The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-08-23


Catholic school, which we begun last week.
Are you still in the ro.ior
S. H. am free to say to you tho,
some of the things which you then told me,
have had considerable influence upon my
mind. But still l do not think there is any
thing like the danger which you seem to ap-
Prehend, of their becoming Catholics, simply
because they are taught in Catholic School,
believe l can so fortify their minds before
they 60, and by my letters whilst they are
at school, that all danger from that source
will be avoided.
Mrs. 4. Well, let us look at your posi-
tiOn little further. You send them to a
set of teachers, and tell them you must be
lieve all your teachers tell you upon literary
and scientific subjects, but upon the subject
of religion-the most important of all sub
jects upon earth-yOu must not believe a
word that they tell you. Close your ears
against them upon one subject, but upon all
other. topics be subject to them and obey
them. What sort of position is that for
rational and intelligent lady like you to oc-
cupy! Is it not almost certain that your
daughters will either have no faith in their
teachings on any subject, or respect for
them personally, or they will believe them
upon all topics? If they have no respect
for, or faith in their teachers, they are not
likely to receive much benefit from their n-
sructions. If they come gradually to love
and respect them, they will just as naturally
open their hearts to their instructions on re-
hgiOn, as the flower opens to the dews and
sunshine of heaven.
Mrs. Il | am forced to admit that my
position does look a little Inconsistent l
never thought of the matter in that light
before,
Mr& A. There is another point of view
in regard to this subject, to which l would
direct your thoughts. Pupils learn quite as
much from their fellow students as they do
from their teachers. am quite as much
concerned about the fellow-students of my
children, as am about their teachers. You
send your daughters to the nunnery, and
most of their associates are either Roman
Catholics, or favOrably disposed to that Sect
They will hear nothing on the Protestant
side. They will have no Sunday School or
Bible class to go to; no Protestant church
will ever be entered by them, or Protestant
sermon heard by them. They See the beauti-
fu paintings and statuary which address
Themselves to the Imagination, and hear the
splendid music from the pealiug organ in
the cathedral Before they are aware, they
are led captive by what they see all around
them. When they return home, your plain
Protestant church will appear dull and In
spid to them, and its services will be fiat
and uneOngenial to their perverted tastes.
Their tastes, when they were young and i'm
pressible. were formed on another model.
The spiritual will have no charms for them.
They will be ft subjects to be duped by the
splendid machinery of ritualism, which al
ways adapts itself to the natural yearnings
of the unregeuerated hearts of men, but
especially women. If they are not made
actual converts to Papacy, they will be so
perverted in their views and feelings, that
they will be forever lost to Professionalism.
Are you prepared for such result as that ?
Mrs. II. Oh, no. l frankly confess to
you, was not looking at the religious aspect
Of the case, when / made up my mind to
send my daughters to the uuuneTy, but to
the worldly. had always heard that they
were good schools, and that they were very
strict with the pupils, in watching over and
guarding them, and l concluded to send my
daughters without much thought as to the
religious influence that might be exerted
upon them.
Mrs. A. But did you do right in wholly
dlsregardiug the spiritual and eternal in
terests of your children, in selecting school
for them? Are not their spiritual interests
their highest and most important interests?
Should not every consideration give way
when the souls salvation is jeopardized?
Mrs. IT, l suppose 1 did not do right. l
see now that was in an error, and thank
you for pointing it out to me. l promise
you that 1 will endeavor to profit by your
conversation with me upon that point. But,
Mrs. A, tell me, do you not regard the
Catholic schools as the best-laying aside
their religon-that we have in this country.
Mrs. A. l do not. They are confessedly
greatly lacking in thOrOughness. They teach
some branohes-such as painting and draw
ing, needle-work and embroidery, music and
dancing-very well, and to great perfection;
but when it comes to training the minds of
their pupils to vigorous and independent
thinking-to preparing them to be able to
investigate subjects for themselves, and form
clear and accurate views-they don't aim at
it, or profess to do it. The teachers are all