The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-19
oar Public SCHOOL,.

Editors TntelllCencer;
As there has been 30 much said and
written about the public schools lately, l
thought that perhaps something besides
German might be interesting 10 your
readers. Something which We lose sight
Of, viz: the continued existance OF our
so-called Goddess schools. l think too
much cannot be said In praise Of our
free schools in the United States, and Of
this city especially have visited a
great many schools in other cities, and
can say without Boosting, that Wheeling
has the best conducted schools Of any city
coming under my observation. What we
want Is High School and then our sys.
ten will be perfect. The free school sys-
TEN Of this country is one Of its no6ler
Institutions and every true American
should rally to It's support. ! read in
your paper, the remarks Of lcertain Ro.
man divine 10 the effect that any Catho
lie who would send his childred TO one Of
these schools should DO harshly
dealt with. Let mo say, you
need not go outside Of Wheeling
10 hear our free schools denounced
by the Catholic clergy. At High Mass
on Sunday, September I'd, the Rev.
Father who gave instructions that day,
warned his hearers Of what would be
their fate, should they DO SO indiscret as
to send their children to one Of the God.
less schools. The punishment for the
offence waS that, they should be barred
from receiving absolntion, and from ap.
preaching the Holy Of HOLES. Also II
persisted in such persons were to be ex.
communicated, and when they died were
to be denied christian burial. As l sat
and listened to such talk from one styl.
ing himself Christian, l asked myself is
It possible that we live in a Christian and
free country.
1 could not help asking myself, who
gave any authority to any one 10 With.
hold the communion from any person.
Christ laid down the penalties to those
who should receive the sacrament un.
worthily, and 1t ought 10 be left to the
conscience Of any believer whether he is
worthy or not to receive the sacrament.
l have for the first time 10 know that it
was against the laws Of God for man 10
send his child 10 free school, and that
all these maledictions could be brought
down on his head Tor go doing. As Tor
being excommunicated from the church,
! would consider that blessing, as there.
by would be at liberty to exercise that
free will, 80 much extolled in theory but
SO much restrained in practice.
Denied Christian BURIAL l ask il
that is what the Saviour Of men taught
while on earth2 II so, let some one point
out where it can be found.
They talk about God being locked out
Of the free schools, and about the children
only learning vice and iniquity, and about
how the Immaculate ones from the 80. called
Christian schools would be contaminated
by even 80 much "a looking at one Of these
poor, forsaken wretches deserted by God.
BY their fruits you shall know them.
We have some beautiful specimens in this
city who received their "Christian" edu.
cation from the late high dignitary OF the
Church himself. l know their fate and
several other graduates are fast following
their footsteps.
But enough Of this. It behooves every
lover Of this country to jealously guard
the great bulwark Of his liberties from
the encroachments OF Romanism. Let US
all nourish and uphold the free schools.
They are dedicated to the enlightenment
and education Of our children, and to the
advancement OF the human race.
FIDFs