The Irish standard., 1906-02-10
REASONS
Given for the Existence of Paro-
chial Schools.
Bigoted Minister'S Addres,
Draws Out an Answer.

Inc ADDRESS OF Rev. Frederick Ed
wards. pastor of st. James Episcopal
church. before state teachers in the
Pabst theater, on 1.-THE State and
School," has thus been answered by
Father ]. T. McDcrmott, D. D., who
defends the parochial schools in the
following letter:
1 For many who, with kindly eye and
friendly heart have been watching the
proceedings of the Wisconsin Teach
ers' Association, the address Of Rev
Frederick Edwards pastor of st.
James Episcopal church. as reported
In the Free Press, is an accident pro-
foundry regretable.
| Catholic nuns and Sisters, as expon-
ents of the Catholic idea in education,
have joyfully been received into the
! Wisconsin Teachers Association as
fully accredited members, and, as re-
ligious teachers, have been assisting
at the sessions of the convention.
Was it the part of q gentleman to rise
In session Of the convention and, in
formal manner, fling at respected in
iluential portion Of the association
the accusation-tae taunt-that they
were engaged in a work "un-Ameri-
| can, undemocratic, UNI Christian 2"
For an honest answer to this question,
l appeal to the agnostic, the Budd-
| hist, the intidel. At the same time,
| most respectfully and most humbly
do l call to the attention of the Off
GERS of the association the logical pro-
priety of either doing justice to their
insulted ow-members or of expell-
ing these members from their society.
1t seems to me that, impelled by a
sense of self-respect, the Wisconsin
Teachers Association must face this
dilemma and act.
But not only has Rev. Mr.. Edwards
been ungentlemanly; he has also been
| literally un-Christian, positively pa
gan. Claiming that "it is the destiny
of the State to absorb the Church,"
that 1.-The State is the kingdom OF
God" that the State is the final ex-
preston Of the race" that at is in
| the State that the complete happiness
of the individual is to be attained"-
claiming thus, Rev. Mr.. Edwards is a
sorry spectacle before the eyes of the
ecclesiastical head of the religious
body of which he is member. These
claims of Rev. Mr.. Edwards come like
an echo from the paganism of old
Rome. In Rome the State was every
thing, and therefore religion was inter-
woven with the public life. Our am
the wiser never more inspired by the
gods, than when they determined that
the same person should preside over
the rites and ceremonies of religion
and the government of the State" In
pagan Rome the priest was completely
overshalowed by the statesman. The
State absorbed religion. And this
is the edifying condition of things
Rev. Mr.. Edwards would have repeat
ed in modern times. The consul Of
fered sacrifices. Why? Because the
stale was the FINAL expression Of the
race"
Following the idea Of Rev. Mr. Ed
wards it behooves our strenuous Pres
ident to begin to swing the censor and
con the oracles. When Caeasrism had
supplanted the Roman republic the
emperors became representatives of
the State, and thus, to a certain ex-
tent, took the place Of the capitalize
god. With perfect logical consistency,
the emperors themselves became gods
and the official worship of these en-
peror- gods became the proper State
| religion. The logic of Mr.. Edwards
views throws us back into the idolatry
Of paganism. 1t is difficult to UNDER
| stand how the Episcopal Church can
entrust its pulpit to man whose
| avowed religious theories are essen
| TALLY pagan.
Rev. Mr.. Edwards is ungentlemanly.
| un-Christian, pagan; also he is uncon-
stitutional. One of the basic princi-
pies of our beloved constitution is the
| recognition OF the Church as distinct
entity from the State. Our civil ruiz
ers repudiate the responsibilities Rev.
Mr.. Edwards would place on them. 1t
is our boast that in the American re-
public, more fully than in any other
government in Gods creation, religion
is recognized as distinct, positive,
defined organism apart from the
State, possessing its own rights and
privileges, and enjoying supremacy in
its own order. 1t would be highly en-
Pertaining to note the impression that
would be made on President Roose-
Welt on being informed by Rev. Mr..
Edwards that he (the Presidency is
the head "of the kingdom of Cod"
that he is vested with spiritual au-
thority:" that by reason of Ills spir.
itual authority" it is chs duty to sec
to the education of the American chill
dren." The un-American" sisters
and nuns insulted in their tenderest
sensibilities have never been guilty Of
teaching "un-American" doctrine like
to this Of the incumbent Of the pulpit
Of st. James Episcopal Church.