Page 201 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

180 BRoTHER RyKEN RESTGNs
Brother James submitted his statemenr to Bishop
Malou on December twenty-ninth. Early in the follow-
ing week, on January second or third Monsignor
Scherpereel, the vicar-general, presented himself at "Het
Walletje." Speaking for the Bishop, he directed Broth-
ers Alphonse, Alexius, and Peter to apologize publicly.
He informed Brother Ryken that once these men had
apologized, they were to be restored to their former
places and that they were to be absolved of all penances
and punishments. The Monsignor left a shocked com-
munity, but peace did not descend on the waters.
As directed, the three Brothers apologized publicly,
but to Brother Ryken these dictated apologies rang
hollow. He had been hurt deeply and he was loathe to
send these three back to their old assignments ar the
School of Our Lady. When he dilly-dallied, the Broth-
ers involved appealed to Bishop Malou: "We have
apologized but we have not been restored to our former
positions."
The Bishop ordered the Father Superior to comply
and at once. Reluctantly he did.
When complaints continued to arrive, Bishop Malou
decided to go into the matter fully.
On Monday, January twenty-third, with Monsignor
Scherpereel and Canon Van Coillie in attendance, he
interviewed each of the thirty-seven Brothers. Last of
all he called for Brother Ryken who had been away over
night at Courtrai and who had just arrived home. His
Excellency told the surprised Brother Ryken that he
would be pleased to have a talk with him on the fol-
lowing day at the episcopal residence.
The substance of this conference can be deduced from
the letter which Bishop Malou wrore ro Canon Benoit
in Manchester, England: "A period of insurmountable
difficulties, which seemed to compromise the very exist-