The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-02-28
BlGOTRY PERsONIPIED.

Rev. w. FL. Geistweit, pastor OF I'M
manuel Baptist church, amused his
ministerial friends at their weekly meet
ing last Monday by reading pape,
entitled "Romanism At Its Home. u
Like his brother, Rev. 6. J.. Morrill,
Rev. Geistweit does not hesitate to say
what he thinks without regard to the
truth of what be says. That is one OF
the prominent characteristics of all reli-
g1ous bigots. They can see no use fol-
any religion but thelr own, and they will
maintain their position at the expense ef
truth every time. Rev. Geistweit IN his
paper pities the italian people IN their
poverty, and OF course holds the Pope
responsible for their condition, knowing
we'll, if he knows anything, that King
Humbert and NOT Pope Leo XIII sits
on the throne of Italy. He does not
stop at Italy. He says that in ireland
to-day there are multitudes of children
taught by the priests, and If school
board attempts to call priest to an
account he will simply laugh at them.
In stretching his string Rev. Geist-
welt broke it here, In Ireland today
there are three kinds Of schools, viz:
national, intermediate and private. The
national schools are conducted on plan
much similar 70 our public schools here.
They are under the supervision of q
board appointed by the govern nent.
This board fixes the standard of educa-
tion required for the teachers, and to
hold their positions, the latter must pass
satisfactory examinations each year,
otherwise they are removed from the
schools, and all the influence that could
be brought to bear would not change
che verdict. So much for the truth Of
Rev. Geistweit's's statement. Now for
the intermediate schools. They are
sometimes called seminaries and are
severals. grades higher than the national
schools. Some fifteen years ago the
Irish parliamentary party succeeded in
getting passed bill entitled ''The In
ternaediate Education Act'' by virtue of
which the Catholic people Of Ireland
could compete with their non-Catholio
neighbors for prizes and positions in
the civil service. The prizes consisted
of money and those candidates who
succeeded in making certain percent
age were entitled to prizss in their res
pective grades. In addition to this the
teachers OF the successful candidates
also received substantial prizes In
less than six months after this act went
into effect the result astonished the
members of the board of intermediate
education. This was the first real chance
that the Irish Catholic young man had
of competing with his Protestant friend.
The board In 1881 was forced to publish
to the people Of Great Britain and Ire
land that out of all the successful can
didates for positions in the English civil
service for that year four fifths were
Catholics and tWo-thirds OF these were
born and educated in Ireland, For
Rev. Geistweit's information We will add
that these informed ate schools were
then, as they alt ..siay, presided over
by priests. W. will go q little farther
and tell this mil Eapt ssenter Of facts that
the Irish priess are among the best
educated men in tIla world They have
. Catholic college in Ireland that is
second to none in the world Maynooth
college. It's staff Of professors cannot
be excelled anywhere England, With
~ her schools and colleges. must look
9 Ireland for light u this particular.