The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-06-14
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS OF ERIN.

The centenary of 10 event in the his
tory of Ireland during the nineteenth
century deserves Il more thoroughly
national celebration than that of the
foundation of the Christian Br.thcrS,
says the Dublin Freemnns Journal 1t
would be impossible new to measure
the results, direct ami indirect, of that
event. We say Indirect. for to est.
mate the work of the institute merely
by the schools that it has founded. thu
scholars that it has taught, the men
that it has made, the Orplanagcs, asy-
lumS, industrial schools that it has i'll
fused with the spirit of Christian zeal
and charity and Irish larSc-heartcdncss,
would be to miss the greatest of its
achievements. For the Foundation and
triumphant success of this institute of
native and national Irish teachers have
influenced the whole history of Irish
education and Irish culture.
Had the Christian Brothers and the
Christian Schools Of Ireland not exist
ed. had those charged with the develop
mcnt of the so-called National schools
not been obliged to work in the light
of the contrast afforded by the cluca-
ton in these schools and under the
cver-prescnt fear of their extension, the
attempt to make the National school
an engine of political and religious
prosclytism would never have been
abandoned. The Christian Brothers
won the battle for the liberty of re-
IigiOus teaching in the National schools.
In the long run, with their assistance,
the denominational principle was car
rietl to triumph in the very citadel Of
the secularists; and the transformation
of the National system in method and
spirit, which has not even yet reached
its term, was part Of their great serv-
ice to faith and fatherland. Nor is that
all. The battle which they main-
tanned for principle in that particular
field of education has affected opinion
and policy all over the Irish education
nj field. The existence of the institute
and it's schools was the objective an
swer to all these pettifogging politi-
cians whose reply to the demand for a
system of education in harmony with
the beliefs and ideals of the nation
was Il charge of insincerity against
those who made the demand. Irish
Catholic laymen we have been so often
told, are not serious in this educational
claim. What better answer could
there be than the creation of an edu-
cational system all Ireland's own, SO
far rs private and personal sacrifice
could create such Il system? So that
il even as regards university education
! we move towards II better condition,
| no small part of the victory is due to
| the institute Graded in the old City
| by the SUR Il hundred years ago The
Christian Brothers nailed the flag Of Il
true Catholic and true national cdu-
cation to the mast. Through all the
difficulties which the circumstances of
the time and the shifts of state policy
created for the spiritual guides of the
people in providing for their education,
the standard which the Christian
Brothers maintained and their success:
in maintaining it We're an unp,lrchas.
able service.
The positive results of their labors
are second in value only to the wide
Influence they have exercised on the
whole course of educational policy in
Ireland. They have been pioneers as
teachers in Il dozen directions. The
story of Ireland, the literature of Ire.
land, the legends Of Ireland, the great
names OF Ireland, the sacred memories
of Ireland would have been unh@,rd III
our primary schools but for the exist.
ence of the Christian Schools. They
We're here, us well as In religion, the
little leaven that has been gradually
leavening the whole mass One has
only to take up reading-book from Il
bench in one Of their schools, and com.
pare it with some of the old compila
tons of the national board, to realize
tho 1opcro,. that tln1, ovortoI l,oro