The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-10-18
A 1APTIsT on CATHOLICS AND oA11eE1C
SCHOOLS. }its

G8UUk3 :
The following letter 10 remarkable, nc
only from It's tone and sentiment, but like
wise from the source where it original
appeared-in tho Is~aessee Baptist, put
1iahed in Memphis, Tennessee. The con
trast drawn between "tAe clerical, long
faced, hypocritical Aethodist" and Catholi
priests, il quite suggestive:
Ipresume no subject il more importan
for the consideration of Baptists that tina
of Catholic schools. It SCENE to engag
the attention Of all considerate men. Thos
continually display the earnestness ant
zeal of that great superstition, in building
up their cause, and especially their institu'
tions Of learning. Most people yield the
point % to the superiority of their schools,
while others, from prejudice, or strangers
inferior. without stopping to prove the
truth of either, will simply state that
from associations with the alumni of both,
have found the former to be generally
true. Another feature in the case is, hey
are less expensive to the patron.
whether religious or literary, or both, we
should simply stare facts in the face, and
be guided by truth, and profit thereby. It
is o noted fact that the Catholic Church Il
use the word church in its common accep-
tati0n) displays more earnestness and zeal
in the cause of their religion than any
other people in Christendom; and if they,
by their ritualistic worship and acts of phi
lanthrOpy in the presence of the world and
those directly under their charge, indelibly
impress the doctrines of their church upon
them, why should we condemnf Every
denomination does the same in a limited
degree. Catholics, PrOtestants and Bap-
fists proclaim to the world that no undue
influence will be brought to bear upon the
minds of pupils in their schools, tending to
draw them from the religion of their pa
rents but actions speak louder than words,
and when both go together, the impression
is more easily made.
At all public schools, the distinctive fea-
lures of the church to which they belong
are clothed in such language and manifested
by such acts that the minds of those under
their control gradually imbibe their prin-
ciples.
The Catholics, probably, do no more than
Others in these particulars, save in that of
action, proving their faith by their works
and when state this, / speak advisedly;
for no people do half as much as they to
rlvet upon the minds of men the truths of
their religion. Does any one deny this :
Go to the destitute of this and all other
cities, the widows and orphans in the pes
tllential districts where want, disease and
death reign, and see who administers to
their wants and Affections. Go back with
me to the prison pens of the Southern SOL
der in the North, during our late war, and
there see and know who We're our benefac-
tors. At Camp Douglas, in full view of the
lofty spires of Protestant and Baptist
churches, and where Sunday after Sunday
we heard the peals of their bells announc-
ing the hour for the assembling of the peo-
PIE to hear religio- political harangues, and
for the worship of the creature more than
tie Creator, none were SO kind or charita-
bic as to administer a single temporal or
spiritual consolation to us. Not minister
or member came with kind word or a
single manifestation of Christian love,
except one clerical, long faced, hypocritical
Methodist, who would throw within the
prison every week a score or two of his
abusive religioas(?) newspapers, which
were an insult to God and a disgrace to
humanity. And he who would circulate
such conglomerated mass, would clutch
at truth, clothed in all purity, and on its
way 70 heaven, drag it down and disrobe it
of its beauty to turn it into q lie. Not 80,
however, with the Catholic priests and
Sisters of Charity. Their presence was
with US daily, distributing everything they
were allowed for the benefit of the sick and
dying. Often have stood by the couch of
the faithful soldier of his country, and
heard those people as they directed such an
one to the cross of Christ, and kneel down
by them and offer prayer in their behalf
What will such acts convey to the mind
of any mani "Oh," say many, that's
the way they work; that's their religion
they do that to make members etc. Would |
that we could find others following their
example. 1t is certainly humane, and it is
undoubtedly the spirit of Christianity. If
1T makes proselytes to their religion, why
cannot Baptists do the works of Chris
tianity, that the world may be constrained
to embrace itf How do we all actf On
the Sabbath we go to church. What for |
To hear preachiRg. How many enter into
prayer If observation teaches anything,
it certainly shows q manifest want of rev.
erance on the part of majority of the
while every member of the
Catholic Church bows in prayer; and
whether devoted to God in soul or not, it is