Evening journal., 1915-05-19
WAR SETS BACK THE
Church IN France FRANCE
DIR. RouSSel Tells of Ser
vices in Wine Cellar as
Shells Screamed
WORSHIPPERS SIT ON
CHAMPAGNE CASES

AnNIfH ctINiltr III IlNiiAh NAAA' 'NAA'++"
at which singing was with such vim that
it dulled the scream of German shells
outside during the bombardment of
Rheims, were among the vivid word pic
lures painted for more than two hundred
persons last night by the Rev DIR. Stuart
J.. Roussel, of Paris. who spoke in I'm
manuel Episcopal Church, Highlands. ON
sIhe HugHenot Church IN France" The
war the speaker said has threatened
with destruction Professionalism in the
French Republic and the existence of 45O
Huguenot congregations is endangered.
In response to his appeal for funds col
lection. plates were piled high with do
nations.
DR.. Roussel. who is a delegate from
the "Union Rationale des Eglises
Reformecs Evangeliques de France" is
in the United States to solicit relief
fund for the Huguenots in France. Fol
lowing his address last night he left for
Washington. where he will speak today.
He was at the bombardment Of Rheims
and other scenes Of fighting in France.
He told an interesting eyewitness ac-
count of the bombardment.
"Americans read in the newspapers of
the suffering of Belgium" said DR..
Roussel "but they are ignorant of what
France has had 10 suffer in this conflict.
Today her evangclstic hope in the
Huguenot Church is Pickering, and un-
less help comes from our American
brothers the Christian religion will get
a setback that may take years 10 catch
up again.
"The war in France was entirely
unexpected. When the Archduke of
Austria was assassinated little did
the people OF the republic think they
would have 10 go TO battle. Practl-
cally all of the population. of the
northern cities had gone 10 the sea-
shore resorts when the fatal courier
appeared with the command general
mobilization Men. who the day be-
fore were happy with their families,
kissed their loved ones goodbye and
marched off to war, some never to
be seen again. Every man between
the ages Of 20 and As was cOnscripted
to fight I was a year too old.
"The first few weeks Of the war
business stood still. Had IL not been
for the governments aid the banks
would have collapsed. Practically all
the men of the country were swept
away, leaving women. children and a
few old men to carry on the business
life of the republic The churches
were hard hit. The 450 smaller con-
eregations. which we're separated
from the State in 1905. had just man
aged TO struggle through a financial
crisis when the crash came. No
money could be obtained and the work
stopped. except for a few hard work
ers who now are spreading the call
FOR help over the world.
The most industrial and thus rich
est part of France has been invaded
In Rheims the historical capital ol
Champagne, not only the famous Ca
thedral has been ruined, but also the
Protestant Church, the parsonage. the
Y M. c. A. Hall and mission halls al
have been destroyed or burned down
Religious services for months have
been held underground.
"When ] reached Rheims sought
the house of the Protestant minister
II had been burned down as wer'
hundreds of others that we're ignite,
by German shells. | was told to seel
him In the wine cellar. ! thought tina
a strange place to look for a min
lister, but l not only found him sleep
ing among champagne cases, but tn
hhlut ONIttiS uncu iNI tnuINn UtWf
There | found church services il
progress while German shells scream
cd without on their messages of dealt
and destruction. Practically all o
the population OF the city lives under
ground. Some of the cellars exten
from seven to ten stories deep"
The speaker declared that Franc
IN recent years has been turning
,t,I hoN ttsI,t
the war has checked the church
work, IL has sobered the people
hearts and with help OF Americans
great religious victory can be won
the sorrow stricken republic. 81
would be a great catastrophe"
said. 'if we cannot get help at th
time But fifty or a hundred small'
churches will be closed il we car
not"
The people of France. the speakS
said are face to face with the realiti'
of life. Even under the present cond
+ sions, they are continuing their bul
iness pursuits. he said. His final al
peal for help was for France and II
Huguenot Church. "The republic doc
not want any other nations pro-
erty." he said. "She is content
SOW her good to all winds. More tina
200 of the 500 Huguenot ministers
France have gone to war. There
more war news in your newspaper
than in London, but you don't ha'
the real news. This war is terrib
and it threatens most of all the d
struction of the Huguenot Churc
which has been the hope of the churC
for years"
Or. Roussel declared Americans a.
4 not familiar with the work of the Hi
q guenot Church in France. Next tin
Z you go to my country" he said, 'y'
should see what is being done theT
This war has been great blow
the church. Prior TO the disturban
We were able to support ourselv
without appeals for assistance abroa
Not only did the church support its'
but it maintained and provided su
cessful mission work both at home,
the French colonies and elsewhere.
"In this time of stress and trial !
have appealed to our American bret
ren TO aid our good cause DR.. Rou
sci said the purpose of his visit he
was 70 present an appeal to /
churches of the United States, to hs
them in the unforeseen emergency cl
ated by the European war"
At the conclusion OF his address
speaker passed pamphlets amo
members of the congregation. entitl
"a Delegation from the Huguenots
~. LIT k,.IC 4..f- - l.