The New York herald., 1869-12-13
ST. AIMS ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
ssThe Catholic View OF lhe School Subiect',-
Sermon by the Rev. II. :. Preston.

81. ARhS HUMAN CalhuLI CHUKCH.
'sThe Catholic View OF lhe School Snbiect''-
Sermon by the Rev. It. :. Preston.
At the morning service on yesterday in st. AIMS
church the Rev. T. S. Preston delivered an eloquent
and argumentatve exposition OF the views OF Cath
oics upon the vexed question Of common and de-
nomnat1onal schools, basing the discourse upon the
First Episte of St. Paul to tue Corinthians, w., ID
'Leta man so account OF us as OF she ministers OF
Christ and stewards OF the mysteries OF God. More
it is required in stewards that man be found
faithful But with me 1t Is a very small thing that
should be judged OF you or OF mans judgment; yea,
Judge not mine own self. For / know nothing by
myself; yet am l not hereby justified; but he that
judgeth me Is the Lord,n &C.
lie said he intended TO deal with the school sub
ject which at the moment had such hold OF pubic
attention, and which Catholics regarded rs OF the
very highest importance, ana therefore with the
deepest interest Like the rest OF the community,
Catholics recognized the absolute necessity OF edu.
cation; yet in many quarters attempts were MADE
by appeals to prejudice and by wholesale misrepre-
sentaton 10 make 1t appear that the Church in her
action III this matter, showed an inherent hostility
TO free institutions. That he was prepared to deny.
lie loved and admired the freedom OF our lnstiti-
tons, and yielded 10 no man in fidelity and devo-
ton TO them. For his principles he only asked
free and 1air hearing and If that were not given
there was such thing IN this country progress,
unbiased consideration Of this question could only
lead TO one resut-namely, admiration for the con-
sisiency oil Catholicism which watched over and
guarded her children with more than maternal ten
derness from the cradle TO the grave
In examining our views on tins school question it
should be borne IN mind that the doctrine OF Catno-
lies In reference to laItn Is different from that Of
other Christians. We believe that our faith came
from God and ls His gift. We are fully satisfied
we have the faih OF Jesus christ tnat we are on the
road to eternal life and can attain IL by using the
means ut our disposal IN the Church. Other Chris
hall rhnaw,
Judgment and by d process OF inquiry and practice
dIfrerng with each Individual Here such Christians
were In error for II the revelation OF God be not
accepted as 1t comes from Him there is no founda-
tion Tor belief We look upon our faith not as our
property, not as an acquisition OF ours but GIFT
OF God. While Protestants agree with us in many
things they diner from us essentially In this, that as
they have their falth from their own udgmen they
may change IL win change or judgment. The law
allows them TO do so. Catholics cannot do 50. They
do not make their faith and cannot change IL: nor
can they by consequences permit II to be the battle
ground OF controversy, doubt and Investigation,
though they can stoutly defend 1t and willing 10
give reasons for that faith which Il IN them. This
liked belief Catholics consider necessary to society,"
to order to genuine progress and to the attainment
OF eternal salvation.
WITH these principles for a groundwork the
preacher elaborated tue Catholic OF the school
question by reading from the HERGLD's translation
OF the Popes Syllabus the fortyilth, fortysixt and
forty-seyenth propositions which declared that the
state alone should regulate the education or YOUTH
that the Church had no right TO Interfere with the
systems followed or doctrines taught In schools and
no veto upon the books which are used or upon the
teachers employed. These principles the Church
condemned and held the very opposite. She can
not give up the care of her children. Their hearts
must be cultivated with their inteects. Following
out the action Of the Pope In TINS NATTER the Coun
CHS OF Baltimore and OF New York directed all pas.
tors to their best Efforts to erect UNCONVENTIONAL
schools In which their children can learn religion III
conjunction with scence and no more serious oDll-
CATION rests upon pastors and people than 70 provide
such nurseries OF piety for The rising gen.
GRAFTON. He was not opposed TO tue ex-
istence OF common schools. lie rather ad-
ia Al anrh
schools should be non-sectarian ana each condition
barred tue doors against Catholics. la connection
with history and many questions OF the day which
Intimately Douhd up Win religion opportunities
VIII constantly arise on which IL viii become the
teachers duty TO decide some disputed point. This
he will certainly do according TO hs religious bias;
and thus young Catholics would surer much detri-
ment TO their faith. TO the mere reading OF the
Bible In schools he mad no objection II 1t read
regerenily. He had heard the Bible read In his
youth-for II was his inestimable privilege though
born and educated outside the church. to have been
lea into II by the hand OF God-Dut he had observed
tendency In teachers to interpret the text ALWAYS
according 10 their peculiar views, some OF which
from their singuarity had made deep Impression
on him, ana 10 such varied comments and interpreta
tnns OF the Word OF God Caihocs strenuousy object
Thus Catholics were led TO the conviction that for
them denominatlonal schools were necessary They
wanted more, however. Tney wanted state aid for
sucn schools, and TO 1t as loyal citizens who bore
their portion OF the State burdens, they were
titled. all other classes Of Christians who objected
TO the common schools they willing TO accord
the same concessions and 10 &c for them were
content 10 bear increased taxation. In this great
and Tree country 1t was not too much TO ask that the
principle OF live and let live should be recognized.
In schools approved by the Church religion would
be taught day BY day It should go hand IN hand
with science. Tue pure prluclpe OF faith implanted
In the heart OF the Catholic child the germ OF divine
love and oil eternal heatltude not provided for
the system U the public schools. Therefore as we
cannot make use OF them, we are entitled to sepa
rate system. We are taxed for education In our Just
proportion. The Justice OF tLat tax we admit. The
State, however, ls bound TO recognize diversity OF
religions and the recognition would be merely nom.
nal and q farce II Catholics who objected from con-
scentous motives 10 send their children to the COM
mon schools were upon that account deprived OF
education. Either no taxation for educational pur
poses or a concession to what Catholics demanded
such was the logical and rational alternative con-
sistent with free Institutions
The greatest statesmen throughout the world
copied this principle. la England despite the pre-
judlces which existed II was recognized and
adopted. Catholic france provided separate sys-
tenn for all religions, SO through Europe generally
this first principle OF religious freedom was in ful
force. And one OF our OWE best statesmen-W. III.
Seward, the Governor OF this state In iS4o-adyo.
Gated 10 IN these forcibe terms-"Chlldren Of
foreigners are found In great numbers III our cities
and towns who are lefI unpr0yided with teachers
who know their language and religion. The public
welfare Is bound up with them as with all other
citizens and they should be provided with schools
in which their language and faltn would be taught"
Many objected that Catholics were propaaahdists,