The Washington herald., 1908-03-16
GOD And EDUCATION
lnseparable in Proper Train
ing of the Young.
LECTURE BY REV. MR.. PACE
Need of the Religious Element, He
Declares, Lies in the Very Nature
Importance 30 the Complete Liv-
InE-The Mind Gods Own Creation.

"The religious element in education"
was the subject of the second of "A series
of Lenten lectures being given under the
auspices Of the AIoysius Club last night
by Rey, Edward Pace, Pm. D., of the
CathoAe University, at Gonzaga Hall
Dr. Pace in his discourse gave a lengthy
explanation of the reasons why the
thought Of God should be imprinted upon
the minds OF all children In competition
with their ordinary training.
1t makes no difference whether the
act TO prohibit the Eame OF God upon
our national currency be final or not,
every human soul bears the imprint OF
God; and If that divine impression should
be removed from the souls of children by
a positive act or through negligence on
the part of parents. then it is that the
question becomes OF primary Importance
to every citizen in this land"
Continuing, the lecturer said: In order
10 realize the need Of religious education
one must first understand what that edu
cation is. Many Of the conceptions of re
Hgious education. valuable as each may
be in Itself, that have been advanced
from time 10 time do not go 10 the heart
of the matter. Religious education Is
that fern OF training by which each sub
ject taught 10 children is made suscep-
tible OF treatment in which some item
of religious truth is inculCated along
with the items of ordinary knowledge.
In other words. each subject can be made
by analogy. or historical reference. to
point the way toward knowledge Of "A
higher and even of a dlvine order
Necessary 10 ''COmpIete Living"
After giving several Illustrations TO
show this point. DR. Pace added: 1T
seems desirable justtnow 10 show that
the need OF the religious element lies in
the very nature OF education itself. and
that consequently the exclusion OF re-
ligion is injurious TO the educative process
as such. This is plainly the conclusion 10
be drawn from Herbert SpenCer's dehni-
ton OF education as preparation for com
plete living since no life is complete
without a knowledge Of God and the dis
charge Of the duties toward Him. Like
wise. on purely pedagogical grounds. II
is agreed that education must result Ia
mental balance and proportion, neither
Of which is possible II there be no knowl-
cQEt hl GoQ.
TO speak of nature and its laws with
no mention OF the Lawgiver is hardly
consistent on the part Of the teacher
who believes in God Nor can such a
teacher reasonably emphasize the sacred
ness of duty If the duty which we owe
the Creator is passed over in silence.
Dignity of the Teachers Work.
Indeed. the dignity of the teachers
work lies in the fact that il co-operates
in the development Of mans mind. which.
as all Christians believe. is Gods crea-
ton. Not merely the deIicacy Of the
task. nor the demands Of society, nor
even the rights OF the child. but. in
cluding all these and lifting them 10 a
higher plane, the responsibility Of deal
ing with human souls and. therefore Of
aiding or hindering Gods design, IS what
gives 10 education, as Catholics regard
it. a character at once serious and sa-
cred"
Dr. Pace concluded his lecture by call
ing attention 10 the fact that If our
generation is 20 obliterate religious edu-
cation, there would. I'm a few genera
tions, be no one capable or willing 10
impart 70 the young any thought Of the
Supreme Being
Next Sunday az SIS o'clock. in Con
zaga Hall. Rev. Joseph NJ Woods. s. J..
will lecture on why the Catholic Church
is opposed 10 freemasonry."