
wrecked and no longer a possible
shelter for the French wounded.
The following day was Sunday, and
in the morning Able Schmidt, with
the aid of a few parishioners. u
ceeded in hanging the bell from a
beam saved from the church, dug out
the relinQuary from under the debris,
erected an altar in the street and said
mass before the largest congregation
that had gathered in his parish in
many years.
This is only one of many incidents
showing that, after drifting for a CEN
turv toward unbelief. France is res
viving to a considerable degree Its
religious devotion under the soul
moving influences of war.
Paris, Nov. 13.-The cathedrals OF
Paris are crowded each Sunday with
persons who have been awakened to
new devoutness by the war. Every
day there is a continuous file Of faith
full in the churches Of every parish In
Paris, burning candles to their patron
saints. They are mostly women, but
the men are in far greater proportion
than has been see in the churches
In many Among these men
are many wounded. who make their
way painfully to the affairs on crutches
in order to perform their devotions.
In the improvised chapel at the
Pasteur Lyceum building, where the
American military hospital is located.
al altar was provided at one end for
the Catholics and at the other end
for members Of the Church of Eng
land. while a. place was made in the
center for the Protestant non-con-
fOrmist services.