'The Institute of the Freres des Ecoles Chretiennes is a
Society, the profession of whose members is to hold schools
gratuitously. The object of this Institute is to give a
Christian education to children, and it is for this purpose
that schools are held, in order that the masters, who have
charge of the children from morning to night, may bring them
up to lead good lives, by instructing them in the mysteries
of our Holy Religion and filling their minds with Christian
maxims, while they give them such an education as is fitting
for them.'
Thus the schools were to be free, and they were to be essentially and
fundamentally Christian; but there was no intention of making them
exclusively religious and banishing secular studies. On the other hand,
the greater part of the time given to the children was devoted, as in
reason it must be, to secular teaching; and only a small portion
retained for teaching of a more solemn kind. No doubt De la Salle
depended for the religious results of schooling more upon the men who
taught and the general atmosphere of his schools, than upon amount of
religious lessons actually taught and learnt: this is indicated by the
following article of the Rule:--
'The Brothers of the Society will have a very deep reverence
for the Holy Scriptures, and in token of it they will always
carry about them a copy of the New Testament, and will pass
no day without reading a portion of it, in faith, respect,
and veneration for the Divine Words which it contains. They
will look upon it as their prime and principal Rule.'