The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-10-22

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tices which are contrary to his natu-
raj inclinatons. This transition re-
quires on his part strong will sus-
tanned by divine grace. On the con-
trary it is very easy matter TO
convert u Catholic boy to Protest
antism. Keep him away from the
unpleasant practice of his religion,
inspire him with the worship of
riches, he indulgent TO him and allow
him at least indirectly to follow his
vicious inclinations, natLer his pride
by wide scope of Independence
from lawful authority, and he will be
q Protestant of some description for
while, perhaps rs long as it suits
his interests. Sooner or later, how
ever, he will return TO his mother,
the Catholic Church, or he will be-
come nationalist. And who will
rejoice at such a conversion? Ger
tainly not the angels in heaven.
AS remedy against the evil of
Christless schools l should recon-
mend the system of Prussia as it
prevailed before the deplorable Rul-
t,trkanRf when religious instruction
was obligatory and enjoyed, too,
the very first rank. The system
was about as follows:-
1. In every locality which con-
tanned sufficiently large number of
children of different creeds, the chill
dren were separated into strictly
denominational schools. The same
rule would apply here in few cases.
2. In other places where the small
number of children did not justify
the building of separate denomina-
tional schools, the pupils of each
denomination Catholic, Protestant,
and Jewish) had religious teacher
of their own creed. About six years
ago petitioned the Board of Edu-
cation through the Board of Immi-
grafton to have this rule apply in
favor of the Portuguese children.
My request was not granted at the
time, nor do l think that the pre-
sent Board Will favor it or even
consider it lawful. Hence pro.
pose another which in my opinion
will do justice to all.
Whereas our public schools,
though free of charge, do not answer
the just demands of Christian and
particularly of Catholic parents or
account of the absence of religious
instruction. and whereas the same
parents contributing to the common
school fund by the payment of taxes
are nevertheless in conscience OBJ
liged to send their children to indie
pendent schools at their own eXtr;
expense which, by the way, is not
light matter for poor people, th'
Board of Education would but ac
within the limit of strict justice TO
wards those Christian parents if i
helped them to materially supper
the independent schools which arr
really necessary for their children
This is not the place to DISPUTE
the intrinsic merits of the differen
denominations. My intention il
only to give an objective view o
our situation in this kingdom and t.
appeal to the sense of justice o
even those who may perhaps b
strongly prejudiced against tn
Catholic religion. l defy our mos
bitter adversaries to prove that tn
Catholic mission has by its religion
teaching ever done any harm i
these islands. We always MIN
our own business. We have nc
taken any part in the late revolu
tionary movements and we submt
to the Reform Government withou
adulation or conspiracy against il
Is that a crime? In our poverty W
deprive ourselves of many persona
comforts in order to apply our pei
sonal labor and considerable POI
ton of our very limited means
assist the Government in the wor
of education. Every imparti;
judge will say that we have a rigl
to expect the support of the Gov
ernment and the sympathy of I'll
public instead of being vexed an
harrassed at every step by mea
sectarian jealousy.
HERMAN,
Bishop of Olba.
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