RESTORING RHEIMS CATHEDRAL.

New Zealand Tablet, 23 June 1921, Page 32

RESTORING RHEIMS CATHEDRAL.

In the course of a very interesting address at the French Institute in London M. Pierre Champion recapitulated the stages of the martyrdom of Rheims Cathedral the tragic fire of 1914, the immense damage suffered by the nave and large pillar, and the smashing in of the roof. Yet, in spite of the disaster, the buildings must and could be restored of 2300 statues, 60 only had been destroyed by the enemy; all the open parts of the Cathedral were now protected by an immense corrugated iron roof, while the flagstone ' pavement had been renewed. An interesting fact was that the old Cathedral of Hincmar had been unearthed by recent excavations, in the course of which a well with leaden conduits had been discovered near the altar. These conduits probably carried water to a baptistery. Could it possibly be the baptistery of Clovis (Hlodwig) ? It would take a long time, strenuous efforts, and taste to accomplish the restoration. M. Champion next entered into particulars concerning the restoration oh the city, of which 60 hectares (about 150 acres) had been devastated by fire. Lack of funds had caused the work to be suspended for six months. The coffers of the State were empty, and M. Loucheur, who had recently visited the city, had advised it to issue a municipal loan. Were the financial situation a better one, asserted the lecturer, no traces would remain within a couple of years of a field of ruins, comparable with those of Pompeii.