Catleolic Educational Endeavors
2 99
nessay, C.M., Vicar General at the time, and then wrote to the Bishop for his approval of the plan. In this letter of August I 3, 1850, Brother Ryan repeated the terms discussed with the Vicar-General. The Bishop was to obtain a rescript from Rome making him superior and protector of the Order in Texas and authorizing him to receive and profess Brothers. He was to furnish the community a priest to say Mass daily and look after their spiritual needs. The Brothers, on their part, agreed to operate a school in each house founded for the education of male children only, the first of which was to be established on the property of Colonel James Power. No other school was to be opened until an independent income from educational fees or other sources was assured the members of the congregation. In addition, the Bishop, if unable to purchase a home for the Brothers, was to give them a letter of authorization to solicit funds from the faithful in the Diocese or elsewhere for the project. He was, furthermore, to bear the expenses of bringing Brothers from Ireland. The Franciscan Brothers, unfortunately, were not able to carry out their plans, and Bishop Odin had to make other arrangements. 32 Tlee Society of Mary, S.,vl., 1851. After his failure to work out a practical arrangement with the Franciscan Brothers, Bishop Odin looked elsewhere for teacher~ to conduct his schools. It was natural that he should turn to France. his native land, for laborers. During his visit to Europe in 1851, he learned through M. L'Abbe Chevalier Auch of the splendid work being done in education by the young and enthusiastic Brothers of Mary. He lost no time in going to Bordeaux to plead with the Superior General of the Society of Mary, George Joseph Gaillet, S.M., for men to start a school in San Antonio. He was modest in his request for Brothers-only four to start a school-but he wanted Brothers able to teach in English, Spanish, German, and French. 33 His request, refused at first for lack of men, was finally granted when the Bishop, who would not be denied, presented the case to the Council of the Congregation. It was finally agreed that four men would be sent hy the Society, three from France, and one from Dayton. Ohio, where the 32 Brother Jerome Ryan, 0.S.F., to Bishop Odin, August 31, 1850, C. A. 1'. The Franciscan Brothers organized an American Province in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1858, dedicated to educational work. Tlie Catholic Almanac, 1951, p. 313. 33 Joseph W. Schmitz, S.M., "The Beginnings of the Society of Mary in Texas," il1id-American, XXV (New Series, XIV). No. I, pp. 4-5. The remainder of the ~ummary herein presented is based largely on this and the more recent complete study of Brother Joseph \V. Schmitz, The Society "' illnry i11 T,·.rns.
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