A Model for Irish Action: Lay Action for Factories and Slums in France

Irish Jesuit Province

A Model for Irish Action: Lay Action for Factories and Slums in FranceAuthor(s): Charlotte KellySource: The Irish Monthly, Vol. 60, No. 707 (May, 1932), pp. 262-271Published by: Irish Jesuit ProvinceStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20513257 .

Accessed: 15/06/2014 16:04

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp

.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

.

Irish Jesuit Province is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Irish Monthly.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 185.2.32.49 on Sun, 15 Jun 2014 16:04:17 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=ijp

http://www.jstor.org/stable/20513257?origin=JSTOR-pdf

http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp


262

A MODEL FOR IRISH ACTION LAY ACTION, FOR FACTORIES AND SLUMS IN

FRANCE.

By CHARLorPE KELLY.

N the years that followed 1870, a great social move ment, designed to benefit the working classes, sprang up in France. Its first ncd most important

work was the institution of Catholic workingmen'st clu-bs. These owed their origin directly to two mem bers of the Frenhe army, M. le Comte Albert de MThn, and M. le Marquis de la Tour du Pin-Chamnbly, whose object was; briefly, the furtherance, through the efforts of the large employers of labour, of the religious, moral and material welfare of the working man.

The idea wvas warmly received in the North, whose population is so largely composed of factory hands, and especially in Lille, where for some years Philibert

Yrau and Camille Feron-Vrau, owners of the Matson Waun a large thread factory, had been working for

the same ends. Lille, like the rest of France, had been roused from its religious apathy by the war of 1870, 'with its disastrous results, and the inhabitants, more particula,rly the working-classes, had been stirred up and inflamed by a series of missions and retreats. Camille Feron-Vrau, to whom the welfare of his workers was a matter of the first, importance, was the first to form a Gerete in 1872. Other employers fol iowed his example, and soon numerous Cerdles existed, both in Lille and in the surrounding industrial towns. Their effect soon began to make itself felt, in the better understandtng between employer and employee, and the consequently improved standard of work. At' the same time, an association which was to have a great effect on the labour question, the Union des oevrres

ouvrie'res Cath7oliqmes, had just been founded by Mgr. de Segur, and had been joined by numerous employers in

Fralnce.



A MODEL FOR IRISH ACTION 263

That the question was becoming an important part of Catholic Action, was formally recognised at the CongrAs des Cathiotiques du Nord, held in 1874, when oeu4vres ouvriAeres took an important place in its pro gramme. At that time, eighteen months after their inauguration, the North contained eight Committees and fourteeni Clubs. In that same year, an important contribution to the discussions on practical organisa tion of a Catholic factory was made by M. Peron-Vrau at an industrial Congress, held in Lyons. Following an inspiring description, by M. Harmel, of his cele brated factory at Val-des-Bois, near Reims, where a1l the principles enumerated in his work, the Organisa tion chr&tienne de l'usine, were fully demonstrated

Feron-Vrau was called upon to give his experience of a city factory, with its necessarily different problems.

His report shows, that for some years previously, efforts were being made for the moral, as well as

material improvemenit of factory life. The closing of the factories early on Monday, an old custom dating from the time when workers, exhausted by the excesses of the previous day, were unable to work full time, was discontinued. Particular care was taken in the selection of new employees, preference being given to those of markedly good character, the girls in general being recruited from the local. confraternities. The day's work was always begun with a prayer and a

statue of the Blessed Virgin presided over offices and work-rooms. One of the oldest customs of the Maison Vrau was the annual retreat for the young girls, which terminated every year by a fete, arranged and attended by the wives of the owners.

While deploring the-inadequacy of such efforts for the Christianisation of a town of 160,000 inhabitants, of which more than half were employed in factories, M. Peron-Vrau stated that the practical conclusion of his experience was, that in matters of reform a sound

knowledge of the environment, and of the local needs was of far more use than theories, however well based, and was in fact absolutely essential.



