The sun., 1901-07-24
re,s 70 ZEE yaxxcn oaDsas.
his Letter Rsssrrias 20 tie Recently Enacted
Associstisns Law.

His Letter 1sferrfnG 70 the Recently Enacted
Assecastsns Law.
Following are the important portions In
full OF Pope Leo's letter to ths superiors OF
the religious orders and Institutes Of France
relating TO the Associations law recently
passed by the French Government, the sub
stance Of the letter having already been
printed In The Sun In the form OF special
cable despatch:
The onslaught which In certain countries
has been recently made against the orders
and the Institutes subject TO your authority
causes US the profoundest grief. and the
Holy Church In bowed down In sorrow because
Of II. for 1t feels itself cut to the quick In hs
own inherent rights and seriously impeded
In the fulflrnent OF Ns work. which for its
proper exercise requires the concurrence
Of both cler giles, secular and religious In
truth. who touches It's priests touches the
apple of Its eye. For our part you know
that We have endeavored by all the means
In our power TO prevent this unworthy per-
secution. and have striven TO avert from those
countries the consequent disasters which
will be az great a. they are undeserved Hence
II il that on many occasions In the name OF
religion. Of justice and of civilization we
have pleaded your cause with oil the power
at our command: but we have hoped In vain
that our remonstrances would BE- listened
to: for. 10! n nation which was singuhrly
fruitful In religious vocations.. a nation on
which we have Away. bssto our sress'es.
these UNJUST and discriminating laws, sssinst
v hnon month; Sss =: h.d beSr SSr
put upon the statutes.
SRemembsr Ing our sacred duties. and fol-
loving the q. 2, our ~
on these laws as being contrary to that natural
and svanseliS.I right. which s conTarmed T by
the S.
6V marked BY exalted sanctity We have con-
asa a'y yxscs sse cSrsG
possessss Of founding religious institutions
exclusively subjsSt 70 IT, sutah.oiity to old
N ne aS. o az ans tbs snsrcss g
OF that right has resulted in the greatest
bepehts In the religious and civil order. and
rsdcundtsd 3"n tssi 70 the advantage OF that noble
NO one II ignorant Of the fact that the
II oss,lv sns SS ths 81 .pT ana thu
% s.cs TSs oo%s.s. G hey Dy M senS to carry tSr.an
N nS %S.Sd. s2 the 1% S %,ys s Gig :ss
ond the action Of the Church, Hence II is
not astonishing that to-day as In other times.
the World rises against them; and chiefly
those men who by a sacrilesious compact
are most intimately united and most scryilely
1t Ia clear that they consider the dissoiu-
ton and extinction of religious orders as q
successful msnruyre In ths fnrtnering OF
alienation from Jesus Christ and because OF
that we may say in all truth, Blessed are
" is only because you rave chosen your
kind Of life out o. love for Jesus Christ.
AN those who have at heart the resc" and
prosperity Of their country nre sv1re that
there are no more honorable citizens, no more
useful mon, no more devoted patriots than
e. memSers .; religion, 3; and
you. so many precious advantages which
depend uron your existence. There are the
thionss Of the poor. the absEdQned. snd the
unfortunate for whose sake you have founded
| and sustained every variety OF establishment
with supreme intellis.hce ard sdmlrsbl"
charity. Ther. are the fathers of 1amii,os
who unta the present moment ralted upon
yon to 10y art that moral and religion. edn;
cation which !. strong. ,yisorou. and fruitful
nceied than in our time Ther. arc the
priests who nnd IN yon valuable anxlliar:es
ln thsr Important and lsboron. ministry
trnee OF aposta,y. hnd u.eful direction ard
ensonrsgem.nt ~ your sdviee backed .. !:
stsy. All BSop. % ysqr honor yo" .S fS
their confidence, and who consid.r YOU a.
tried teachers OF the, younger clergy, ard
who recognize in YOU the true friend. OF their
brothers and sheir people. Offering az you
do for them 10 tho divine mercy. your incs--
cant prayers and sxpintory sacrifices Bu:
no one appreciates the exceptional merits
OF religious orders with greater Justice than
va ourselves. who from this apostolic seat
.re watching over the needs Of fhs 1hivcrsrl
Church
Let il be considered with what zeal these
religious apply themselves to develop among
the children of the people those germs OF
natural goodness which without them would
perish and leave these little once TO grow
up a danger TO themselves and 10 Others.
These religious have. with the help Of grace,
cultivated patiently and assiduously these
precious seeds. have preserved them from
destruction and have succeeded in bringing
them To maturity Under their influence
they have developed splendid fruitage
OF intel gent love for truth. Of honestly.
sense OF duty. Of strength OF character and
better calculated than all this for the order
and prosperity OF the Sate'"
The POpe's letter concludes with an az
hortation TO bear up under the new con-
ditions with courage and patience, and with
the assurance that those to whom II Is d.
rected have the sympathy. OF the Vatican
and Of Catholics the world over, Since
runs. you find yourselves either already
struck or threatened by the fatal laws OF
dispersion. you must recognize that these
very circumstances Impose upon you the
duty Of defending with more real than ever
the integrity OF your religious spirit against
the contamination OF the world, and OF hold
ing yourselves ever ready and ever armed
ofps tail