The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-09
Communicated
DISCOURSE ON EDUCATION,

lCommupicated) 49,.
DISCOURSE ON EDUCATION,
Pronounced Jefferson College st. James July 27th
1869 by the Rev F. Stephen Chaurain President.
LADIES AND GEN1LEMEN-h is always
most interesting and delightful sight to
behold number of youthful and lively
students at the exciting moment OF dis
tribution of premiums-their hearts agltated
and divided between the timid hope OF
success and the anxious fear OF disappoint-
ment.
To you, my dear children, this mest-bea
happy day, which gathers around you the
Joyous members Of your families, who are.
come to witness the result of your applica-
| ton. They will be proud Of you, these
tender and affectionate parents, when they
| see you crowned with victory. To teachers
and students, it is equally subject Of JOY
and encouragement to see SO many friends
who have leftrheir distant homes and i'm
porttttt- occupations, in order to manifest
the great interest they take in the most
important subject of education.
! To all of you, ladies and gentlemen, the
many pleasurable associations, reminding
you, doubtless, of the emulation and ex-
element of your own happy schOol-days.
Ladies and gentlemen, these young stu
dents which You now see before you, pos
sessing, as you may perceive, all the graces
| y
candor and simplicity, and thrice happy i'll
that serenity of soul peculiar to innocence
and which the least observant may detect
beaming on their te,l-tale countenances-
| these children, now so inexperienced and
| unsuspecting, will soon be called on to take
part in the life of agitation and turmoil
SO characteristic OF our adventurous age.
Yes. they will soon be obliged to assist IN
the solution OF the many portentous prob
| lens of modern times.
| ~ -, NJ, frn fr,Io mi
seems to be shaken to it's very foundation
And in the midst of the impetuous whirl-
wind of bad passions which seems bent
on destroying everything rebuilding
nothing-what are the mightiest nations
now doing7 They are, indeed, silent, but
not Indifferent nor inactive; they seem to
ask each other, with wonder and anxiety
Whence is salvation to come Z Who will
save society from its impending ruin ! Who
will restore to us the love of virtue VINO
will be able to stop or satlate that nn-
quenchable craving for worldly enjoy ments
and sensual pleasures, which threatens the
very existence of modern society,"
Allow me, ladies and gentlemen, to an
swer these momentous questions
The salvation of modern society lies, as
it were, in your hands, and in those OF all
fathers and mothers of families. An early
and virtuous education of the rising gene
ration-and that alone-is the effectual
means that can save society. Let legasla-
tors busy themselves about law-maklng-
laws, however multiplied legislation, now,
aside or fraudulently evaded, If the heart
and mind he not moved by higher and
more powerful motives than the laws them
selves and the sanctions that are given
them in this world.
Man must have, in the first place. Il deep
seated conviction, that God, having des-
tined him to live in society with his fellow
beings, has also laid upon him, with regard
: to the commonwealth. imperious duties, OF
whose fulfillment he is. one day, to render
an account. =
Man carries within himself, in his con.
science. Judge or tribunal, which he is
bound to consult, and whose decisions he
cannot set aside, since they are the emana
ton of Eternal Justice. Mapshould know
that he must be ready to waive and sacrifice
his own personal interests whenever they
come in contact with the public good ant
this is only one of his many social duties.
. To treat this question more fully, would
r carry me too fapfrom the subject have IL
, view But LET me ask, will a child that il
not prepared for it i'll his very infancy, by
t a .ound carly training, ever arrive OF him
2 self even ut this point OF kLowledgeg lie
: us have the courage to say il, the risin:
q gcncration will find il their bounden an,
+ prov idcntial duty to correct the errors OF
" generation now ncallJ passed away t.
I revive the virtues of former ages to repro
= ducc, for the editcation OF postcrity, TIA
e generous selt-sacriticc> to public good whcl
: We admire in antiquity: and. above all
. ,iiLt sincere and untiIing love fol Our hol
: religion. which is the only solid foundation
Il of the real prosperity and happiness 9
c nations.
+ Some men. indeed. have tlied iii thi
Ii our age to separate education from religion
: and to impart the former without the lat
II ter. leaving the young heart void OF tina
d which alone can satisfy il. and proposln
) TO it no higher motives OF encouragement