The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-11

CHICAGO, July 10.-The national
conference of representatives of Cath
ollc colleges concluded it's sessions to
hlght at Powers theater, the feature
OIL the hnal session being a striking
address by Bishop Conaty. rector of
catholic university Washington p q
AS the official head of the Catholic
educational system in America, as well
as because of his polished eloouence
Dr. Conaty was given eager attention
He said:
FIFTY years ago it was declared that
general education would remedy All
existing evils and lessen, if not abolish
crime. Ia the world of science If was
sad that science fully developed Womb
pc the panacea for all the SUFFERING r.
we examine results we will find neither
promise fulfilled. Intellectual crime
IL such a. term may be used-has GER
talnly increased. Refinement in crime
is IN evidence on all sides. Where is
the fault? L feel satisfied that it must
De placed to the credit of "a one-sided
education; the evil is in the divorce
OF education from positive religion.
Study of Religion Optional.
Withdraw religion with its precepts
as an essential factor in education
and you have, as a result mental re-
hnement without balancing power Of
Will and of heart properly instructed.
Religion in many systems of education
has become a sort of elective study; it
is optional-it forms no part Of a pre-
Scr1bed course. AS a result the youth
fui mind comes to the conclusion that
religion is not so important If re-
hgion enters at all into such systems
Of instruction, it is largely as a Sunday
garment worn on any occasion and nee
essary only at certain moments Of life.
Results of the Efforts.
mo man who values social i'm
provement along religious lines can
fail to be frightened at the results Of
our educational efforts. Bank defaI-
cations, senate briberies, postal frauds, o.
stock gambling, divorce increase, stage
1ndecency, literary degeneracy-surely
these are not the result of illiteracy;
they are the crimes of educated people.
The empty churches, owing to which
so much is written, the unchurched
masses increasing so amazingly in
our large centerS, are the results of
an education, which has minimized re-
Hgion as a teacher with a message
of salvation and has practically ban
ished it from the school room Re
such people, and if we seek for rea-
sons, we will certainly ma one in the
fact that religion has not been made
the warp and wool of the instruction
necessary to develop mind and heart
in manhood"
Many Others Speak.
During today's session the confer
ence heard an address on the Meth
DDS of Teaching History in College,
by Rev. Boniface Verveyen, of st.
Benedict's college, Atchison, Kan.
Considerable discussion followed, aft
er which Prof. John M. Reiner, of ST.
Thomas college, Villanova, Pa, read
a paper on the Teaching of Social
and Political Science in Colleges"
The delegates entered upon a gem
eral conference of Catholic high
schools, introduced by a statement
from the chairman, Bishop Conaty, to
the effect that the conference of last
year, having discussed the question of
Catholic high schools, he had present.
ed the matter before the annual meet
ing of the archbishops, and it was
their desire that this conference make
some suggestions relative to plan of
incorporating high school work in the
Catholic system Of education.
The discussion was then opened by
Rev. James A. Burns, president of
Holy Cross college, Washington, d. G.
1t was the general sentiment Of the
delegates that there was a necessity
for the establishment of such schools
as complimentary link in Catholic ed
vocational institutions, and a lengthy
discussion of the methods to be pur-
sued in establishing ana maintaining
such institutions followed.
The following were elected officers
for the ensuing year: President, Rev.
Thomas J. Conaty, Washington; sec
rotary treasurer, William l.. O'Hara,
Emmetsburg, Md
1t was decided that the next confer
ence of the representatives of Catholic
colleges in America be held at Phila-
delnhia on InlY 10 md IL 1903.