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From 1939 to 1974, Mr. Even wrote several Of course a Dividend for everyone is needed so
articles to consider whether VERS DEMAIN had re-
mained faithful to the objectives set out at its foun- Bishop Mathieu Madega likes to quote from the
dation. The original text can be found on the first
page of the first issue of VERS DEMAIN, dated Nov-
ember 1, 1939. From the article titled: Here We Are,
we read: “With modest means, but with persever-
ance, VERS DEMAIN will seek to develop within
the population an ever larger elite who, through
reflection, study and action, will determine new
currents in the walk of history.”
MICHAEL’s Founders:
Louis Even, Gilberte Côté and Gérard Mercier
For a Better World
The founders, Louis Even and Gilberte Côté,
named the new publication VERS DEMAIN since
their work was moving society toward a better fu-
ture and better world. Indeed, until 1961 our Move-
ment was called “The Pilgrims for a Better World”.
The term ceased being used because Father Ricar-
do Lombardi in Italy asked that we stop using the
descriptor as he had already founded a “movement
for a better world.” The founders determined his
request was a sign from Heaven that the Pilgrims
should be named in honour of Saint Michael, the
great archangel to whom they already had a great
devotion, since he was God’s great defender and
the patron saint of justice.
The Pilgrims of Saint Michael continue to strive
for the advent of a better world by advocating for the
reform of the financial system along Social Credit
lines. We can ask if monetary reform is the only re- of a deceitful financial system.
quirement to obtain a better world. We also must
have a world that is morally better. The founders
did not call the publication “Social Credit” because
we must speak not only about monetary reform but
also about a world that conforms to the teachings of
the Roman Catholic Church.
www.michaeljournal.org
people can satisfy their basic needs. On this topic,
Book of Proverbs (30: 8-9): “Remove far from me
vanity, and lying words. Give me neither beggary,
nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life: lest
perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny,
and say: Who is the Lord? Or being compelled by
poverty, I should steal, and forswear the name of
my God.” If people spend their Dividend indulging
in vice, drugs and in drinking, the situation would
become worse. Social Credit is a means to secure
earthly goods, but our ultimate goal is the salvation
of souls. Our soul’s life cannot be ignored.
An illustration is provided in Paragraph 14 of
Saint Paul VI’s encyclical Populorum Progressio (on
the development of peoples): “The development
we speak of here cannot be restricted to econom-
ic growth alone. To be authentic, it must be well
rounded; it must foster the development of each
man and of the whole man.” This refers to man in
both his body and soul. MICHAEL will never aban-
don the teaching of Social Credit (also called Eco-
nomic Democracy), which is why it was founded,
but to be authentic and respond to the needs of to-
day, MICHAEL cannot neglect religion, morals and
the conversion of hearts.
In the Here We Are article already mentioned,
Mr. Even wrote: “VERS DEMAIN seeks to de-
velop an elite, an aristocracy of citizens capable
of thinking for themselves. These citizens will be
found within the population at large, and not only
among those who have benefited from a greater
education. The last three years have taught us that
the population is highly educable.”
Apostles are not usually found among scholars
and intellectuals. Mr. Even realized that if he were
to count only on people with a higher education, it
would lead nowhere and he would achieve noth-
ing. Mr. Even instead enlisted humble people to
spread the VERS DEMAIN message. Some of these
could neither read nor write. Louis Even’s genius
consisted of using plain language that could be
understood by all in order to explain the economic
and technical notions taught by Douglas. A good
example is The Money Myth Exploded which is a
story even a child can understand. Often children
understand better than adults, since they are not
biased. They have not yet been misled by the antics
There are many ways to help our needy broth-
ers and sisters. We can feed the hungry, give drink
to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit prisoners
and the sick, etc. Some people send donations to
local charitable organizations or send money to u
MICHAEL May/June/July 2019 5