I. The First Years (1866-1883)

A. Folder 17450 - D8 f2 : "Following the request of Am. De La Grandière, Brother Philippe, Superior of The Brothers of the Christian Schools, sent six Brothers to Saigon in 1866. A few days later, as the Missions had relied to them the conduct of the Adran School founded by Rev. Puginier two years before, they immediately started the works..."

To have it done on January 6, 1866, the project sending the six Brothers to Saigon had been elaborated two years earlier, since 1863. In the letter dated 28 June 1863, the Superior General Philippe wrote, in replying to the request of M. le Contre-Amiral de la Grandière:
"...
I have the honor to inform you that the request you sent to me yesterday about sending six Brothers of the Christian Schools to Saigon town in Cochin-china, has been favorably accepted by my Council to whom I had submitted it, and that today we are taking care of searching for personnel...
...
As for the conditions of foundation and of maintenance, they can be the same as those that have been agreed for Ile of the Reunion...
...
The Superior General,
(signature)
Brother Philippe"

The process was going on smoothly and accomplished on October 16, 1865. In fact, one can find the success of the project expressed in the "Note pour la Direction des Colonies" by "L'Aide de Camp du Ministre chargé P.J. de la 1ère Direction":
"... In response to his Note on the 16th of this month, I have the honor to inform M. Director of Colonies that orders have been given, from the debate of this day, at the port of Toulon, to embark on board which is to expedite soon for Alexandria, 8 Brothers of the Christian Doctrine, destination: Cochin-china and Singapore".

There are two details we can notice:
1. Document D8f2 mentions about "six Brothers for Saigon", but on the notes above cited, there are "eight Brothers departing from Toulouse to Cochin-china and Singapore"
Thus, there were probably only six Brothers to come to Saigon and two others to Singapore (?)
2. The formal name of the Institute is The Brothers of the Christian Schools, but the French government called it as The Brothers of the Christian Doctrine

Jaime, Visitor - Adelphinien - Adrien Victor - Néopole de Jésus - Alpin de Jésus - Adilbert Jean - Paulinien - Basileo di Gesù

Arrived to Saigon on Januaray 6, 1866, the Brothers "immediately started their works" in conducting the Adran School confided to them by The Mission on January 9.

That is the first step in realizing the project of a new field of apostolic works for the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Asia, particularly in Vietnam.

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B. Problems of legacy in the relations with the national or local governments

An important concern is about the legal status of any organization or foundation for public services, such as opening a school or the presence of a foreigner in a country for any kind of activities or works. That is the case of the Brothers of the Christian Schools who teach and conduct schools in Indo-china, particularly in Saigon.
A discovered document confirms that
" the Congregation of the Company of Jesus never possessed any establishment in Cochin-china.
The religious communities who have establishments in the Colony are the congregation of Estranger Missions, le Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres et the Carmelite Sisters; it convents to also mention the Brothers of the Christian Schools who has been recognized as teaching-congregation by the decree of Mars 17, 1888. The existence of those diverse congregations having been recognized or by the ancient Monarchy or since the Revolution, are not targeted by the decrees of Mars 29, 1880 which only concerned on the not-authorized congregations..."

In addition,
"Article 3. - Dispensed of authorization requested by article 2 are the establishments for public instruction already legally installed and functioning in the Colony, that are:
- the college of the Missions and relative schools;
- The institution of Taberd, foundered by the Missionaries;
- The Adran college and other institutions conducted by the Brothers of the Christian Schools;
- the diverse schools for young girls conducted by the Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres..."

 
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C. Administration System in the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, especially in Asia and Cochin-china and Saigon, Vietnam.

Documents NJ 451 - D1f1
"The origin of founding this District (Indo-china and Saigon) is from 1866.
Until the end of 19th century, all houses (communities) were attached to the district of India and formed as a group named first "Cochin-china", then "Section of Saigon".

"In the religious calendar for the year 1902,  the chart describing all the Houses of the Institute distinctly showed one "district of India" and one "district of Cochin-china and Tonkin"; the last one as named "district of Saigon" in the calendar for the year 1903."

In 1875, Brother Superior General Irlide assigned Brother Assistant Agapet as correspondent with the establishments of India (English speaking,) Ceylon, Cochin-china (French speaking,)  Malaysia and Hong Kong. Brother Assistant Agapet assumed this job until his death in 1880.

In 1882, following the modification on territorial attributions, Brother Assistant Aimarus was in charge for the "district of India" until his death in 1906.
... "

Documents 17450 D8f2 #2

Competency in teaching and in conducting schools of the six first French Brothers in Vietnam influenced so much and  are so appreciated by students and their parents as well, that
"... by a letter dated last August 25, [1866] M. the Governor of the Cochin-china is so satisfied of the results the Brothers of the Christian doctrine have done by their conduct of schools confided to their cares that he wishes five new Brothers be sent to the Colony on the account of the local  Service... One of them would replace an institutor whom their actual Superior in Saigon sent back to France. Four others will join the previous staff which is now composed of ten..."

One of the most important things to do to maintain and develop any project is "planting persons", says a proverb in Asia. The very first Brothers who came to Vietnam concern "planting and recruiting new vocations" from indigenous young people.

"M. Minister,
I have the honor to present to your Excellency two young cochin-chineses:
1. Nguyễn Văn Trọng Marc, born in Ba-trà, Biên Hoà;
2. Huỳnh Ngọc Chiêu Joseph, born in Lái Thiêu
" who have been sent to France on April 28, 1868 by M. the Governor of the Colony, conformably to your Excellency's desire, to be formed and getting the spirit of our vocation."

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D. During this period, the Christian Brothers had been able to open - and close - these schools in Saigon and Indo-china:

Documents NJ 451 - D1f2

(*) In 1879, the French government changed directives on education. All religious schools in France were restricted then closed. Although in Indo-china and others countries of the Colony, such directives were not applied yet, but from this time, there were no more scholarships. It is the reason why Adran must be closed. The Brothers were confided to run the Taberd institution. Taberd was founded by the priest Kerlan in 1873 for abandoned children. Among them, lots of Franco Vietnameses.
Immediately when the Christian Brothers returned to Vietnam, Mgr. Colombert confided to them total conduct of this school, on Mars 1, 1889.

Documents D8f6 show two details about Mgr. Taberd and the priest Kerlan:
1. Mgr. Taberd, Jean-Louis, bishop.
King Minh Mang, to stop him preaching, remains him into the Royal Court at Hue as an interpreter. He possessed the manuscript of the dictionary annamite-latin-chinese which was composed by Mgr. Pigneau de Béhaire; He also composed a dictionary latin-annamite.
King Prasat Thong asked him to accompany the royal army to invade Cochin-china. He refused. Because of such refusing, his situation becomes more and more difficult, even influence his life. He searches ways to escape to Singapore...

2. Rev. de Kerlan, Juhel des Isles.
From personal resources, he  founded the Institution Taberd, destined to young Franco Vietnameses of the Colony.
He passed away in 1877, seemingly getting contagious by a sick man while the priest had contacted him in ministering sacraments.

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Documents 17450 - D8 f2
Since "the Colonial Consulate had cut all subventions for the Missions of the Cochin-china and Cambodia..." all the Brothers left Indo-china and Vietnam in the beginning of the year of 1883.

From 1866 to end 1882, the number of the Christian Brothers of the Christian Schools counted 162, among them 50 Europeans and the rest were autochthons, teaching 4407 students, among them 2140 were catholic.