BISHOP MERMILLOD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 32, 6 December 1873, Page 9

BISHOP MERMILLOD.

When Mgr. Mermillod was at Bourg, a short time since, he made the tollowing little speech to certain gentlemen of the neighbourhood, who came to pay him their respects :— "I am the first Swiss citizen exiled irom my native country since 1815. Switzerland .banished Jeaa Jacques Rousseau ; so there is a resemblance between myself and that great man. But, believe me, lam not sorry for my exile — it is an event which drags the mnsks off certain faces that are beßt exposed. Uur salvation is possible after the crisis wo are passing through. Catholicism must penetrate into tlie laws of the country. What is the good of a Christianity which is only remembered at Mass ? If Christianity is truth, it ought to predominate in every act of our lives. In separating religion from civil life, the evils which surround us have become possible. If religion is to be forgotten during life, why should it be remembered at the hour of death ? Why do you reproach the Internationalists with their abolition of the funeral rites ? I inhabit at ; -Barney, a mansion which Voltaire built for Madame Denis. He little thought he was building a home for a Buhop. I often visit hii apartment ami his garden. When in his room two things strike me— tlie portrait of Frederick the Great and that of Catherine II —then, certain portraits of ladies, whose lives were- well, they are dead, and let us leave them in peace. These portraits make me think of three tilings— force, schism, and immorality— the three dominating evils of mortem times. People say the triumph of Prussia is that of Protea. tantism. This is true, and it makes me hope for the rise of France. Prussia-would have died had she had all the misfortunes of France. The triumph of France is the triumph of Catholicism. The last triumph ot your enemies (Prussians) is the last effort of Protestantism. An American gentleman, and a Protestant, told me the other day that he never beheld anything like the materialism, poverty, and fearful immorality of Berlin. Paris was a holy city compared with it. la franco, on the contrary, I ccc that religion is becoming much more general— the churches are well attended, and all classes are inspired with a feehng of the absolute necessity of religion as a guide both in uri" m-°Palm -° Pal and P° litical life - lam going to remain at Ferney. Wnen I telegraphed to the Pope to say where I was, he telegraphed °.~ , g endarmeß drove you into Ferney j pray, stay there, and purify the temple of Voltaire.'"