The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-08

Americans. The matter appears TO them
entirely too grave, iraught as It Is with so
GREAT CONSEQUENCES FOR TINE AND
ETERNITY,
TO admit OF compromise. That Profess
tants are making a serious and fatal
blunder, II their support OF the present
school system is prompted by any anti.
Catholic pTejudices, the Bishop offered
TO prove by some u~tteranCes Of repre-
sentative organs aud men OF their own,
He quoted from the (Methodist) Chris
tiGR Advocate Of Nashville very strong
endorsement OF the UNCONVENTIONAL sys-
tenn as the only one which a satisfy
the Consciences OF q Christian people,
He quoted also from a late lecture de-
liyered by Rev. Mr., Platb rector OF Grace
Church, San Francisco, who says, iii
our secular schools were instituted ex-
ClusiYely To build up Professionalism they
were a great blunder, fortley are break
ing it down; II to destroy Romanism,
they are utter failuresi and Tito break
down all religions, they are a crime
against civilization" lie fully realizes
with DR.. Eliot, President Of Harvard
University, that Christian morality can
not be taught save in necessary connec-
ton with the Christian religion, This
position is impliCltedly admitted by
Prof, Fisher OF Yale in the weak argu'
ments presented by him in this months
Forum in reply to IN article written by
request by Cardinal Manning,
Other Christians, despite their ayowals
regarding the absolute need OF Christian
education, may OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES with
the mOdicum OF Christian teaching which
is impaired in the Public Schools. We
do not Judge or condemn them, That Is
their business, not ours, Love for our
country, whose future must be shaped
by the generation now receiving their
EDUCATION, prompts us to plead for q
much larger instalment Of the moral
aud religious element In all our schools,
How can 1t be givenp VIII our non
Catholic brethren receive 1t ut the hands
OF the State? Can it BIO given in larger
quantity and yet in so elastic quality as
TO satisfy all their various views? II so,
we must rejoice for their sake; but as
for ourselves, both conscience and regard
for
THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF THE REPUBLIC
forbids our accepting this boon. Our
religion we must receive through those
only whom We believe Christ has com.
missioned and empowered to teach 1t.
Fidelity to principle entails temporal
losses, but as christians we believe these
may be more than offset by spiritual
gains, Should then the christian
churches control the public schoolsP In
the matter Of christian education, adj
mitted by all TO be absolutely essential,
they should unquestionably have the
control. Who else can Justly claim that
right2 But would not such a system
be impossible? 1t has been adopted
with success in other countries in which
far less regard Is supposed to be paid to
the will OF the people; why then could
It not be adopted In a country where
even minorities have acknowledged
rights, and where no body OF citizens
should suffer for conscience sake? In
this matter We are champions OF Chris
tianity rs against intldelity and inditfer-
entism, hence no wonder we are amazed
that protesting Christians should array
themselves against us. We arc also
championing the trllest interests Of the
Republic, whose only stable foundation
is the Christian religion with the moral
ity which it inculCates. Should defeC-
tive education OF the rising generation
entail dire woes on our beloved country,
the Catholic Church cannot be held ac-
countable. Loud and clear Is her warn
ing-happy will 1t be for this Christian
land II that warning Is needed.
Next Sundays lecture will be "a re-
view Of a whole chapter OF false and in
furious charges against the Catholic
Church."