The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-10

DiyertedP
Baliimore sun
Priests and laymen in the Catholic
church in the archdiocese of Baltimore
have been 80 impressed with the views
Of Archbishop Ireland on the school
question that some OF them are coRsid-
ering the adyisability OF submitting a
proposition to the city authorities, pro-
vided the cardinal agrees to their plans,
The following circular, which embodles
the views OF Archbishop Ireland, will
be distributed among the clergy;
1.-THE discipline Of the Catholic
church directs parents to educate their
children in schools which confer seeu-
lar education with religious training,
But when we consider that the copsti-
tuition rests upon civil and religious
liberty, and that every man may wor.
ship God according to the dictates Of
his conscience, both the civil aud re-
ligious powers must aid without in
fringing on the prerogatlyes Of tho
other.
HEducation and Christianity must go
hand In hand and ought not to be sep
arated. There Is an equilibrium which
exists between civil and religious
liberty and which cannot be infringed
upon without resulting iniurlously 70
both.
1.-THE religious and secular education
OF the rising generation 10 oil the
greatest Importance. II will be q bar
rier to impiety, most electual means
OF inculcating obedience to the laws and
Of promoting peace and order in society.
"The advantage Of religion in the
guidance Of civil government is forcibly
expressed in tho farewell address OF
General Washington. He tells that re-
ligion and morality arc the indispeu'
sable supports of political prosperity,
the great pillars OF human happiness,
and the drmest duties of men and
citizens, 81 49,
Now since the constitution Of the
United States directs Congress- to make
no law prohibiting the FREQ exercise OF
religion, we therefore feel aggrieyed
that VIC have to pay double taxes, one
in obedience to civil law and the other
in obedience to conscience.
All these difficulties could be reme-
died by legislation.
''First-tf the city and state would
affiliate our schools to the publicschools,
placing the secular education under the
superintendent Of the same.
tSecond-By renting our schools at n
nominal price, which would exempt the
state from d very considerable expense,
some hundreds OF Thousands of dollars.
"Third-That our teachers be Catho-
lie.
"Fourth-That we grant to the com.
missioners Of the public schools the
right to examine our teachers; also, the
rightto examine the pupils to know il
their progress in secular education be
satisfactory.
"Fifth. That we would claim all the
rights and privileges OF the public
schools for the support Of our schools.
"These are all the conditions tho
state requires, and hence we demand
all the rights and privileges OF the pub.
lie schools. It would add immensely
to their usefulness.
Religion teaches man his duty to
God and his neighbor and country. II
faithful to- God he will also be faithful
TO his country. Hence the Father OF
Our Country tells US that II is impossi-
bleto have civilization without moral.
ity, and we cannot have morality with
out religion.
t'As the state is not united to any
particular religious denomination, 1t is
not expected to teach religion, but it
can be Supplied by public denomina-
tional schools. Then the rights Of con.
science would be secured, and Maryland
would render to Cesar what belongs to
to Cesar and to God what belongs to
God. Our first duty Is to seek the
Kingdom Of God and His justice. His
revelation is tho light Of the world.
Hence we conclude that education, in
order to be complete, Must be built
upon religion as the basis OF all human
knowledge"
II the Catholics Of Baltimore decide
to make a proposition TO the city au-
thorities they may adopt Archbishop
1reland'H plan "a basis or they may
offer to let the city take the paroohial
schools as part Of the public school
system without a stipulation that re.
lfgion shall be taught before, during or
after school hours, Religious instruc.
ton would then be given in Sunday
schools only. Nothing definite has
been determined upon yet. Tho only
facts at present are that the circular
quoted above will be distributed and
that the subject is under consideration.
5t - --------------