15. The Bible And The French Revolution. 285
took her by the hand, and turning to the assembly said:“ Mortals, cease to tremble before the powerless thunders of a God whom your fears have created. Henceforth acknowledge no divinity but Reason. I offer you its noblest and purest image; if you must have idols, sacrifice only to such as this.... Fall before the august Senate of Freedom, oh! Veil of Reason!...
“ The goddess, after being embraced by the president, was mounted on a magnificent car, and conducted, amid an immense crowd, to the cathedral of Notre Dame, to take the place of the Deity. There she was elevated on the high altar, and received the adoration of all present.” 406
This was followed, not long afterward, by the public burning of the Bible. On one occasion“ the Popular Society of the Museum” entered the hall of the municipality, exclaiming,“ Vive la Raison!” and carrying on the top of a pole the half-burned remains of several books, among others breviaries, missals, and the Old and New Testaments, which“ expiated in a great fire,” said the president,“ all the fooleries which they have made the human race commit.” 407
It was popery that had begun the work which atheism was completing. The policy of Rome had wrought out those conditions, social, political, and religious, that were hurrying France on to ruin. Writers, in referring to the horrors of the Revolution, say that these excesses are to be charged upon the throne and the church. 408 In strict justice they are to be charged upon the church. Popery had poisoned the minds of kings against the [ 277 ] Reformation, as an enemy to the crown, an element of discord that would be fatal to the peace and harmony of the nation. It was the genius of Rome that by this means inspired the direst cruelty and the most galling oppression which proceeded from
406 Alison, Vol. I, ch. 10. 407 Journal of Paris, 1793, No. 318. Quoted in Buchez-Roux ' s collection of
Parliamentary History, Vol. XXX, pp. 200, 201. 408 See Appendix.