The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-26
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS LOSE.
ZONE SAID TO UPHOLD THE FRENCH
BAN on THE CLASSICS.

=, L. Suggested Here That the Brothers
Might Leave the French Order and Estab-
Ji.h mn American Community, Backed
ms They Are by American Bishops.
News flom Rome regarding the appeal OF the
rhristian Brothers. who have protested against
,be order OF their superors In France to
osose teaching the classics In their colleges in
mis- country. has been received in this city.
This news appears rather discouraging to the
friends OF the Brothers. for. according to IL. the
authorities In Rome are expected to decide
against them. Tho Rome CORRESPONDENT OF the
ILseludn's Journal sends word that Arch
bishop Riordan Of San Francisco is in Rome
working In the interests Of the Brothers. He
has presented voluminous report TO the au-
,horties. 1t Is understood that he appears In
Rome as a representative OF the American
catholic hierarchy. nearly all the Bishops OF
tnls country being on the side OF the Christian
prothers Referring to the mission OF Arch
blshop Riorjan. the correspondent says:
Il am informed that 1t is utterly vain. The
American Christian Brothers. II they are to
continue to belong to the congregation OF De
Ia Sale must conform to its spirit as laid down
IN the constitutions and emphasized by the re-
cent decree OF propaganda. II they are per-
nited to teach the Latin and Greek. for the
time being, at their schools where these have
been taught hitherto. 1t will be by q more
concession, and perhaps even this concession
will not be granted now
This statement is regarded in Catholic circles
here as a warning that Rome is going to de-
eide against the American Brothers. Their
friends say that II they cannot teach tho elias.
sizes they must close their colleges and acad-
emies. for no student will go TO institutions OF
secondary education that do not teach Latin
and Greek. Some advocates OF the Brothers
cause go so far as to say that in the event OF
Rome deciding against them. the only thing
for the Brothers to do will be to withdraw from
community. This is said to be feasible. since
almost all the American Bishops are on their
= aide. ..,,.
ths first time the argument for aud against the
Brothers submitted to the authorities there.
french superiors OF the Brothers ordered
them to cease teaching the classics. The con.
Ths ue sas made BY ssS
founder OF the order John Bar.ist de La salle.
the parposSs OF keepins the Brothers true to
%S% Tned stsss a %fi in ss
the classics. When the French sureriors de-
cided six years ago TO abrogate this exception.
spi issued decree to that effect. This decree
has never been published, and 1t was not until
ago that maj were re o fssn to
command Of the French supe!iors.
The American Brothers." says the CORE
s sSSnSG6 suppe Rs them % their ers 70 sss
tinue the teaching OF the classics, indefinitely.
their cause and Bishop Bvrns was sent to Rome
to plead for the ahroestion or suspension OF the
deere, issued BY tho ProesSanda Aye years be-
sta months in the Eternal City; he proved
10 dcsst from teaching tn, classics
sni he addueed "a, number ia,o ,Si fact. to
IL some places Included a course OF philosophy
IN their schools. maintaining that the teaching
o. philosophy was quite as much violation OF
aud that II the superors tn ough, It well 70
permit the one in France they might very well
these arguments was carefully weighed by the
authorities Of the Pronagsnda: the second was
Goth I Secause the Propassnda has no jurisac
ton over the Christian Brothers in France. and
because. at best. the argument was: even If
The case presented by the superiOrs rested
on three reasons OF the utmost eogency, The
eoaStitutions. IL was forbidden by recent and
erEress Iecree of the Propaganda. 1t was for
yT9s primary reasons we're further sustained
Nnumerons minor opes, NOT the least i'm
can Brothers were by no means unanimous in
desiring the continuance OF the present sys-
TEN. Furthermore. the superlors claimed that
the whole question was one which rested be-
tween the congregation Of Christian Brothers
and the authorities in Rome to which the
hierarchy "a such WAS foreign. They argued
thai he canonic status OF the congregation
Tornado the interference OF bishops in such
matters as that under discussion. and pointed
GU, that II the precedent were allowed in the
Present case IL might easily be the first Of a
yes affecting not them alone. but all canoni-
ca.ly established religious congregations"
cIIa,te., sonp,r9ysersy Between wen, the american
aroused con siderable bitter feeling in the
C1tholic world. II has been charged that the
French superiDGs have been actuated by ienl-
oGsy OF the advancement and prosperity OF the
order in this country. European Catholics who
have opposed the so.called Americauizing OF
tie Catholic Church in the United States have
taken the s. De OF the French Brothers in this
con fict, and : the case has assumed interna-