The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-15 00:00:00

E ducation of Poor Catholic Children.

The following appeared in our late edition of last even-

ing :

This morning a very largo public meeting was held at
St. james's nab, for the purpose of taking means for the
extension of Catholic education amongst the poor.

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Manning, the Archbishop
of Westminster, presided.
Amongst those present on the platform were :—The
Austrian Ambassador, Lord Edward Howard, Lord Staf-
ford, Lord •Petre, Hon. Charles Langdale, Hon. Alfred
• Stourton, Blake, M.P., Sir G. Bowyer, M.P., Sir John
Simeon, Hon. Henry Petre, the Hon. the Master of Herries,
George Blount, Esq., Aubrey de Vere, Esq., E. Blount,
138(1-, A. Arundel, Esq., E. Pererra, Esq., the Rev. Bishop
ti'Regan, Ba,ren de I.saa.de, Ist section Frelich Embassy, T.
W. Allies, A. 3fonteitii, Esq., A. FUllerton, Eaq., Sir It.
Gerard, Bart., the Duchess of Bucelencli, Countess of
Newbcr,3-, the Duchess Dowager of Argyll, the
Marchioness of Londonderry, the " Dowager Mar-
chioness of Lothian, Lady Georgiana. Fullerton, the Hon.
Lady Petre, Lady Simeon, Madam Adiuiral Man-
Rev.T. Maguire, Esq., 1.P.3( Of the clergy—The Very
ners,
Provost Hunt, the Very Rev. Dr. Hearn, D.D.,
athned VReersV.ReGvil.beCirr
• Macmullen, anon O'Neil,
Talbot,l;'*(3'Oakley,CalloDn.,Rev. R H.
eGe..
Canon Morris, Rev. Dr. Gilbert, Rev. Dr.
Lockhart, Very Rev. Mgr. Virtue,
Todd, Rev. W. H. Anderdon, Rev. W. Kelly, Rev. F.
Rev. P. Locke, Very Rev. Canon Ser.:e'er:Re,
terson, Rev.
Mr. —arge, Rev. F. Knox, Rev. F. Bagshawe,
&c.y. Mgr. Pat-
The Right Rev. CRAIRMANT said if
discharge his duty of presiding he were simply to
at the meeting he should
detain them but a very short time, but taking more than
an ordinary interestin the subject then to be brought before
them, he was also animated by
erolly in
a motive ,which was that of
urgency, which would be quite sufracien'wtexcuse, wascertain, fer his requiring the pleasure of their attendance
re ec
ohni mtsheel f present
the ogacrceast or occasion.
o hw.
All
of we
du
rand Nt eor et
hs ti(3n vas
dearer with
s
dearer to the heart of his 'illustrious
cause of education—(hear, hear),
-andPivheenceterrillustrious
Cardinal lay dead he had on him a rocket worked by the
orphans of Norwood. Ho had, in the steps he -had
taken towards improving the education of
he poor,
only followed out the line laid down by the
great man who had passed
,away. The liberality of the
Catholics had enabLid them to do much, and it was the
more delightful to know that private charity had accom-
plished so much, but much remained to be done, and it was
of the greatest importance that active steps ahould be
taken to bring about a more extended system by which the
children would be given that which was beyond price or
estimation. In the last few years more than 4,000 children
had been added to those already who attended their schools, .
and a sum of £20,000 had been spent in maintaining
those mission schools in the diocese. (Hear, I
hear.) He begged to return thanks , for the great good !
that had actually been performed, and to show the work
that remained to be performed, he would state, in detail,
the present state of Catholic education. His Grace then
said they had now 148 Catholic schools, and in 1863-4,
11,642 children attended these schools. In 1864-65 the
attendance was 11,342, or a diminution of 800 ; in the
years 1865-66 the number was 11,145, still a diminution of
200, so that 'in the last two years the number
of children attending their schools diminished more
than 500. The pupil teachers had also for the same period
diminished, but that was not a discouragement, because
the falling off was identicaL with the publication of the
change of the minutes of education by the Privy Council.
The same cause had led to the decrease in the number of
pupil teachers in the country at large and in the Estab-
lished Church.. He did not attribute the falling off to
any slackening of zeal, but to other and more tran-
sient causes. The right rev. chairman then read from
a tabular statement to show the number of Catholic
children who were at that time totally without the means
of education, and from which it appeared there were over
7,000. It was to provide for these that he now besought
their aid. Such being the case, he felt he was only speak-
ing the sentiments of the great assembly he then had the
privilege of addressing when he said there ought not to be
a Catholic child in London in anything but a Catholic
school, and he confidently anticipated that the result of
that day's proceedings would be to bring about and finally
accomplish that great object. (Hoar, hear.) His Grace
then proceeded to allude to the number of Catholic
children in workhouses, which, he stated, to amount
to over 1,000, all of which were being brought up as Pro-
testants. This he considered was most unjust, and he then
proceeded to notice the article published in the Times
commenting upon the pastoral his grace had published,
and said ho felt great pleasure in the closing remark, which
was to wish success to the movement of Thursday (the
present meeting). Again adverting to the position of
Catholics in workhouses, he asked if it was what they
then present at the meeting would feel disposed to be
satisfied with. (Hear, hear.) And although ho did not
find fault
,with the letter of the law, he most
strenuously objected to a mal-administration of the law.
What they wanted, therefore, was that the 1,000 children
now in Protestant workhouses might be placed under their
own charge--(hear, hear) —and he contended they ought
to have them. To provide for the wants cf these 1,000
abildren and others they wanted at least 35 new schools,
and-that would entail upon them the necessity of raising a
permanent fund for their support,which did not at present
exist. They had annual subscriptions promised—year,
£2,756 ; donations, £783 ; and in the bank, £349 ; but
the sum was not a permanent income, and what ho had
to impress upon them was the necessity of creating a fund
to bo devoted to the education of the poor Catholic chil-
dren. (Hear, hear.) He knew the great charity which I
had already been extended to education, but he thought he
was not anticipating too much when he confidently ;
looked forward to the great desire of his heart having been I
thoroughly and efficiently accomplished. After noticing ,
in a very feeling manner the exertions of Mr. Charles
Langdale in the cause of education, his Grace resumed his I
seat.

