Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-11

wapis likely 10 pursue. Ii is most desirable,
too, that they should b. made acquainted
with the history OF our country and the
origin and principles of its governrn emit
Religious Training a Necessity.
But IL Is not enough for children IN have q
secular eSiucatjon. they mus receive a re-
liSious training. BY secular education We
improve the mind; by religious training we
direct tn heart The religious and the secu-
lar education OF our children cannot be di-
vorced from each other without INJECTING a
fatal wound upon the soul. they must go
hand in hand. otherwise their education is
shallow and fragmentary-a curse instead of
a blessing Piety, says the cardinal, is not
to lie put ON for state occasionS, hut is to be
exhibited in our conduct at all times. Our
youth must put in practice every day Gods
a well a the TUES OF arith
metlc
An Appeal 60 GuiHot.
Then re asks how can they familiarize
themselves with these Sacrei duties If they
are not daily incUlcAtAd The cardinal then
quotes from Gaizot, an eminent Protestant
Freuchman. a. follows: 1T Is necessary that
national education should be given and re-
eeived in the midst of a religious atmosphere
Religion is not a study exercise 70 be
restricted to certain place or hour. The
cardinal then continues:
To keep the social body within its orbit, the
cent ripetal force OF religion should counter
balance the Centrifugal motion " free
thought. The only way to preserve the bless
iugs of civil freedom within legitimate bounds
Is 10 inculCate in the minds VI the youth
whilst at school the virtues Of truth. justice,
honesty. temperance, Self-denial, and those
other fundamental duties comprised in. the
Christian cod OF morals. The Uatechetical
instructions given in our sunday schools are
insufficient 70 supply the religious wants OF
children. They should breathe every day
healthy religious atmosphere.
Coming Down to the Problem.
The combination of religious ami secular ed
ucstion l. easily accomplished in denOmins-
Jional hOois. To what extent religion may
he taught in the public schools without in
fringing the riSLts and woundinS the con-
science o( some of the pupils is proble m be-
set with difficulties, ami very hard TO be
solv, q. inssmuch as those schools are usually
atten ed by chi dren belonging to the various
Christian denominations, by Jews also, am
even b. those Of no religion whatever.
Rev. MIR. HiIl's Views
The Rev Dr. Thomas HUI saws public
schools with compulsory attendance are an
essential adjunct of a Republican govern
ment And whatever may he the theoretical
relation Of religion and morals it is practic-
ally true that children can be kept pure,
truthful and honorable in no way so effectu-
ally as by culiivating their natural revereut
sense of religious sanctions. He concludes
therefore that religious instruction Is more
than exy-,llent-it Is demanded as political
necySsIry-but II must not he given 10y text
books. lectures or Rotations 1t must BE-
given incidentally: first by the selection Of
teachers Of good character and sense; by
81 - - 4
by daily brief religious exercise at which
passage from the Bible shall be read, q
prayer recited and perhaps a hymn sung
Replies To Cardinal Manning.
He quotes Cardinal Manning as pressing
the objection that religious instruction In the
public schools Is violation Of the rights of
t's-s S'a $4,000 ,--snSi stent with our Cuaran-
were 50, then by similar reasoasss so ,h n
eminent SHOULD take no part in public educa-
ton for a man. SAYS he, has as much right
- form bis own opinion upon secular sub
jects upon religious; and indeed hold
that the right treatment Of every secular
subject involves religious aspects The
state. be ssvs. dos not undertake TO define
Christianity OF 70 decide upon tue true inter
probation Of it, scriptures. that Is not e.
ssntial for her purpose OF self-preservatiou,
bat the state assumes Christianity as part Of
tue Common law OF the land
With Reference to Private schools
With regard to private schools DR. Hill be-
lieves il the duty Of the state to inspect them
and require the education given therein to be
such a. to prepare the pupils for the duties d
citizenship. The PAPER concludes thus.
SOM men seemed 10 have been dazed by
the claims Of the Catholic church on one side,
and Agno ism on the other. That church
denies the right of private Judgment upon
every point upon which she has rendered a
decision. Her laiiy have but little voice in
these de l. ons-
HI. Roman Catholic Claim
Their cOmpla Mt i that religion cannot bt
taught correctly out Of their church They
would hav- their own parrrhiai school alone
give rell -iouS instruction and then claim that
those schools should receive due proportion OF
the pubhe school funds. II Is not required b.
justice to yieid To thOse claims and il j. for.
hidden by every high consideration OF political
wisdom and philanthropy. The states should
not In any way. by legislation OF otherwise
admit that education In the psrcchial schools
~ a determination i a political equivalent for
q public educat;on
Objections to the PaPaI Contention
Least II al i a Catholic parochial school
capable Of fulfilling the political ends OF a
good education; sin c ia them i not only TIA,
partial and distorted view OF history, but a
limitation Of the right of private judgment
which must partially unit the pupil for con-
sidering questions OF public policy with free,
unbiased mind. Catholic education g favor
able 10 the Development Of diplomatists and
political mana GERS. but IL tends To unfit a man
for frank and honest public discussion. Tue
aim of every lover Of our country and its
liberties should therefore be to read the pub
lie schools 80 manifestly superior morally and
intellectually TO private schools a. TO draw all
the children into them
DIR. savage Takes q Liberal View
Rev. DIR. MinOtt J. Savage, after entering
upon a lengthy explanation Of RELIGIOUS in
struciion," defines the question to lie whether
any religion or more than one shall be laugh;
In the public schools, and then argues as fol-
lows: in the case Of tho.s who believe
that the salvation of their cbildren's souls is
at stake there cannot he a more odious tyr
amy than to compel them to submit to a
teaching that, TO their minds, entails such
horrible consequences. So far - this goes
my sympathiss are with the Rornanists as
against the teachings Of any form Of Protest
antism IN the schools And in the case of
those who do not believe that tine endless
welfare-of their children is at stake, com
polling them to submit to the teaching Of q
religion they don't believe Is waste Of
time
None of the States Business
Dr. Savage then goes on TO say that IL IL
none of the states business to engage in saw
ing souls. The state legislature or the ma.
nonal congress may compel such popular
education as fits man inielligentiy to vote,
as a measure OF public safety. But the ma.
ticual jurisdiction and the states is confined
to this world Once grant, then" says DIR.
Savage, that it is none Of the states bust.
ness IN "a m and fell