The evening times., 1899-09-11

NEW YORK, Sept. u.--Word has been
received by the Christian Brothers in this
country that no decision has been reached
in Rome as to whether they shall be per-
mitted to continue the teaching of the clas-
sizes in their colleges. The final decision.
il is said, will not be made before next
November or December. IL lis safe TO as
sert that no question at present before
those interested in the education of Cath
Ollie young men in the United States has
assumed the Importance of this one, and
the outcome is awaited with impatience,
not only by the clergy and laity in the
Catholic Church itself, but by many Pro-
testants who look upon the whole affair
involving the attack on the Christian
Brothers as but another phase of anti
Americanism. If well-dehned rumors are
10 be created the question has also claim
ed the attention OF official circles at Wash
ington. The fact that many OF the Broth
ers who resisted the efforts OF their su-
periors in France 10 prevent them from
carrying on classical course in their in
stitutions have been sent to obscure points
in Europe, Asia, and Africa, at the be-
hest OF a foreign influence, is not relished
by some Of the Government officials.
II has been claimed by the friends of the
Brothers that opposition TO the American
spirit Of independence prompted the French
superiors TO issue the order concerning the
classics and that the effect OF his order
would be to close all the Brothers col
leges in this country, for without the clas-
sizes these institutions would not attract
students. The case vas fully submitted 10
the authorities at Rome. Bishop Byrne,
of Nashville Tenn, went to Rome as the
representative of the Brothers, and made
an argument for them before the Holy See.
Current report has had il that the Ro-
man authorities settled the matter some
time ago by adopting a sort of compro-
mise, by which the Brothers in this country
might continue TO teach the classics in the
colleges they already control but, in any
new college they might establish the clas-
sizes must not be introduced.
Bishop Byrne who has just returned
from Rome, has announced that no such
decision was given, as he says the ques-
uon is OF so grave nature that it has
been laid before the full College OF Cardi-
mails for discussion and final action. No
decision OF any kind, he says, has been
rendered, and none will be given imme-
diafely.
When the Superior General issued his
order in 1897 the heads OF the brotherhood
here replied that such action would result
in the breaking up of their academies and
colleges, ruin their effectiveness for edu-
cational purposes, and diminish the value
of their property.
The Superior General responded by di-
recting the enforcement OF The order and
began crushing out the spirit of insubo.di-
nation by removing the heads of tir col
leges, recalling them to Paris ami 1ending
thcl to distant points in sIbo. Ginat- ca
p3cities Brother Justin. head Of the order
in New York has been assigned to work
in France; Brother Quintinian, lis assist
art, is in Belgium; Brother Bernard, oi
Manhattan College. this city. is in Egypt
Brother Maurice. of Rockhill College Nd.
is in India; Brother Maurelan, OF the Col
lege of Memphis, Tenn. has a subordinate
place in France, and Brother Fabriciln, OF
ST. Johns College. Washington, has been
ordered 10 France One of the Brothers
called TO Paris 10 be disciplined, Brother
Ambrose, was lost when the Bodrs0gne
went down.
These attacks. made by the French Su-
perior General, Gabriel Marie, on the
American Christian Brothers, have arous-
ed such a strong feeling among American
Catholics and Protestants who insist that
American insti uti0ns should be free from
foreign interference at all hazards that
official representations were made, ii is
affirmed, to the propaganda at Rome re-
lating to the subject by the State Depart
ment. Rome was made to understand, ac-
cording to the report, that the State De-
partment did not approve the course taken
by the Sup1rior General of the Christian
Rrothprs