The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-07-10

The 2OOh anniversary Of the founding OF the
order OF Christian Brothers was celebrated N
many Roman Catholic cahedrals on the Isl
inst, The New York IVorM gives the follow
ing interesting bit OF history of the order:
Jean Baptste de La Sale the founder OF
the Order Of Christian Brothers, or Brothers OF
the Christian Schools, was born at Rheims in
April, 1851. Lucard, one OF his latest blograph
crS, speaks of him when a child as simple in
his tastes charitable 10 the poor, atleCuonate
10 hi. brothers submissive, respectful and
COnsideratc," gay but thoughtful. HIS mother
Nicolie Moet made him work hard and thus
strengthened the foundations of his future per
scvcrug character At eight years of age he
entered the university at Rheims. 1t had been
intended that he should become lawyer, but
at thccomplctlon of his academic career he
entered upon course of theology and in 1862
received the cOnsure from Jean de NIaltreau
Bishop of Olonne, at the arChiepiscopal chapel
of his native city. The Chancellor of the uni
vcrsIty at that time was Pierre DoZet, Arch
deacon Of Champagne who for titty.three years
had been canon in the cathedral. He wished
TO resign the canOnry, and, looking about for
II man eminent for learning and piety who
should succeed HIM IN his Office, chose the
Young able, who had not then quite completed
his sixteenth year. Having finished his course
of philosophy AT Rheims he took the degree OF
Master of Arts and then went to Paris to pur-
sue his theological studies at the Seminary OF
st Sulpice In 1913 he was ordained priest
and resolved to devote his life to the care and
education of the poor. lie began his work by
obtaining Il royal charter for a sisterheod al.
ready established at Rheims for the education
of poor girls, and then set about to establish
,b, hr,tIurh1n1 NyhIrh has IN aJa b1l
famous. Together with few associates he
opened schools IN two parishes at Rheims for
the instruction of poor boys, and as the Nun
Der of these schools rapidly increased he unit.
cd the teachers in common residence, giving
them Il common dress of coarse stuff, and pac.
ing them under a few simple rules that were
10 be observed by all. He was one of the first
men IN France to teach children IN classes, the
tedious and difficult practice of individual in
structlon" having prevailed up to his day. In
order to encourage his followers to practice re-
hgious poverty he gave up his prebendary in
favor of poor priest, distributed his patrl-
mOny in aims, and thencetorth taught daily IN
the schools The rev brotherhood spread rap
idly throughout France, its members taking
upon themselves the vows of chastity, obedl-
ence and poverty, at first for three years only
and afterwards, If they chose, for life. Until
the civil constitution they were driven from
their houses and debarred the exercise of their
functions, their work continued with undated
zeal In 1901 the brotherhood returned 70
their schools and again spread over France,
whence they extended to Italy, Belgium, Al.
gers and other countries. lnlS6S the congre.
cation numbered about 10000 brethren and
instructed IN France alone about 100000 chill
dren De La Sale died at Rouen, April z
1919, and at tins time there was about l4,OOO
of his followers at work in various parts of the
world Manhattan College which is under
their control, has two branches, one OF which
is the De La Sale Institute, IN Forty-eighth
street, end the other Manhattan Academy, in
West ThIrty.second street. The number of
pupils instructed is in all about five hundred
not including those who attend the fourteen
parochial schools, which would swell the mum
Der to nearly ten thousand. Throughout this
country, to which they came only thirty years
ago, the brotherhood numbers about one thoHs
and members and teaches some forty thousand
children