Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-07-19
Secta1ian Schools.

Editor rae Pres c1d Tine:
DEAR Sir II md N the Issue Of this nom
inE's psrcrs Communication from Eerson WI,
signs himte.f - Citizen, in which be continents
uPoo my communication dl;sl June 9th, 1872
! have not seen any explanation given Of tx,
fso.s 70 which called special attention, the re-
/ port Of the Secretary OF the Beard OF Elu,s;ion
and the act of the Legislature granting certain
privileges ;c Anl ezenpiinc from taxation GER
tain per.ons resiling in S.lcol District No. Z,
Rulsnd DID the Ssc7sGry If the Board
merely give h.s own views or va he giving
/ c. preston 20 the continents Of that body Tor
which be HAS Secretary cs1 not rec how the
srecisl legislation for District No. Of Ratlsui,
Vas celebrated to preserve the public schools
which We ere told must be preserved. Perhaps
some TeTson wiser than I csn:czpl.in. Is the
letter 10 your paper tecmf to lie written in A
candid sriTii, think i, well to make G few
remsFks sbou; it.
We DO not wish to control the pub
lie schools We do not Wi,h 10 in
terferc with whztevcr education any nan
may thirs proper to give his children !;
hut Ue do maintain tha; parents End
they slone are responsible before God for the
education Of their children; that it is their duty
to provide foci, clothiug, education, religious
and secular, FIR them; TO remove from them any
thing inst may be dangerous; TO correct their
vices when they begin TO appear; but above and
before al to train them TO serve and honor their
God The parent who neglects any Of these
duues is not faithful! to the trust committed to
him When the St.ts provides schools which
every child can frequent and in eh ich II can be
trained TO SeTve God according TO the dictates Of
its conscience and that Of its natural guardians
It ;co fullills al important duty. Ii ia poor
philosophy indeed which ,ses il the child only
the creature Of a few years AMI GisregsTds i,s
eternal future Parents pay taxes for the sup
port OF schools and Who will maintain tina. they
have not g right to see hcw these taxes ate ex-
pended VIII any man maintain thst the pub
lie ceicer, the lawyer, the physician, must be
mindful of his God only in his home; that
from every act Of HE life God Snd his holy law
must be excluded Doe, not Christianity teach
"a that every Sc Of our lives must be in sccord-
.uce with the law Of God, and yet the child
mus: be brought up in schools where God and !
religion and all that belongs to future life must
be ignored This is the fsirest and on the surface
the most speciOus pretext for the public schools.
The papers are filed for the lsst year /
" ith instsnces If corruption in high places, and |
in s-me instances they have been very well |
proved We're the men guilty of these frauds
educ stel in public or sect.risn schools? deny !
he assertion that he who does not pass through
there schoolE canaot be good citizen. l know
many who never put foot in enc Of there schools
who are among the best citizens of the land. If
We wish to have upright and honest citizens,
we must begin early to instil principles Of
morality into their minds, and when they sre
placed in positions Of trust, the public may rely
upon them. " \ young man according TO his
way and when he is old he will lot depart from
l." Of schools from which God is excluded We
Catholics can never accept. If others sppTove
hem, let them have their children instructed in
hem, We will not interfere, but if We are called
lpon to pay tsxet, we will express our opinion
md give the reasons Of cur difike for the public
chools. | have before me s collection of testi
ony gathered from different sources, mostly
Protestant, in which the public schools are con-
lemned and by men who received their education
n them. This collection Of testimony was made
" the Roman Catholic Bishop Of Rochester and
,iven to the public by the publication Of lectures
delivered by him in his city. 1t would be too
ong to quote, but | can furnish this ,es-
iDlCry to any who call upon me- Now VIII
emark that if we Catholics ask for the fsvors
.rsnted to some of the inhabitants Of school !
strict Ne IL Rutland from the Legislature AT
ts next session, will we obtain it lfnot, must .
We not be made to feel that public schools are
o be maintained when we are in the minority, ,
at when We car control the school there isl
peci.l law made TO deprive US Of the benefits
Fhich We have reIton to hope for. Where such
hings are doae it is usee.s to talk about free
ON Of Coincidence, liberation, etc. You men
ion in your comments that the Bishop Of Boa
on was in favor Of and found no danger in the
ublic schools. | beg leave to correct that {
tatenent for the following reasons 4: The coun- !
i Of Baltimore commands the establishment of ,
arochial schools in every congregation where ,
hey can be established. The name of the :
bishop Of Boston is subscribed to the DEGREES Of !
&c council. The Bishop is trying at this time
comply with the decree of the council, and
lere is Just nov builder from this city engaged
erecting school house in his diocese. | find
, the Catholic Almanac for this year, 1872,
seive pxrochial schools in his diocese. II the :
thop sees no danger in the public schools why !,
oes he incur the expense OF erecting and
sehoolsl
Yours very truly,
THos. LYNCH, v. G.
Burlington, July II, 1872. Q