Part 2 - A Curious Tale of Two Priests in Beyssenac, Corrèze

Read part 1 here

Part 2

Shortly afterwards Bourzeix decided to demand his rights to the church and appealed to a tribunal to rule against the mayor and Goudstikker. On 12 February 1908 the tribunal in Brive ruled in his favour and ordered the mayor and Goudstikker to evacuate the church and to hand it over to Bourzeix together with all its religious objects and possessions. In addition Goudstikker was ordered to pay costs.

 

In spite of the judgement Goodstikker and the mayor refused to budge so the forces of order were summoned. On 21 March the sous-préfet of Brive wrote to the préfet of Corrèze in Tulle that 'despite this move Goudstikker had threatened to provoke riots for the following Sunday bringing in supporters of his cult from Beyssac and St Cyr Laroche (sic). The mayor is fearful of disorder and I have given instructions to the gendarmerie, and the army in Lubersac has been warned'.

 

On the Monday the sous-préfet reported that ' Goudstiker had conducted Mass in the church early on the Sunday morning, without incident. But just after mid-day he reappeared surrounded by 400 demonstrators armed with clubs. Supported by the deputy mayor they entered the church and rang the bells. Alongside in the barn, Bourzeix gave up trying to conduct vespers in the sight of this riotous crowd. Finally at 4 o'clock the mayor arrived and succeeded in locking the church whilst the demonstrators left the bourg'.. He continued ' that it was clear that Goudstikker, an English subject, had incited the riot to protest against the decision of Brive, and that he was convicted two months ago with not having made the appropriate declarations for a foreigner living in France' .

 

The very same day the mayor ordered that 'as of this day until a further order is issued all religious activity is forbidden in the parish of Beyssenac' . It had no effect!

 

Again, the sous-préfet reported of the grave situation in Beyssenac. ' M. Bourzeix is seen by many as an imposition by force, and the plan by the archbishop of Tulle to come to Beyssenac for a solemn ceremony is seen as a serious provocation. Goudstikker and the deputy mayor continue to excite their supporters and another councillor has been seen to be providing them with drink. They are easy to excite and can easily be turned to violence. Last Sunday the three gendarmes were overwhelmed with the task, and had they tried to make arrests as some demonstrators were armed I hate to think what might have been the outcome'.

 

On the 29th, the next Sunday, the gendarmerie were in Beyssenac in force. The Captain wrote ' the commandant of the district arrived on horseback together with a brigadier and eight others with horses. A further brigadier and four officers came on foot'. Also present was the sous-préfet of Brive and the Commissaire of Police of Brive.

 

Calm reigned until 10:30 hr when Goudstikker accompanied by some 200 supporters and with a tri-colour aloft, blocked the church doorway. Bourzeix was allowed in with several supporters but he was unable to conduct the service. Outside the crown yelled insults, and cried ' get rid of Bourzeix;, he must be killed; hang him;...'

 

The crowd were calmed by the words of the sous-préfet and the presence of the forces of order and the mayor was able to close the church. But the demonstrators, around 200, stayed near to the church and changed their chant to 'break down the door'. The demonstrators were peaceful but menacing and Bourzeix feared for his lodging, but the gendarmerie protected him. It was not until 22:00 hr that calm returned to the village.

 

On the 31^st March the préfet of Tulle reported to the Minister of the Interior in Paris of the affairs of Beyssenac., and from now on, each Sunday, Beyssenac was filled with the forces of law and order attempting to keep the peace.

 

On 5 April Goudstikker, once again with 350 supporters, tried to break into the church, but he was held back by gendarmes and the army from Lubersac, Vigeois, Juillac, Objat and Allassac. 'Chased away by the forces of order, Goudstikker could no longer sleep in the sacristy of the church which he had turned into his bedroom, so now he was accommodated in a single room occupied also by a woodcutter, his wife and five children'

 

Meanwhile Bourzeix received a letter from the senior priest, on the latter's return from Rome, who had recommended the parish to him. It extolled him to ' hold fast, lose not your courage nor your patience. The mayor has asked for your removal but I have not replied.' Sadly this senior church official died some 10 days later.

 

 

Read part 3 tomorrow.

 

 

 

Copyright © Neil Spoonley 2009

 
Posted by: neil spoonley on 12 August 2009