The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-02
STATE AID FOR SCHOOLS
Contribution to ParochiaI
Institutions Demanded on the
Ground That Religious Edu-
cation Is Necessary to
Welfare of Children.

be brought to a close this evening In
Casino Hall, on William street. where
the delegates lave been busy since yes
terday morning. There vas a dinner
at noon in the hall building, which
contributed much to the fraternal feel
ing thai marked h gathering.
In the annual report, which was read
by President Joseph ]. Lambrecht this
morning, there were words of welcome
for h delegates n clergymen, land
attention was called to the fact that
the organization had grown in thir-
teen years from small beginnings to
n of twenty-seven societies, with a
membership of 800. Mr.. Lambrecht
also said that it was a matter of con-
graduation that two Jersey City So
c~ieties, st. Boniface and st. Joseph,
had returned to the fold during the
last year.
After referring to what the speak
ers called che false theories of So
cialism," which he said were %antagon-
istic to Catholic teacheings, President
I.ambrecht spoke about the public
schools as follows, and his words were
heartily %aplauded:
"An education hat develops only
the mind and memory and has no re-
gard for religious training, is, at best,
imperfect. God has presented every
human being with a heart, which must
be trained to righteousness as much as
the mind must be enlightened.
For this reason we Catholics ave
our parochial schools, in which the
heart is guided and the mind devel-
oped. And since. the former is not done
in our public schools, and since WI
consider religious training as essential
as a mental training, we cannot con-
scientious1y SEND our children to the
public schools.
"Still, we are taxed for the mainte-
nance of these schools, and must there
fore bear a two-fold burden. In answer
to the remark that we could be relieved
of this twofold burden by Sending our
children to the public schools, we say,
Although it is the duty of the State
to provide for the education of the chill
dren, the parents are, nevertheless, the
custodians of the children, n 1t Is for
them to say where and how the hid
is to be educated. If parents elect to
take advantage of his prerogative by
sending their children to parochial
schools, the State is by no means re-
lieved of it's duty to contribute toward
the education of their children
when we hear it stated that public
funds are not available for religious
training, we declare hat we do MOI
ask for contributions toward the religi-
Gus training of our children. At the
beginning of each school term we are
informed that there is not sufficient
room in our public schools to accommo
date all the children, n that In order
to afford relief a number of children
attend school for half a day.
IF tina Is the case now, Wha would
happen If all the p%arochial schools were
to close, and If all the children of these
schools sought admission to the public
schools?
Considering that we relieve the
State of this great burden, would 1t not
be proper for the State to show It's ap-
probation by contributing toward the
mental education of Catholic children,
the same as it does for non-Catholic
children?
This can be readily done without
molesting existing laws, namely, by the
city or State paying rent for parochial
schools, as is done in Derby, Conn
and in return be relieved of the burden
of educating the children who attend
the parochial schools.
I'VE submit this proposition to all
citizens who are fair-minded and who
are lovers of fair play"
A plea was also made in the report
for the establishment of Catholic Ii
braries. Mr.. Lambrecht also referred
to the wills of current socialism as an
tagonistic to the church's teachings.
Several resolutions wer then pre-
scented, much in line with the presi-
dents report, wer g and were
adopted.
One of them condemned the yellow
press; another the low theatres, the
moving pictures that are considered
immoral, socialism as a danger botf
to the church and State; while another
declared that 1t was h sense of tbs
convention not to have the German
language taught in the public school
as it would lesson the support of the
German schools.
Sympathy was also expressed fol
France in its troubles with the church
and Their wer other resolutions alont
Catholic lines such rs passed at previ
Gus conventions, favoring the further
ing of the parochial school system.
In a short address the Rev. Fathe
Polycarp Scherer, O.. S. B., commend
ed the resolutions, and said that the,
were in line with truly Catholic spiri
and with genuine patriotism. He ex
pressed the hope that the resolution
would not be forgotten by the delegate
as soon as they left the city.
George Jacob, of Danbury, Conn.
also had a few words of commentator
and congratulation for the success o
the convention.
After some discussion. much of whicl
was in a semi-humorous vein, the con
vention accepted the invitation of MI
Jacob to attend the convention to b
held in his native State. Mr.. JacoI
was elected an honorary member of tn
New Jersey organization.
The men from the various parts o
the State began to get together at al
early hour yesterday. according to tn
program described In Saturday
EVENING STAR. and were warml'
welcomed by Fire Commissioner Johl
b. Oelkers. as chairman Of the loca
committee Of arrangements. As he /