264 THE IRISH MONTHLY

The years 1874-1884 were to see a great advance in the religiouis organisation of the factories of the

North. While all participated, the Maison Vrau was the pioneer, and a striking example of continuous pro gress in this direction. When the increasing number of employees had necessitated the work being done at home for want<of room <at the factory, a system had been started by which the girls attenaded work-rooms situated in different parts of the city, and superin tended by nuns. The girls being chosen by these nuns and for the most part being old pupils of their old schools, the standard both for character and efficiency

was very high, and the work done correspondingly good. In 1876%- when the enlargement of the factory brought all the workers under the same roof, three religious were permanently installed& in the Matson

Vrau. Their presence, viewed at first with some dis trust, proved a complete success. In no way interfer ing with the work, they were at the -service of all

they taught the very young employees, interested themselves in those sick or absent, received applica tions for work, and while occupied only with the women and girls, made their influence felt all over the factory. They were in charge of the private chapel, where some years later the Blessed Sacrament was permanently installed. From a purely material point of view, the expense of their maintenance was more than covered by the better output of work, owing to more careful execution, and an entire absence of waste.

In 1884, Camille Feron-Vrau was instrumental in founding the Association, des Patrons Chr6tien& dut

Nord. This, his greatest achievement, was a most important movement. The heads of all the great fac tories in the North of France formed themselves into an association whose aim was not only to fulfil their duty towards their employees, but to ensure, by every means in their power, their material, moral and religious welfare. Forty-two members from every part of the North enrolled at the outset, under the presi dency, of M. l'Abb4 Fichaux, Professor of Philowphy




at the Catholic College of Tourcoing. 'The times were favourable. In that same year, 1884, the Encyclical

Humanum Genus, warning the faithful against secret societies, had recommended the institution of working

men's corporations. Three weeks after the publica tion of the Encyclical, the foundation of the Corpora tion S. Nictolas the first of many such institutions,

was proposed at Lille by Camille Feron-Vrau. This Corporation, which was joined by over 1,300 workers, and included six factories, was as it were the head

quarters from which innumerable works for the benefit of the factory-hand emanated. This included a Conseit Patronal, composed of the employers and their wives, the chaplain to the Corporation, and four representa tive employees. This Conseil met once a month to discuss and undertake any suggested improvements in the' employees' condition. Economic and charitable institutions were numerous. These included the Caisse d'6pargne, yielding 4 per cent. interest; Oeuvre des prOts, for advancing money on the guarantee of a similar sum being in deposit in the Caisse d'Cpargne; Caisse d'assistance, in cases of illness; Secours a L'invalid,t6 et 4 la vieiltesse des ouvriers; Fondation S. Nicolas,

which provided marriage portions for employees accordiing to their length of service, and Fondation S. Jean, d'Evang6liste, a burial fund. These are only a few of the institutions at the Maison Vrau, but there

were many more, both there and in the other factories

at Lille. It was at the Congyres des Cathkotiqwes dm Nord ii

the years 1885 and 1886 that the employers ddfinitely commenced the Catholic reorganisation of the fac tories. There followed the founda-tion of the corpora tions professionelles, of which we have already spoken, the Syndicat nmixte, a federation of material rights and interests and a less prominent, but most important work, retreats for working-men. The first of these took place in 1885 at the- Chateau-Blanc, where the Association des Patrons du Nord held their annual retreat. Twenty-three workmen attended the



266 TlE IRISH MONTHLY

first retreat, which lasted three days. The numbers were increas-ed the following year, and in 1887 at the close of the annual retreat, the men taking part in it asked permission to form themselves into an associa tlon, the Ligue des retraitants, open to all who had

made a retreat at the Chhteau-Blanc. This leaguie comprised 140 members the following year, and the retreat became an established custom. These men,

who wrere the etlite of the working-classes, lhad an enormous influence on their companions, and helped to bring about a better understanding between master and man.

At the annual reunion of the Patrons, this problem of the reorganisation of the factories was very closely studied. The question -of religious observances, sodalities, retreats, prayers in the work-rooms, private oratories, was discussed. Then followed a debate on the responsibilities of employers i:n cases of accidents, the control of the overseer by the employer, reduction of hours of work, night work, strikes, etc. But in every case, it was agreed that the employer himself

must give the example, in his private, political and public life. "1 Messieurs," concluded the President at the end of one of these reunions, "1 the worker is

what you are, and will do what you do." All this progress, however, did not go unopposed by

a Freemason Goverunment. In 1886, gendarmes fired, without provocation, on a group of factory haands, who stoutly defended their chapel. A woman was killed. The effect was but to inflame the enthusiasm of the workers.

