The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-31
CARDINAL GIBBONS TALKS.
He Defines the Position Of the Church
on Education.
THE ARTS IMPORTANT, BUT RELIGION Is
INDISPENSABLE.

Public Opinion, that the popular errors
flow 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 relig-
ous faculties of the soul An education,
therefore, that improves the mind and the
memory, to the neglect of moral and re-
ligous training, is, at best, but an inper-
feet and defective system. According to
Websters definition, to educate is ''to in
still into the mind principles OF art, sell
ence, morals, religion and behavior. -
''ro educate he says, sin the arts Is
important; in religion, indispensable"
1t is, indeed. eminently useful that the
intellect of our youth should be develop
ed. and that they should be made familiar
with those branches of knowledge which
they are alterward likely to pursue.
They can then go forth into the world
gifted with well 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 desirable, also, that they should,
in the course of their studies, be made ac
quainted with the history of our country,
with :he origin and principles Of it's gov
eminent, and with the eminent men who
have served it by their craftsmanship
and defended it by their vaor. This
knowledge will instruct them in their
civic rights and duties, and contribute to
make them enlightened citizens and de-
voted patriots.
But it is not enough for children to
have secular education; they must re-
ceive u religious training. Indeed, rehg-
ious knowledge is as far above human
science as the sOul is above the body, us
heaven is above earth, as eternity is above
time. The little child that is familiar
with the Christian Catechism 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 philosophers of our own times He
has mastered the great problem of life.
He knows his origin, his sublime dettiny,
and the means of attaining it-a kuowl-
edge that no human science can impart
without the light of Revelation. God has
given us heart to be formed to virtue,
as well as head to be enlightened. by
secular education we improve the mind
by moral training, we direct the heart.
1t is not sufficient, therefore, to know
how to read and write, to understand the
rudments of grammar and arithmetic.
1t does not suffice to know that two and
two make four; we must practically
learn, also, the great distance between
time and eternity. The knowledge OF
bookkeeping is not sufficient unless we
are taught also how to balance our ac-
counts daily between our conscience and
our God. 1t will profit us little to under,
stand all about the diurnal and annual
motions of the earth, unless we add to
this science some heavenly astronomy.
We should know aud feel that our future
home is to be beyond the stars in heaven,
and that if we lead yirtuous life here
we shall "shine as stars for all eternity
We want our children to receive an ed
ncation that will make them not only
learned, but piOus men. We want them
to be not only polished members of Socle.
ty, but also conscientious Christians We
desire for them a training that viii form
their heart, as well as expand their MUD.
We wish them to be not only men of the
world, bnt, above all, men of God. A
know ledge of history is most useful and
important for the student He should be
acquainted with the lives of those illus
trious heroes that founded empirer, oil
those men of genius that enlightened the
) world by their wisdom and learning, and
embellishcd it by their works of art. But
is it rot more important to learn some
thing of the King of kings who created al
those Kingdoms and by whom kings
reign? Is it not more important to study
the Uucreated Wisdom before whom all
earthly wisdom is folly, and to admire the
works Of the Divine Artist who paints the
lily and gilds the clouds If, indeed, oul
soul were to die with the body, if we had
no existence beyond the grave, if we had
no account to render to God for orr ac-
tions we might more easily dispense with
religion in our schools. Though even
then Christian morality would be q true
source of temporal blessings; for, as the
Apostle teaches, 'Piety is profitable tt
all things, having promise of the life that
. now is, and Of that which is to come.
Bat our youth cherish tic hope Of one
day becoming citizens of heaven as vel
as of this land. And, as they cannot BIT
good citizens of this country without stu
dying and observing its laws, neither ear
they become citizens OF heaven unless
they know and practice the laws of God
Now, it IS only by good religious edHCa
ton that we learn to know and to fulfil
our duties toward our Creator. The re-
ligious and the secular education of ON
| children cannot be divorced from Gael
other without iu1icting II fatal wounG
upon the soul. The usual consequence o
such separation is to paralyZe the Dora
: faculties and to fo;nent a spirit OF indit
ference in matters of faith. Education il
to the soul what food is to tie body. The
E milk with which the infant is nourishcd
ut its mothers br"ast feeds not only III
head but perueates al the same tine 1t:
heart and the other organs OF the body
, In like manner, the intellectual and NOR
, al GROWTH OF nitf Ghitufen must go nanulf
hand, otherwise their education is shallow
and tragmentary, and often proves a ours,
! instead of Il blessing.
Piety is not to be put on as holiday
dress, to be worn on state occa ions, bal
it is to be exhibited III our conduct at al
: times. Our youth must put in practice
, every day the commandments of God az
well as the rules Of grammar and arith
metic. How can they famjliarize them
selves with these sacred duties if they aTt
notsdaily inculcated
Guizot, an eminent Protestant writer o