Page:The Constitutions and Other Select Documents Illustrative of the History of France, 1789-1907, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged.pdf/698

668 Council of State. Apart from these cases it can be done only by a law.

The buildings hitherto set apart for religious worship and in which the ceremonies of religion shall not have been observed during the period of one year prior to the present law, as well as those which shall not be claimed by an association of worship within the period of two years after its promulgation may be secularised by decree.

The same shall be done for the buildings whose secularisation shall have been claimed prior to June 1, 1905.

The public establishments of religion, then the beneficiary associations shall be responsible for the repairs of every sort, as well as the expense of insurance and other charges falling upon the buildings and the furnishings for their equipment.

14. The archbishops' and bishops' palaces, presbyteries and their appurtenances, grand seminaries and faculties of protestant thology shall be left gratuitously at the disposition of the public establishments of religion, then of the associations provided for by article 13, to wit:

The archbishops' and bishops' palaces during a period of two years; the presbyteries in the communes in which the minister of religion shall reside, the grand seminaries and faculties of protestant theology during five years, counting from the date of the promulgation of the present law.

Title IV. Of the Associations for the Exercise of Religions.

18. The associations formed in order to provide for the cost, maintenance, and the public exercise of a religion must be constituted in conformity with article 5 and according to title I of the law of July 1, 1901. They shall be, moreover, subject to the provisions of the present law.

19. These associations must have for their exclusive purpose the exercise of a religion and be composed at least:

In communes of less than 1,000 inhabitants, of seven persons;

In communes of 1,000 to 2,000 inhabitants, of fifteen persons;

In communes of which the number of the inhabitants is more than 20,000, of twenty-five adult persons, domiciled or residing in the religious district.