In 1889 a great pilgrimage to Rome was organised

by M. iarmel. 0ver a thousand working-men came from the North and East, the diocese of Cambrai send

ing more than half that number. The employers offered to defray the expenses of the journey, but this offer was in all cases refused. Feron-Vrau made a, characteristic appeal on behalf of the small trades people who had expressed a desi-re to join in the pil

grimage. "Although these good people are not work




ing-men or factory employees in the strict sense of the word," he said, "neither are they manufacturers or landowners, and moreover they live in the midst of the

working-classes, and'their impressions will mrost cer tainly have an importtant influence for good on those around them." The good effect of this pilgr'image made together by employer and employee was inestim able. They travelled together, lived together, and prayed togethet, and a closer knowledge brought a better understanding.

But on the morrow of this time of peace and good will came a critical year for the Association des Patrons. Early in 1890, M. Dutilleul, one of the most important as well as most charitable manufacturers of

Armentlres, was shot, though not fatally, by an il subordinate employee at the inistigation of anarchist agitators. Irn May, the industrial trade at Roubaix was brought to a standstill for a time by one of the mnost serious strilkes that had yet taken place. Over 1,500 workers, many of them members of the Syndicat and the Confr&rie, took part in it, and the employers

were helpless in the face of the violent rioting that resulted. At an exhaustive enquiry made by the Associationt des Patrons as to the direct cause of the strike, it was stated that no personal animosities were in question, but Socialist agitators were always at

work, ready to point out the comparison between the respective positions of employer and employee. Thus influenced, the men were unable to distinguish between the moderate luxury of the great industrial owners, an-d the ostentatious extravagance of certain rich mer

chants and speculators. " There lies the root of the trouble," said the President, M. Fichaux, "1 love of

wealth, showing itself in extravagant livng on the one part, and bitter envy on the other." And he urged the remedy for both parties in the return to a Christian spirit and the generous teachings of the Gospel.

The apathy of some of the younger generation of employers, in face of the growing power of the

workers, caused M. Feron-Vrau to suggest the founda




tion of an Ecole d'etudes industrielles, in connection with the Catholic University, for the education of young employers. It was, in fact, a sort of training school for the sons of manufacturers and other young men who

would be in the future large employers of labour. The course did not confine itself to the technical and scien tific part, but included the civie, secial, moral and religious duties of great manufacturers. Special lec tures in the faculties of law, theology, science were included. The young patron who had successfully taken his brevet patronml was not anly an educated man,

le was a citizen who had studied the country's needs and was ready to serve it, a manufacturer with a com prehensive knowledge of his business and of the ever present problem of labour, and, most important of all, he was a true Christian, honouring his religion by his example, and able and willing to defend it by word and deed. The Ecole Industrielle was warmly supported by the Association des Patrons du Nord, and Pope Leo XIII, through Ferona-Vrau, bestowed his blessing on it. Vrau, whose counsel was always accompanied, if not preceded, by his example, enrolled his own son, as did also M. Harmel.

In 1891 the Association became legalised under the title of Syndlicat professionelle de lindustrie textile. In that year Henri Bayart, one of the great industrial figures in the North, in giving an acount of the work done by the Association during its six years of existence, was able to state that there was not one protective mneasure demanided by democracy in which the Association had not taken the initiative. These in cluded prevention of child labour, limitation of women's working hours, the abolition of night-work for women, and later on for men, the Sunday holiday, etc. He added: "I Six years have passed, years of progress, during which the reformation of persons has always been the prelude and the key to all other reforms."' The last meeting of the Congress in 1900, before its sup pression by the State, was presided over by M. Fichaux, whose inspiring address to the members on their duty




ts Christians to their employees concluded with these words: " To work, Messieurs, to work! since the choice, Christian or Socialist, now lies before you; for God's sake, Messieurs, for society's sake, and also for your family's sake, do not hesitate, de plus en plus, et coi'te qpe cotte, soyez Chretienm"l

The following year, despite disastrous rioting at Fourmies, instigated by Socialists, yet showed con siderable progress in the relations between employer and employee, particularly at Lille. But this better understanding was not viewed with favour by those whose object was to create and maintain continual strife.

