F.D.L.C.

Otago Witness, Issue 2631, 17 September 1902, Page 30

F.D.L.C.

MOST REMARKABLE SECRET SOCIETY IN EUROPE.

(By Ralph W. Maude, in the Daily Mail.) The Roman Catholic Church in France is constantly threatened by almost countless dangers, but by none more powerful than by that extraordinary secret society known to its members as the " F.D.L.C.," which, being interpreted, 6tan.ds for " Les Fr«re3 de la Cote" (The Brothers of the Coast). Few Englishmen, and not many Frenchmen eitheT, for the matter of that, have ever heard of this reina.rka.ble acciely. Its members, to the number of two acid a-half millione, consist entirely of boye from the age 3 of 14 to 20, the majority of whom are receiving education at the hands of the priests in the eooka libres, or free schools, whioh are controlled by the Roman Catholic Church. ATHEISM AND ANTI-EOME The society has two objects in view. First and foremost, they are bound together for the propagation and encouragement of atheism and the destruction of the power of the Papal Church. On the arm of each member is tattooed in large print the letters '"A.D.," signifying Anti Dieu. These letters carry with them a vow to observe aa little as possible the rules of tho Rcni3.n Catholic Churc'i if complete abstinence frcm her ceremonies be incompatible witih home life. No "Brother of the Coast" must genuflect before tie altar; he must never confess unless practically dragged to tho confessional, and even tn-311 he must treat the ceremony with ridicule ; he must n&ver communicate unless under parental compu'sion; and he- must not only not fast or eat maigre, but he must starve himself at the family dinner table only'to stuff himself with forbidden meat at some convenient restaurant. He must, in faot, do all in his power to dissociate himself from the Church. And to prove how thoroughly the Brethren of the Coast fulfil their vows, I hare only to point to the fact that at a recent examination, in which ,100 of the brethren took part, they one aiid all, in reply to a question asking them to show the truth of Christ's miracles, answered that they were an invention, an absurd fairy tale ! USHEBS TEBBOHISED. The second object for which the society is constituted is for the upholding of its njeinbens' supposc-d rights. If a master be too severe- he has at once to rcc'kon with the F.D.L.C. A deputation is formed to wait upon the head master and complain of the offending tutor's conduct. Then the F.D.L.C. await results. If the roaster's behaviour does not at onco show a radical change they take action. A elieet of paper, with the letters " F.D.L.C printed large upon it in red mk, is dropped into the head master's letter-box, who knows by -experience that unlees his colleague mends his ways he will have to look out for squalls. Gene-rally the mysterious piece of paper has an instant and an excellent effect; but if the "head" be obstinate the brethren show their t-eoth. The unfortunate tutor's life is made a burden to him. Let him. look away for one instant while in class, :ind a book is flung at his head ; let him turn away for another moment, and an inkpot follows the volume*. Punishment is useless, for the Brethren of the Coast cheerfully bear one another's burdens ; and it is a rule of the society tliat no member shall perform the punishment task me-ted out to him. It is invariably undertaken by another. FOB BETTER FOOD. Again, if the food allotted to the boys be in their opinion not of sufficient quality, the F.D.L.C. step in to mend matters. A favourite method is to abstain from (<Y- r \ altogether, with tlie effect that on returning to their homes they aie in sue-h a stato of wcakno's and ill-health that the parent« insist upon an. alteration of diet. One boy of whom I know actually died of this abstinence ordered by his "society ! Another way is to actually fling the food in the masters' faces, and the members have been known to go bo far as to take the masters' dinners ana leave them their own in their place ! So powerful, indeed, are tho Brethren of the Coast that discipline is made a practical impossibility, though to their credit let it be said that if rhoy are generously and kindly treated they behave themselves and confine their attention entirely to the propagation of pure and unadulterated atheism. The punishment meted out by the society to those erf its members who break their vows ifi terribly severe The most disgriifiting and ignominious barbarities are resorted to Sometimes the lobes of tho ears are cut ; at others a great cross is scratched on the situner's arm with a penknife; white if bis offence be small he is merely fined. I But just as the vows are terrible, bo are , the punishments fox the breaking of them cruel and severe. Punishment, however, is rarely resorted to, for the Brethren of the Coast are more than loyal to their, society and their oaths. THE MTSTKBIOUS CHIEFS. Tlie society is controlled by three so-called " ohiefs," who have their headquarters in P*ris. The head chief, who 10 practically a despot, is unknown, to all tho two and ahalf million members save the second chief. Through this second chief h© issues his decrees, and no one else is even cognisant of hi* name. All that the bibmt. ««j£bjsg

I know 13 that \ia m a boy like themselves. I His term of office expires at tlie end of his school life, just as the membersliip of each j on 9 of the brethren ceases when he laavea j the tutor's hainds. The three head ohiefs appoint three local chiefs for each town. Those arrange meetings, collect subscriptionis, and generally o"ffitrol the local affairs of the society, but they are directly responsible to the headquarters staff in Paris. All the meotings a>re held in absolute secrecy, and generally in the open air, wliile sentries are posted in every direction to give warning of the apprcaeh of some curious cVeric. Oft r -n not a word ie spokon, but propositions, statements, or oommsinds are written down and passed from hand to hand. The meetings are held frequently and are invariably attended by the full local strength of the society, foT ate-ence., unless a good excuse is forthcoming, rneajis prompt punishment. The subscription to the society is 10 franc 3 a year. For this each member is entitled to relief to .the extent of 30 francs, provided that he can show to the satisfaction of the local chiefs that he ary-olutPly destitute of money. Each member, in addition to having his arm branded with the letters " A.D.," wears a badge in the chape of a red moon, and the local chiefs "bear distinguishing tattoo marks on their right hands. The society also possesses secret signs and " grips." OFFICIAL APPROVAL. The origin of the society dates from about l? 20. It was formed by two discontented hoys who ran away from school to America, whore they live-d by the sea shore — he-noe lijo ritle '" Brethren, of tli9 Coast." ■ So far, the have beon powerless t t.> pv.fc down this extraordinary, this terrible instituli'n. wh'oh ia winked at. if net actually supported, by the French Government, whose great object is to destroy thepower of the Roman Catholic Church, in France. Hitherto the Church has decided to pretend ignorance of the soei&ty; but the day must surely be near when it must take some action, c-r borome p-racticaTy an unknown quantity so f2r a3 male Franco is concenued. The Frcres dc la Coto are increasing in number rapidly, and it must be remembered that while they only number 2.500,000, that number is made up entirely of boys between the ages of 14 and 20. It is not for one moment to Ho that when fchose boys 1-eave school they will necessarily leave the atheistical creed they have acquired behind them. • Indeed, not only is Itomfn Ca-tholicism threatened, and dangerously threatened, by 1 this romarkable brotherhood, but it presents a menace to the entire Cha-i»tian world.