The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1872-09-15

we ma tho following In our San Fran
cisco contemporary, the Pacific ChurcAman
taken originally from the London Church
RsOie,c ; an organ of the Church of Eng
land. The editor of the Churchman re-
marks, that "with some changes it will
equally apply to some of our un .sectarian
schools" As far as the Churchman goes
against un-sectarian schools in this country,
we are with it. This seems to be one
scene taken from others. Considering that
it conveys good argument for us, our
readers will excuse the term sRomanism," !"
thrown in as reproach. We quote:
Time: the hour of religious instruction.
Bible to be read and explained without in
culcating the dogmss of any particular de.
nomination. Teacher certifcated, unsec.
tartan, highly conscientious. Glass con-
sisting of children from thirteen down to
six or seven, and of various grades, from
respectable poor to gutter children. School
room and teacher span new. Teacher a
little nervous; children-some looking Gu
riously about them, some disposed to loll
and idle, come attentive. Teacher opens
the great Bible and begins to read St. Mat
thew II, as being narrative likely to inter-
est the auditory, and easy to explain in an
undenominationals sense. First, however, a.
little preliminary explanation is necessary.
Teacher You must know, my dear chill
dren, that Joseph aud Mary were two very
good people, who lived very great many
years ego in country far away from Lon
don, and am going to read to you about
of the chapter.)
Ragged Arab (not accustomed to observe
much ceremony: Please sir, who's that
! Teacher (agbast, and wishing to gain
time) Who do you mean, my boyf
Arab: That there Jesus.
Teacher (aside): How Can this question
be answered in an undenominational sensei
This is tie religious difficulty, full blown.
If l say "a good man." that will hardly do,
for I know several of the boys are the
children of the Church people and Roman
lists, and if say "the Son of God," that
tartan, or, at any rate, his parents are be-
sides such q dogmatic statement is secta
rian.]. (Aloud). 1 will explain all about
Him when have finished the chapter.
Continues to read. The class listens
with various degrees of attention until the
1lth verse is finished, and then
| A Boy: Please sir, who's Maryf The
mother of the little baby, wasn't shes
Teacher Yes, she was His mother.
Boy: Oh and what does "wusshupped"
meant
Teacher: 1t means paying great respect,
kneeling down and bowing, as we should
to God.
Another Boy (better taught than boy No.
| I. and jumping at once to a sectarian con-
clusion): Then that there baby was God,
sir7
Tommy Markham (ssoutly): No, that he
wasn'tf Il
Teacher: Silence, boys, the lesson can
by a bright idea): You know that great
many people believe that He was God,
but some do not but we must not quarrel
because we do not all think alike.
First Boy (disagreeably curious): Well,
but what do you think, master.
Terrible dilemma! Teacher hesitates.
At length, desperately J.
I think He was God.
Boy: Don't yer knoU it7
Teacher (aside): [Perverse youth Pest
take his questions and him too If I'd
known what "unsectarian" teaching in
volved Id sooner have swept q crossing.
What sciH the Board sayf Why, the very
and think anything. But You can't make
the boys reason.l (Aloud): My dear boy,
it is very difficult to say what we know. l
can only teach you what think, and teach
you how to be good and do what is right,
and obey all that God tells you to do in
this Holy Book.
A Boy Gnterrupting, sans ceremonie }:
Did God write that there book
Teacher: Yes, and He tells us what we
are to do to get to Heaven |; and His Son
came, as you see, ae little child. and
when He grew up He preached and told
as how we ought to love one another, and
all we ought to do to lead a good life.
Boy Interested } And was He ,cery
good chapf
Teacher IA little shocked) Yes, of course,
you know He was-[pauses; his haste had
almost betrayed him into dogmatlc ex.
plauation, and the forbidden word "know''
had actually passed his lips.l
Another Boy (with vexatiously retentive
memory: You said afore, master, that He
was God, and the gentlemen wusshipped
Him-was He reefy God7
Teacher (boldly, taking the bull by the
horns): Yes.
Boy: And did Gods mother wusshipp
Him too, masterf
Teacher: You must not call her the
Mother o. interrupts himself; recol-
lects that it is as sectarian to deny to the
Blessed Virgin the title of Mother of God
as to bestow it upon her; continues j yes,
she worshipped Him too but l want you
| A. Al, IT, Gold En-