The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-17
Old World Gossip
BY LA MAnauIsE DE roNTENoY.
y RIME MINISTER ASQUITH has
created something OF scnsa-
ton in religious circles through

public expression the other day to tho
conviction that tho existing laws
and obsolete chapter. which should
uisnppcar. not only from tho statute
books. but from tho common law az
well"
Tho Premier delivered himself OF this
utterancc at his historic official resi-
dence IN Downing street. IN response
to deputation that had called upon
him I'm order 10 press for the repeal OF
the laws against blasphcmy.
rhe Prime Minister, however. Ia
wrong in describing these laws as OBJ
soletc. For. during the last six years
there have been more prosecutions for
llasphcny than during the previous
100 years.
The most notable case. or rather the
one which attracted the most atten-
sion. was that OF man OF the name OF
Harry Boulter. who. before consid :
cradle public gathering in HYDE Park.
had nssailcd Christianity and the
B!blc in particularly coarse language.
The prisoner wRs found guilty by the
iury. and the presiding judge Sir Wal
ter Phillimore, At the Central Criminal
Court. In delivering nentence. cmphn-
sized the fac; that, while tho prisoner
at liberty TO entertain any optn-
tons he pleased about Christianity. nnd
even TO give expression thereto In con-
versatioi with his friends and nc-
uuaintanccs. he had no right to pro-
claim them to the public. unlimited.
AID in public place.
Strictly speaking, according 70 the
laws dating from Edward VI. and stu
IN existence In England. "all bias
phemios against the Creator, dental OF
Ills being. all contuIncly regarding the
Saviour all profanc ecofIlng at> tho
Scripturca. or holding up amy portion
thereof 10 contempt or ridiculc," arc
punishable by tho criminal courts with
.r.a I'm mr. lAr mt a nd n
punishment. The blacphcmy net OF
SOS provides three years imprisonment
for any ono denying tho Trinity. This
remained in existence until 1913. and
in this year the courts decided that the
laws of blasphernS did not apply TO tho
discussion OF particular controversial
points OF tho Scriptures, between
learned nen-"
In 1881 EdwRr Moxon was sentenced
so a term os imprisonment FOR having
which was regarded blasphemous.
and IN 1867 man OF the name OF
Cowen Was held guilty OF hlasphemy
for having, in 8 lecture-room which he
lad hired for the purpose. declared
the character OF Christ detective, His
teaching misleading, and the Bible no
more inspired than any other book.
ON that occasion the high court reRf-
firm d the pronounccment OF Chief
Justice Hale from the bench. to the CT
feet that "ChriStanlty IL part OF the
laws OF England"
III the reports OF the Royal Com
mission on Criminal Law. OF some
twenty-five years ago. when. at it, In
stance. many statutes we're revised and
others repealed. emphasis was laid on
tho fact that, although tho law of the
land forb!ds all denial of tho being
md providence OF God, OF tho Chris
tian religion. IL Is only when irrcliS Ion
assumes the form OF an insult to God
and man that the criminal law inter-
fcres."
In Germany tho punishment for
Dlasphcmy Is Imprisonment for a term
lasting anywhere from one day 70 three
years; but the blasphcIny must be ut
tered in public. be offensive IN char
acter aud have wounded the religious
tusceptibilities of some other person
In Austria whoever commits blus
phemy, by speech or writing. Is liable
to Imprisonment for anywhere from six
months TO ten years
In Germany. IN Austria, and especial
~ in Great Britnin, the prosecutions
under the blasphemy laws arc almost
invariably initiated by private persons,
and II is this that Prime Minister AS
Quth has in mind in procla!ming him
relt ia favor OF their repeal and aboii-
tion. Tho officers OF tho law, that is
10 say. the police authorities the pub
Tic prosecutor, and tho magistrates. arc
never disposed 10 move in the matter
but when soma private citizen comes
along, lo0ecs complaint, swears ont
the necessary afijavits. and charges
another citizen with breaking tho laws
ns Ia Llas pheiny. then the courts are
compelled 10 deal with the matter. and
10 apply the statutes they stand.
The extent to which they are applied
depends upon tbs tact, tho breadth or
mind and the good sense OF the Judge
or magistrate called upon to deal with
ne case
Tile Duchesse dc Talleyrand iSho
Wa Miss Anna Gould. OF Now York.
las done wisely 10 withdraw her oppo-
fition 10 the suit brought by her Judi
ci4lly divorced husband. Boni de Cas-
telzne. for the annulment OF his innr-
riage 10 her hy the ccclcsicsticnl courts
OF The papacy AT Rome. ~ fact, Il Is
difficult - know why she ever contest
ed the case. and the only motive which
coulG possibly have prompted her
must have been an!mosity towards De
Cestcllane.
For the annu'nent OF her frat mar
r.ggc 10y the church-aiready sundered
IL tho eyes OF tho law by divorce
would not afrec; IL any way the lcg!ti-
macy OF her three boys BY De Castcl-
lane. any moro than the ecclesiastical
annulment OF the reigning Prince OF
Monaco's FIRST marriage to Lady Mary
Douglas Jamllton, nov Princess Frs-
teucs, impaired the legitimacy, In the
sight OF tho church, OF her only son by
her first marriage, now Crown Prince
Louis OF Monaco. on the other hand
decree of the church 10 tho effect
that her marriage 10 De Caetellane was
invalid, would have the result OF rem
dering her present marriage to the
Duo de Talleyrand lawful. according
10 the Ideas o! the Catholic Church ana
OF all OF its adhereuts As the mat
ter now stands they consider her union
to the duke as unlaw:ul. and her little
Roy by her second marriage. namely
thc hve-year- old Duke OF Sagan. as