The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-03
CATHOLICS AID
To THE CAUSE
Of EDUCATION

Boston, Dec. 3-Three interesting ad-
dresses on the ecucation OF the con-
science delivered before a large audience
at the Colonial theatre brought TO n
close last evening the three days session
or the social education congress.
The speakers. were Rev William j.
Long of Stamford Conn, whose sub
ject was Natures Message 10 Moral
Educators: President q. Stanley Hall Of
Clark university, Worcester who spoke
on Conscience from the Standpoint OF
Health" and Most Rev. William IL
O'Connell. Catholic archbishop coatju-
tor OF Boston, whose address was on
THE Aspect OF Conscience. He enlpha-
sized the great work which the Catholic
church has done for education
Rev. Mr. Longs address was intensely
interesting. especially his descriptions Of
what he called the moral side OF ami
mails. DR.. Hairs address was scholarly,
and he held up honor as the greatest
attribute 10 be lnoculated In the young
mind
Prof. James p. Munroe presided.
Rev. Mr.. Long. In dealing with "Na-
ture's Message to Moral Educators" said
that man seems to he the only creature
who is immoral. He claimed. however,
that the child was born a moral animal.
He said that education is the leading out
into the light and not the packing in
He disclalmed the belief in the doctrine
that all living things had to fight for
existence and cited many instances where
animals had dwelt peaceably together.
notably the wolves. He admitted much
depended upon the food supply, and said
that this applied TO man as well as
beast.
The beastlness OF nature in man was
shown In personal uncleanliness the envy
and greed aroused by the setting up Of
wealth against poverty. gluttony and
drunkenness and sexual vice. lie said
that none OF these were found In the an
imal kingdom except in men and mon
keys. Animal instincts are good and pure
ton. He decred the struggle for indvi-
dualism and said that the message OF
nature was mutual cooperation ana
common brotherhood.
President Hall first referred 10 the in
Innate relations between conscience and
the sentiment OF honor and described the
soul transition from the childish stage
when the sense OF right and wrong is
closely bound up by religion. 10 the stage
of high school and college, when the sem
timent OF honor competes with conscience
as the guide OF life.
For the majority Of intelligent young
men or women, he said, honor is i'm fact
or at least is capable Of being made the
dominating element in controlling life
more potent, perhaps. even than con-
science or religion itself. He continued
What does the man In whom this SEN
tment OF honor is alive and not pervert-
ed do? lie asks himself I'm every emer-
gency what Is the ideal course TO pursue,
the highest. purest and most disinterest-
ed motive to act FROM the loftiest and
not the most expedient solution What
1ioh ta 40. t,,
great or small. by trick or subterfuge.
Shall we 60 farther To accept from any
source. even inheritance, dollar that
does not represent a real service. Is this
Ideal honor? Honor's own true knight
keeps a personal conscience that party
allegiance or popular clamor can not ST.
lence. True honor cannot sneak or swim
die or win under any lie. The life it
makes us lead is single, not double. 1t
knows nothing OF two standards. one for
Sunday and ono for the shop, factory or
stock market, one for men and another
for women. IL keeps the spirit and not
merely the letter OF the medical, legal,
club, student and other professional
codes Of ethics. for it is simply ideal con-
duct.
Archbishop O'Connell said:
Separate God from human life and
what is there left? / need not answer,
for you know history. Man is made by
God, therefore, he is our Father and our
Lord. Man is made for God; therefore.
He is our final end. our eternal reward
The law OF life IL sometimes complex To
discern IL clearly IL needs an added light
from without one which can never be
dimmed, one which is ever shining. one
which is ever true. That is the light OF
Gods revelation declared TO be intelli-
gence by the living voice OF divine au-
thority. Neither the consideration of
health, nor honor. nor the welfare of 9TH
ers. nor the elevation OF self, singly. or
altogether will ever he found sufficlent
at all times and in all men for right
moral action.
''lt is of prime Importance that the
whole can be developed for his whole
life And how is this complete education
TO be obtained? The church has solved
this problem. The institution appointed
by God to teach all men has ever recog-
nized the fact that mans mortal life
must oe provided for. that his material
welfare must be looked after. She has al
ways known that man must be given
every opportunity for educational refine
ment and Intellectual advancement This
requirement the church has always recog-
nized and met She Il was that establish
ed the great universities She Il was that
wrote In bold characters the names OF
Padua, Paris, oxford and Cambridge on
the pages OF history. Men are mortal
ever. and therefore, subject TO human
weakness, but when the main line OF ar
ton is straight toward God, the line OF
life VIII have few great reflections