The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-10-19
Meeting OF ARCHBISHOPS
APPEAL TO POPE IN BEHALF OF
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS.
Archbishop Riordan to Take Appeal
to Rome as Representative of
American Hierarchy.

At the annual meeting of the Cath.
Ole archbishops of the United States
| held in Washington last week, it was
unanimously agreed that the hier.
/ arcky of this country should support
( the Brothers of the Christian Schools
/ in their efforts to have Latin and Greek
retained in the curricula of their schools
! in this country. Word has been re-
ceived from Bishop Byrne of Nashville
! who went to Rome to champion the
| cause of the Christian Brothers before
the Vatican authorities, and who has
now returned, but no written report
has come from him. An appeal from
the Christian Brothers who have been
deposed from their places at the heads
of colleges throughout the country in
GLIDING some from New York st. Louis
Chicago, Washington and Rock Hill
Md, asking the assistance of the Arch
bishops, was favorably received.
Some time ago the Archbishops au-
thorized Bishop Byrne to speak for
them at Rome, in behalf of the Chris
tian Brothers, and they also signed a
petition to the Pope, asking that he re-
verse the decision of Brother Gabrielle
Marie, head of the order Today the
Archbishops made the plea of the de-
posed Brothers the basis of another
appeal to the Pope. They had found
nothing. after close examination, to
change their view in the matter, which
was that the Brothers in this country
should be allowed to adapt their schools
to the other schools of the country and
continue to teach Latin and Greek.
Consequently, the Archbishops reaf-
firmed their former petition, and again
L
sWer the appeal of the Christian Broth
ers of the United States from the ulti-
matum of Brother Gabrielle Marie for
bidding them to teach the classics.
Archbishop Riordan, being about to
leave for Rome, was commissioned as
the special representative of the Amer
lean hierarchy to bear the message to
the Pope. 1t was also res0lSed to re-
quest Brother Gabrielle-Marie to re-
store to their posts of duty in the
United States the Brothers depOsed
from their positions at the heads of col
Ieges. Strong feeling was manifested
and the Archbishops acted with una
nimity. They thought the deposition
of Brothers and their assignment to
work in foreign lands was a distinct
blow to the case of Catholic education
in America and to all Catholic inter-
ests in this country. They rejected the
proposition that the Brothers should
be permitted to continue the teaching
of the classics for twenty years. and
insisted that no restrictions of this kind
should apply to them. While the tone
of the letter will be most respectful, it
will be strong, and it is evident the
Archbishops have taken determined
stand.
The contest over the teaching of the
classics in these schools has been going
on for two years, practically ever since
the election of Brother Gabrielle Marie
as the general of the order. The Broth
ers in this country are a unit on the
subject, and, although inroads were
made in their ranks, by the recalling to
Paris OF their most prominent leaders,
the rank and file have stood faithful,
and the teaching of the classics con-
tinues.
An appeal was taken to Rome, and,
being so strongly backed by the HER
archy, the Brothers hope for a success
full issue, and also to have their old
leaders restored to them The last to
go to Paris was Brother Fahrician OF
Washington. Through the efforts OF
the Washington alumni of st. Johns
College, formerly presided over by
Brother Fabrician, the alumni OF the
Brothers schools throughout the cGun-
try are writing to help their former
teachers. The Brothers have large
number of excellent colleges, thousands
of pupils and teachers, and millions of
dollars in property. They declare their
schools will be ruined if the decree of
their general is enforced, as it Will be
if the appeal to Rome fails.
Another important matter discussed
today was the advisability of continu-
ing the Catholic Indian schools. 1t was
by some that no more money
could be obtained from congress, and in
that event the schools would prove too
great a. burden on the church, which
was already straining every nerve 10
keep its schools up to the standard. At
ter hearing both sides, the board agreed
to continue the work for another year,
even if the church bore the entire bur-
den of the schools.
In order to supply the loss of govern
ment funds. it was agreed that all the
Bishops having large Catholic or negro
in their dioceses should be
requested to make special appeals
wherever they might travel throughout
the country for the Indian and negro
schools Funds raised in this manner
will be consolidated with those raised
by the regular contributions, and dis
.ributed by the committee on Indian
and negro schools, which is composed
If Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishops Cor
'igan, Ryan and Kahn.
The petition which Cardinal Gibbons
presented to congress last session from
he Archbishops, on which no congress
;ionaI action was taken, was not dis
.ussed, but it is said no further action
n this direction will be taken. Mon4
;ignor Stephan, who is head of the bu-
eau of Catholic Indian schools, pre-
3erted his annual report.
The Pope's letter on Americanism
vas briefly discussed, but no action was
aiken on it. Archbishop Chapelle,
Apostolfc Delegate to the Philippines
md CUBA, being absent, no matters af-
'ecting the interests of the church in
.hese islands were brought before the
Archbishops. Several other routine
matters were disposed of, and the Arch
bishops adjourned until next October.
All the Archbishops were present today J
Except Archbishops Chapelle, Feehan
Ind HenneSSey.
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