A French Reformatory [pp. 169-183]

A FRRENCH REFORMA TOR Y.
the contradictions into which they would have fallen, and the
changes to which the doctrine of the church would have been
subjected.
For the present we have only barely indicated the broad interval which divides the divine authority of the church from all
grades of human authority in the church. This is a matter
which needs to be handled separately. What are the obligations
and what is the freedom of good Catholics in respect to ecclesiastical decrees which are excluded from the category of infallible
judgments; in respect to patristic tradition; and in respect to
the common teaching of theologians? These are questions of
great and pressing interest at the present moment.
A FRENCH REFORMATORY.*.
SE,VERAL years ago a very dear friend, who had a country
residence in the department of Indre-et-Loire (which is included in what was formerly the province of Touraine), invited
me to pay him a visit, offering the inducement of a tour among
the historic chdteaux of that fertile and lovely country, deservedly called the garden of France. I gladly availed myself of his
hospitable offer, and went with him first to Blois and afterwards
to Chambord, Chenonceaux, Loches, Amboise, and Chaumont.
After showing me these interesting monuments of the past he
insisted that before separating we should visit the reformatory
for boys at Mettray, near Tours, which has been a great success and is known as the "Colonie Agricole de Mettray," to
which the "Maison Paternelle" has since been added. When
we arrived there we were informed that the venerable founder
of the institution, Mr. de Metz, was sick in bed; but nevertheless,
after learning that I was from the United States, he expressed a
desire to see me in his room, and, after I had been shown very
completely through the establishment, I had the pleasure of a
short conversation with him. What I saw impressed me so
favorably as the result of the union of intelligence, excellent
judgment, and a spirit of the. most devoted charity that I promised myself to write an account of Mr. de Metz's excellent
f The facts stated in this narrative that have not come under the writer's personal observation have been obtained from four published pamphlets: Colonie Agrzcole et Maison Paterne/te
de Mettray, par M. Bertin, Avocat i la cour d'appel de Paris; tine Visile a Mettray, par Ch.
Sauvestre, Paris, and the triennial reports for x88o and 1883, published at Tours.
I885.]
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