Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-10
MONEY NIYsIERIoUsLY GOT.
An Opposition Establishment to the
Proposed Laval Academy.

Proposed Lavss Academy.
MONTREAL, CAN, Feb. An former
dispatch it was SHOWN how the members
of the Society of Jesus in the dominion
had been wOrsted at Rome in their fight
with the liberal school of catholics in
Canada, represented by the university of
Laval. They had petitioned the Pope to
allow them to reclaim their cOntiscated
property, but his Holiness rejected their
prayer, authorizing the Archbishop of
Quebec and head OF Laval to make the de-
mand on the government. This the Arch
bishop has not lost much time in doing,
and has presented a petition to the gov
eminent, in which he magnanimously
valves his right to the full amount of
$60,OOO,000, and the value of the property
in question, and announces that for the
small consideration Of 100000 cash he
will renOunce all claim and make a final
settlement. In the event of the govern
ment acceding to the demand of the
Archbishop his grace declares that the
money will be utilized in erecting a
branch OF Laval in Montreal, to consist OF
of land valued at 100000 has already
been secured for this purpose, aud active
preparations are on foot TO close the in
demnity question with the government.
The Jesuits in the meantime, although
beaten in Rome. are following their old
tactics. No sooner had Rome spoken
against them than they had begun a
fresh intrigue to ruin the Montreal
branch of the university, which the Pope
has decided in favor of. The means adopt
ed is simply to start an opposition estab-
lishment in the same vicinity as the La
val branch. They know it is useless es-
taolishing university, as the Holy See
would not license 1T to confer degrees. SO
they cOnfine themselves to a college of
large dimensions, capable of educating
between 800 and 800 boys. The land,
costing $4,000, has been purchased and
paid for. Where the money came from no
one knows. The order here is as poor as
a church mouse; it is heavily in debt for
it's magnificent church of the Gesu; it is
constant and persistent beggar, and is al
ways bewailing the poverty of its Golfers.
Whether the Archbishop Of Quebec Will
be content to allow the rebelliOus order to
snap its fingers alike at Rome and him
self remains to be seen, but one thing APP
pears certain: Despite civil, ecclesiasti-
cal, and moral law the Jesuits will never
cry 'peccavi," and as long as a solitary
member OF the order remains in the cOun-
try it will fight the Sulpicians to the Bit
ter end. For 30 years they have been open
and relentless enemies; for 80 years they
have fought each otner before the civil
courts OF the dominion and of the en-
pire. They have fought at Rome and the
society mas always lost. Yet to-day 1t is
as formidable, more pugnaciOus, and
more determined than ever, and there are
not a few of the highest ecclesiastical
prelates in the country who believe there
never can be peace in the church until
the willy fathers are deprived OF all their
property in the province and placed di-
rectly under the control of Archbishop
Taschereau.
The petition Of the Archbishop, which
he had laid before the government in sup
port OF his claim, gives an interesting and
quite historical account of the confsca-
ton OF the property. In 17T3 Pope Glenn
ent suppressed the order. Its estates
then embraced S0O, 900 acres, in addition
to great deal of urban property. This
has been acquired in varions ways from
the French crown, by squatters' rights,
through gifts from living persons, and
through requests of dead ones. Upon the
suppression of the order the British mill
tary authorities seized the property, the
buildings being turned into barracks. In
1882 the British crown coded the estates
to the provincial parliament OF Quebec.
The Archbishop contends that the crown
had no right to seize the property. The
articles of capitulatlon between the
Kings of England and France provided
for the protection OF the religious COM
munities in the enjoyment OF their es-
t tates aud revenues. In suppressing the
order Clement has ordered that the es D..
tates should be vested in local bishops,
while the action of the government of
Spain, Portugal and Switzerlandis quoted
as showing that on the restoration of the
order by Pope Plus VII, in 1914, they re-
stored the properties which had been con-
nscatel.