Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-06-16
SECULAR EDUCATTO

-Hedifh ana Home.
SECULAR EDUCATION.
The question OF the assignment of n
portion Of the public school funds 70
the separate use of the Catholic church
will probably be tested in Ohio before
it is definitely settled anywhere else.
II has been u matter Of a good deal OF
interest not free from anxiety, in that
State for some time. As usual, it has
been complicated by ianaticism on
both sides and by the sordid political
intrigue which always seeks to take
advantage of ianaticism. The lower
class of politicians have tried TO fur
ther their ends by flatterlng the heat
ed preiudices of the one side or the
other until it is inevitable that there
should be more passion than reason in
the contests which take place sooner or
later over the question. The action OF
the Presbyterian general assembly, in
session at Cleveland, on this subject,
will therefore be waited with special
interest in Ohio, and will have more
or less effect upon the discussion in 9TH
er States. The recent action of u
Methodist conference was so moderate
and judicious that reasonable people
were encouraged to hope that other
denominations which approached this
delicate question might do it with
equal discretion, so that the hands OF
the friends of secular education might
be strengthened throughout the coun.
try.
We should regard thepassagc of the
resolutions introduced by the Rev, G.
S. Noble, of New Jersey, at Cleveland,
MS in the highest degree injurious to
the cause they are intended to favor.
There is only one ground upon which
we can consistently oppose the de-
mands of the Catholic church upon
the school fund and that is that edu.
cation is and should be strictly secular,
and that religion should not in any
point be dependent upon or subject to
the interference OF the State Tomake
that fight as Protestants or sectarians
is weak and illogical. To attack the
Iutions do bv sars.c cbor,,os and do
rogatory epithets, would be ludicrous
contont with a nro,ast o,,a;,,s, aooias; -
asticol oncroocbmonts mon Tho S.ee
school system these rcloln,;ons d.
pounce tbe Roman Co,hol;c wo,hods
Of instrnction no asrhsti,n,inc doamas
and traditions for the commsndments
of caJn TO, az J;,onn";a, - 10 .
ono amona bre,hrer oe an" "
nroIsss;on Il world NO, come within
aur nrov;nce 10 cr;t;c;so !, pn, !, -
snrcad ali over tbe coun,r,, he ,ho os
snc;oted nrcss and n ador,od viii ho
taken mdre or less as nm avnression ot
the advocates of sccuIar cduca,;on -
we think The ground taken i abso.
lutelv untona6le The law has no
riobt 10 inouiro how Catholics or PRO.
testant instructors MANAGE their own
private or denominotionsl Schools /,
u noisoning The d;scuss;on nselesslv 20
indnire which creed i right and which
is wrong General assemblies Of Pro.
testants ought to cons;dor ,bo, ,ho ad
voootes of secular education arc not
fighting their hattie Co,bol;cs ough,
to he catholic cnougb 10 admit t6at
we arc not opposing or even ones,ion.
ing their fhitb when we nro,est agains,
the interference Of any lcgislatioS with
tho subject of religion or relioious in
The nublic schools should no, hath.
aroma of anv thcoloo;col d;scnss;ons
whatever they sboSld not bo nur.
series for pro,estant;sm onv moro than
Catbolicism II ;s ,ruo 10 onl,, on
gression Tins far dreaded Ia from lie
direction Of tbe Catholic CHURCH =
There is only ono wov NJ mco,;ng !,
sueeessfnllvYbv 90 styonr and mani
nous n nrotest on tho mart oc tbo
great majority that nol;t;c;ans will mo-,
dare 20 cnrry favor hy nronos;na or
snsta;n;ng t5e moyomon, afo;ns, ,ho
nuhlic sc5ools M pro,os,sn, % sao, ~ =
strong cnonah 20 oocor,'l;sh M e. no :,
nr II tha,a nap neao, !, ;c ~ !,
is made ~ annoar a moyemon, naval, ~ - :,
a ooainst co,hni;c;sm 0r oii ,ha 49, 49,;
80 L., ~ .'. "r W." ~