In 1892 M. Feron-Vrau, President of the Association des Patrons du Nord, was summoned to appear before the authorities at Lille, first for admitting persons to the reunions who did not belong to the textile industry, and seondly-and this was the real reason-for dis cussing there matters other than professional. In other words, the Congress was to be suppressed for haviing advocated the practice of religion. The Government had taken alarm, and, in spite of masterly speeches by both WI. Feron-Vrau and MAitre Th6ry, the Congress was formally suppressed in February, 1893. The cessa tion of such a vast work was not possible, however, and a few months later the Patrons were invited to attend a, Conference d'etudes sociales, to be held privately every month. In short, the name was changed, nothing else.

We could not close an account of what the Catholics of the North of France have done for the factory worker without a mention of that most important subject, working men's houses.

As a young doctor, Camille Feron-Vrau, before his entrance to the Maison Vrau, had had many oppor tunlities of seeing the miserable conditions in which so

many of the inhabitants of Lille lived. For many years he had endeavoured to find a remedy, and in 1894, urged

by his friend, M. Becheux, Professor of Political Economy, he resolved to make an extensive inquiry. The first report of this was presented to the Association




des Patrons du Nord in 1895, and a more comprehensive one the following year. By means-of a questionnaire whi-ch M. Feron-Vrau ciruelated, and which had been answered for the most part by the Sisters of Charity, all the parishes within the city had been' investigated-. The revelation of the misery and degradation suffered, by the inhabitants, the want of space, air, cleanliness, was appalling. Many of the houses were jerry-built by owners who would not spend the money on good

materials, while demanding extortionate rents, and in some cases refusing to let to people with children. The report concludes in a manner truly characteristic of M.

Feron-Vra,u. He tad visited the Casa Sanata at Loretto,

and by measurements had ascertained that the touse covered 1503 square yards, thus ensuring 50 square yards for each member of the Holy Family. Now in some parts of Lille, reports showed that 9 square feet was the average allowance per person.

"1 The Holy Family," says M. Feron-Vrau, "c lived in

a -condition, not of misery,- 'but of that poverty con forming to the Divine Plan. Can our poor workers not hope for at leat such a modest lodging as that?"

In 1898, the inquiry, which covered over a thousand dwellings, was finished; the question of practical means hiad to be faced. A request for financial aid to the

Soci6te Industrielle dWi Nord was made. Feron-Vrau was awarded a gold medal-and there it ended. In turn, the Association des Patrons and the 10th Cowgr6s (Catholique Regional were approached, but without suc cess. In 1899, after four years' work with no result, Feron-Vrau took the matter into his own hands, and enlisted the aid of some of his confreres of the St. Vin cent de Paul. He succeeded in interesting them in the project by the very practical method of building a house himself to serve as a model of the ideal dwelling for the working-classes. Twenty members of the Conference of the St. Marie-Madeleine formed themselves into a com pany. A grant was made them by the Council at Lille, anti their capital was further augmented by an appeal to 'the parishioners. In 1907 Feron-Vrau was able to re



DISENQJANTMENT ;27L

port to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul the existence of the Maison de Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, containing forty dwellings, each supplied with all that could con d rice to leading- a healthy Christian life, That most difficult of all stages, initiation, had been passed and thle first stone well and' truly laid.

The question of the slums, and of the proper housing of the poor, is a burning one to-day in Dublin. Feron Vrau, with the aid of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul,

solved, on a smaller scale of course, a similar problem. Are not his methods worthy, at least, of consideration?

DISENCHANTMENT

O Wood in the North! June came to you, leafy, sweet, All day your silences swayed to the clinging of song, All day your branches swayed to the clinging of feet;

Love in the year was strong.

And love was strong in the hearts that adventuxred far Beyond the changeful moon to find a dream Holy and high as that clear evening star

In a twilight sky supreme.

O Wood of the dying leaves! to-night you hear A wind that jibes at the hearts beyond the moon, Wools who forgot that in Autumn love is a mere

Leaf that was green in June.

And I who dreamt in the North forget in the West The dream, and the wood, and the silver evening star The year has fallen-and love-and the heart were best

To wither with things that 'are.

Withering-Love has withered-mayhap in the fold Of the changeless stars still sweet is what was sweet;

Jane leaves are under- her feet. But here even Autumn wearies of her gold

E. M. J. O'BoYLE.



Documents

A Model for Irish Action: Lay Action for Factories and Slums in France