Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-07-25
Religious Instruction.
Is 1t Expected liz Our Public Schools
Papers from the Pens of Cardinal Glib
bonS, Thomas Hill, DR.. Savage and
Prof. W. T. Harris.

eclectic journal of Washing ton, publishes
papers from the pens of Cardinal Glib
bons; Rev. DR.. Thomas Hill, ex president
of Harvard University; DR.. M. Savage,
of Boston, and Prof. W. 7. Harris, editor
of the Journal of Speculative Philosophy,
on this question.
SIS religious instruction III the public
schools expedient; if SO, what should be
its character and limitatious?"
Cardinal Gibbons says that an educa-
ton that improves the mind and memory
to the neglect of moral and religious
training is at best but an imperfect and
defective system. 1t is most desirable
that our youth should be made acquainted
with the history of our country, its
origin and principles of its govern
ment, and with the eminent men who
have served it by their craftsmanship
and valor. But it is not enough for
children 30 have a secular education; they
must receive a religious training. Re
liglous knowledge is far above human
5cleLce as the soul is above the body, as
heaven is above earth, as eternity is above
time.
By secular education we improve the
mind; by religious trrining we direct the
heart. The religious and secular educa-
ton of OUT children can not be divorced
from each other without inflicting fatal
wound upon the soul; they must go hand
In hand, otherwise their education is st.al-
low and fragmentary-a curse instead of
blessing.
"Piety," says ths Cardinal, ais not to
be put on for state occasions, bat it is to
be exhibited in our conduct at all times.
Our youth must put in practice every day
the commandments of God as well as the
rules of arithmetic.
Then he asks, show can they famil
iarize themselves with these sacred duties
if they are not daily inculcated? The
catechetical instructions given once a
week in every Sunday-school are not snf-
fcient to supply the religious wants of
our children. It is important that
they should breathe every day a healthy
religious atmos phere in schools in which
not only the mind is enlig htened, but the
Christian faith and sound morality are
mourished and invigOrated.
"The combination of religious and
secular education is easily accomplished
in UNCONVENTIONAL schools. To what ex-
tent religion may be brought into the pub
lie schools without infringing the rig hts
and wounding the conscience of some of
the pupils is a grave problem, beset with
difficulties and very hard to be solved,
inasmuch as these schools are usually at
tended by children belonging to the vari-
GUS denominations, by Jews also, and
even by those who profess no religion
whatever"
The Rev. DR.. Thomas Hill says that
public schools with compulsory attend
ance are essential adiuncts of a repub
lioan government, and that the republic
| is bound TO superintend with care the
education of the children. And whatever
may be the theoretical relation and NOR
ais it is practically true that children can
be kept pure, truthful and honorable in
no way so effectually as by the cultiva-
ton of their natural reverent sence of
religious sanctions.
He concludes, therefore,. that religious
instruction is more than expedient; it is
demanded as political necessity. But
it must not be given by text books, leo
lures or Rotations. 1t must be given
incidentally, first by the selection of
teachers OF good character and good
sense; then by careful selection of
wholesome reading and finally by daily
brief religious exercise, at which pas
sage from the Bible shall be read, pray
or recited, and perhaps a hymn sung. But
great care should be taken that there be
nothing in the service to which any
reasonable parent could Object.
"The state" he says "does not under
take to define Christianity, or to decide
upon the true inter probation of the scrip
lures; but assume Christianity as part of
the common law of the land.
"The Government exists for the public
good" he. says ''and it is the people alone
who have the power to decide what is for
their good. The state must, for it's own
sake, make good morals and good man
ers the first and highest aim in public
education"
With regards to private schools. Dr..
Hill believes it the duty of the state to
inspect them and require that the educa-
ton given therein shall be such as to pre-
pare the pupils for the duties of citizen
ship. The state should not admit that
education in the parochial schools OF
denomination is political equivalent
for public education. Least of ell is a
Catholic parochiel school capable of full
filing the public ends of good educa
ton, since in them is not only that par
tial and distorted view of history, but
limitation of the right of private judg-
ment, which partly unit the pupil
for considering questions of public poll
cy with unbiased mind.
Catholic education is favorable to the
development of diplomatists and political
managers, but tends to unfit man for
frank and honest public discussion. The
aim of every lover of our country and its
liberties should therefore be to render
Ii. ~ 80
morally and Intellectually, TO private
them.
DR.. Savage argues as follows:
an the case of those who believe that
the salvation of their children souls is at
stake, there cannot be a more Odious
tyranny than to compel them 70 submit
to teaching that to their minds entails
such horrible consequences. And In the
case of those who do not believe that the
endless welfare OF their children is at
stake, com peIlipg them TO submit to the
teaching of religion they don't believe,
is waste of time, and subjects them to
the influence of what is regarded as hurt
full superstitions, which hlnders true learn
ing, imparts false theories of life and
duty, and so interfere seriously with the
happines and progress of this world, il
not of the next. In either case, then, it
is tyranny" He continues: ''The pub
lie schools, supported by the equal tax
alton of people of all beliefs, exists, and
has a right to exist, simply and solely for
the sake of such education as fits for
citizenship, and so is for the public good.
The church and the home give ample
scope for all individual pecnliarities of
belief or theory. The public school is
for the people, and for all the people.