The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-12-04
THE PARocHIAL SCHOOL.
A Letter by Mr.. Joseph A. MCGOWAN on
the Subject.

the Subject
10 the. Editor of the Press:
Your issue of Friday last contains an
abstract of a sermon delivered on
thanksgiving day by Rev. Matt S.
Hughes, on the public schools. The
statements he utters are so illogical and
misleading that in justice to our fair
minded cioizens of all denominations,
they call for some reply.
Let us ask in the first place, if it be in
keeping with the spirit of Thanksgiving
"a day of family reunions; of peace and
happiness-the old New England
Christmas, to stir up religious hatred,
for it cannot be denied that many of the
best Protestants right here in the state
of Maine favor sectarian schools, as was
manifested at the last session of the legis-
lature.
The newspaper report says "At in
tervals in the sermon, and at the end,
there was applause from the audience"
Applause in church! And on Thanks
giving day! Shades of the venerable
Puritans! But let us proceed to the
subject in hand. The minister first lays
down the principle that it belongs to the
state rather than to the parent, to edu-
cate; or, to quote the exact words of the
sermon as reported. "Today the right of
the state to educate it's citizens is denied
and hostile force is camped around
about the common school"
Let us ask the preacher where does the
state get its right to educate? Black
stone says that the power of the parents
over their children is derived from their
duty, and the duties of parents are main
tenance, protection and education"
Nothing can be more reasonable than
these principles laid down by Blackstone,
because every moral agent is account
able for the consequences of his own
acts, so far as he can foresee them; on
him it is incumbent to provide that
those consequences be not hurtful, but
beneficial. But the birth of the children
is the result of an act of the free will of
their parents. Therefore it is the bounden
duty of the parents to see that the Ii fe
which they have given be not curse
but blessing 1t could not be blessing
were the duties mentioned, especially
that of education, neglected; therefore it
is the duty OF the parents to provide for
the maintenance, protection and .educa-
tion of their children, and that duty
would exist of necessity even, if positive
law should fail to sanction it; for even in
that case the natural relation sof parent
to children would immutably subsist.
1t is maxim of Aristotle that he who
gives the form lie. the specific principle
of activity must give what the form
requires.
Chancellor Kent says: "The duties of
parents to their children, as being their
natural guardians, consist in maintain
ing and educating them during the sea-
son of infancy and youth and making
reasonable provision for their future
usefulness. ETC."
Numerous Other eminent authorities
might be quoted here to reasonably prove
that the right to educ tie children rests
with their parents, bit due regard for
time and space forbids us multiplying
evidence.
Now if the right to educate children
rests with their parents there is a CORE
spending obligation on the latter, and
consequently the first duty of Christian
parents with respect to the education of
their children is to see that they know
and practice their religion. Catholics.
the world over, and thousands of Protes-
tants have proved conclusively, by long
experience, that the best way to educate
children, both for God and Che state. is
to teach religion in connection with
secular branches, and SO they. have estab-
lished parochial or UNCONVENTIONAL
schools.
What does the speaker of Thanksgiving
day say about parochial schools? This:
"There is not a country in the world that |
has had the parochial schools well estab-
lished, where the people have had gen.
eral education. Italy now discourages
them. Wherever there is parochial |
school in the United States there is a |
little Ecuador (Which he gives as q |
synonym for ignorance and mental stag |
nation) growing up around it,"
Perhaps the shortest, truest and best |
way to answer these statements would.be |
to.simply say that these statements are |
erroneous. But as this is question of |
education let us rather advise him to |
study facts and he will find that the de- |
nominationai system of education is
established in England, Austria,
Prussia and the German states and is
acknowledged by them to be prefersable |
to any other system. What progress has |
Italy made since she has distavored |
parochial schools?
Today she is threatened with national |
bankruptcy. Even the cabinet and the |
royal family are involved In the Italian |
bank. scandals. The New York World |
and other organs of repute have recently |
stated that they believe that " the italian |
people will turn 'ere long for aid and |
comfort to the statesman pontif and |
friend of the people, Leo Kill" AS to
the progressiveness Of parcohial schools |
in the United States one may only point |
to the splendid Catohlic educational ex-
hibit at the Worlds Fair. 1t was gener-
ally conceded to be the best collection OF |
school children's work at the great expo
sition. This opinion was shared in by a |
prominent Methodist bishop, whose views |
were printed in,the Chicago press. Mr.. |
Hughes attended the Worlds Fair, and |
if he interested himself in education, he
must have seen the exhibit of the Catho- |
lie parochial schools. If he did, can he |
truthfully say as minister of the gospel,
that wherever there is a parochial |
school, little Ecuador is growing up |
around it," The speaker Of Thursday
next warns his hearers against the fear |
full calamities which would result from
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