The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-13

The regular meeting of the Rhode ISL
and Catholic Woman's club was held in
La Sale academy on Broadway, last
evening. with the usual large attendance
OF representative Catholic women OF this
city, Pawtucket and elsewhere. Several
members OF the clergy were also present
as follows: Very Reverend Thomas F.
Doran, V. G., Rev. Frank Craig. Rev.
Thomas Carroll. Rev. Peter MalSne. Rev.
Cornelius Holland, Rev. James Craig.
The meeting was called to order at s
o'clock by the president OF the club, Miss
Clara Craig. Prayer was offered by Rev.
Father Doran after which Miss Craig
gracefully Introduced the speaker Of the
evening, Rev. Lewis #. Walch OF Salem
Mass, superintendent OF parochial
schools of Boston and formerly professor
OF history In Brighton seminary
Father Walch delivered a most instruc-
tive and Illuminating address, on the
subject. Religious Education in the
Schools of Massachusetts"
The lecture occupied nearly two hours
in its delivery and was essentially an
historical outline from 1890 TO 1900.
The speaker divided his subject into
three periods the first from 1880 TO 1775;
the second from 1775 10 1926 and the third
from 1925 to 1902.
troductory to the third the speaker
dwelling at great length upon the final
period.
In beginning his scholarly lecture the
speaker dwelt briefly upon early educa-
tion in Massachusetts.
Religious education" he said, was
the cornerstone Of Massa chusetts 1t was
the Cornerstone first for Harvard Col
lege: il was also the cornerstone for the
whole religious system. Harvard College
was founded for the furtherance of piety.
morality and learning and piety came
first
In l642. only Il years after the settle
ment of Boston men were appointed TO
take the common education in charge
and three things stand out clearly in the
history of that time.
First, that parents had shown great
neglect In the education of their children.
Second. decree was passed putting
the education of children i'm charge OF
several men and this decree made educa-
tion compulsory.
Third. the decree states the object of ed
ucation. namely. that children should be
trained in religion and In the laws OF
the country. In 1647 every town was or
dered to build and support a school for
the above purpose and every 100 families
grammar school. Harvard college al
ready existed and thus there were three
well defined forms OF education. church
and commonwealth was one and the same
body, prayer reading, writing and f1gur-
ing were tho courses of study i'm the ele-
mentarv schools and the Bible. the pray
er book the catechism and the New Eng
land primer. the text books used.
Turning to the second period. from
1775 TO 1925. the speaker traced the steady
rise OF the UNCONVENTIONAL system and
the consequent steady decline of the
religious system in secular educa tion. The
question was now no longer: Are YOU
Baptist or are you a Methodist?' but.
Are you "A Tory or are YOU a Patriotg'
Later came the springfng up OF private
schools and academies all over the coun-
try. and from 1897 10 1s4O liz acts OF in
corporation had been given 10 SIS Massa-
chusetts towns, so a multitude or acade-
mics adorned the state. and these were
all aided by legislative grants. hence de-
nominatonalism played n prominent part
In establishing the schools"
Continuing, the speaker traced the rise
Of Untsrianism I'm sachusetts AT this
period. and So he said. "as Unitarian
ism gained influence with church and
school another element OF decadeance
was creeping into the common school and
Howard college came gradually under the
control OF this sect"
In taking up the third and last period,
1925 TO the present day. the speaker dwelt
at length upon that distinguished educa-
tor, horace mann, whose ADVENT, ne said.
was at a time when Unltarlanism was
disrupting Professionalism and causing the
decline 81 the public school
After dwelling upon the Calvanistic
trend of Mann's education and training
he said in part: I'm 1877 he secured a
bill making IL unlawful TO use the com
mon school or TO teach anything I'm the
school I'm order TO proselyte the children
To a belief I'm any particular sect. Re
ligious liberty was his first principle and
II served TO destroy by law what had been
law and practice from the beginning He
saw very closely. however. that law
was OF little avail unless the public mind
believed In ~ and supported II. hence un-
less the people were educated in right
principles. and his must be right. the