Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-10-23
SECOND CARDINAL IN CENTURY
TOPREFER THE BLACK CASSOCK
OF PRIEST TO RED and ERMINE

LONDON, Oct. Yesterday he
was Cardinal Billot, a prince of the
Roman Catholic church.
Today he is simply Father Billot in
a novitiate at Galloro, on beautiful
Lake Nemi between Ariccia and Gen
zano, Italy.
Yesterday-if he wished to-he wore
the cardinal red and ermine; he was
received with seni-royal honors; he
was one of the small body of men
who assisted the pope in administer
ing the affairs of worldwide
church.
Plain PriestIx Life
Today-by his own will-he wears
a simple black cassock; he is simply
a Jesuit priest in an army of Jesuit
priests; he dwells in simple priestly
cell, burning the midnight oil over
his precious books or writing the
manuscripts which have given him
fame among the theologians of his
church.
It's one of the most dramatic re-
cent happenings i'll the history of a.
church, full of human drama.
A famous condemnation by pope
led to Ludovic Billot being made a
cardinal An equally famous con-
demnation by pope has led to his
giving up the cardinalate.
BiIlot is one of the many French
men who entered the church and
served it with their cultured brains
and Skillful pens. For years he was
professor of dogmatic theology in the
Greg0rian university in Rome He
conbatted the nodernists in the
church.
Cardinals Hat
When Pope Plus x issued his fa-
NOUS condemnation of modernism in
1911 he insisted that Billot, who had
never been bishop, should accept d
cardinals hat.
The Jesuits always have avoided
public or ecclesiastical honors They
become bishops in foreign missions
only when there is no one else to
accept the responsibility.
Father Billot wanted to remain
simple reverend father, but he was
overruled. Even then he hardly
changed his method Of living. He
wore the robes of cardinal only on
great state occasions in the church. 81
Ordinarily he wore a simple black
cassock, without even single red
button to indicate his rank Etiquette
prescribes that cardinals shall move
around Rome in carriages Billot
went afoot like the simplest country
priest, freely n1ingIing with the popu-
lece by whom he was known and
loved.
He took simple apartment in the
y
small flat without luxury of any kind
It's walls were adorned with few
cheap religious pictures such as the
humblest citizens can buy in Rome.
On cheap wardrobe was hung a
big crucifix He ate at the refectory
with the professors of the college.
His devoted servant begged him to
have his meals in his apartment as
do other cardinals Billot always re-
piled that what was good enough for
the professors and students was good
enough for him.
The "CameI0ts de ROi''
Now in France there is a paper
"Action Franchise which is Catholic
and Royalist. 1t supports an organi-
zation of young hot-heads, rne Came
lots de Roi," who want to see a
Bourbon restored to a throne in
France. The. editors are Charles
Maurras and Leon DaudeC The lat
ter is Catholic Maurras is a
pagan, who adnireS the church as o
world power
On the eve of the World war, the
pope was about to issue con-
demnation of the books of Maurras,
but was dissuaded from doing so by
Cardinal Billot. Later the condemna-
ton actually was written, but was
not issued.
In September last the aged Cardi-
nal Andrieu of Bordeaux issued
condemnation OF the Action Fran
caise" and its editors. The latter
issued a spirited reply. The pope
sent letter of warm praise to Car
dinal Andrieu.
Continued on Page Six)