The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-08-18
THEY ARE-.IN PERIL
Jesuit Educator So Charges
With Regard to the
Catholic Young Men Who At
tend Secular Schools.

president of St. IgnatiuS College
Chicago, addressed the college depart
ment at the Congress of the Catholic
Educational Association in Cleveland
Ohio, on the subject "Catholic Students
at State Universities He read an
article he had prepared on the subject
for one of the magazines. supplements
ing it with important statistics. He
said speaking OF the strength and
universally of the State college:
At first little heed was paid by
Catholics to these State colleges. as
very few of our people patroniZed
them. From time to time. however,
reports circulated that Catholic clubs
were being established among the
students of these institutions. This
and other indications led to the grow
ing belief that the courses of Catho-
lie students were growing to consider
able proportions. Very few. however,
realize how great number Of Catholic
students are actually in the State in
stitutions today. With view of
learning the extent OF the evil, the
writer has been at considerable pains
to gather accurate information on the
subject.
We learn that there are some 1000
Catholic students in the various State
universities today. many registering
forty or fifty, and some running into
the hundreds. This large attendance
vii! probably be q surprise to many
of us.
Now as to the duty of Catholics to
lake interest in the welfare of so many
bright, cultivated and promising young
men and women. there can scarcely
be two opinions. Ii we build homes
for the aged. the poor the orphan. If
we spend millions yearly on hospitals
for the care of the body, it is certainly
incumbent on us to safeguard the
spiritual interests of those on whom
the future prosperity Of the Church
So vitality depends. The Holy See Is
evidently deeply concerned for the
young men who are striving after a
higher education, else why did it es-
tablish the Catholic University at
Washington?
The reasons are many why Catholic
students are found in the halls of our
State universities; and while it should
he our constant aim to reduce the num-
Der to minimum, it is still not i'm
probable that they will be found there
in ever-increasing numbers for years
to come.
If this be the conclusion that
thoughtful educators arrive at, would
it not seem that some systematic steps
should be taken on behalf of our I'M
fortunate Catholic students? l say
unfortunate. for who thai has any
practical experience in the educational
world can doubt that a large prOpor-
ton Of such students drift away from
the practice Of their religion, il they
w lOl give IL up dltO6clAcl: "Aoe
other significance can the letters of
university presidents and registrars
have. when they say that in addition
to the members" of the Catholic
Church amongst the student body,
there are others who are "adherents
of that Church, or who express a
= lpfS 1,,c
are with it?" Does not this seem to
imply that some Catholic students
have already fallen away from the
Church, for they are no longer mem
bers" but only "adherents" of 1t?
remember once on remarking to q
Catholic graduate of one Of our State
universities, Il fear that the religion
Of many Catholic students is injured al
that university" Fear it," he replied
cmphatically. II know it,"
We cannot then afford to close oul
eyes either to the gravity of the case
or to our responsibility. in, the mat
ter The Church excludes none of hel
children from her care or love, ant
least of all the ambitious young MAJ
or woman, who, if rightly cherished
will become an ornament to tn,
Church and a leader unto good In tn,
days to come.
Some may object that by taking
special interest in these students WI
should seem to be putting the seal o
approval on State university educa
ton, and so open wide it's doors to al
Catholics. While there may be a GER
tain danger on this head. it does no
seem SO great but that prudence an,
moderation. Z may avert It,. Certainly
when a pastor establishes special in
struction classes for children who at
tend the public school, he does no
thereby sanction public school educa
ton; he Is merely doing his best t
counteract its evil effects. Agar
when chaplain is appointed to loo
after the needs of Catholics in publ
Nformatories, in Protestant hospital:
and, similar institutions, does that pu
the approval of the Church on thes
institutions, and on the manner
Whichtthey are conducted? Not neces
sarily.
The Church in all such cases act
like A good mother She .;eeS an ayj