RENE BAZIN ON THE CHURCH IN FRANCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1651, 18 January 1913, Page 9

RENE BAZIN ON THE CHURCH IN FRANCE.

• ENCOURAGING PROSPECT. A most interesting lccture was given on December 3, at Westminster Hall, London, by Reno Bazin, author of "L'lsolce," called in its English version "Tho Nun." Reno Bazin is a native of Angers. His family distinguished itself in the licroic struggle of La Vendee for "Dieu .et la Patrio." Rene Bazin (snys tho "Catholic Times") was destined for tho Bar, but lie soon abandoned that career for one. more congenial to his instincts. In tho.pen ho saw a.powerful weapon in defenco of faith and morality; it might even point for him tho way to fame. lie was not mistaken; in his case it has accomplished both objects To-day he is ono of tho most illustrious'of French' writers. The subject of the lccture' was' "La Renaissance Roligieusc.cn Franco a l'heure prosente." No one is better qualified to speak on this theme than the lecturer,' for Rene Bazin has contributed, by his works, by his lectures, and by his active sympathy with tho great cause, no small share to tho relipious revival witnessed of late years in his native France.

• "To know a country," said the lecturei "it is necessary to have lived in it France, Catholic.France, is not known ii England. ' Newspapers 6poak of th theatre, of fashion, of the doings of pa; Paris, .but they cither 'speak not cr giv but a poor idea of. tho deeper feelings o tho nation. . ,Thcy know nothing of th great movement which touclies'at tho ver; root of life.- Tho superficial observer ma; deplore tho desolation of a iield—when th blasts of winter sweep over it, but th farmer knows, that tho seed is there, al ready' ho sees vigorous blades appearing he knows that spring will ripen tho fruit Beligion is not dead in France, the T« vival will come, indeed it has begun. Th period of suffering'is not over yet for th Church in Franco, but it will come ou of the persecution glorious and 'strong Before the separation .of Church am State the Church in France was support* by an endowment of thirty-five millioi francs, largely made, up of bequests. Al this was-confiscated. After the epoliatioi the Bishop of a poor mountainous dioces told his clercr that he could not give then more .than 500 francs, or Ji2o a year, un loss ho sacrificed certain charitable works "ironscignour," said an old cure to' th Bishop, "wo aro nccustoined to poycrt; and can .live on little, give us 500 franc and continue tho good works." • The Government, has confiscated th churches, and where the municipality i anti-religious it Jets them-fall into mil for want of repairs. They often refuse.t> repair them, even when tho 1 Catholics effe to pay for them. But al the sido cf thes churches in'- ruins there' riso v.p- nev churches, built from the voluntary con tribntions of the faithful. Thus withii the last seven y<>ars there-have b"en -buil twonty-four l churches in twenty-four nev parishes of Paris, bVsidcs twe-nty-fiv auxiliary chapels. And thesa , rhurche and.chapels aro'filled with worshipper? There are parts of France where'tho worl of ahti-rcligious-propaganda has pene trated even into rural districts, but ther are many others where ev<ryono goes ti .Mass-on a Sunday, and. where, no on .misses, his Easter duties*-. All over Franc free .s'cliopls r , "ccolcs, libros,',' have beei built'-and are, bsing .maintained bv th Church out of tho alms of tho faithful. I] these the children receive a sound reli gious instruction.. Tho cltnry aie inde 'fatigable in their'zeal. .Cardinal'Aincttc a few months ago. told an abbe that h was going to scnd!him as cure to a certaii village, "lint, your Imminence, there, is n church in the place," said tho abbe "Precisely,' but you will build 1 one ii time,'' rejoined the Cardinal. "lint ther is no presbytery." "Never mind; you wil live in lodgings," The abbe's astomsbmen : was complete when -ho h"ard there was lio ' :?'.Tt--.is' precisely t pet that tint lam sending you," m ; d tt> ' Cardinal. .The cure went.-provided wit] a portable altar., He hired rooms, in th br-st of which he nut .up Iho altar, nni then nailed -a-'notice oir.the that' Mass would be at eight o'clock. Nov • ho has a church,.a school, end'a ferven '' WTregation. v. • Since tho expulsion of the .Orders am ; the'dosing of'tho, seminaries the deartl of priests has of course Veen, bul , vocations for .the priesthood are again'on the increase. ' Not only'sTO the -workwrof France being brought back to tilt practice of their religion, a great religious movement is going on rmong tho intell"c tniil' clnosss.- Even tapers such as the VFigw" nay a tribute of recognition tn tho fact that tho best intellectual part of tfranea.i's returning to religions, fervour. The, lecturer-paid a warm, liiliute to re- . lipioiis frVsdom'-in nn'gt.ihd..tml sn ; d,that hi-' 1 of. liis"(lAiifrlitprs; livnd, ns religions, ,' . nm'cr the, protection .'of ; .}h'> English law. Twir». he 's->>'d, had fhiiland teiidned hos--1 nifility t" Frnnce", and' ennied he grnti- : kudo; a f the time of the I'rencli Rtvolu- ' ti"'' and now.'

Westminster Hall was filled, nlniost overcrowded, by an npurocwtive ntidienco,' which we-mly annlnudod the illustrious lecturer. The "chair v.->s Wren bv Sir William Dunn. dressed in'bin official rnbos. Mrnisignof Canon Mo.v«s.'' Maiisijtnor Howleft, and. thi Abbot rf Ficrnbornutrh short speeches thanking Monsieur'Rene Bazin for his interesting; lectin e. . /