The Irish standard., 1890-12-06

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Cat H O'LIC EDUCATION.
Continued From First Page.)
Church pillar and ground of
truth" Parents will more clearly un-
derstand the Importance Of religious
schools by rejecting on the nature and
character Of children. We know from
experience that the minds Of the Young
are susceptible Of almost any training.
and will reflect the exact mould to
which they are cast. IT the mould be
perfect. the impression will be fault
less; If the mould be defective the image
will reflect its ilnperfections. If the
school wherein the future character of
the child is moulded, be perfect. be
Catholic, the character will be yirtuous
For it cannot be denied that the school
room has a powerful influence over the
minds Of children. With the lessons Of
history, rhetoric and philosophy, they
imbibe principles which in after life
exert upon their minds an irresistj BILE
influence.
The teachers, too, often exert extra.
ordinary influence over the minds Of
their pupils, They fashion the will
and the tendency Of the very thought of
those under their charge: they impart
to their minds manly or effiemlnate
cast. infuse into them high toned prin-
ciples of morality and virtue, or instil
into their very souls the poison Of ir-
religion, skeptcism, and infidelity. 'sAs
is the schoolmaster, 50 will be the
school," If therefore the school be 1e-
ligious, if the sacred science of religion
and the tenets Of Cathollcity be I'm,
parted in connection with their secular
studies; if the teacher be a Practical
Catholic; if he be man who endeavors
by word and example to impress upon
the minds OF those under his charge
their duty to God, to their parents. to
society. to their country, how sacred.
how salutary will be the influence which
such school produces upon the minds
OF its pupils. But on the other hand, if
the school be imperfect, if it be ire
ligious and intidel it will reflect it's
imperfections In doieful colors upon the
minds Of it's pupils.
In order to demonstrate the advan-
tage of having Catholic teachers for
Catholic children let us suppose the
teacher to be Protestant. IIe may
desire not to interfere In any way
with the religious convictions of his
Catholic pupils; he may endeavor to act
fairly and honorably, but ais mind is
altogether unacqualnted with the beauty
Of Catholic faith and the sublimity of
Catholic institutions; his mind is inca
pable of compromising the teachings
of the Catholic Church, or of appre.
ciating the most familiar impressions
which it makes upon those who are
members of its fold. He is beyond the
portals Of the temple, and can neither
feel the warmth, nor see the light that
urnstherein. Moreover. we we'll know
the decided tendency of Professionalism;
its vagueness of principle, It's want of
centre Of unity, it's positive rejection OF
the principle of authority, it's exaltation
Of individual reason, and its right of
private Judgment.
Beyond few leading do3mas Of
Christianity the whole system is left in
doubt and uncertainty. Few indeed
among Professionals have any fixed form
Of belief, With them the morally up
right man is secure of divine favor no
matter what form of Christianity he
r,av profess Now. it is evident that a
mind thus constituted is incapable from
its very nature to impart instruction to
a Catholic child. In the field Of gen.
eral literature many ideas will ARISE,
which to the mind of the Catholic are Of
vital moment and intimately connected
With the tenderest and deepest or his
religious emotions. These a Protestant
teacher will pass by UNDECIDED, or
trample under foot, little aware, per-
haps, OF the beauty which perisheS be-
meath his tread Add to this, that
which is most to be regretted, that Che
whole course of scientific knowledge
will be impaired without reference to
religious principles. On the other hand
let Catholic teacher occupy the posi-
tion, and how changed is every depart
ment of literature to the minds of his
pupils.
The great and noble deeds Of our
Catholic ancestors receive new lustre
from his words. The whole circle of
institutions which aourished during
the Middle Ages is contemplated with
mingled feelings of pleasure and admi.
ration, when seen by the torch OF his
tory in the hands OF the Catholic teacher.
He infuses spirit of religion into
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