The Irish standard., 1889-07-27
FOR AMERICAN CATHOLICS.
Ca dinal Gibbons on Religious In.
structions in the Public
Schools.
RELIGION, A FAITH AND A LAW.
It Ought to be Felt Everywhere and
Exercise Its Influence Upon
Our Minds.


Our Minds.
Religious instructions IN the schools,
whether public or private, has been the
subject OF many warm debates and
spicy letters from public men, for many
years past. Cardinal Gibbons among
others, has the following to say On
this important question, which all
Catholics would do we'll TO read care
fully:
liam persuaded, " says his Eminence,
"that the popular errors now existing
in reference to education spring from
an incorrect notion of that term. TO
educate means to bring out, to develop
the intellectual, moral and religious
faculties Of the soul. An education.
therefore, that improves the mind and
memory, to the neglect of the moral
and religious training, is, at best, but
an imperfect and defective system.
According to Webster's definition. to
principles Of art, science, morals, re-
llgion, and BEHAVIOR TO educate he
says, 'in the arts is important: in re-
ligion, Indispensable
lit is. indeed, eminently useful that
the intellect OF our youth should
be developed, and that they should be
made familiar with those branches of
knowledge which they are afterwards
likely to pursue. They can then go
forth into the world gifted with we'll
furnished mind and armed with a lever
by which they may elevate themselves
in the social scale, and become valuable
members of society. 1t is most desir-
able, also, that they should, iii the
course Of their studies, be made: .sac-
qHlainted with the history of our coun-
try, with the origin and principles Of
its government, and with the eminent
men who have served it by their states
manshlp and defended it by their valor.
This knowledge will instruct them in
their civic rights and duties, and con-
tribute to MAKE them enlightened citi-
zens and devoted patriots.
"}ut it is not enough for children to
have a secular education: they must re-
ceive religious training. Indeed Tt
llgious knowledge is as far above hui
man science as the soul is above the
body, as heaven is above earth, as
eternity is above time. The little child
that is familiar with the Christian cate
clism is really more enlightened on
truths that should come home to every
rational mind than the most profound
philosophers of pagan antiquity, or
even than many of the so-called phil
osophers of our own times. He has
mastered the great problem of life. He
knows his origin. his sublime destiny,
and the means Of attaining it-a knowl-
edge that no human science can impart
without the lights of Revelation.
''God has given us heart to be form
ed to virtue, as we'll as head to be en-
lightened. By secular education, we
improve the mind; by moral training,
we direct the heart.
''It is not sufficient, therefore, to
know how to read and write, to under
stand the rudiments of grammar and
arithmetic. It does not suffice to know
that two and two make four; we must
particularly learn, also. the great dis
tance between time and eternity. The
knowledge of book keeping is not suf-
fcient unless we are taught, also, how
to balance ,our accounts daily between
our conscience and our God. It will
profit us little to understand all about
the diurnal and annual motions Of the
earth, unless we add to this science
some heavenly astronomy. We should
know and feel that our future home is
to be beyond the stars IN heaven, and
that, if we lead virtuous life here, we
shall shine as stars for all eternity
''ite want our children to receive an
education that will make them not only
learned, but pious men. We want them
to be not only polished members of So
clety, but also conscientious Christians.
We desire fol- them training that Will
form their hearts, as we'll as expand
their mind. We wish them TO be not
only men of the world. but, above all,
men of God.
"a knowledge OF history Is most use
full and important for the student. He
should be acquainted with the lives of
those illustrious heroes that founded
empires, of those men Of genious that
enlightened the world by their wisdom
and learning, and embellished it by
their works of art.
But is it not more important to
learn something of the King of kings
who created all those kingdoms and by