The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SEMINARY CUSTOM

JESUIT SEMINARIES USED TO ARRANGE "LONG WALKS" FOR
THEIR NOVICES TO ENCOURAGE FRIENDLY CONVERSATION BETWEEN
THE NOVICES AND TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FACT THAT
"ROOM-VISITING" WAS NOT ALLOWED. HOWEVER, THESE LONG
WALKS WERE ALWAYS ARRANGED IN GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE,
NEVER TWO. THOSE IN CHARGE WERE CONCERNED TO
PREVENT THE FORMATION OF WHAT WERE CALLED "PARTICULAR
FRIENDSHIPS." THIS MAY HAVE BEEN TO ENSURE THAT
EVERYONE WAS EQUALLY FRIENDLY IN A SOCIALISTIC SORT
OF WAY, BUT I ALWAYS SUSPECTED THAT IT STEMMED RATHER
FROM A NAIVE FEAR OF HOMOSEXUALITY ON THE PART OF
SUPERIORS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN