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 CONGRESSES

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CONGRESSES

voluntarily assisted the French clergy in the religious instruction of the young. These teachers are united in an archconfraternity, publish a periodical, and re- ceive special preparatory training. Charitable and social care of the families of the pupils is united with the catechetical work.

Sociological Congresses. — The " Union des associa- tions ouvrieres catholiques" has held, since 1871, an- nual meetings attended by about 500 delegates. The "Association catholique de la jeunesse fran^aise", founded in 1886 by Robert de Roquefeuil, which aims to gather together the Catholic youth of the country, in order to strengthen them in their Faith and to train them to do their duty in the struggle for the reorgani- zation of French society in a Christian spirit, has held several hundred interesting meetings. They have served in part to spread a more thorough knowledge of certain social truths or of certain important prob- lems of religious life; but they have principally made known the work of the "Jeunesse catholique" throughout France. Their assemblies which took up the first mentioned class of subjects were held at Chalons, 1903, where trusts were discussed ; at Arras, 1904, which discussed mutual benefit schemes; at Albi, 1905, regulations governing the labour of youth- ful workmen was the topic; and at Angers, 1908, the agrarian movement. The treatment of these prob- lems at these conventions was excellent. The meet- ings held to arouse interest in the membership were chiefly provincial, only a few being national assem- blies. The growth of the association is best shown by the national conventions: Angers, 1887, 17 groups having 782 members were represented; Besan^on, 1898, 25 groups with 1(5,000 members; Bordeaux, 1907, 180 groups with 75,000 members. There has been a great increase since the meeting at Besan^on, chiefly by the admission of young mechanics and farm labourers as well as of the student class. The associa- tion has placed itself in all things under the guidance of the Church authorities, consequently, its social as well as its religious activities rest on a denominational basis without any further enunciation of principles, and it has always been very favourably regarded both by the bishops and the Roman authorities. The "Jeunesse catholique" has not been undisturbed by the political troubles of French Catholics. At the congress of Grenoble, 1892, it accepted unconditional- ly the advice of Leo XIII, but declared at the same time that, in accordance with its statutes, the associa- tion had nothing to do with party conflicts. Some of the groups, however, still adhere to the Monarchists. Fortunately, these differences of opinion have not checked the development of the society, the religious and social influence of which on the youth of France is not equalled by that of any other organization.

About the close of the nineteenth century Marc Sangnier and some of his friends founded the society called the "Sillon" (the Furrow). Convinced that in future democracy, which they took as their ideal, would rule the State and society, and desiring to pre- vent its degeneration under bad and godless leaders, while hoping to keep it from turning against the Church, these young men resolved to build up a democratic constituency of high-minded Christians devoted to the Church and well-informed on political and social questions. The idealism characteristic of the "Sillon" has gained for it the respect of the working-classes. In the beginning the tendencies of the society were not clear, as was shown in the first four general meetings: Paris, 1902; Tours, 1903; Lyons, 1904; Paris, 1905. More definiteness of plan was eviilent at the later gatherings, Paris, 1906; Or- leans, 1907; and especially at Paris, 1908, giving promise that the "Sillon" would develop into a socio-political party taking an active part in national politics. This explains why it asserted its indepen- dence of the bishops and intention always to support

any political measure that may aid in impro%'ing the condition of the working-classes, and especially all efforts aiming at thorough social regeneration and a genuinely democratic form of society and govern- ment. Only in this way, it is held, will the workman be able to obtain an equal share of the material, in- tellectual, and moral possessions belonging to the whole nation. Collectivism is absolutely rejected by the association. The growth of the "Sillon" into an independent socio-political party, its refusal to be "avant tout catholique" aroused the distrust of some of the bishops. Consequently the clergy held back from it. Nevertheless, the membership did not fall off. The first congress represented 45 members; the second, 300; the third, 800; the fourth, 1100; the fifth, 1500; the sixth, 1896. The "F^dC'ration gym- nastique et sportive des patronages catholiques de France" intended to aid all Catholic societies in honour of a local saint by arranging sports for the members of the patronage has held annual meet- ings since 1898 when the federation began in a union of 13 patronages; the number is now 4.50, represent- ing 50,000 young people in all parts of France.

Political Congresses. — The "Action lib^rale popu- laire", foimded by M. Piou on the basis of the Asso- ciations Law of 1901, is a political association led by him with much skill and energy. Its task is to defend ci%il rights derived from the Constitution in all legal ways, to promote reform in law-making by energetic work at elections, to develop or create anew sociological influence and methods, and to improve the lot of the workingman. Only Catholics are mem- bers, but it claims that it is not a "Catholic party." Its first general session convened at Paris, December, 1904, with 900 delegates representing 648 comites or branches and 150,000 members. The statistics for the following years are as follows: Paris, 1905, 1400 delegates from 1000 comites with 200,000 members; Lyons, 1906, 1600 delegates representing 1500 comites and 225,000 members: Bordeaux, 1907, 1740 comites with 250,000 members. The proceedings of all four congresses were of great interest. The so- ciety, conducted by a central committee, is divided into provincial and town committees which, though controlled by the general committee, are allowed much independence of action. Besides assiduous efforts to educate the voter the society has turned its attention more and more to practical sociological work, as the dis- cussions held at the various congresses show. The re- actionary methods which so greatly damaged the Monarchists have never been adopted. However, the growth of the association has not equalled expecta- tions, because at the first election which took place after its establishment (190G), while the "Action lib^rale" did not disappoint its friends, the parties of the Right, without the aid of which it could not suc- ceed, were completely defeated at the polls. Besides, the distrust of many Frenchmen was aroused because in order to gain nimierical strength it admitted as members many who, until their recejition into its ranks, had been knowTi as opponents of the Republic.

The Women's Movement. — The " Ligue patriotique des Fran<;aises ", formed in 1901, to collect funds for the election expenses of the candidates of the "Ac- tion lib^rale populaire", aims to arouse interest among women in the efforts of the "Action" to defend civil liberty and to promote sociological activity. Since then the league has declared that it does not pursue political ends. The movement had as its leaders such able women as the Baroness Reille, Mademoiselle Fro.ssard, Mademoiselle de Valette. and others, and in 1908 the league numbered 700 branches with 328,000 members, 28,000 more than in 1906. The league holils numerous district sessions and an an- nual general meeting. At the last two aimual sessions at Lourdes, 2000 women attended. The addre-sses and discussions at these conventions show that the