The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-04-06
Plus X LAUDS IRISH
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS
Great Change Brought About in
Education in Ireland During
Past Century.
Through Persistent Efforts of the
Christian Brothers, Schools
Have Taken Root.
During Past Forty Years They Have
Established Schools in Most
European Countries.

We print this week (says Rome
of March q most important letter of
the Holy Father to the Christian Bro
theirs which, we know, will be read
with great interest.
The dawn of the nineteenth century
found the Catholics In ireland in a
pitful condition. Many refics of the
penal enactments which mad crushed
them and their ancestors during the
Catholic Emancipation was yet away
In dim futurity.
1t was at this moment young and
successful Waterford merchant, Mr..
Edmond Rice. felt inspired to leave
the world and dedicate his life to the
service Of God. His idea was to join
the Augustinian Order, of which his
brother, then resident in Rome, was a
distinguished member The remark
Of friend that he would do much
more good by devoting his time and
his means to the instruction of SO
many poor children of their city, who
were growing up In ignorance and
vice. gave him food for reflection, and
eventually determined his choice to
dedicate himself to teaching youth the
principles Of religion and morality.
The Bishop of the Diocese, Most
Rev. DR.. Hussey, cordially approved OF
Mr.. Rice's decision, ana encouraged
and facilitated him in every way. The
founder was joined by two or three
companions animated with similar dis
positions, and in 1902 the first school
was opened in Waterford. 1t was of
very modest dimensions, but the
change wrought in the boys who at
tended was soon apparent. Praise of
the good work was heard throughout
tho city, and though many and great
difficulties beset the path Of the new
Institute much progress was made.
Brother Rice had the consolation of
receiving In 1920 Papal Brief con-
firmng the Constitutions of his Insti-
| tute.
Neighboring towns in the South Of
Ireland soon had f1ourishing schools
conducted by the Christian Brothers,
as they were named, and when in 1882
the English government introduced the
so called National system of education
into Ireland many important centres
were already equipped educationally
with a system truly Catholic and Ma
tional.
| The Christian Brothers were coun-
selled by influential friends to avail
of the pecuniary advantages of the
new system, but they feared the
Greeks though bearing gifts" They
wished to retain their freedom to I'M
part religious instruction, not only at
the hour prescribed, but whenever,
during the day occasion offered. They
had also begun to publish school books
framed on Catholic and National lines.
and religious emblems hung in all
their school rooms, and acceptance Of
the Boards regulations meant Danish
ment of both books and emblems.
At length the superiors determined
to place few particularly necessitous
schools under the National Board as
test cases, but they found the Boards
regulations were quite incompatible
with the fundamental principles by
which they wished their schools to be
guided. Ennistymon, Glare County,
was one of the places in which the ex-
pertinent was tried.
Soon after the connection was made
an inspector called to the school in
that town, and, noticing a catechism of
Christian Doctrine on the desk, took it
and threw it, from him. exclaiming:
"This book should not be here"
at should and will be here" re-
piled the Brother in charge. The Bro
Tiers renounced the Boards grants,
returned to their poverty and liberty,
and Providence, manifested in the gen
erous charity of the clergy and people
of Ireland, has enabled them to con-
| tinue perfecting and expanding their
work amongst youth during the many