NOTES FROM PARIS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 5, 4 February 1925, Page 57

NOTES FROM PARIS

Brittany has given yet another sign of its organisation in defence of Catholic freedom , when, only a- few weeks ago, a great demon'stration took place in the town of Quimper. Some 20,000 Bretons, both men and women, wearing their traditional costume, joined in p& 'ti- solemn march to Quimper Cathedral, where they were addressed by the Bishop of Quimper and Leon. It was a most inspiring sight. With one voice the multitude took up the chanting of the Credo, those unable to get into the overcrowded cathedral taking up the chant out in the street. Crowds of police had been drafted into the town to preserve order, but so far as the Catholic demonstrators were concerned there was nothing to do beyond allowing the procession to go peacefully on its way. At a given' spot the crowd defiled past the Bishop, marching to the grounds of the eve die, where a number of speeches were made, and a strong resolution of protest was passed and sent to the Government, There was a counter-demonstration by the 1 supporters of anti-clericalism : but only two thousand took part in it, and conflict was avoided. But M. Herriot, who was chief speaker at a. banquet at Roubaix, got up by supporters of his secularist educational schemes, referred somewhat unkindly to the Catholic demonstration at Quimper. He said the Republic was attacked on all sides. That there had been a Clerical demonstration at Quimper to protest against supposed persecution by the Government. There was talk about irreconcilable adversaries of .the Republic; and M. Herriot left it to his hearers as to who these adversaries might be. f- - Monsignor Gibier, the Bishop of Versailles, has sent round a warning to all the religious superiors of his diocese that they might expect visits from agents of the Home Office, with the object of making inquiries. All these investigations the Bishop having for their aim the preparation of a, new religious persecution, we remind superiors of religious communities that they arc not legally obliged to answer these questions; nor should they be perturbed, and still less allow themselves to be frightened. After holding office for more than twelve years Bom Bernard, Abbot of the Grande Trappe, has resigned office on account of failing health and a new election has just been held. The Abbot General, Dom Ollitrant de Koryvallan, presided over the Chapter, which was attended by the Abbot of Thymadeuc, the Abbot of Beliefontaine, and the Abbot of Three Fountains in Rome. After assisting at Mass of the Holy Ghost, the monks and abbots proceeded to an election, at which Dom Jean-Marie Clerc, Cellarer of Grande Trappe was elected Abbot. The new Abbot entered the Trapp Order when ho was 24. During the war he saw active service in the East, and was decorated for his gallantry and devotion to jjr duty. Immediately after the Chapter the ■ new Abbot was installed by the Abbot GenThe aibbatial benediction will be performed at an early date by Mgr. Bardel, Bishop of Seez, in whose diocese the Grande Trappe is situated.