The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-10-08

VIII plague both You and mes
In view of the American system Of public
instruction. how great the responsibility of ev-
ery American Christian. The State though not
opposed as we have seen, cannot give religious
education even if it was so disposed. Without
our youth are instructed in the principles Of the
religion of Jesus, though their education in the
public schools may make them brilliant and in
genious, it will not make them virtuOus here,
but only more splendid Devils hereafter. The
religious instruction of the young devolves up
on the voluntary Efforts Of the american
Church. What Christian parent can be eXcus-
ed, if he does not make the words of the Bible
familiar household words. Who that calls him.
self Christian and knows the need of tue Sun
day School in every community can have an easy
conscience, and not encourage so important an
institution by his presence, either as pupil OF
Bible class or an instructor of youth.
1t becomes professors of religion, of each
SEX frequently to consider the responsibilities
that devOlve upon them to do all in their power
! to that schools are organized, and books cir
culated among the destitute youth of our land,
and furnished with teachers from the various
evangelical denominations.
Though the common school is important, it
is of no great moral efficiency unless there is a
Sunday School entirely distinct from the State,
in operation by its side. With this supplement
| of this mornings teXt-"Wha nation is there
so great, and hath statutes and judgments so
righteous as all this law which set before you
this day? Only take heed to thyself and keep
thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things
which thine eyes have seen. and lest they de-
part from thy heart all the days of thy life, but
teach them thy sons, and thy sons sons
One of the best educated Romansts in Minnesota
thus speaks in letter to me, written short time ago, in
relation 10 the movement last winter. His remarks
will be read with interest 80 In view of the hostility
Gently manifested by large portion of the Roman Catho
lie people OF ST. Paul. TO the principle OF common school
educaton am led to address you not i'll your spiritual
capacity, but leow-citizcn, and particularly SUI
perinenden of Common Schools in this Territory Quite
number of the Catholic people complain that their chit
dren subject To Protestant influence in our public
schools, and taxpayers citizens, and independent men
demand that they DC entirely abohed or that they have
separate. Were these sentiments Confined To st. Paul,
the friends OF education would not indeed have much to
fear, but il is undi>pued fact. that large portion OF
the Catholic people of TINS country raise their v"ice
against the Goddess syst"n As some Interested dtna-
gusues term 1t. Many of thu people swell the cry, SIM
ply because it is Catholic question, and a. they are
Catholics, they too must join in You know, sir, how to-
nacious of their faith are Catholi :.
sHere is the mighty lever that will move that mass
The Roman Catholic faith in daIser and every Catholic
breast Is electrified Hence the present their
children from perverson and proselytism.
myself frankly cannot evils of such maEni-
tnde some OF my Catholic friends dc, and yet am Il
Catholic. Ny object in addressing You at
this time, sir. l. to offer suggestions WHICH hccv"
be practical and cmmen,iy beneficial, ii carried into
operation Employ at least one Catholic teacher in
your public schools. Now do not that school
under Catholic more than Protestant influence. You
take it is Catholic, AMI priest of this deuaiua
| ton, see it is not Protestant.
ss Let the teacher be independent of the Catholic
priest of the Protestant minister, and have M fea
that the majority of Catholic will gladly send ihc
children TO that school, If the selection be judicious
there VII be formed nucleus of an independent Catholic
sentiment for the universal diffusion OF acknowledgement
that will clash with the prevailing spirit age
but one that will readily blend with it,"