A MOUNTAIN AND A MOLE-HILL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 33, 22 December 1898, Page 4

A MOUNTAIN AND A MOLE-HILL

THAT 'POLISH HOEEOB.' Last week we published a partial and half-hearted exposure of the insane story of fantastic cruelty that went the rounds of the New Zealand Press under the sensational heading of a ' Polish Horror/ To-day we give, on the authority of the London Tablet of November 5, a more complete account of the affair, which goes to prove for the thousandth time how imaginative, sensation-monging journalists contrive, in the dull season, to magnify a mole-hill into a mountain. Our readers will remember the story. A priest named Bilakiewicz, at Kowno, in Russian Poland, was accused of confining a certain number of his female penitents in the crypt beneath his church, of scourging them with his own hands, of trampling them under foot, and spitting upon them, while various grotesque details were added about a skeleton, and a phosphorescent head representing the devil, which were used still further to excite their fears. The following translation of an article which appeared in tne Polish journal, the Cea* of October 13, has been sent us for publication, and will be read with interest. It would appear from this account, and from the attitude taken up by the Bishop, that some cau-e for complaint has been given by the possibly indiscreet zeal of Father Bilakiewicz, but ou the other hand most of the more objectionable features of the story seem to meet with a full and categorical denial. THE AFFAIE AT KOWNO. The exaggerated account which appeared in the Sunei of the charges made against the Abbe Bilakiewicz, at Kowno, has led not only the Polish journals, but also the Russian Press, to send unprejudiced reporters to the spot in order to investigate the circumstances of this curious case. The article in the Kraj has already appeared. To-day we have the reports furnished by the correspondents of the Kuryer Polski, of Posen, and of the Slowo, of Varsovia. M. Ludomir Grendyszynski, having proceeded to Kowno, has forwarded the following narrative to the Kuryer PolsH :—: — The Abbe Bilakiewcz, a most zealous, virtuous, devoted priest, living alone and in poverty (for he spends the whole of his income in relieving the poor), has made it the object of his life to endeavour to combat the immorality and vice which have lately developed at Kowno to an alarming extent. For the last three months he has redoubled his efforts, and no longer content with leading back to the paths of virtue those sinners who resorted to his confession*^ he has himself come forth in search of such as were causing public scancUl, and has induced them to do penance and make reparation. In mauy of the more desperate cases, when he has had to do with people utterly given over to drunkenness and vice, he has prevailed on them to make long retreats in the church, imposing of them severe penances ; and after having heard their confessions he has helped them to lead a better life. He has also found employment for many of these poor creatures, thus aiding them to gain an honest living. The peuitents thus converted feel the deepest gratitude towards the Abbe Bilakiewicz, and some of them even help him in his holy

