Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-18


tion 10 the United States was adopted
al the closing session of the National
Conference of the Association VI Catho.
lie Colleges.
The resolutions comprising the de-
olaration received the unanimous assent
Of the representative OF 10 different
colleges practically the entire col
legiate system Of tho Catholic Church
in America. The delegates wore en-
thusiastio over the results Of their
lubors, expressing confidence that the
conference had been marked success.
The declaration adopted was as follows:
First That this Association of
Catholic Colleges requests lis president,
Right Rev. Thomas j. Conaty, respect.
fully to call the attention OF the bishups
Of the United States, at their annual
meeting, to the work of this conference
IN regard to our collegiate conditions,
and especially to the importance of the
high school movement.
"Secoud That the tendency OF edu-
cational legislation forces us 10 warn
our Catholic people of the systematic
and well-dehned effort In certain
quarters toward absolute State control
10 education, the eby threatening and
Gripping all private cducatioLa! effort,
thus depriving large class of citizens
Of the liberty of maintaining schools in
which their religion shall tie made an
essential element.
"Third-That We remind Legislators
OF the rights of conscieEcD guaranteed
to us by our American citizenship and
clll their attention to the system of
schools which our people have main
tained at great expense and sacrifice.
'Fonrth-That we protest against
the unfair and unjust Determinations
resulting from much OF the educational
legislation and we appeal to the fair
mlndedness and sense of Justice of the
American people to protect US from
such illiberality.
Fifth That this Conference OF
Catholic Colleges oonvinces us that we
are justified in asserting that our
ollege system de7ervea the generous
cooperation OF all interested in higher
Catholic education, and We pledge our.
selves to use every effort to perfect still
more our collegiate conditions.
"Sixth--Tbat we call upon all Catho
lies 10 recognize the imperative need of
more perfect organization of our
educational system, and we assure
them that with fuller development
Of the Catholic high school we shall
haze complete system, with its head
ship in the university, and thus we
shall continue to maintain high col
legiate standard.
Words of cheer from across the sea
we're received in cablegram of CON-
graduation from Pope Leo XIII, at
Rome. The message gead as follows
"Monsignor Thomas j. Conaty, Presi
dent of the Conference Of Catholic Col.
eges; The holy Father thanks you for
the good wishes expressed by you In
the name of the conference of Catholic
Colleges and bestows most heartily
apostolic benediction.
Cardinal Rampolla -
The oablegram was 10 answer to Q
Message the convention sent to the
pope when it convened
DR. CoNkTY DISCUSSES THE WORK.
Great interest attached to the closing
address of the president of the confer
ence, Dir. Conaty. He spoke as follows
Gentlemen of the Conference: Tht
work of our third annual gathering j.
aJ an end. Its word is the word o
organization, the word Of unification il
education. You are to he congratulate
that the days spent together in deliLern
ton have been witnesses of benefit t,
our collegiate instruction.
The difficult problem Of entranc
conditions bias had its first answer
Carefully prepared and admirably we'll
delivered papers have been presented t
us Tor serious reflection. The teaohiu,
II the important branches Of science
history, English ana Greek have be el
treated in mastery manner, and III,
committee appointed for that purpos
VIII report to the next conference
practical way to incorporate into on
system the valuable suggestions whicl
have hecn made The attention O
Catholic educators has been directed t
the need of development of the high
school movement as an essentia
element to our educational success
while the study afforded to Us Of tn
plan and purpose of educational legisla
tlon should open tina eyes of all to th
dangers which threaten our liberty {
conscience by the tendency towar
absolute State control over all sgenciC
~ education, thus crushing all In
dividuai effort and crippliug all a
tempts at private schools in which OF
Religion is made an essential fac or.
I'VE are citizens as well 6
christians, and we refuse to bend th
and claim by virtue OF ouI citizenshi
tho right to educate our psople l
schools which our conscience approves
We appeal, in the name of the spir
Of common citizenship, to the spir
oil Justice and fair play, and "
stand ready to defend our claims /
the name OF true education. "
warn Christian people that Christ
anity is in danger from the arrogant
and tyranny of legislation which nj
only drives positive religion fro
State schools, but also aims to crus
the private schools in which religic
dwells as its very soul BY showing I'll
trend OF legislation we pace befors o,
people the dangers to which our syste
of schools is exposed fsi0
The keynota of this conference
organization uni tication. This cal
for binding together Of ali the eli
ments that make our system and a d
termination that we will leave nothii
undone until We have succeeded in
complete unifying of Our education
work. With a larger high school d
velopment we may confidently assn
our people that we are in conditi,
TO give a complete education. III
university stands at the head Of O
system, and thus. guarantees to &C
lege and school the completion of /
educational effort. Let our waite
word be the Catholic system
education for our people-no link ni
sing in the golden chain which bin
mind and heart to the great truth
God. Our schools, our colleges, o
university, the safeguard of our co