one of the causes of the future troubles with bishop Baines, who, as a monk, had been the chief opponent.

1

The president, on his return to Douai, called the religious together and told them that, as there were already six postulating for the holy habit, the time had now come to constitute the monastery upon a canonical basis. He read letters from edmundians on the mission, praying that their house might be restored, even if it should have to be continued in another locality, as had been the case of the gregorians and the laurentians. He had "merely out of complaisance" applied to the definitors for permission to admit his subjects to the habit and to their religious profession; but they, under plea of the chapter's action, refused their consent. But the state of affairs under which chapter had come to a decision had (thought the president) now changed; and, as the rescript in favour of canonical transfer of St. Edmunds to Douai had been obtained from the holy see, he considered himself to be acting within his legitimate rights in acting in direct opposition to the views of the definitors and chapter altogether. He at once proceeded on his own responsibility to clothe his novices. From this time the duty of choir and other cloistral observances were put in force. After the year of novitiate four out of the six were professed as members of the house of St. Edmund's. In the new community thus established was D. Cuthbert Wilkes, one of the old stock of Edmundians 1 Teste, D. Baines.

(the friend from whom Samuel Johnson parted so tenderly), who had come back to link the new on to the old.

But the president had still to encounter much opposition to his new monastery; and in the disputes with bishop Baines, to which we already have referred, the canonical rights of St. Edmund's and the whole action of the president were seriously endangered. But suffice it to say, chapter veered round under the common danger and upheld the president. A rescript was obtained from Rome approving of the re-establishment of St. Edmund's monastery, and declaring null and void any attempts to disturb that establishment, and moreover decided that the profession of the novices was valid. This was an important decision in the way of independence, and confirmed the view held by the gregorians, as a body, that chapter could not interfere with the legitimate rights of a house.

Thus, then, all ended happily, and St. Edmund's was left to work out its own destiny. The college increased. In 1833 there were thirty-two students; six years after forty-three; two years more saw the number increased to sixty-six. The site of the old gregorian church and monastery had been taken by the government in March 1817, for the purpose of building a prison, for which compensation to the value of 8947 francs had been paid to the adminisIn 1840 permission was obtained to build a new chapel and refectory, with Pugin for archi

trator.

tect, the result being a collegiate chapel unique in its simple beauty and elegant proportions.

The monks add to the ordinary work of a college that of educating boys for the secular mission. The settlement of the property belonging to English catholics brought this about. Hence, St. Edmund's, the only English establishment on the Continent, opened its doors to such subjects as the English catholic bishops send as ecclesiastical pupils.

Its

Since its restoration St. Edmund's has been singularly gifted in its superiors, and two of its priors, D. Bernard Collier (1840) and D. Adrian Hankinson (1863), together with D. B. Scarisbrick, sometime prefect (1872), have been raised to the episcopate for the Mauritius. Its restorer, D. Marsh, two of its priors, abbat Burchall (1841) and abbat O'Gorman (1883), and one more of its community, abbat O'Neil (1888), just appointed bishop of Mauritius, have been called to exercise the high office of president-general of the whole congregation. present prior, D. Oswald O'Neil, a true edmundian, has held office for over ten years, and has carried out all the work of reorganisation thrown upon him by the changes recently brought about in the constitution of the congregation, and has done a great deal for the welfare of the college under his care. In order to facilitate business, and with an eye to a possible future necessity of leaving France (for no one knows from day to day what an atheistic government may do), the present prior, with wise

forethought, bought a large house and grounds at Great Malvern, and opened it in 1891 as the Monastery of Our Lady and St. Edmund. A small community is in residence. The establishment was intended for a house of study for the juniors, and also to save the missioners belonging to St. Edmund's from having to cross the sea for the purpose of their yearly retreat. He has also bought at Planques a valuable property, which consists of an excellent country house and farm, most useful for the college.

St. Edmund's has been of immense service to the English catholics; and having the early training of a large number of secular priests, some of whom have risen to the very highest posts, the cordial relations which have always existed between the sons of St. Benedict and the clergy have been strengthened and made more lasting. This benedictine house has thus been an important connecting link; and one has only to ask an old Douai boy what his feelings are to find the spell St. Edmund's had woven round his heart. It has known how to imprint its own spirit of manly simplicity and open-hearted earnestness upon all

who have been trained there.

CHAPTER XIX

ST. MALO, LAMBSPRING, AND CAMBRAI

THE circumstances under which the monastery of St. Benedict at St. Malo in Brittany was founded have been already mentioned. D. Gifford was appointed by the bishop his theologian, and attached to this position was a house which was made to serve as a monastery until such time as one could be built. Another house, with a chapel attached, was about the same time given to them at Clermont, just outside the town, where some of the monks were sent to live.

"Father Barnes taught casuistry in the cathedral, and the others sweated in the confessionals and pulpits; and as it began in drudgery, so it continued on, for the city of St. Malo's was scant of religious and needed such help; the cathedral itself was but a poor business, and the English benedictine monks formed two benedictine nunneries in the city besides, at the request of the bishop." 1

But the foundation was not to take place without considerable difficulties. After five years the cathedral chapter awoke to the fact that these strangers were

1 Weldon, p. 81.