New-York tribune., 1886-04-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS
no MED OF DIvoRCING 1T FROM SECULAR KDU-
CArIoN-viAws OF A PRIEST.
fothe Editor OF The Trtbune
SIR: l lately received a circular appealing
TO mo pastor OF souls TO assist the important
OF the New York Society for the Suppression of vice
and have also roai In your paper OF White Cros
Society for the suppression OF mpurty necessarily
Ympathize with the efforts OF these good people, since
their object is tho same which every good pastor
have at heart and for which myself striving though
Lot in tho way. Good Ia doaotless done ny
Vethods bit, In my opinion. the only eiectual way
sxrpa,e vic, to look after the relsods olooaton of
tho young Tho false isa thu child my be educated
without its heart boing trained to beye In ana love
God an His Commandments, to Lave an ambition to
reach Heaven and t. foar Hol which iioa is at the
bottom OF the present cooress AMI neutral system OF the
public schOo Is MT likely to proiu men and women
who will practise Christian morality. Ne 500 signs OF
the opposite result IN tho growing contempt for parental
and governmental authority In the false noiious about
mine AMI thine In tho discomfort with ones state OF life,
In the disregard for tho sancy OF the arrase tic for
the saere ness of human e etc. etc II these societies
disposed to make effort 10 change the system of
pUtic ition to the various denomna
tlons o.. tristan and jewish ministers and priests
opportunity bring their salutay influence to bear
children IN tue daily school, according to the wishes OF
their parents that while traaing in the secular
branches not ;ectei they he brought up, like
their ancestors bofoss them Doth Catholic and
Catholic helisve that this could lie brought about with
spending penny OF the rublic money in aid Cf
any church.
Theory aud practice are two very different things
Theorists believe enough OF Ie zion pat int
a child III its homo neanne no doutt good home and
in tho sunday chool without its bang necessary to
have it In the everyday school. am convinced by sad
experience having been 4eny three years on the mis-
in NewYork that sub is not the fact In practice
share this conviction with thousands OF parents who
tlx -n,t ika+
parochia schools for 10000 chdrcu in this city
alone while they taxed fol anestabii,hed agnosc
school just around the corner In the beDetts OF which
they conscieaciousy participate. The school
boing practically and really the cldrcns church, they
pay for established church to which they do not
belong 1t does not improve matters that 1t Is not
Jewish or a Protestant school, since any religion Is
better than none. and what Is called Unsectarian Is
Qnte much of any other, since 1t tdrns out
and women VINO are atheists or agnostics. mu-
titudc Of Catholic children, for whom we cannot
provide being thus lost to Christianity In the Iubic
schools and believe that the other denominations
experiencing the result.
Possibly he majority may be in favor OF the present
system-al being OF equally in favor OF educa-
ton OF sort-but it does follow that they
right. The Lord crucifed by immense majority
OF the people OF Jerusalem. Intelligent men are always
In minority, but they can ana 90 le"d the majority IL
should not DC ignored by WHEN tle
former large and tue Christians are numerous
in this state the majority will to be tylant
over the minority. 1t may he rei down as sound
principle that the child belongs to the parent and not to
the state, exceit meliately, and the parent SHOULD
educate IT lie tnins proper hen capable OF doing IT,
outs rs who do not really rel resent him, should
not dictate what 1t shall learn or not learn This Is the
pan OF nature ana OF tho Crcato no one loves enid
advantages. Even IL lie be rooi, he should not be
ignored Us to what manner Of teacher his place
and to whether his child Is to he christian Oh non
Secular cddcation is ;no doubt useful snd perhaps
necessary IN Republic especially but why need be
from aiis III ate
atcs those who wish to educate their children by
giving per capita private schools for
CHILD who passes tine examination OF the public board IN
secular branches. Why could not this he done here
necessary in the secular branches leaving parents
the liberty saying OF what denoIn itioD they shall
tie secular instruction What hahn WOULD be done to
auybody except to Digot IL the child Is also -aned to
good ChrIstan the expense its parent of his
Church For hosc parents who are indifferent let things
threo times what It would DO II the done by
TIE Church. assisted by the state am actnally giving
good secular education to fully 300 children Tor less
tam $40 yea each the public school gives for about
S3l. Many ohcr pastors are doing the same 1t is too
much expect tne churches to provide both religious
ana secular oduoauon especially their members
already taxed for the State schools.
BY tie arraneemeut which propose wo would at least
io Keeping what religion we have received from oT
country woul1 b, saved from much OF the evil to avert
which these AntiNice societies are now making lan'-
eofts eaS her"n is Of pTim"rH mp"rSSee
tion leavnc all mention OF the future life and no
Government we'll be carried wthout its aid least
OF all auopnar form OF government They tell MS that
with the suggested system tnere would ne caslng or
secs This is imaginary. II las not occurred where it
has tried. a least Is OF little consequence and IA
nothing comparison with the present ncOGvenenccs
In reornatory. for instance, have other than good
results followed from permitting the clergy 70 come IN
thnsr who desire their visits Why should
valuable Influence be thrown away instead OF being
utilized Perhaps OrsOOth because the prosecutions OF
Elizabeth might he renewed or the fires OF Snhhed re-
Riudled in City Han Park 7 As 1t would be vain to
reason with this small band OF timil ani antigua ed
occiors. will trespass further your patience
As those whose fears are excited by sensational
picturings priests and ministers grabbing for tho
Iuic money let them be of good heart ready to
guarantee that Will only grab one dollar for every
three That given to the Board of Educaon and
IL DO ont good citizens We will agree not
to grab cent.
r. F. McswEENY Rector of St. Bridget's Church.
Ncc- IOrh March %, lSSG.