The New York herald., 1876-11-27
SUNDAY EVENING LECTURES.

EDUCATION AND nELIGIoS--LLcTUIE AT COOPER
INSTITUTE By THE VERY REV. FATHER PRES
TON, v. G.
Notwithstanding the extremely unproptous weather
last evening Union Hall OF the Cooper Institute was
crowded 10 hear the Very Rev. Father Preston v. g..
on tho subject OF Education and Religion The
reverend gentleman spoke entirely without notes and
his arguments were principally directed against Tho
separation Of religion and education account OF the
dclnoralizns influences caused by such separation.
The speaker OF the evening was introduced by
Father Kane OF tho Cathedral The chairman, in tie
opening remarks, spoke OF the objects OF tho Young
Mems Catholic Association OF the city OF New York.
They to band the young together virtuous
and wholesome amusement and deserved the support
of ailtrue Catholics In speaking the genera
tions the chairman said that upon the young OF
tho country, especially the Catholic young men, do
pended the welfare OF The great Republic
Father Preston commenced his address with a CON-
plment to the Catholic societies present Thcro
two great characteristics OF Catholic literary societies
reverence for religion and faith in God Our religion
said tho speaker power that no foes or devils can
overthrow lApplausc) Religion ana education
should ever go hand In hand and never be separated
Attempts are now being made 10 separate these
and should they succeed the speaker predicted
The effect disastrous 10 tho nntiou Religion tho
exercise Of those virtues by which man adorcs and
serves God the briGh est dearest nobIcst faculties or
tho human soul Tho Chris religion Is tho only re-
p,on that deserves namc founded upon tho reveal
ton OF the Redcemcr the religion that bows down be-
Education is drawing out and developing the natural
faculties OF man; II best prepares him tor the cnd thnt
God has intended for him.
Reason teaches that the soul is immortal; that is
the natural deduction of reason How shalt Tho moral
faculties fed without God and the that
from HIM. The truths given by God are the iood
for The faculties, HIS revelations HIS love and kind
know Goi and II is IRRATIONAL therefore, TO
attempt to instruct man that THIS IS not So
the tool hath said IN his heart there Is 70 God"
SAID the speaker, II is this growing sccpticsn that
Is the rst for the separation Of education and
religion. There are men who have Individual
religions, they put them before everything;
there are men who waste themselves tho
hoofs OF horses, the tails Of insecIs and forget
the God who gavo them breath. (Appause)
In all ages up TO the present timc religion and cduca
tion have been united Religious guides have been Tho
Church has the merit OF consistency even In the
mouths OF her adversar1cs.
The speaker at this point quoted several catholic
authors and historians as to the establishment Of
schools by the Catholic Church.
Other sccs. sad the speaker, sill continc paro-
chial schools even in this country Particularly
Is this IN Prussia-a country many ways opposed
10 holy religion The speaker then read from the
decisions OF the Church in favor OF tn, twO education
and religion. Catholics, said the speaker, must be-
lcve that there can be NO separation of religion and
ono written BY Martin Luther, and quoted several
American authorities OF tho present day as power
iui arguments for the unity OF tho two.
Amid great applause the speaker quoted from
letter OF George Washington in which hc staicd that
morality could not exist apart fiom religion would
as George Washington (Applausc.l Would God
that some OF our magistrates were mbucd with his
The speaker then spoke at length and very clio.
qucntly of the results OF the attempt TO establish
purely 'sccuIar educniion. TO which the reverend
father was determnedy opposed. In speaking Of tho
evil influences OF secular education tho lecturer said
that II was taking thousands OF children away IRON the
Catholic Church and making inidels OF hem
There sins, Father Preston. that to 3D.
and secular education is tho these SINS Ma
tions may swindle because they nations
Arc there not said tho speaker hints OF fraud thrown
very near the highest authority IN our land
lapplause-stans even upon our tribunals OF
religion, and We defy any man to question
our lovo for country. (Proongci appause.)
and will not consent separation OF religion
aud education. As lar MS our chdren concerned,
wo mus. teach .nem MIN 'Hs secular education me
common schools tor our Protestant friends but or
must have schools in which our children shall DO
taught the mysteries OF our Church. Thsris FREQ
country, and yet we arc told that wc must bear
share Of tho taxation or schools whether we use thcm
or not There but two ways to get over
this dnicuny-that is, divide among oil
sccts tho school money and lot denomnational
scnools exist under proper government supervision
In relation TO the constitutional amendment prevent-
ing public funds from passing TO any Institutions OF
religious character. the reverend gentleman said that
the seemed to be directed toward tho Cath
oc church. and she did not deserve such treatment at
tho hands OF her ccuntrymen The speaker closed with
country, their God aud their religion.
ELEvATlNG THE MAssEs-THE SUBJECT CoNs1D-
Erred BY PROFESSOR FELIX ADLER YEsTFB-
DAY.
Standard Hall crowded yesterday morning. as
usual to listen to the weekly lecture OF Professor
Adler In his treatment OF the above subject he be-
gan follows:-Who arc the massesf Whom do we
dcsiro 70 elevate? We have an indstinct no:ion OF
body OF objects moving upon another and distant por
ton OF tho world from ourselves. We have false
OF these people. Between tho higher
classes OF society and tho slums and drudgcs there
an abundant belt OF humanity whose quiet and un-
evcnttul lives attract no attention from tho daily
press OF these We speak to-day; Of these
priso tho masses; OF these expect nstructon
aud further enlightenment. We always besct with
great difficulties and opposition when VIC contemplate
important and radical changes. Tboro set Of
sccptics who declare against great reform movements
who tell TO act prudcny ourselves and our
proportionato share of worldly happiness. Let tho
world take care OF its own Transformations.
Such arguments arc fundamentally wrong. II
is time we wore rid OF tho tyranncal
oppression OF such precepts. We have performed
great Ind good resolutions In our past history. We
nave abolished the leu isl omnipotcnce OF the rich
over tho poor NO have freed tho slaves from the dcs
potsm OF their fellow creatures. We abolish
the evils or to-day II sterling spirit and Indomitable
purpose attend our Efforts. How thcn shall the
be commenced. How the lower classes be raised
and cnghtcncds II Is the thing OF all others most
importaEt and upon which the fate OF society and OF
liberalism in America depends. We must proceed
tousy and study well the nature of that body Of poo
pie. To cut down whoc tree only physical force Is
nccdful; to lop of its dead branches SO that Il may
gain In strength and heahul condition, requires
skilled study, patience and dscernment We necd 10
establish general principle OF moral education tor
our guidance. How 10 correct faults Is NO easy qucs
tion.
Tho speaker proceeded TO illustrate how much
Il was icr person to SAP pleasant things TO HIS audi
than 10 DISCUSS their ailings He said Either
you must cojcc and Halter your hearers, and then
farewell to honor, dignity and truth, he
candid and give offence. Pondering this diicuy
day, happened TO be looking over copy OF Demos
themes oratons, and thought that that great and
noble mind must surely have found way through tho
objections Indeed in hts practice he neither praised