Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-18
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
Bishop Keane and Mr.. Meade, of Boston,
Discuss the Question

NASHVILLE, Tenn, July 1.-THE feature
of today's discussion before the National
Educational association was discussion
of denominational schools, participated in
by Bishop j. E. Keane. rector OF the Cath
Ollie university at Washington, and Edwin
D. Meade, of Boston.
Bishop Keane was the first speaker. He
made strong plea for Christian schools,
and among other things said: ''The intel
Iigent Christian parent knows that which
ought to be true of every nationality
within the pole of Christian civiliza-
.ion is pre-eminently true of ours;
that the best Christian is sure
20 be the best American, and
that the school which aims at sending
forth his child a modest Christian IN equal
degree tends to send him forth a model
American. 1t may be said Is not the
Catholic church at least committed to
Christianity of Hildebrand and of the mid
die ages and IL is not therefore antagon-
istic to the Christianity of the nineteenth
century and of the American republic;'
in the name of the Catholic church | an
swer that she is committed neither
to Hildehrand and the middle ages
nor to the policy of any man
or of any aye Whatsoever, because she is
for all men and therefore for all ages and
for all forms of social conditions.
Look now at the people of our country,
and we see them divided into two classes.
On the one side the Catholic church en-
phatically declares for Christian education
and with the other side all nom Catholics
upholders and advocates of a national sys-
tenn of schools in which Christian truth
and duty can not be taught Can any one
in his senses hesitate which one of these
Two sides is for the real welfare of our
country
Edwin d. Meade, of Boston, replied to
Bishop keane, and stated that the paroch
ial school has no proper place III the sys-
tenn of American instruction.
The speaker quoted from an English
Catholic dictionary prepared by Thomas
Arnold, the son of the great master of
Rugby the brother of Matthew Arnold
and the father of Mrs Ward, the anthor
Of Robert Elsmere.
The speaker also commended the bold
ness and honesty with which the article
declared the highest authority in education
10 be the church, but said: The conflict
in America is between the church ard the
state" 1t was bold, not honest, in Car
dinal Manning in his recent article to rep
resent the conflict as between the state and
family. The speaker quoted largely from
Cardinal Manning's article, which, he
said, attempted 10 represent the public
q
with family rights and liberty of con-
science. The whole policy of the Roman
Catholic church in establishing parochial
schools in this country rests upon this
coercion.
The speaker quoted Bishop Gilmore,
Bishop Ryan, and others high in the Cath
Ole church to support his statement that
priests were authorized to refuse the
Sacriment TO any of their
people, who, having Catholic schools
within reach, refused to send their child
rem to them. The parochial school has
the right to open its doors, to make itself
as attractive as possible. and to invite TO
il anybody that il will; it has the full
right to criticise the public school but 1t
must not threat, 1t must not coerce; that
is not proper and that will not be per-
mitted IN America. In conclusion an ap-
peal was made for higher view of the
state.
Mr.. Meade's address was received with
great applause, and ut its close the Right
Rev Bishop Keane WAS called upon TO re-
spond.
The bishop defended Cardinal Manning
from what he characterized as the unjust
criticism of Mr.. Meade: he also stated that
Pope Leo NH was moving along the
highest lines of the broadcast education in
placing the church above the state
Concluding he said: Let us nail to our
masthead the banner of Christian educa-
tion and soar out under its guidance to
that blessed destiny, the most sublime
God eyer gave to a nation-the destiny of
our American republic" Amid loud con-
tinued applause the bishop resumed his
seat and the meeting adjourned.