The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-27
Sunday Schools.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The
United States Commissioner OF Education
according to the Philadelphia Ledger, has
just published his annual export. The total
population Of the country in 1897 was II .374.-
142. Between 8 and 10 years. the school age,
there were 81 .0S2.472 All schools. high and
low public and private. general and special,
had 16.648.2S7 pupils. Making allowance for
those in the schools over IS years Of age. it fol-
lows that about 100000 are in no school OF
any kind. These neglected children and youths
must belong to neglectful and ignorant parents.
We may estimate the i~lliterate then at about
100000 o persons.
But. perhaps. III" Sc children attend sunday
schools? The Commissioner gives much space
to this part of the subject. He finds by official
reports that the Evangelical Professionals"
had in 1896. 1872 97 such schools, with 1,3e4,-
$50 officers and teachers and 10.Se3. 523
scholars. The Jews had in their Sabbath
schools 3.50G; the Catholics are reckoned at
having 1900 900. between children and teach
ers the Mormons 81 1903.
Hence the Sunday schools, according to the
Commissioner. have 100000 scholars less
than the schools generally. However. he seems
to forget that we Catholics give religious in
struction in our parochial and private schools.
asylums. &C.. to about 100000 children. and
that the various denomination probably do
likewise to perhaps 10000 more. This will
leave about 2.500.0 600 children without re-
liRious-school training. instead Of 1000 900;
that is one in seven, instead OF one in four. of
all children attending school. But the terrible
fact is the other and greater number who are
beyond both secular and religious teaching.
What is to be done about these 5.000,OO0 and
their probably Just as lamentable families =?
They make Just one-seventh OF our whole
population. The public schools last year re-
ceived $1SS.64 ,243.
The Commissioner pays special attention to
Sunday schools. and. SO far az the Ledger can
recall. this is the first time he does it. He says:
while the education OF the American people.
supported by taxes and public funds, is becom-
ing more and more rigidly secular in charac-
ter. and the lines drawn more closely which
separate it from ecclesiastical and religious in
struction. yet the true Importance Of religious
instruction is coming to be better understood
among scientific and philosophical thinkers"
then makes an. extract from the laws OF
which is indeed matter OF surprise.
This state, pays annually a certain amount.
very small indeed. but nevertheless a contribu-
ton. for the maintenance OF every Sabbath"
Little Delaware in this most vital matter
may lead the sisterheod q the States lust as
safeguarding marriage and Administering the
dangerous and dishonorable LIQUOR traffic.
sloner OF Education TO the true importance
Of religious instruction. - and we have no doubt
that the principle contended for by the Catholic
Church and by her rebellious daughters,
named Lutheran and Anglican. will vet be ac-
cepted by the American people. The Lutherana
assert the need OF religion in the schools. and
eXcommunicate those members that do not
send their children to church schools; while
the Episccpalians last month in their conyen-
ton at the capital declared their belief in the
Catholic doctrine on this subject. Let us pray
God to hasten this result. for. reckoning only
10.000.OU0 Catholics known as such There are
probably ten more millions not recognizedl.
We have about 2.500.O0O children OF school
age, and with all our efforts only $4,000
ina II our schools. colleges. and various chart
table institutions, As to our Sunday schools.
paroGhial, school children constitute three
$4,000 q these latter; hence about 1.100.O00
Sunday schools. to which. II we add those in
Now, with a Catholic population o. 1~O.OO0.OOO
must hive about 2,500.00O children OF school
age, What follows
Figures, are sometimes misleading. but it
looks as il more than half our Catholic children
DO not receive, any religious instruction in day
school or sunday school, except what they get
at mass on sundays. This conclusion may be
truth on the subject the better, Hence this
letter, inviting others; EDWARD McSwEENY.
MOUNT ST. MARY's. Nd, Nov. O