The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01
BAN ON MAETERLlNCK
F0RESHADOWED HERE
Father Mcmahon Attacked
Works Of Belgian Author
Fifteen Years Ago.
HERESY IN THE BLUE BIRD
Finds Objectionable Ideas in
Play-Calls "The In
trudcr" Bad.
HERESY IN THE BLUE BIRD


street. commenting yesterday upon the
ban placed by Rome upon the works OF |
the Belgian poet and mystic.
81 do not know. of course. II the con-
demnation of Maetcrlincks works is so
entire MS reported, said Father Nc
Mahon. and We will not know the exact /
truth until the text of the decree arrives
IN this country. That may be week |
or more hence. But | will say that all
OF Maeterlinck's works that have read I,
deserve TO be put upon the Index EX-
pursatoris."
Father Mcmahon delivers lectures in /,
this city each winter. at Sherrys and else |
where. upon the Church's views Of current
art and writing. illustrating his points
with many references TO books. pictures f,
md plays of the day.
Condemned Fifteen Years Ago.
He says that he had occasion specif.
caly to condemn Maeterlinck's writings
as long as fifteen years ago.
1T il suggested" Father Mcmahon
was told. that Maeterlinck's latest work.
our Eternity published first in French
as La Mort was the last straw In the
opinion Of the Church, because It ex-
presses belief in euthanasia and no be-
lief, only "A vague hope. in immortality"
"Euthanasia, advocacy OF a merciful
death for those who seem doomed and
are In agony, is certainly heresy in the
view of the Church. the priest replied.
I'VE hold that you have no right to take
life while yet IT is possible for grace TO
descend on the sufferer. OF course. the
church commands more than vague
hope In Immortality.
Father Mcmahon said that II nust be
remembered that the Roman Congre-
CATION does not censor books unless they
ere expressly brought to its attention.
and that therefore some one must have
found serious objection TO the Belgians
writings.
is not the decree. as reported. too
sweeping:' he was asked Isn't The
Blue Bird a harmless and beautiful play
that has given delight to the hearts OF
thousands?
Heresies In 1.-THE Blue Bird"
Not at ALL" was the prompt answer.
"Siany very good church people were sur
rrised to hear me say in a lecture not so
long ago that The Blue Bird was harm
ful. hut IL is. 1t contains two distinct
heresies.
THE first is the scene in the so-called
kngdom of the future. where the souls OF
babies yet unborn await their call to earth
That IL nothing but the doctrine that
souls exist before the bodies they are to
inhabit and are kept in some faraway
place until called to earth--a doctrine
that the Church repudiated as far back
a. the fourth or fifth century.
"The other vital heresy Ia where the
author makes character say that the
dead exist only as we invoke them in our
memories-that outside our memories they
exist not at all. That Is rank materialism.
There is a flood of books and plays
which contain matter that seriously Of
tends the Church." added the priest.
There Is now In use In the public schools
OF New York physical geography to
which ! called attention last year. This
textbook assumes that the general theory
o. evolution is a proved fact, that II Is
proved that man had animal ancestors.
Says Ban Il Effective.
What would happen II this were called
TO the attention OF Rome, you ask? Well.
The book would be put on the Index and
that would mean that Catholic children
must not study it-and they would not.
Do not think for moment that the
Churchs DEGREES upon books are little
needed. They are almost universally
obeyed.
THE result, have no doubt. would
b. that that particular textbook would
have to be replaced In the schools The
name Of the author escapes me at pres
en'."
Father Mcmahon said that he did not
believe that any action to bring down
l.omes ban upon the book would be
taken.
Father Mcmahon glanced over a list
o. Maeterlinck's published works and COM
nerted on them. To suggestion that
The Life OF the Bee" was purely ma
tuIe study in poetic language he replied
that natural history was susceptible OF
beng so treated as to embody heresy.
Cali. "The Intruder" Bad.
Sister Beatrice though but the re-
telling of medieval legend. is so perme-
sted by Macterinck's false and I'M
beautiful mysticism as to be objection
able" he said. las for Norma Wanna
II IL better not TO try to imagine what
the Belgian makes Of that theme--how
he treats H. His Mary Magdalene'
would Inevitably invite the Church's pro-
hbl,ion. The Intruder! All. there you
have thoroughly bad play!" And the
PRIEST held up n warning finger.
Dodd, Mead 4 Co. are the sole pub
fishers IN this country Of Maeterlinck' 8
writings Members Of the firm were un-
willing yesterday to comment upon the
action Of Rome. They said that they
doubted that the decree would noticeaDly
ANe.t III" sale OF the authors books.
The publishers said that 9Th. Blue
Fa" far and away the best selling
book hy the Belgian. has run mo ever
forty editions, varying in size from LOU
10 .,tV0 copies. Nearly 100000 copies OF
this play have therefore been sold. II ~
taid by managers OF theatres .hat more
children have seen THE Blue Bro than
have seen Peter Pan" and that were II
rot for Maude Adamss popularity as
Pe''r IN" Maeterlinck fairy play would
l. ipon outdstance Barrie's drama.
A. tine New York Public Library 1t was
Sad that the library had no system nf
Classification In use that showed the ef-
fec 60 the Catholic prohibition upon :he
CIRCULATION Of any of its books.
we can take down any volume IN
the library said one officer. and tell
!ou just how many times II has been
Nnlhrawn but we may have ifty copies
o' took and one copy will have peer
"lhlawn fif,y times and an )ther but
,s'ce N'r do We figure up the demand
TO- Tue vur,s ot a given author.
II Is not likely that we viii rItice
an 'fr0t Il the Catholic Chur;c'a &C.
tor"
VI Thr SeagOers.
AaNals hy the French liner France
Eem Eayre.
Nre U.aA