The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-05-31
A Plea for S. j. C. |
Editor Chief.

A Plea for S. j. c. |.
Editor Chief:
1t has been rumored for the last
four weeks, and the rumor is grow,
ing more insistent, that the Brothers
of the Sacred Heart, who for the
last twenty-six years have been con.
| Quoting the Saint Joseph Commercial
Institute with the greatest credit, at
the cad of the current school SEES
sion will leave Donaldsonville for
ever.
The reason for their departure is
that they cannot continue to carry
ON their splendid work of education
IN such an antiquated and deteriorat-
ed building as is theirs now, and
which would not fit the most distant
rural hamlet
While deprecating this step, I am
hound to admit the Brothers are per-
fectly right in arriving at this deci-
sion. They have already been too
self-sacrificing to bear for several
years a condition which now human
dignity and self-respect impels them
to bear no longer. In these days
when states. counties, municipalities,
esAANA
win a name and attract pupils, no
self-conscious teacher or body. Of
teachers will submit to conditions in
this respect such as have obtained
at S. J. G. |. From all over the
south there is a great demand for the
Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Right
near us we have seen with what en-
thusiasm Thibodaux has built mag
nificent college and turned it over
to the Brothers. Their order has not
enough men for the demand, and
naturally they will go wherever bet
ter colleges, better conditions, and
better chances are Offered them, even
leaving when necessary older places,
where their work does not seem to
be understood and properly appreci-
ated.
The Brothers have been teaching in
our city these last tWenty-six years.
They have educated the majority of
Eonaldsonville's young generation.
They have been among us a power for
religion, education and good exam
pie. l say in all earnestness that
had it not been for these men Of
God and letters, the citizenship of
Donaldsonyille, and especially the
Catholic manhood, would not be to-
day what it actually is. Who knew
our town 80 years ago and knows it
today, cannot fail to substantiate my
statement.
What counts still more from a busi-
ness point Of view, our boys who
have been educated by the Brothers
have made good, have fine positions,
hou to
home and in many other places; and
all of them love the Brothers, which
is by all means an unmistakab1e to-
ken of the moral and educational val
ue Of this body Of men
Now these men who have educated
our children, purified our boyhood,
uplifted our manhood, and given our
young men splendid start for life;
these men who have given a first
class inheritance to CIR city as an
center; these men of
whom we have boasted and whom
other towns have envied us; these
men Wno for over a quarter Of a
century have worked and toiled in
silence, consecrating to Donaldson i
vile the best energies of their |
youths; these men to whom we are
SO much indebted, having justly ap-
pealed to us for better, sanitary and |
improved dwellings, as BELTS them
and their high mission, and getting |
no generous response from us, feel I
Justified and are compelled to turn /
from us and leave us forever. to our |
eternal shame and disgrace. Indeed. /
it seems as though we had not ap.
preciated the enormous good they I
have wrought in behalf of this com
speak to the people of Donaldson
vile, but especially do appeal to
he Catholic congregation I say in
Ill earnestness if we allow this thing
20 happen, II we do not do all we
an to have the Brothers remain in
his city, II We through our own
ault allow them to leave US, we
must surely be ashamed of our man
rood, our Catho1icity, and iour faith
n the future Of Dona1dsonyille.
What are we doing to avert this
moral disaster from our community?
What are the Knights of Columbus
long to prevent it? What is being
lone to help our pastor, upon whom
he responsibility rests most directly?
/
# those who best than anyone else
re able to educate them for life?
shall we assist, unmoved and uncon-
erned, to such a disgrace for our
own and parish? Neither friend
hip for the Brothers, nor bitterness
gainst anybody moves me, but sole
y the honor Of this community, Il
Which is in peril, the Aove of our
oys and young men, and my own !
as a man, citizen, and
Catholic
| wish my felloW-citizens and fell
aW-Catholics to express their views
n this subject as freely as I have
one through the medium of this pa
er, and above all ] wish that shine
ing be done to- have the Brothers {
the Sacred Heart remain with us
still benefit the rising generation S
trough their teaching, and the whole G
through their admirable G
re OF religion and sacrifice, IL
CATHOLIC CITIZEN