The record-union., 1893-12-29
IN RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligiOus Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

"The proposition for division of the
school funds is vigorously opposed, if we
may trust our exchanges, by some prom
inent Roman Catholics, and, we believe,
by one or more Roman Catholic organs"
says the New York Outlook. at is, at
alI events, quite certain that the hier-
srchy has not authoritatvely given its
sanction to the proposal, and that the
question of such division is an open one
in the Roman Catholic as in the Protest
ant communion; and that Roman Catho-
lies may with entire loyalty to the church
oppose any policy which looks toward
either a disruption of the public school
system or weakening of its financial
support. In short, while some Roman
Catholics approve this movement, 1T IS
not, in any proper sense OF the term,
Roman Catholic movement. What one
of our Roman Catholic correspondents
writes us we desire to repeat and empha-
size: 1t seems difficult to make por-
ton of the public understand that the
Catholic Church as an organization IS not
responsible for the opinions OF every
member, and especially every eccIesIas-
tic, belonging to her communion. Con-
siderable difference of opinion exists, as
q matter of fact, on this subject among
those Catholics who have given much at
tention to it, and the number who are
thus interested is comparatively small;
the great bulk of the laity, at least, have
given it little thought or attention. we
are very glad to be able to say this, and
to say 1t positively and on official and
direct authority. The question whether
the church or the State should supervise
education is one which we are perfectly
ready to discuss whenever occasion may
arise. But it would be unfortunate ii the
discussion should take the form of de-
bate between Roman Catholics and Prot
estants. 1t has not as yet taken form; on
the contrary, the question is one upon
which neither Protestants nor Catholics
are entirely agreed among themselves"
"Who can be at the bottom of the move
ment to secure State funds for sectarlan,
j. e., Roman Catholic parochial schools"
asks the New York Observer (Pres.)
Not the Romish officials, for they dis
own the present effort in the States of
New York and Maryland. 1t is asserted
Vehemently that the Baltimore circular
which brought the subject up and started
the agitation was an unot1lclaI and unau-
thoriZed pronunclamlento, promulgated
without the Xpress sanction, if not with
Gibbons, and not representing IN any au-
thoritative manner the attitude or pro-
gramme of the church. The Spelllssey
school bill, prepared for the New York
Assembly, has been in like manner and
in a similar spirit repudIated. w men
Monsignor Farley, Vicar-General of the
Diocese of New York, was spoken to
about it, he disavowed any responsible
ity for it, and emphasized the disavowal
by stating that the bill had been drawn
up and made public by its author with
ont consulting the Bishops and clergy
vino alone have jurisdiction in such mat
ters.' Our readers can believe or not, as
they please, that the latest Objectionable
school measures are not Ottlclally sup
ported. We know that many devoted
Roman Catholics do not wish to see the
public school policy of this country
changed or tampered with, but we know
of no reason for believing that the major
ity of the ecclesiastical authorities IN the
United States are like-minded. Ii they
are, we shall gladly publish their definite
and unmistakable assurance that they do
not want and that they will work against
any apportionment Of the school funds.
Since these assurances are not likely TO
be forthcoming we suggest that tempta-
tion be once for all put out of their way
by the adoption Of an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States pro-
ulDllluR any SUCn dppO1
On the same subject the New York
I71deDendent says: 1.-The world is full of
people who are afraid to let the church
take care ofreligion. and who want the aid
of the State They want the schools to
help their religion. doubtless the bulk
of Catholics are no wiser. They wish
the public schools might teach their re-
ligion, and there are plenty of DR..
~ l. - /.
lie schools made Catholic schools, will
try to have the Catholic schools made
public schools, with no change of con-
dact. But we do not want any such sys-
tenn. The large majority of the second
generation OF American Catholics have
been educated under our public school
system, and they like it. They believe it
is fair to all religions. They will not
submit to the extremists who are fighting
all progress and improvement in the
methods of the church. Our conclusion
is that this Is movement started by GER
tain impracticable Zealots, without the
authorization of the authorities of their
church; that it will not be backed by the
Catholic Church; that many Catholics
will oppose it, and that the Protestant op-
position will be so general and SO vigor-
ously expressed that the bill viii hardly
have the honor of being reported at AL
bany or at any other State Capital; but
that if there were any chance of such
bill becoming a law most of the Catholic
ecclesiastics would be glad of it, and that
many of them look at 1t as sort of feeler
OF the public pulse. They will find out
that the public pulse beats strong and
firm"
The New York Christian I1tteLIigencer
(Ref.) says: Virtue resting upon the ex-
istence OF the only living and true God;
L.. tv-fr fol
God, administered by being whose IA
vOr is life, and whose disapprobation is
the greatest calamity which can befall
a man, is the only morality and law
which result in high and general public
morality, such morality as a republic
has supreme need of. The children OF
republic must be instructed in Gods Ten
Commandments, with the authority of
God enforcing the law, the favor of God
rewarding the obedient, divine condemn
alton Furnishing the disobedient. The
law OF God as expressed in the Ten Com
mandments, as summarized III Thou
shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyselt,' ought to be taught in the COM
mon school, should be the moral standard
in every school,"
A majority of the standing committees
In the various Dioces es OF the Protestant
Episcopal Church have given their con-
sent to tbs conservation of the Rev. a. c.
a. Hall TO the Bishopric of Vermont in
that church," says the New York Exam
aner (Baptl. An election by diocese
amounts under the canon law, only to a
nomination, since it has to be confirmed
by the Standing Committees which have
taken action, those consenting were as
hive to one OF those who refused consent.
This may be taken to show an increasing
spirit of liberality in the church. That
two men, so far apart in theological and
church views as Phillips Brooks and