The Newtown bee., 1892-08-26
DANBURY.

According to communication in the
 News, the Catholics here have, in the
 course of about 90 years, "built up
 church property valued in round num-
 bers at about $3OO, ,OOO and, to-day, have one of the best equipped parishes in all New England" This property consists
 of large stone church edifice, a large
 parochial school building with ample
 grounds and a fine parsonage, the latter two being of brick. Nearly all their
 property is situated on Main street and
 will constantly increase in value. What
 their church membership is, your cores pondent does not know, but it probably embraces nearly all the Irish population, which is about 4OOO. With them, every child Is baptized and, at suitable age, every one Is confirmed and becomes a full member of the church. Thus they lose none of the children by their wan dering away to other churches or settling down without any church connection. They begin early with their children and train them for Catholics and do not allow them to entertain any other thought. Protestants could learn les son from the Catholics. It is otherwise with them. Many do not believe in bap- tising children; others neglect it and nearly all wait until their children att tain to maturity and then expect them voluntarily to attend to religious mat ters, become converted, or ''experience
 religion" in some special way or under some newly awakened inspiration and make profession of faith, before they are admitted to church membership. In the mean time, they are allowed all free dom and latitude in running here and there to church, or to no church and to fill their minds with everything but re- ligious sentiments and much that soils the soul. Thus they lose many of their children; many thousands, who, with careful training and closer religious ties to hold them, would be saved to the church. Thousands, who are not Catho- lie born, (and all such come under the head of Protestants) have no church re- lations, though good citizens and thor oughly moral, 1t may be, attend no church service, worship nothing, pray to no God, are practical atheists, living in the material, recognizing no superior Source of Good and never offer thanks giving for good received, glad, only, for good fortune. This comes, to a great extent, from parents neglecting to set the young mind firmly on some firm basis and holding it from aimless drift ing. If the young mind be left as va- cant apartment, not pre-occupied by good and the door left open, the devil will enter, hard tenant to dislodge when once in possession. If these out side wanderers had been held to the church when young by the natural guard ians of the mind, as they should have been, Professionalism, to-day, would be stronger, or, if they could be gathered in now where they are normally counted and act in their natural place, Protestant ism would be much greater power. This is not inconsistent with the freedom which is every one's birthright. The writer believes in the largest freedom.
 It is simply meant in the spirit of the wise saying, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.' Guide the young mind when 1t is unable to guide itself. Lead the boy into the light; CO cree him gently, If need be; ten to one, ne Will remain in the light until he be-