Obituary notices of fellows deceased

Abstract

Marcellin Berthelot was a native of Paris, born on October 25, 1827, in a flat looking on to the Rue du Mouton, situated in the Place de Gréve, now owing to the activity of Baron Haussmann, the Place de l Hôtel-de-Ville. His father, a doctor of medicine, was a member of the sect of the Jansenists, a small branch of the Gallic Catholic Church. He was a serious man, impatient with the folly of his “concitoyens”, and somewhat depressed by the poverty and sufferings of his patients. The “Church of Faith” had its own Liturgy, and the congregation joined in singing psalms and hymns. Many of the “prêtres” were among Dr. Berthelot’s patients, and young Berthelot must often have listened to discussions on the attempts, ultimately successful, to substitute the Roman for the Gallic liturgy. Dr. Berthelot was married in 1826, shortly after starting practice. His wife was a lively, bright woman, who transmitted her features to her son. At that time, Charles the Tenth was on the throne. The allied powers had involved France in a “Gouvernement de Curés”; and it was part of the State Ceremonial to form a procession, which was headed by the Holy Sacrament and the Papal Nuncio, a cardinal in red, from the Tuileries to Notre Dame and back, and in which the King, the Queen, the Dauphin (who, according to Madame Berthelot mère , was able to look behind him without turning his head), and the Court took part. The spectators, under the penalty of sacrilege, were obliged to kneel as the Corpus Christi procession passed. Those who refused were prosecuted and severely punished.