Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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toe ::r| . M life to the di ine will as re ealed by the Son of God and infallibh- proclaimed by His Church. 71ie Christian Brothers ' philosophy of education makes provisions for the temporal benefits of the future citi- zens of this coiintr -. The fundamen- tal needs of education, health, hu- man companionship, economic se- curity, leisure, civic security, and divine secin-it) ' are all carefulh ' given the attention of the students of the Christian Brothers. St. John Baptist De La Salle founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools to instruct all who would be willing to {ilace themselves under their tutelage. However, they haxe ahva s been es- pecially benevolent to those who could not afford to pay for a formal education. The Brothers in the United States ha e been most versa- tile. They hav ' e educated youth in pri- mar)-, elementar)-, and secondar ' schools, colleges, institutions for de- linquents and orphans as well as con- tinuation and technical schools. The Brothers ha e conducted nineteen institutions dedicated to child wel- fare, the most famous one being the old New York Cadiolic Protectory, which was under their supervision for three-quarters of a centtuy. The purpose of the ( atholic Protectory was to reclaim wayward and delin- quent boys from the streets of New- York. Training young men for the diffi- 16

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cult and responsible duties of the Brother is extensive and thorough. After completion of the Juniorate or High School the potential candi- date enters the novitiate where for two months he follows a postulancy or probation period, after which he receives the habit and assumes the name he will be known by in reli- gious life. The aspirant then spends a year in study, pra er, manual la- bor, and recreation. Upon comple- tion of the ear he takes temporary first ows of poverty, chastitx ' , and obedience and is then sent to the Scholasticate at De La Salle College in Washington, w here four years are spent in studying for the Bachelor degree and preparing for a teaching career. Brothers showing special ap- titudes are assigned to graduate school, so that they may intensively prepare for the subject that they will eventually teach. From the four Brothers who made the initial impression on the Ameri- can educational scene, the Institute has grown to impressive propor- tions. Close to 1600 Brothers are teaching within die fi e provinces of the order in the United States and 370 candidates for Brotherhood will soon be prepared to continue the work as outlined by St. La Salle. In the 90 schools taught b ' the Broth- ers, 90,000 pupils are in attendance. It is very significant to note the large 18