The New York herald., 1870-03-21
81. sosEpRs ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The school Question D.scasscd--The Bible
DissensiOD and a Proposed Observation-Disclosures
ance and Br0theriy Love-Sermon by Rev.
Thon,us Farrell.
At the morning service In st. Joseph's church
yesterday vast congregation assembled to hear the
views of Rev. Thomas Farrell, the pastor of the
church on the mooed school question. At che OPEN
Ing OF the the choir rendered Donzettls Are
Maria Stella In excellent style. Tne piece is set for
three voices, and the parts were well sustained by
Nine. Anna Marti1Sz, soprano: Sgnor Hubnor,
tenor, and signoJthaimer, basp. Mr.. A. @. Mar.
tinez. the eOrga99t OF the church, selected MozarLs
Seventh maSrfor the OCCASION in the c,edo OF which
the conVNto, Mrs. Kennedy, assumed eSding
part and displayed much sGiIl In the execution OF
some OF the more difficult passages.
The reverend pastor took his text from st. Luke
Xi., 14-"At that time Jesus was casting out u
devil, and he was mute" The preacher entered
INTO his subjechn few telling sentences ana dis.
played amount OF originality OF idea and bold
OF sentiment throughout that fell upon the ears
Of many Of his auditors as
NEW AND SENSATIONAL.
He sald:-- II bcho0ves us to look calmly and dls.
passionatey on The question that now so much
agtates Christian people Of this city ana State
In treating rhis subject to-day we must throw aside
prejudces ana forget Tor the moment tnat there
dlffcrcnt sy stems OF religious belief: let us look
reason as our guide while we seek the path that
leads 10 true freedom and fraternal relations be-
tween man and man. say emphatlcally tnat tine
pubic SCHOOLS are great blessing aud must be slis
tanned and there Is no real objection the part OF
wei informed Catholics against them, although
some ignorant followers Of iaith VIII MAINTAIN
tnat the Catloic pulpit S at war with these Schools
ANS IS
A MISUNDERSTANDING.
We are not opposed TO the schools but we are op-
posed 10 the bigOtry, intolerance and violation OF
conscience displayed IN their management; ana /
leel convinced That no friend OF ireeoom who views
ths subject calmly and III all Its bearings wilsdeny
that our present school system IL the engine Of
grevouS wrong. CONSCIENCE Is the guide given by
the Creator responsible humanity and by its die.
faics we must steer course through life; and
ASH You my friends, what right has any man any
BODY ol men 10 force the Jew read the new Testa
ment which ms creed and his Instincts teach nun 10
reject Conscience Is outraged the schools and r
Is time tlat the people should rise against the
present system u management.
A THOUSAND VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE
have been written, differing essentially one from the
0tner, ana school trustees Will 0rCe pet version on
Let no one imagine that we are hostile 70 tho
Bible. No; we love it, we keep 1t IN our houses and
read It, and love to see IL universally read but we
are opposed to the style now III vogue OF forcing
certain forms of religious reading down the throats
OF those VINO unwilling to receive It, This Is In.
tolerance aud pigory under cover OF religion; and
the worst enemy OF God Is the man VINO misrepre.
sents HIN. Let IL not be imagined that my remarks
are directed 10 those who differ from IN falth:
they are meant for the consideration oi lovers or
freedom There Is
INTOLERANCE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
as well as beyond IT, Some Of Its religious orders
are the very lunessence OF lttcness and Digotry,
and the nnrrowmlided doctrines put forth by some
0l Its overZeai0uS advocates has frequently driven
the people 70 rebel. Among the quaint doctrines
that are fast disappearing from the world Is the
theory That God intended the Bible as mans
moral, social and religious guide. But while ~ must
be admitted that every line IN the Holy Book hats
had meaning and was intended as guide and
instructor TO Gods people al one time or other, ~ IS
equally certain that many acts which were con-
sidercd commendabe when tue Bible was written
have since been Superseded by
l. MORE ADVANCED THEORIES.
Men have justified crimes by referring to the
Bible. and man can find III the scriptures prece-
dent for any course be may wish to adopt. He Will
mud acts praised which our laws would visit with
ihe state Prison; aDd II is simply preposierous