The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-06-04
Ecclesiastical Possession.

l
chief of liars, but, somehow, observation
leads ne to believe that he lacks in that
delicacy of memory which is so great q de-
sideratum in his peculiar accomplishment.
This chief artisan of mischief appears to
forget himself occasionally in the heat of
discussion, and urge with much vebemence
fact which, in another argument, he has
just denied with equal fire to be fact at
all. We do not wish to slander him /;
therefore, let us give an example of what
we mean, and, at the same time, proof Of
what we say. Let us also be careful to
draw our instance from q source which
agency of the Fallen Angel and which has
the most undoubted credentials of author
ity from the Prince of heresy.
The Methodist General Conference lately
in session at Baltimore solemnly received q
committee report, in which it was declared ::
"It is very we'll understood that whoever
shall educate the freedmen will also possess
them enthusiastically" This fact was set
forth as an important one to be considered
dist works among the Negro populations of
this country. The Committee on Freedmen
reported that there is great danger of q
general perversion to Romanism among the
blacks. The "emissaries of Rome" are at
work with them, and successfully. They
are filling their schools with colored child
rem and their asylums with colored orphans.
" The plans Of the Papal Propaganda are
far SEEING" says the report, and then comes
the admission, above quoted, as to ecclesi-
astical dominion through education.
Now this movement to interfere with the
salvation of the colored race is eminently
diAbelical. Who can doubt that the Devil
was at the bottom of the whole thing-sug
gestion, report and argument And yet
the admission is clearly there, that the
teacher dictates the religion "Wheever
shall educate the freedmen will also possess
them enthusiastically"
This was not indeed intended as an sd-
mission. It was the assertion Of fact
necessary to the argument in which it was
used as a premise. It suited the great
liars purpose to assert the truth SO as to
draw conclusion which would stimulate
his emissaries to greater activity. Still,
there it is.
What shall we do with it "Whoever
shall educate the freedmen" Now it is we'll
known that when Methodist or any other
worshipper of the world speaks of education
he means simply secular education-the
acquisition of all science which is purely
human and rational. Nothing of that
spiritual science which is built on faith is
included in the Protestant use of the word
education. Yet our Methodist brethren
plainly announce that wheever shall edu
cate the freedmen will control their reli-
gion. Aud is there any difference between
freedman's child and freeman's child p
between white and colored children, in this
| respect No one will pretend it. Give any
sect the secu ar education of children whose
domestic Influences are favorable to that
sect, and even of children whose domestic
in Fl uences are neutral, and that sect will be
almost sure to indoctrinate such children
with its religious views. In the same way
| the education of children under strictly
non religious Influences will always imbue
them more or less with religious indiffer-
ence, and, generally, to melancholy extent
Bat what about that recent argument
with the Catholics 7 How did you state
this fact to them, good Methodist What
did the master logcian inspire you to cay
thenf Why just the reverse of this state
ment. Then the education of children un
der the influence of their own religion va!
perfectly useless and could not REASONABLY
be asked. Sunday schools were enough fo
that. The subsection of Catholic childreI
to Protestant Influences in the public
school ought not to be objected to by thei
parents, and it could have no effect oI
them. TIE education of young persons ii
schools where religion is banished, coult
not ipjure their faith at all. In fact, ther
, was no connection whatever between th
education of children and their religion
a and the two things ought to be studiousl.
q separated.