The Indianapolis journal., 1901-04-11
DR.. CONATY ALARMED
SAYS THERE MUST BE UNIFICATION
OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS,
Or They viii BE Left Behind by the
"Mighty Machine of Secular
lied Instruction."

CHICAGO. April 10-"Entering upon the
new century. the Catholic educational
system in America must be prepared
TO meet with difficulties that will test
its strength to the utmost. The unification
OF education under State control has es
tablished a mighty machine of secularized
instruction, which threatens TO destroy all
private effort either on the part of indi-
viduals or the church. 1t is important to
meet unification by unificatiOn, to SO
strengthen the Catholic educational system
that it may defend itself against all at
tacks and save the religious instruction OF
its people from the dangers of nonreligious
education"
Intense enthusiasm greeted this signif-
cant declaration to-day at the opening of a
conference of representatives of Catholic
colleges throughout the United States The
speaker was the highest official in the
Catholic educational system in this coun-
try, DR.. Thomas j. Conaty, rector of the
Catholic University at Washington, ID. c..
and president Of the National Association
OF Catholic Colleges DR.. Conaty is an ideal
orator, both in presence and in voice, and
as he proceeded to forecast the work OF
the delegates his words were listened to
with breathless interest. Standing the CEN
trail figure in the assemblage of distin-
suished educators and churchmen present,
he made a remarkably picturesque figure
IL his flowing black robes, relieved by a
sash of brilliant crimson, and his shaggy
iron-gray hair showing in sharp contrast
with his fresh, clear-cut, intellectual coun-
tenance.
Entering into a general view of the
situation which presents ITSELF" said Mgr.
Conaty, ''it is important to realize the
meaning of the facts which face us. Among
these facts must be reckoned the state
school system, with its rapidly increasing
high school and even college development,
the tendency to do away with colleges by
uniting the high school to the university
the establishment of educational institu-
tions OF all sorts endowed by private
munifcence of non-CathOlics and attract
ing Catholic students because these schools
have not the character of state institu-
tions, the tendency OF the universities to
control the state schools, TO dictate the
examination of teachers and to demand
the university degree or approval as
condition OF appointment"
Reference was made by the speaker to
what he construed to be the efforts In this
direction as manifested in the schools Of
some or the large cities, and as presented
in the non-Catholic character of scientific
publications. as also that of many Of the
aids TO public instruction. ITO offset these
OohNAtiOASS S0iN IL. OOHdlys tic OdlHOllC
Church spent last year in the United States
the sum of $25, 600 on education chiefly
in parochial schools and exclusive of what
was spent in academic, collegiate and uni
versity education. Notwithstanding the
serious demands made upon her for church
and charitable development she has under
her educational training more than 600 600
pupils. OF these about 10000 have received
collegiate instruction under her direction"
Mgr. Conaty contended that q most i'm
portant issue in Catholic educational work
is I'm the development of the Catholic high
schools, which are the necessary links be-
tween the parOchial schools and the Cath
olic colleges.
\ communication was read from the
Papal delegate, Archbishop Martinelli, ex-
pressing hearty sympathy with the purpose
OF the conference. especially the unihcation
and coordination OF Catholic educational
work. The communication said: I'VE live
in times when natural values are appre-
ciated first. Catholic education, il is true
offers first, and. as most important, super
natural value. This Ii must and shall al
ways continue to do. But there is no rea-
son why it should not offer at the same
time a natural value equal to and Surpass-
ing that which nOn-Catholic education can
possibly hope to offer. Ny earnest prayer
is that God may bless every effort made in
this country 10 further the interests of
Catholic education"
A message was received from Cardinal
Gibbons, saying: I'VE canot too much insist
on the great advantages to be derived from
concerted action on the part of our educa-
tional leaders. Above all. unity your sys-
tenn and march with serried ranks in the
great cause OF Christian enlightenment"