The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-06-19

mefHiag Snr and cashollc llsssenger
nv oaInAnsI au1n4H. 5U11 &. m
wAss sAs.iA W 1saGA O. s1nsrsai
Ths Me- York JssssSz 81 Ossss.sros j.
known for tn enlarged Views in politics
sad tAe lkeedom and imsartiality with
which Il discasses the absorbing question.
= The day xtssyisws ON the school oues.
tonaaxe sound, and far in advance OF it,
contemporaries. In late num-
~ 49, following:
al1oe ~ hrst introduced this discussion,
the md become general theme in
1 the Pull1t 6nt the question il still unset
I t3ed. Owing 70 the excitements Of partisan
4eitnG In political circles, and the display
q eoctAr1an bitterness among the several
religious denominations, it has threatened,
At ttfnes, to involve the whole country in
q . controversy unfavorable to the cause OF
(. education; but we think that, notwith-
ii standing the tumult it has caused, soma
real progress has been made towards q
sesult which should satisfy alike the friends
ct free institutions and the patrons of
learning.
A few we'll meaning zealots still insist
that the Whole question is summed UP in
shis Shall the Bible be excluded from the
public schools at the demand Of the Roman
Catholics In answering this single point
country arc greatly divided. '1 Not a few s
Of the soundest divines Of both the Pres
hyterian and Congregational Churches adj
nit that, in public schools supported by
nxataon, or from common public fund,
Il simple Justice to exclude any text
sw. poron Of sSo.s
vhose children are entitled to the course Of
obstruction. The argument Of Rev. DR..
Spear, Of Brooklyn,s in favor of excluding
the Bible, az O. text book, from the public
schools, is able, logical and unanswerable.
An attempt to refdte It, in the column Of
from an anonymous correspondent, which |
Wa one OF the ablest papers published |
daring the discussion.
Why then, not accept this conclusion
= the Catholics demand the exclusion of
he Bible from the schools, and the Pro-
seatants are gradually coming to regard
the concession 40 desirable for the sake of
leace, Why not throw our influence into
We current, and re-establish the system on |
this basis ! We answer: Because that |
would not settle sthe real point at issue. |
The Catholics object to the schools as now
managed Lat, because the reading Of the
Bible, as prActiced, is supposed to imply q
nominal allegiance to the Protestant faith
and, ID, because there is NO provision for
the religiens training of the young in ac-
sordance with what they consider the
Neve some sensitive Catholics to have the
Bible reading omitted, while others regard
that matter. as one of very little import
ance. The proper religious training Of the
young, however, has never been neglected
BY the clergy of that Church, where they
could secure any facilities for this purpose:
and the "expurgation of all Bible doc
trine from the schools, would not meet the
views of the great body of that denomina-
lion.
Would it satisfy Protestantss For our
aslves, we frankly answer, no! Our first
and chiefest objection is to the system |,
Raxang out of the growing inattention to
IN religious culture Of the young in their
ally exercises in the class. Where the
oonna0on school system won it's chiefest
and achieved its highest success,
III scholastic learning was based upon the
fundamental truths of revealed religion.
2na the Gospel teachings were the onIy
sanctions of faith and practice. The Giis-
senters were SO few in number that their 4:
nigAts were never respected, and, the grcat
nAiority being substantially Of this one {
lhith, consented TO this sectarian irtoler- !
anees The system was wrong, because if
he support came from the State. bound tn g
universal liberation, it ought not to force Z
my religious system upon the child of a 9
Jingle director but the method was RIGHT !
because, without the higher sanctions III I
,eligion, there can be NO proper training of 9
he young in any branch Of instruction. 9
md, a school where this is excluded. ia n q
leathen nursery. It is all in vain to saw !
hat geography, arithmetic, grammar, his =
cry, botany, etc., may be taught as sci
aces, without any necessary connection :
nth religion, true or false; and that the l
'aptism Of faith can be given to all these
equirements by exercises in the family =
md at the church, having NO mutual rela. y
ions with the school room. The mind ia \
lot governed by laws that allow for ouch I:
operations and distinctions; as well might :,
70 try to grow a tree by daily increment q
{ stems, branches and leaves, supplied at a
iherent shops, and giving life and beauty y
, the whole by q systematic injection Of g
Up four or five times O month"; ~
Good men will come to acknowledge tb;s IL
] time, and will see that, instead of excln-
ing the Bible from the schools, the great N
eed of the race is its systematic daily stuflv o.
the formation of mind and Character. az
he fear of God is not only the beginning ca
wisdom, but it should be made the kew q
,te of all the harmonies of the soul. If 20
DO cannot be done where the children of CT
6erent sects are trained together, as we n
limit 10 cannot In strict justice to all. then u,
D would allow them to separate. IT. in "
oh separation, it is found impracticable. Ia
We suppose, it may be, to anport;on a Pu