This letter is certainly a reply to a letter from the Brother Director, informing the Founder of a proposal made by the authorities in Sury in reaction to his demands, and inviting him to come see things for himself. Brother Avit, in the Annales de Sury, p. 9, attributes this letter to Bro. François, the pious Founders right arm. It is highly probable that it was he who wrote it, but the ideas are certainly those of the Founder, who once again (cf. L. 216) finds himself caught between his desire, on the one hand, to keep the school open, and therefore to get off the back of the authorities, and on the other, to have the school brought into line.

Dear Brother Philippe,

You know how strongly we hold to having our classrooms separated only by a partition with windows. We hope that later on those in Sury will be set up that way, since the house is so suitable. But since the parish priest still does not want to hear about adapting the large classroom, it is useless for us to go to Sury. In any case, we prefer to have at least two classrooms according to Rule than to put up any longer with having all three completely separated.

Edition: Translation from: Lettres de Marcellin J. B. Champagnat (1789-1840) Fondateur de l?Institut des Frères Maristes, présentés par Frère Paul Sester,1985.

fonte: Daprès la minute, AFM, RCLA 1, p. 132, nº 162, éditée en AAA pp. 282-283