The HOD. CHARLES LANGDALE acknowledged the com-
pliments of his grace, and said that without they edu-
cated their own poor children some one else wouldsoon do
it for them. (Laughter and cheers.)
Lord PEI ME then came forward, and moved the follow-
ing resolution, which was as follows :

" That, notwithstanding the efforts made by both the
clergy and the laity in the cause of Catholic emancipation,
it is certain that many thousands of our poor children are,
from various cause; debarred from its advantages, and are
consequently exposed to the moral and spiritual dangers
which abound on every side."
The Rev. R. G. MACMULLEN seconded the resolution.
He said they had much to do, for in addition to the 1,000
Catholic children in workhouses they had 19,000 children
to educate.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Lord EDWARD HOWARD then moved the second resolu-
tion, viz.:—
" That in order to provide sufficient means of education
for our poor Catholio children, and to avail ourselves of the
benefits held out to those wbo are convict and destitute
by the acts of Parliaments for reformatory and industrial
schools, and also to make timely provision for the caro of
our pauper children, who, we trust, by the just legislation
of Parliament, will be confided to us, a prompt and special
effort is needed."
This resolution was seconded by Canon OAKLEY, and
carried unanimously.
- -

Viscount NOAREYS moved the third resolution, as

follows :

"That an account be opened in the names of his Grace
the Archbishop, the Lord E. Howard, the Lord Petre, and
and the Rev. W. H. Anderd.on, for the carrying out of the
preceding resolutions, and that efforts be made to collect
from the charity and generosity of all who have at heart
the salvation of souls, especially the childhood, the means
to form a sum to be expended in providing houses for
schools and refuges, and, above all, an annual income by
which they may bo assisted in their maintenance."
Mr. J. B. ASPINALL seconded the proposition, which was
unanimously agreed to.

Mr. T. W. ALLIES moved the fourth resolution, which
was seconded by the Rev. P. GALLWAY, and carried unani-
mously. It was as follows ;

"That it is tho duty of Catholics not only to offer
their alms to tho work of educating our poor children in
their religion, but also to bectow upon them the vital work
of Christianity so far as they aro able, then turn their na-
tural gifts, their own personal services, and all other aids
in their power in order to extend the moans of Catholic
education to the children of the whole Catholic population
of London."

A cordial vote of thanks to his Grace for occupying the
chair was moved by Sir S. R. GERRARD, Bart., seconded by
the Hon. M. C. MAXWELL, and carried unanimously.
A largo amount of subscriptions having been handed in,
the meeting separated.

Bank of England Returns,•--Last Evening.

An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending Wednesday, June 13, 1866.

MITE DEPARTMENT.
Notes issued .....£28,605,675 Governtnt. Debt £11,015,100
Other Securities 3,984,900
Gold Coin and
Bullion
Silver Bullion

£28,695,675