The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-21

reference among them to Moral Develop
ment. We do not know whether or not this
omission is inteD tional, but fear it IN. At the
present day public opinion in this and
| some other countries assumes that "edu-
cation" is an exclusively intellectual oper-
alton, that there Is absolutely no necessary
connection whatever between it and moral
development.
This is an unfortunate error which we
regret to see adopted even negatively by
90 intelligent end influential q body as that
about to assemble. Our reason for saying
it is an error is this The field Of human
temptation is enlarged in proportion to tho
Development of the human intelligence. II
this is 80, then it follows that IL 10 q crime
to educate the intellect without corres-
ponding enlightenment of the moral facul-
ties.
Do our good, moral, jealous friends who
are getting up this Convention dream for q
moment that they are doing wrong in de-
veloping the intellectual faculties of the
young under their controlf They never
thought of euch thing, those of them who
are not Catholics, because the age lie now
mad on the subject of "education" and
they have accepted the madness for wis
dom. Still it is so they are doing to these
young people grievous wrong, unless they
carefully try at the same time to stimulate
the moral sense to q corresponding growth.
But why do We say that the field of temp
tation is enlarged with the growth of intel
ligence Because intelligence brings
opportunities of it's own unseen in
darkness. We need cite but one or two
instances of this truth. The first is an op-
panding intellect looks upon itself and it's
achievements with admiration, and upon
its old associations with corresponding con-
tempt The self satisfied victim becomes
cy nical aud naughty. Old truths, once
fondly cherished, are met with newly born
doubts, which no one is at hand to dispel,
aud the most sacred convictions Of an inno-
cent heart are in danger of giving way to
skepticism.
Again. Another occasion wrong ht out
by an increased intelligence is human re-
spect. The youth of twenty, who as
finished "prentice" would whistle gaily
along the street in a patched blouse, as a
high school graduate would blush with
modification unless genteelly clad. Where
shall he get the means necessary to his
new found dignity including all its
social exgenciesf This is surely tempt
alton due to his superior education"
Every man, to resist temptation, must be
educated in the school of temptation. 1t
would not do for boy of seven to have
sions of manhood concurrently with the
mental and moral immaturity of infancy.
He would necessarily be monster. But
according 80 the course of nature his pas
sions will develop only in the same ratio
with hie judge ment and his will. He will be
educated in the school of experience, in
other words, ofithe te emptations peculiar to
his state Of life, and it will thus become
possible for him to control his conduct.
In the same way, the temptations pecu-
liar to highly developed intelligence
would almost as surely produce q monster
Ofone whose moral faculties had retained
the dwarfed proportions of infancy. To
be prepared to resist the temptation of o
broad intelligence, he ought to have been
educated in the school of temptation pecu-
liar to such intelligence. All the sugges-
tions against faith should have been met
and explained away and the dangers of
poverty made familiar to him, go that, at
least, he would not walk over the precipice
with his eyes closed.
A fhanna of Tunn