New-York tribune., 1900-03-31
THE MONASTIC ORDERS.

The belief is widespread. even among Roman
Catholics, that the religious or monastic orders
of the Church are far less influential than they
We're in the Middle Ages. In a way, doubtless,
this is true; but they still a force not to be
ignored in many countries. And the acquisition
by the United States of the Philippines, where
they have been especially powerful and may
continue to be so under the necessary limita-
tons of American ideas and laws, Will inevita-
bly, bring them into the field Of practical discus
sion and observation. Constituting as they do
one of the gravest problems Of our new posses
sions all Americans, even those who are In gen.
eral sympathy with them, may fairly ask what
they are doing, not merely for the Church. but
for civilization and humanity. That they served
a useful and even noble purpose in medieval
life, is frankly conceded by ali intelligent stu
dents of history. Do they still continue to do
in the greatly changed conditions Of modern
life? Or if these changed conditions have cur
tailed their moral influence on secular society,
are they still an uplifting force in the Church
which they were organized to serve? Such are
the questions that all Americans must ask
when they learn that careful and competent
an observer as Bishop Potter declares the Phil
ippne friars to be ruthless robbers.
AS throwing some light these questions an
article on the monastic orders in France by E.
Saint-Genx a Roman Catholic. in The Con
temporary Review for March, is most timely. 1t
shows from the official records of some of the re-
gous congregations just how they affecting
the life and thought of the people, what stand
ards of religion and morality they offer to their
votaries, and what ideals of life and conduct
they teach. 1t might not be altogether fair to
Judge the orders by everything done by them In
the far off Philippines. But their teaching and
practice in France, one of the most enlightened
countries of Europe may be fairly taken as the
measure of their influence and aims in the
world to-day. Indeed, 1t is not too much to say
that the religious orders in France are doing
more than any other agency TO impress the pc
culiar tenets CT Catholicism the masses of
the people.
What those peculiar tenets are is strikingiy
shown in periodical entitled THE Propagation
"of Devotion to st. Joseph and to St Anthony
"of Padua," in which a monthly account is
given of ''the spiritual graces and temporal
favors' obtained through the intercession of
these saints for those who pay the necessary
money. Thousands of men and women In every
walk of life tell what these powerful saints
have done for them. Marie Duval, for instance
promised ST. Joseph one franc a month if he
would help her business. and the saint at once
increased it threefold. A young man tells how
ST. Joseph got him dispensed from military ser
to get her married within month. That the
saint is a good matchmaker is proved by an
other young woman who testifies that through
his aid INSTEAD of one husband asked for she
has the choice between two" A lawyer asks
st. Joseph for the success of a lawsuit against
a Jew St Joseph was himself a Jew, but he
is apparently expected to decide this suit solely
because it is against of his own race
But even more striking instances of heavenly
intervention given. A nun who diSlked her
parish priest prayed to St Anthony and St
Joseph for his removal, promising five francs
for the favor And this is how she relates the
sequel: "Oh, prodigy. l uttered this promise
ION Sunday. and the parish priest who was
then slightly indisposed grew worse and worse.
land died on the following Friday To-day l
come to fulfil my promise by forwarding you a
"poStal order for five francs Freed from an
nOyance, the good nun is now more Jealous than
ever in indoctrinating the plastic minds of chill
dren with the precepts of pure morality An
other nun tells how she asked st. Joseph to re-
move disagreeable parish priest The saint.
however, found ii hard to persuade any other
parish TO take the priest; but the nun tells how
he met the difficulty: "The good St Joseph
went about the business in quite a different
manner; n beautiful bronchitis came on The
parish priest, well shriven, With the sacra-
"ments well administered to him. set out de-
'voutly for the other world and the poor little
Sister Claire. when reciting her rosary for him
does not neglect 10 exclaim after each Gloria
"Patrl Thanks to my good ST. Joseph"
Instances like these show in practical wav
what are the religious and moral ideals of the
monastic orders IN France and show, too how
they imposing those ideals multitude of
people Many citizens Of France, 1t is true oh
ject to such teachings and practices But the
orders feel secure in the support Of the Church
whose teachings they claim to revere and obev
Such Is monasticism In France the strong right
arm Of Catholicism. without whose POVERTY,
aid the Church there would find itself weak in
deed in coping with the spirit Of free inquiry
The organization" does not seem to want 20