The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-12-10
THE EDUcATIoN QUEsRIOM.
IN. v. Catholic Review.)

remorseless Church Of Rome, the democFa,
tic and humane Republic of America, aso
that one of the two which shall control tne
education of the common people, will oe
the lord of the land from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean"
Such is the summary of this great ques-
tion of education, expressed by Mr. Fran-
els E Abbot of Boston, in ma isctuIe,
intended for a reply to Bishop MeQnaiG
lecture on the school question. we only
desire now to call the attention Of Catholics
to the latter portion of Mr.. Abbots state,
mont: "that one of the two which sbaii
control the education of the common peo
ple will be tue lord of the land" In o'bef
words the future belongs TO those @ wh"
educate the children of the present. inns
surely is a truism, but unfortunately "ne
which we fear does not command one tithe
the attention of Catholics that 1t does oi
the enemies of the Church, nor one NON
dredth of the interest and attention IL de-
serves.
The unavoidable conclusion from the
updeniabie fact is that Catholics who
desire to see their children faithful IN their
manhood to the Church OF their fathers,
must place the education of tbese children
under the control of the Church. Lst Us
also consider we'll the fact that while we
are satisfied to control the education OF our
own children, iv is not SO with the nom
Catholic population that surrounds Us.
Though many of them deny 1t, it ls patent
to the most Indifferent observers that there
exists among most non Catholics deep
seated jealousy of the efforts made by the
Church TO control the education OF the
children of her own flock. One instance
will suffice. Il is but a few weeks ago that
priest iu some part of New Jersey, nav
ing established echool in connection with
the church OF which he WAS the pastor,
called upon the parents ofhis congregation,
FROM the altar, to patrouiZe the parochial
soHn ba of
one hundred and fifty Catholic children,
who had formerly attepded the district
schools, left them to attend TIE Cataohc
school. This ipciden" vas thought worthy
Of telegr aphic COMMUNICATION to all pats
of the Union, and elected in many PAGES
editorial comment and condemnation from
| the secular press
eThe difficulties that beset the establish
ment of Catholic parochial schools are nu-
merous and seriou1, particularly in the
rural districts, while even where they exist,
and have existed for many years, it is felt
that they do not attain the needed standard
of Efficiency. 1t is generally acknowledged
that the lack of a universally recognized
system Of Catholic education ia a serious
defect in the great work Cath olics have be-
fore them.
If We now take a seven league stride
from parochial schools to university edu-
cation we fiud that an able prefate in this
the columns of Catholic periodical, TO
wake up the American Catholics to sense
of the Importance of this province of
Catholic education. To quote his own
words, "We have, therefore, brought for
ward the project, and rather that there
might be some definate proposal IN favor
of or against which to direct further argu-
ment, than from any entire conviction on
our owp part, have made some suggestions
which to us seem at first blush, proper,
desirable, and reasonable, bat which may
strike other minds as lacking in one or all
of these questions"
"TFh0t is important, ho,rerer, is that
the subject be fully discussed, and every
point thoroughly tested at the bar of the
Catholic pnblc opinion OF the United
States." We have taken the liberty t"
it ,cizs a few words in the above quotation.
Between the two extremes uf Catholic edn-
cation, the parochial (Which should also
be free) schools, and the unjverelty, lies
| that very important sphere OF education
which will Tin many cases) have to com
| plete that received at the parochiai schools
and, in every case, prepare those OF the
| American Catholic youth who propose TO
seek the highest education of the untveTsl-
| ty, and those others who Will, on emerging
| trom boyhOod, enter Immediately into the
lists of this worlds tournament, in either
commercial, professional, or literary ca
| -eere.
view and in these varied aspects, may We
not confidently place the great question OF
Catholic education in the very front rank
of those which must to day. and for many
| years To come, command the attention and
| the energies of American Catholics.
1t may not, then, be smiss to humbIy suG-
| pest to the readers of the Catholic RerieU
the propriety OF unitiDg in some sort of as'
soelation having for its object the promo
tion of Catholic education. We find in this
country, but notably in European coun-
tries, associations, owing their existence
to very small beginnings, that have accom-
plished an immense deal on behalf of all
sorts of objects, from the preservation OF
game to great geographical discoveries.
Why NOT, then, institute in this country an
association with the noble object of promo
ting, by every proper and practical means,
the great cause of Catholic education.
Let every reader of tho CathhIie RerieaC
send in his or her name as member OF
such association, pledging himself or
herself TO be Responsible for the sum of, say
a va InllarS nor anDum tn the cauAe. either