The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-07
LETTERING GOOD MEN.

A recent cable from Rome announced
the failure Of the application of the
Christian Brothers domiciled in the
United States to the propaganda to be
released from the rule of the order that
their educational work shall be confined
to the primary parochial school.
To all who know anything of the pre-
eminence which this order has won for
itself as a body of educators, not only
in the United States, but throughout Eu-
rope this decision will occasion regret
and disappointment. The American Cath
Ole hierarchy is understood to have IA
the Christian Brothers. The case of the
order was stated at Rome by Archbishop
Riordan, of San Francisco The fact
that the report denying the application
is understood to have been drafted by
Cardinal SatolH, so recently the repre-
sentative of Rome in the United States,
shows somewhat plainly that that dis
tirguished ecclesiastic has not remained
altogether true to certain views with
which he became identified during his
sojourn here some years ago.
The American schools of the order
named have been in existence for some
thing like fifty years. While they have
avoided, rather than courted. public no
tice, 1t has in the interval become gen.
orally known that they represent the
strongest pedagogic force in the country.
The members of the order are trained
from boyhood for educational work 1t
represents their life mission The skill
and proficiency acquired by them must
necessarily be of the very highest order
when It is remembered, Furthermore,
that they are chosen from among the
highest types, Intellectually and morally,
among the pupils Of the Catholic paro-
chial schools.
The splendid services of the Christian
Brothers have been awaited Of in the
higher departments Of educational work
by the members of the American hier-
archy for many years past. Against the
practice the officials of the order in
France seem to have entered objection,
ferred to. The result of the decision is
stated by the head Of the order to be
that "now the field of classical tuition
is left open. as always, to the Jesuits.'
It would be mere speculation to inquire
what the Order of Christian Brothers will
do with reference to the decision. The
presumption, of course, is that they will
abide by it strictly in the future as well
as for the present.
Those who know what these men have
done within the Catholic church here and
elsewhere for the promotion of popular
education will not hesitate in entertain
ing the wish that they may find it con-
separate themselves from the parent or
der in France, which, old-world fashion,
seeks to maintain needless trammels on
their capacity for serving their religion
and their people. Such men as they,
specialists Of the highest order, devoted
body and soul alike absolutely to their
mission, are needed In every department
of the worlds work. In no other coun-
try is there broader or more fruitful
field for them than here in the United
States. Were men and women actuated
solely as they are in general control Of
the educational welfare Of the American
people it would not be long before an
end would be. brought in our schools to
the fads ana fripperies on which the
time and the intellectual resources Of our
youth are now being dissipated to such
a painful degree