Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-10-13
IFrom Our Regular Correspondent
Paris Letter.
PARIS, France, Sept. %. 1880.

PARIS, France, Sept. &c. 1880.
M. Jules Ferry has issued a new set OF
rules for the guidance Of the scholastic
authorities in the departmental primary |
schools, which will not fail to excite con-
siderable indignation in clerical circles.
The new regulations. in fact. suppress the
hitherto obligatory participation of the
teachers in certain religious duties imposed
on them by the rules issued in 1851. In
circular, accompanying the regulations
addressed to the projects, M. Jules Ferry
explains the motives which actuated the
council of public instruction in their
decision to free large body of public
servants from restrictions not applied to
any other officials of the republic. In 1888
the law stipulated that parents of children
sent to the public schools were to decide
whether or no they should receive relig-
ious instruction. The regulations of 1850,
on the other hand, interfered both with
the liberty of the scholar and that of the
teacher. They enjoin the teachers, not
only to advocate the duties prescribed by
religion, and TO see them carried out, but to
lead life of religion themselves. The
teachers are also ordered to conduct their
pupils to mass on Sundays and fetes. The
regulations issued by NJ. Ferry do away
with such anomalous state of things. and
leave the public school teacher free to
attend mass or not at his own pleasure
and limit his duties purely to the exercise
of those imposed upon him in his official
capacity. He will henceforth enjoy full
liberty of conscience, untrammeled by
any prescriptions relating to the observ-
ance of religious duties. both as regards
himself and his pupils. AS NJ. Jules Ferry
in his circular remarks: " The school is
not, and must not, be either chapel, a
platform or theatre; school must be Ii
school and nothing more" The extreme
clericals will doubtless feel themselves ag-
gravated by this complementary addition
to the liberty of the subject; but, outside
certain limited circles, the reform will be
recognized rs both just and necessary.
The circular letter from VI. CJnstIns
minister of the interior and public wor-
ship, to the superiors of the unauthorized
religious confraternites, which was pub
ished in the journal Official of the 18th
instant, was dispatched yesterday. The
Liberte of this evening says it has reason
to believe that respite of ten days will
be granted to the associations, in which to
apply for a state license, and that if such
authorization be not asked FOR within tina
time the March DEGREES will be enforced
the manner deemed most fitting. The
clerical organ, Il UniverS, publishes al
account of the circumstances which led &c
the issue of the declaration of the religion
orders. 1t says that NJ. de Freycinct in
structed NJ Osprey to inform the Vati
, can that in default of demand for lega
authorization on the part of the religion!
communities the French government
would rest content with declaration from
them to the effect that they entertained
no hostile intentions toward the exstin,
institutions of the country. The pope
adds the Journal, accepted this pro
posal and instructed the archbishops 0
Paris and Rouen to transmit to all tn
French bishops draft of the declaration
which was elaborated in Rome an,
accepted by the French ambassadors II
the Vatican.