Forces that Count

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 21, 23 May 1907, Page 10

Forces that Count

There are in the French episcopate and clergy a serenity aaid a vast but quiet power of resistance which recall the well-known lines of Addison :— 1 The soul, secured in her existence, smiles At the drawn dagger, ao>d defies its point." They stand in firm and immovable defiance of proscription, plunder, and persecuting laws that were meant to destroy the life of the Church in France as truly as the assassin's lifted dagger-point is meant to destroy the life of the intended- victim's body. They Argue not Against heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope, but still bear up and Steer right onward '. ' ' The high courage, the simple dignity and restrained selfcontrol with which the French bishops and clergy have met the grave crisis of the present persecution have baffled- the rulers of France and deeply impressed manythoughtful and fair-minded people who are not of our Fold. One of these is the Countess de Franqueville, in whose house the French bishops held their memorable meeting four months ago. The Countess is described by, the London ' Catholic Weekly ' as ' English by birth arid' education, and a Protestant '. In the course of a recent lengthy letter in the London ' Daily Telegraph ' this broad-minded Protestant lady writes as follows of the simple heroism and the springing hope of the Catholic episcopate of France :— ' The meeting of the French episcopate in this bouse, January I*3 to 19, brought me for the first time infta the midst of the clerical part of the French Church.

The Bishops were full of the heroism and 'courage of their clergy, and left me in profound admiration for themselves. Their cheerfulness, courage, faith, spoke of endowment rather than ruin ; and indeed it is plain that the grace of God is with them, is with the Church in this tremendous ordeal. Not more than six out of 60,0*K) clergy have followed the schismatic lead of the " Matin ". (If I have understated I shiall be grateful for correction, with the names of each cure and parish. I have taken trouble .to find out, but up to date this is all I can verify .,) There is no critigiing ; there is every variety of individuality ; but on every side in laity and clergy (both secular and religious) ia one splendid, solid rally round the Pope, their head. Indeed, there is every reason to be encouraged, despite the immense difficulties of Ihe situation. There is unity ; the spirit of sacrifice is spreading like a flame. Personally, I could tell of magnificent gifts from the very poor, from artisans and tradespeople, from the daily necessities cut lower, from savings of many years. I for One look out in hope. As before in this world's history, those whose horizon is limited by flesh' and blood have found that there are still other forces to be reckoned with which they had ignored, . those of th© Spirit. The end is yet to see.' Yes. ' There are still other forces '„ And ' the end is yeit to see . Never in all her history was "the Church in France so solidly united and so confident in the face of a tyrannous Caesarism. Herein shines star of hope. And its gentle beams show ■us a Napoleon dying conquered on lone St. Helena, and a Bismarck suppliant at the gates of Canossa. Will the pigmy politicians 1 of tc-day succeed where the giant statesmen of yesterday failed ? We doubt it. There are ' other forces to be reckoned with '. And already they have broken or warred some of the lines of the atheistic 'Freeonas'on-Socialist-Radical 'Bloc's' attack uDon the Church in France.