Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-11-22
THE PLENARY COUNCIL.
Tho Agitation of the Parish School sys-
tam.

Tho Agitation OF the Parish School sys-
tenn.
BALTIMORE, November 2l.-The Plsnary
Council resumed sessions this morning, but
no intimation is given OF tie business done.
In the afternoon there was conference at
the cathedral when some DEGREES were pre-
pared to be voted on at the public session
Sunday. Tonight Bishop Grass, Of Savan-
nah, preached in the cathedral on The
missions for the colored people" T1-night
Bishop Rodemaeher, o. Nashville, Preached
in St. Alphonsus church on Catholic Schools,
their necessity to the child and their inaa-
ence on society"
1t is understood thata letter has been re-
ceiyed by one of the members Of the council
from creditors of the late Archbishop Pur-
cell q; Cincinnati, asking the aid Of council
in The liquidation of their claim, but 1t is
said it is doubtful if the body will take any
action on merely local matter. Thursday
next reception will be given the prelates
and theologians of the council by the
Catholic Benevolent Legion of Maryland.
1t is expected that several more DEGREES
will be formally adopted. One Of
these, it is thought probable, will
be concerning the position of the Catholic
church on the public school question.
Bishop McQuid, of Rochester, n. u, is one
of the leading exponents Of the position Of
the church on this question, and there is no
doubt that the action taken BY the Council
will berry very positive and will not only de
mand that Catholic parents shall SEM
their children to parish schools, but that
division Of the school tax be made in every
State and city commensurate with the pro
portion paid by Catholic taxpayers.
To-day leading member of Council said
on this subject: 1T is not many years since
the columns of the press teemed with arti-
cles on the public school question. This has
been source Of great annoyance to the
leaders of the Catholic Church. In nearly
every large city in the country great mum
Der of Catholic children attend the public
schools. Experience has taught that
thsse children frequently become care
less in the duties of their religion and
Indifferent to the high standard of morality
on which the Church places so high val
ue. Her bishops and clergy sternly advo
cate the daily catechism and stated instruc-
lions on the principal tenetS OF the Catholic
faith. To bring about this result parish
schools have been attached to many
churches, where the poorer children are
educated. But Catholics are crippled by
the want Of pecuniary resources, and thus
happens that in some instances these par
ish schools are inferior in their curriculum
to the public schools OF our country
The bishops see that the only way for
them to secure thorough disciplining OF
the children according to Catholic belief
and practice is to establish more thor
ough system Of parish schools in every city,
the studies being graded on the same plan
as the primary, grammar and high school
courses of the country. For this purpose
they demand such adivision Of the school
tax as will enable them to place their
schools on level with the public schools.
What means can be adopted for the accom-
plishment of this plan is problem TO be
solved by the wisdom of the fathers ofthe
Third Plenarv Council for Baltimore.