The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-03

Every friend of the higher education in
the United States will feel regret at the
decision which has been finally reached at
Rome that the Society of Christian Broth
ers in this country must at once and for
ever abandon their practice of giving in
structicn in the sciences and classics, and
confne their labors strictly to elementary
parish school work.
Ordinarily the relations between the va
rious religious orders of the Catholic
Church in America and their supreme con
troll in Europe are of no public concert
outside Of the communion itself. But the
case of the Christian Brothers Is exeep-
tional for several reasons, and the action
which has been decided upon by the
Papal authorities will be not only de-
ploreS but very generally resented
throughout the Union.
It is admitted that the constitution of
the order in question, in terms. restricts its
mission to the field of primary education,
and. hence, the letter OF the law is unqves-
tionably on the side Of the iconoclastic
superior in France. At the same time. il
must be distinctly remembered that de-
parture from the rule of the order on the
part Of it's American branch has been both
permitted and sanctioned for generation.
and until the recent elevation Of the pres
emit French incumbent to its headship.
Why this constitutional suspension was al
lowed in the United States is well known.
Years ago the Catholic citizenship Of the
country was badly handicapped by the lack
of facilities for the higher education OF its
youth. under church auspices, and its
clerical leaders did not and conscientious
ly could not encourage resort to non-re-
ligious or Protestant sectarian institutions.
The excellent colleges provided by the Jes-
uits and others were not in sufficient num-
Der and ere not distributed geographically
in way TO cover the field. The Christian
Brothers. the one order Of Catholic laymen
engaged Ia teaching on this side of the
water stepped in and filed the gap. Very
many OF the Catholic clergy have been edu-
Gated in their schools. and thousands Of the
iaity. AS good men and efficient instruc-
tors the Christian Brothers have been re-
spected and honored wherever their col
leges have taken root
Their service in the cause Of education
has been appreciated and recognized by all
classes of Americans without regard to
faith. And the dignitaries Of the American
hierarchy with few exceptions have been
their consistent friends and champions
When the edict went forth that the whole
edihce they had built up in the Western
Republic with patient devotion, pain, and
labor was TO be ruthlessly torn down, the
injustice of the doom was so self-eyideni
that the highest prelates OF the church in
the United States combined TO avert it by
an appeal TO Rome. Two archbishops have
labored there in behalf of the prosecuted
Christian Brothers, but without effect Tn
fortunately. they seem TO have found the
anti-Amercan influence at hood tide OF
power in the Papal Court. and tie decree
of the French superior is to stand.
II happens in this connection that there
Is involved a great wrong to a large num-
Der OF charitable citizens who have con-
tributed means for the foundation and up
building OF the institutions OF learning
which the Christian Brothers have planted
cherished. and made TO flourish in various
OF our States and cities. The popular St
Johns College of Washington. with It's
handsome edifce and valuable property, is
an instance. What is to become OF all
these requests. legacies. and donations
now 10 be diverted from their original ana
definite purpose? What use will the order
have in future for the costly and elaborate
college plants 1t owns. when It Will have
no further power TO teach above the plane
Of primers and the catechism? Will tn.
college property Of the Christian Brother.
IN America be sold, that the Golfers of III,
fociety in Europe may be filled? That
and some other questions Of a cognat,
character are likely 20 be asked. in behal
OF Catholic Americans who have invested
theg ,sss..s. not in scheme Of parish