mission. The Abbe,.seeing the good results of ..bia'laDoars^resolvedto strike at the root of the evil, and summoned a woman whose house was a harbour of vice to do penance.. This woma,n, after making K^pblafessionv,learniner'''6'n i her r'efciM hqj^tfth'aVrttie Abbe had prevailed on her lodger tbrefornf^her life, thus depriving her of horvgains, went to the ■police and lodgM a against him. ,The following is; taken from -the police investigation, which was commenced directly after the complaint was lodged, charging the Abbe Bilakiewicz with torturing a number of his penitents, and with depriving them of their liberty. The penal law punishes this crime by the privation of civil rights and perpetual exile to Siberia. After the first sitting the tribunal of the Arrondissement of Kowno decided to release the accused on bail for 5,000 roubles until the end of the inquiry. This sum having been immediately subscribed, the Abbe waa permitted to leave the prison. But the prosecutor having raised objections to this, the Chamber of the Tribunal of Wilna annulled the decision of the tribunal of Kowno, and the was again imprisoned.- ; At tfie.present moment the preliminary investigation is over, and the trial will take place in about two months 1 time. Having thus given the facts of the case, I desire to inform you of the universal indignation caused by the false reports spread by some newspaper correspondents who have published a crowd of details absolutely without foundation, and only inspired by prejudice, and who have endeavoured to represent an . isolated and quite an exceptional incident as if it were the outcome of a systematic and deliberate policy, in order to be able afterwards to charge not only the accused, but the whole Catholic clergy and ecclesiastical authorities generally with action of a subversive tendency against the religion and government of the Tsar. The correspondent of the Slowo oiLVarsovia gives the whole business in detail, contradicting the false and absurd reporfrin the Swiet. According to this report it is untrue that Kowno was the scene of a riot ; it is untrue* that the prison haa been besieged by women, that the aid of the fireIruade has been requisitioned, that stones have been thrown at the police, that women have put on mourning, that the priests have ordered fasts, and that servants have revolted against their masters, if the latter were Russians. The story which represents the Abbe Bilakiewicz as imposing extraordinary penances in the crypt of the cauroh, as exhibiting an immense head like a devil, ' masked ' and ' phosphorescent ' attached to a skeleton, and as pouring forth curses en those who opposed him, is also full of inventions and exaggerations ; as well as other details, such as that offenders lying prostrate in the form of a cross were trampled on, spat upon, and kicked during the services of the church, etc. The animus which prompted the article in the Swiet is manifest by its alleging that the Abbe's actions are the outcome of political fanaticism. Lastly, it is false to assert that the ecclesiastical authorities, with Mgr. Pallulon at their head, were acquainted with and were witnesses of the ill-usage infliuttd on the penitents and their imprisonment in the crypt beneath the church. It is unfair to speak of priests in the plural and of ecclesiastics in general in connection with this affair, since the Abho Bilakiewicz is the only priest in the whole dioces-e who has adopted this line of conduct. As a matter of fact, his action has been condemned by the rest of his brethren, who see in suoh seve/ity a contradiction of Christ precepts and regard it as contrary to Canon Law. Some such oondemna ion has been pronounced by Mgr. Pallulon himself, in the offioial contradiction which he sent to the editor of the Swiet.

Numerous German enthusiasts, on visiting the famous Luther House at Eiaenaoh recently, srave expression to the idea of how delightful it would be to drink a glass of beer from the table at which Luther had sat ! An enterprising berewing company in the neighbourhood has now conceived the idea of buying the house and, while retaining all its characteristics, of turning it into a restaurant. A rather appropriate way of honouring Luther's memory. Once in a while Mark Twain has taken a hand in politics. On one occasion, being invited to speak in the interest of his fellow townsman, General Joseph Hawiey. who was a candidate for reelection to the United St .tes Senate, he said, in the course of a droll address : ' General Hawiey deserves your support, although, he has about as mu<;h influence m purifying the Senate as a bunch of flowers would have in sweetening a glue factory. But he's all right ; he never would turn any poor beggar away from his door emptyhanded. He always gives them something — almost without exception a letter of introduction to me, urging me to help them.' One of the great centres of attraction in Dunedin is the D.I.C. The management of this favourite establishment spare no puns to make the D.I.C. a place of interest. No person, either old or yo m<r, should miss the opportunity of visiting the warehouse during Christmas and New Year. If one wants an inexpensive present or one of a more pretentious and costly character, the finest selection is obtainable at the D.I.C. The large increase of space devoted to the display of fancy goods, toys, books and stationery, etc., affords customers an opportunity of viewing the finest stock in the Colony. Goods purchased in quantity for bazaars, guilds, etc.. are subject to a special discount. A grand display of mechanical toys, all in motion, will be made each afternoon about 3 o'clock during Xinas week. Observe the address— D.l.C, High and Rattray streets. — „,% Mr. Gawne, of Dunedin (says the Southland Times of April 13 1891), has just been on a visit to Invercargill to push buaiueas a little. Not that it wants much canvassing, for since he commenced the manufacture of his Worcestershire Sauce, the demand has kept pace with his capacity to supply it. He makes a really good thing ; indistinguishable iroin the famous Lea and Perrins which he places upon one's table at a mdch lower price, and trusts to that to secure a steadily growing trade. Those who have not yet tried the colonial article should put their prejudice aside for a time and test the question with a bottle or two. — „.* *