The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-25
THE CHURCH AND THE SCHOOL.
A Fig Debate in the National Educational
Association Between Bishop Keane and
Mr. Meade of Boston.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 1.-THE
feature of to-day's discussion before the
| National Educational Association was
the discussion Of denominational
schools, participated in by Bishop J. J.
keane, rector of the Catholic Univer-
sity at Washington, and Edwin B.
Meade, of Boston.
Bishop Keane was the first speaker.
He said: "The glory of the Christian
nation is not in its ability to surpass all
around it martial in proves and in the
returns Of trade, but in the intelligence,
morality, comfort and contentment of
| its people. A school is not made q
Christian school by taking up great
deal Of time in doctrinal instruction or
in devotional exercise which would
otherwise be spent in acquiring secular
knowledge. What above all that makes
it Christian school, are the moral
atmosphere, the general tone sur
rounding objects, the character of the
| teachers, the constant endeavor of low
ing tact, the gentle skill by which the
light and spirit of Christianity, its les
sons for the head, for the heart, for The
whole character, are made to pervade
| and animate the whole school life of
the child.
'The intelligent Christian parent
knows that what ought to be true of
every nationality within the pale of
Christian civilization is pre-eminently
true of ours; that the best Christian is
sure to be the best American, and that
the school which aims at sending forth
his child q model Christian, in an equal
degree, tends to send him forth model
American. But Christian civilization
has for its natural foundation Christian
homes and Christian schools. Again,
therefore, the good Christian American
parent, if he is true TO his principles,
will be sure to choose for his child
! good Christian American school. Sus-
>picious antagonisms and animosities
| ought never to be instilled in any
Christian Church; and if they are, that
Church has not the spirit of Christ in
| it, and ought to be deserted 1t may be
| said, is not the Catholic Church at
least committed to the Christianity of
the Hildebrand of the middle ages, and
is it not, therefore, antagonistic to the
| Christianity of the nineteenth century
and of the American Republico In the
name of the Catholic Church, I answer
that she is committed neither to Hide
brand and the middle ages nor to
policy of any manner, of any age what
soever, because she is for all men and,
therefore, for all ages and for all forms
of social condition.
Look at the people Of our country
and we see them divided into two
classes. Onione side the Catholic Church
emphatically declares for Christian
education; and with us all those nom
Catholics, whatever may be their de-
nomination, who believe in Christian
schools, and in them are giving their
children all education animated by
Christianity as they understand it.
"On the other side are the upholders
and advocates Of the national system
Of schools in which Christian truth and
duty cannot be taught Can anyone in
his senses hesitate which of these sides
is for the welfare ofour country?"
Edwin D. Meade, of Boston, replied
to Bishop Keane, and stated that the
parochial school has no proper place
in the system of American instruction.
The speaker quoted from an English
Catholic dictionary prepared by Thos.
Arnold, son ofthe great master of Rug
by, brother of Matthew Arnold, and
father Of Mrs. Ward, author of Robert
Elsmcre. In an article on education in
the dictionary the author said that man
| is complex being, so his education
must have several ends. The prime end
is religious, and the Catholic holds
that man must seek religious know
ledge at the hands of the only divinely
appointed church, and that this is the
highest authority in education. The
state may reasonably require that its
citizens should receive such training as
may restrain anti-social passions and
promote the welfare, but the end pur-
sued by the church is primary, that
pursued by the state is secondary.
1t WAS not bold nor honest in Cardi-
nal Manning in his recent article to
represent the conflict as between state
and family. The speaker quoted largely
from Cardinal Manning's article, which,
he said, attempted to represent the
public school as coercion and as an
interference with family rights and the
liberty Of conscience. The whole policy
of the Roman Catholic church, in es-
tablishing parochial schools in this
country, rests upon this coercion. The
Roman Catholic school does have the
same place in America as the Episcopal
school or any private school-the right
to open its doors, to make itself as
attractive as possible and to invite
| attendance.
1t has full right to criticize the pub
lie schools, but it must not threaten.
In conclusion, an appeal was made
for a higher view of the State.
Mr.. Meade's address was received
with great applause, and at its close
the Bishop was called to respond.
The Bishop defended Cardinal Man
nlng from what he characterized as the
unjust criticism Of Mr.. Meade. He also
stated that Pope Leo XIII. was mov-