The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-22

nations quite uusuited to them and the PuPls
ucation. Certain parents may be hattered az
seeing their children smart and attractive on
the stage of a school; but the sensible ana
hibit proficiency in geography. history, read
ing, arithmetic, philosophy, and other branches
Taught in the Academy.
Only o few of the pupils can be employed IN
the exercise of play and If there be any ed-
ucation to be acquired by it, which is very
doubtful, but few can be benefited by it. Cor
rect and elegant reading. so much negieotea IN
we'll studied and delivered, are certainly more
improving to pupils and would please patrons
of schools at their public exhibitions. and De
scenes even from great authors! 1 am aware
that these theatrical represe nations are pro-
duced in distinguished Colleges and Acaae,
mics, but am also aware that distinguished
Ecclesiastics and thinking men deplore that
any necessity should arise for them.
From those very exhibitions in the Middle
Ages. though innocent and religious in the be-
ginning, sprang tho theatres Of modern times.
Many dangerous and evil consequences have
arisen from the spirit of the stage acquired in
some schools. A very grave responsibility
rests with the prelates of the Church nnder
whose jurisdiction aud patronage religious
schools exist, to see that pety and purity OF
morals and solid studies reign in them and all
dangers be removed. Teacher. have and as
sumo all the responsibilities of pious parents.
and they cannot be too careful of the sacred
trust confided to their care, for which they
must give n strict account Pablo schools ana
Universities became SO deteriotated even IN
Catholic times, that pious mothers, notably
the mothers Of st. Thomas of Aquinas. OF st.
Aloysus Gozaga and of st. Francis OF Sales,
had the greatest repugnance to entrust their
sons to them. No responsibility rests more
painfully on my conscience than that OF our
educational establishments. If in the ages OF
Faith many became d scandal to the faithful,
our educational establishments, especially
those conducted by religious orders, should be
as the "the fields Of sweet swelling odor,
which the Lord had blessed" Gen. xvii. 81.
Parents must know and be assured that in
intrusting their children to the care of reli-
gious communities they will be moro protect
ed than under the paternal roof. We therefore
come to the conclusion that all plays and the
atrcal represen tations shall cease in the edu-
cational establishments under our Jurisdiction.
JOHN JOSEPH LYNCH.
Archbishop of Toronto.
To tho Protestant Clergy and Associations OF Toronto
For a long time have thought of addressing
you on q subject which interests common mo-
rality, which should be dear to ms all 1t is
very we'll known that there are unworthy mem.
bers even in the best organized societies, and
the Catholic Church Is not an exception in
this 1t is obliged from time to time to rid
itself Of some of its unworthy members yet,
alas those members are taken to the bosom Of
of. They are paraded from town to town, and
from pulpit to pulpit. uttering the most filthy
tales and inventing the most extravagant
stories against the Catholic Church, it's insti-
tutions, converts, schools. etc. This sort of
tactics does not prove the high moral standing
of the libeller, or the religious prudence or
high tone of the rev. gentlemen who provide
such itinerant lecturers with pulpts, or of the
Associations under whose patronage they lee
ture. Though we have received great many
converts who have held distinguished places
in various Protestant denominations, yet we
do not parade them their services to
vilify tue denominations they left. We are
much pleased to see that the respectable Eng
lish Church ministers hold in no favor |
those Weeds" as Dean Swift calls them, |
" thrown from the Pope's garden" That abuses
have crept in amongst the members of our
Church as wicked as those degraded and often
individuals represent it, it
should fall to pieces of its own innate corrup-
ton; and yet it hourishes Calumnies and |
lies have boon employed against it from its
and, wonderful to relate, converts
have been numerous even in our time, both in
England and America, especially amongst the
ardent seekers after truth.
Catholic doctrines and practices have been
. SAILED by most filthy lectures and publica-
b ols, emanating from notably fallen women
and en-, who have more than once appeared
on the stage in state of semi-intoxication;
and yet, strange to say, their books are bought
and lectures attended, even by females, other
wise noted for their intelligence and modesty.
appears to be the grand object of all these
ectures and publications. should indeed he
very sorry to belong to q Church, IT were
obliged to believe all the insane doctrines or
olerate the abuses imputed to it. Does it
ook like the action of legitimate children to
INSULT and distort the doctrines of the old
Church, instituted by Christ OF to say that
hat Church, founded on u rock, and having
he promise of Christ that tho gates of He'll or
rror should not prevail against it. had, not
this infallible promise, taught
alse and damuable doctrinesf Such asser-
ions mpugn the truth of the words of Christ.
t is sad to think that the doctrines of the
'hurch are so distorted, and that we'll. mean
ng people have all their knowledge of it, not
rom its own teachings but from the msrepre-
en- tations of its avowed enemies. In politics
70 must read the journals in favor Of both
arties to judge fairly of the true state of
uestions. In courts of law the same course
followed; should not similar fairness be
Manifested in religious mattersf
We view the members of the various reli-
ions denominations, who may be in good faith
t present in far different light frem that in I
'hich those who first broke from the Church.
trough their own perversity, were viewed
he first named may be in good faith, owing
, their education and surroundings, whilst q
leir predecessors could not shelter them.
lives under the charitable plea of Ignorance.
here is vast number of religious denomina- a.
ons in the world at present, and il would be c:
to expect that all Will be again al
nited in the one fold and under the one s6ep. Ia