The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-11
The Topic Vigorously Discussed Yes
terday at the Meeting
in St. Paul.
Archbishop Ireland Presents q
Very Able and Emphatic
Paper.
Other Proceedings of the Meeting-.The
Pythians Elect Onicers at Milwau-
kee--Other Gatherings,

nominations reported IN favor OF william
X. Garrett, of Nashville. for president.
Among the vice presidents are j. NJ. Baker,
Denver; E. b. McElroy, Salem, Ore: Sec
retary, E. H. Cook, New Brunswick, N. j.,
and director from each state represented
in the convention.
Archbishop Ireland, of st. Paul, read the
first paper on the topic of estate School; is
union between them impossibleT' In the
ensuing speech he declared his loyalty to
the constitutions; said he upheld the parish
school, but would have all schools state
schools, imparting instructions to the child
the primary function of parent, the
state intervening whenever the family could
or would not do the work needed. He un-
struction compulsory. Instruction Was so
much need by each citizen for his own sake,
and for that of society, that the father who
neglected to provide for his children's in
struction sinned against society, and it be-
hooves the state to punish him. Of course,
ucate his child in manner suitable to him
self, provided always, the education given
in this manner sufficed for the ulterior du-
ties Of the child toward himself and So
ciety.
certain states of the union were objection
able only in few of their individual
clauses. The state school, he said, tended
toward elimination of religion from the
minds and hearts of the youth of the coun-
try. This, he said, was his grievance
against the state schools of to-day. There
could be no religious teaching where the
principle of non-sectarianism ruled. It
followed then that the child would grow up
in the belief that religion is of minor i'm
portance, and religious indifference would
be his creed. The state need not teach re-
ligion, but for the sake Of it's people and for
its own sake it would facilitate and pro-
mote the action of the church, but it him
dered this action. As solution of the
difficulty he would permeate the regular
state school with the religion of the majority
of children of the land, be it as Protestant
as Professionalism could be, and would do as
they do in England, pay for secular instruc-
tion given in UNCONVENTIONAL schools ac-
oording to resulta; that is, each pupil pass-
!! ing an examination before the state officials
and in full accordance with the state pro-
gramme, would secure to his school the
cost of tuition of the pupil in the state
school.
In conclusion the archbishop protested
against the charge that the schools of the
nation have their enemies among the
Catholics. Catholics were loyal to the
country and demanded Christian state
Oscar H. Cooper, state superintendent of
schools of Texas, read the next paper on
the same general subject. Cooper held
that compulsory education laws contravene
the fundamental idea which is the domi-
mating development of American institu-
tions, viz: minimum of law thoroughly en-
forced with maximum of freedom, rather
than compulsory laws. He favored better
schools.
general discussion on the subject of
compulsory laws was participated in by
Aaron Cove, of Denver; Hon. Jas. o. Pierce,
of Minneapolis; Superintendent Golyer. of
Oregon. and State Superintendent Thayer,
of Wisconsin, This afternoon United
States Commissioner of Education Harris
delivered an address to the normal depart
ment on the difference between normal and
high school methods. The art department.
elected Mrs. johnson Carter, of New York,
president for the coming year; Miss Lillian
Jacobs, of Rockford. ILL.,, vice presi-
dent, and Prof. Collins. of Denver,
secretary. Prof. Alexander Winchell,
of Michigan University, advocated
early education in geology before the de-
partment on elementary education. Gus
tave Gutenberg, of Pittsburg, followed
with paper on science training in primary
and grammar departments; while Miss Tut
wiler, of Alabama, told of prison schools in
mining camps.
The main topic at the evening session
was the place and function of the agricul-
tural college. Papers were read by D. L.
Kiehle, of Minnesota, and Lewis McLuth,
of South Dakota. While this meeting was
in session the alumni Of many colleges and
universities were meeting in social reunions.