The New York herald., 1870-02-21
ST. JlsEpa's ROMAg CaTAolE CHURCH.
Cbrin,l la nifty aud EdncafiOn-Lcotnrc by
D.w - NVnn.}a

CbrIn,lanity aud observation-disclosures by tho
Rev. J. Il. Woods.
There was = large attendance, considering the
stormy state or the weather, last evening at Ihis
chnEch where the Rev. Father Joseph r. Woods, OF
Morrisan,a delivered a stirring and eloquent lee
ture the now absorbing topic, "Christianity and
Educatou.n The proceeds OF the lecture we're to
be devoted to the relief OF the poor OF the
parish visited by the conference OF st. Vincent de
Paul, ana IL Is safe TO assume that The aid con-
,ributea was material and munlacenL
After the ordinary yesper service had been per-
formed Father Woods assembled the pulpit ana
spoke mainly Us follows:-
knowledge says Webster y does not comprise
all which Is contained in The large term of educa.
non Inc feelings are to be disciplined, the pas
si0us to be restrained; true ana worthy motives
10 be inspired; profound religious ieeilng s 10
circumstances An this IS comprised In education.u
that knowledge Is not the whole OF education, is
truth evDced by the divine testimony concerning
Abraham, which here iollOws-"l know him that
he will command his children and his house
hold after hm to do justice and Judgment
Abraham, one OF the greatest and best Of the race
OF Adam, was perhaps, OF all men the most careful
10 tram up his children IN the way they should go.
ana ms unequaed care and soicitude in this regard
the means OF entalling signal blessings upon
his pos,erity. Yet TIL several ages and centuries
after Aoranam's day nothing which we call learn
ing had an existence IN the world. The civilized
world, every one must admit, Is indebted to Chris
tianty for It's religion liberty and civilization. At
time when His Apostles were unfolding the
great system OF the Gospel among men,
there was no lack OF one KIND Of ciyliza-
JSaisaien aud elsewhere there could be found intel
lect luxury and wealth perhaps eyeA 70 a greater
SSA, man n can es leuS and
boast OF their progress loudly and truly the
people OF the present day. But with all this mate
rial prosperity Blended luxuriance OF the
greatest vees-of tyranny, cruelty and immortality
We believe real education to be that not merely OF
the head, out OF The heart Also esteemng moral and
religious training more even than intellectual tram
luR knowing that the tree is bent so doth
it grow. National character equally as personal de
riyes its highest excellence irom moral worth; and
who does not know tnat moral worth Is essentially
interviewer with The proper observances OF religion?
lhe grandeur OF every nation s mainly established
on the moral excellence OF Its people and this
celence Is nseparabe from the ardent disposition
that cliDgs to the truths OF religion Next TO The
salvation of souls the Christian Church desires to
promote education, but education IN connection
with religion.
the knowledge and use OF letters and figures. Every
thing depends ON giving the right motives and
habits as W tne use OF these letters and ngures
without these motives and habits letters aud fg-
ures, like any other TOOLS may oe turned to bad
| as well as to a good purpose. And anybody knows
| how much immortality and lawlessncBs comes Of the
use OF the bad and corrupt publications OF the day.
The partisans Of our present public school system
start from capital errors. First-Tnat 1t Is the
| duty OF the State to educate We know, however
OF no commission TO teach but thai winch nature
| gave to parents and that winch Christ conferred
L
| claim step In or to interfere between The pa
/ rent and His own flesh and blood IL is the duty
and right OF the Church to teach her children She
| has a divine commission to do so-a commission as
wide rs the world to 90 and make disciples Of
| all nations, teaching them to observe all
| Things whatsoever ] have commanded you"
| This In n commission which admits OF no
doubt question; II is anterior to- superior to and
Independent OF any human laws. The power that
excludes religion from education claims thereby The
right to admit II II IL VIII; and II IT admit It, then IN
| over the church. But religion, II anything, - the
supreme law-tne basis OF morality. The fact Is not
be disputed that our public schools turn out Hen
OF refined taste, intellectual requirements ana,
above ALL great power OF mental application. But,
az the wise says, Man 10 inclined 70 evil from
his youtnn and this Inclination requires
tnat the intelect, the heart the viii, the
Character are 10 be formed by the united.
constant and uniform action OF Christianity. we 40
schools but We do ask that it snail not be insuted
or tampered with in tnen The law IN all the states,
believe, rorhids the introduction OF scctarianism
| into the pubic schools and we nave rignt u, 70
text books are used which misrePresent and malign
our regisn and IN many places the Protestant Aeai
OF the ardent that they cannot orego
toe attempt to Protebtantlze the Catn0llc cnHoren
under their care.
/ Another objection, and valuable and reasonable
one, Is the regous inequality winch Is tolerated III
the punlc schools, BY introducing wDen there may he
hundreds OF Catholics aud Hebrews. the Protestant
| Bible. IL not sucn system calculated TO leave
| the impression that the Catholic Testament ana
Hebrew Pentateuch are false, and the Protestant
Bible the only version OF the Scriptures. There
is therefore, not religious equality IN this republic
We DO nN wish u draw the Bible away from Chris
tian homes, lor our missai ana service are made up
fro the bible. 1t is unjust to say that the Catholic
Church does not recognize the Bible the holy and
1 sublime word OF God over which her saints have
! medtated In cells and her scholars within commen-
tAres ~ priceless value. Tns Catholic church can