The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-09-15
The Convent School.

1'he Herald and Presbyter, a PresbY-.
terian journal Of Cincinnati. is sorely
distressed because so many Protestant
4 parents persist in sending their children
to Catholic schools. 1t IS at q loss to
understand it, orat least pretends to be,
and beseeches these wicked parents to
desist from WhaI it informs them is a
dangerous course. sit seerns stranger
il says. to he compelled TO urge Protas-
tant parents to keep their daughters
away from these places where sGares
are laid *, entrap them from their early
faith" No doubt it does seem strangs
to such mind as the Presbyter writer
possesses that Protestant parents exc
hibit more soiicituAe about the presar-
yation Of their daughters character
than fear OF Catholic influence. And
it will strike him as even more strange,
perhaps, to fsd h:s protest utterly ,1is"
regarded by the most Intelligent and
enlightened class of Protestant parents
in the country. Tt is we'll known that
the convent schools OF the country at
tract very large share of Protestant
patronage. There certainly MUST be
some good reason for this. We need
not seek far to ind it. It lis as Simple
as IT. is apparent, and IL our l'rasby.
terrain contemporary WIZ sweep aside
the prejudice that is permitted to oc-
scure its mental vision, it Wit. have no
difficulty in understanding che natter.
| The atmosphere OF purity and gof5sl~
ness and Christian refinement that per-
vades the Sisters scnopis, the enohilng
influence Of contact with lives dedi.
Gated the service Of God, the example
OF SELF abaegatiou. Of huai!ilg, and
obedience practIced in the lives Of the
gentle wouoen who walk III the foot.
steps Of Che Lord and the splendid dis-
ciplina gently but firmly maintained,
| combine to producs an effect upos. the
character c. the child shat leaves upon
| it lasting Impression Of true Christian
beauty and gant!eness. In nc otber
| Institution Of learning are tho morals
aud manners OF girls subjected 10 tho
refining process met with in The CON.
vent, Tor the very simple reagan
that The conditions cssentiis! 70 the very
exntanes Of this influence are not found
outside.
There is no ensnarlag Or entrapping
of young ladies Or Of yonng ladies' ten-
der religious sensitjiities il these,
places. as oug Cincinnati friend i'm
agines. O1 The CONTRARY, no compul-
sion is used even to aecura tie attend
ance Of Protestant pupils at the ordin-.
ary religious exercises Of such schools. i.
Nevertheless, it is quite natural for
deeply sensitive natures to be impressed
By the supernatural quality Of the faith
and religion fi00 which the main feat.
ures OF tho conventual life spring. But
surely our Protestant friends, who ney-
er weary in protesting in favor OF lib
erty Of conscience, cauuot consistently
find fault with this fact.
So long as convent schools exist as
they are. so long will non Catholic pa
rents, who earnestly desire to afford
their daughters sound training in the
useful and polite arts with ali accom-
paniment Of good morals and true
Christian culture, avail themselves Of
the advantages which The convent alone
offers. The anti-Catholic press win
protest against them IN vain. The pa
rental instinct that cherishes the chiId's
future is too strong to De trammeled by
mere sectariaD prejudice and bigotry.
Professionalism has not aud cannot have &
a substitute for#$the Catholic convent
school. - Gath oiic Mirror. +. +
4 stage hero at one Of the local
theatres rather marred the effect fsh,ilssj
lines the other eY aningg wi len ne rushed
intoa burning bui ding save sonesS
bod Il fe,s min he did
perish die '7
Etthe. aud diencss he did 40