, 1880-04-24

religious orders. But the public oct us
their first ast0nishment, and soon coo "su
to marvel when they heard that a sa
Benedictine abbey or Jesuit seminars lus
beer, opened. The movement grew w lay
out much check. Sometimes, to be sn nv
a jurist of eminence such as Mr.. Dma.0,
would raise his voice and try to stir r =
public feeling on account of the systemo.spp
disregard of the law. Sometimes a nrosa
cution was~begun ina half.hearted fashion
or the Chamber of Deputies might, as hsa
pened in 1916, Invite theI{G overnment :.
put in force the laws. But these spasms
of zeal and public virtue did not last, and
were without effect. The unauthorizaS
associations were left to themselves. and
they multiplied, especially under 1.-THE 81
conc Empire. 1t would seem that 1884 f.,
men and COZ for women now exist, and thai
they boast an aggregate of more than
twenty thousand members. The JeTls
alone have So establishments, with hNI
/. members. No better proof than tn
figures could be given of the syn
matte disregard of the DEGREES of Louis /
XIV. and XVI, and of the laws of t4
Revolution. Empty menaces have dom
the unauthorized associations 10 harm. hi
spite of their illegal character, they hay
accumulated wealth they have PURCHASED I
or built fOurishing schools and they hau
held their own in the competition with tp
Eycfes.
The DEGREES draw q sharp distinction
between the Jesuits and the other aSsocia
tions which have not been licensed. bDt|
which are not the objects of widespread
hate aud terror. The former are to be dis
CnlXnd fhnX ntIcf nTit onX- pctn hIichuonnlU
within France; and only three months
grace is granted. Further time will b.,
given to the Jesuit schools, so that tley
may complete the scholastic year. But
all their establishments, whether educa.
tional or not, must be closed. The other
religious associations fare better. The
MAJ present their statutes for examination
and apply for Il %lrcence. When this is
granted-and it is not likely to be refused
if it is S0ught-they will be free to remain
in France. The effect of the DEGREES must
yet be uncertain. 1t will depend i many
circumstances, not at present clear-am0ng
others, the extent to which Nj. de Freycintt
has satisfied anti-clerical fanate cioIh. And
the | ne of conduct which the uDautho su
orders will follow. Our Paris correSpon'
dence states that the clerical jour- all
announce that none OF these orders Viii
apply for licences, but will cast i'll their lot
with the Jesuits. If this be so, the result
NAV be to close for a time many education.
al establishments until, perhaps, the same
causes which have hitherto suspended the
revolutionary laws produce the same effects
as before. NJ. Jules Ferry evidently
expects that the pupils who are taught
by the members Of hese illegal as1
sOciatiOns will enter the lyc6eS. In this M
may be disappointed. The lay colleges
and 7yc6es must be altered III more than one
respect before they will satisfy all French
fathers and mothers. The managers OF the
clerical schools know their business well
and they are pretty sure to continue 70
win, under altered names perhaps, the con.
fdence of a large part of the wealthy ana
middle classes. Some of the 6stabtissemeMt
copqy6qanistes are liked because they feed
their pupils generously. The clerical teach
ers are attentive to sports and games anu
the physical welfare Of the lads COMMITTED
to their care. Little Injuries or neat dan
tv details in the dormitories OF a kind tna'
is dear to the heart of a mother MAKE a
boys life more pleasant than in a barrack
like lvcGe; and the uShers, being prlesls
with no ambition beyond their calling, art
quite as likely to acquire a hold over then
pupils as ..thesordinary m@Stre d6tude, Msl
views his calling as a step to mel lns
more c%oingenial to him. NJ. Jules Ferry
may learn by experience that the decree
have done little to withdraw the young q
France from the influence of clerical II
structors. The people against whom tnes
are levelled may find that they have pegfl
more frightened than hurt II they sug u