The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-08-28
SCORES PUBLIC
SCHOOL PLAN IN
VIGOROUS TERMS
F ather O'Rourke s. J. Declares
IrreIigiOn is Rampant in
Secular Places Of
Learning

New Haven, Aug. 28-In the pres
! ence Of civic and religious dignitaries
st. Peters new parochial school just
off Kimberly avenue was formally
dedicated yesterday afternoon by the
Right Rev. Bishop Milan Of Hartford
On account of the inclement weather
the exercises which were to have been
held on the church lawn were trans
ferred to the school auditorium where
an 1mpromptu stage had been erect
ed, seated on which during the dedica-
tory exercises, were Mayor Frank j.
Rice, representing the city of New
Haven; Lieutenant-Go Governor Dennis
"a. Blakeslee, representing the State;
Rev. Michael McKeon, pastor of the
Sacred Heart church, from which par
ago; Rev. John O'Rourke, S. j., presi-
dent of the Brooklyn college, who gave
one of the strongest addresses ever
heard in this city in years on the Ro-
man Catholic attitude toward the pub
lie schools, and the pastor, Rev. r. J.
Early.
Rev. Father O'Rourke emphasized
the need of education, the duty of the
State and city in providing that edu-
cation. He told why Roman Catholics
criticize the public schools 1--WE are
dubbed unpatriotic," said the speaker,
because we find fault with the
schools. 1t is absurd to call us such.
We have as much right to criticize
them as we have to criticize the reci-
procity treaty, Or the tariff. We pay
taxes to support the public schools,
and we are not loath to consider
money paid for education good in
vestment, but we feel that we are not
getting our moneys worth from the
taxes we pay. We are forced to con-
tribute to a scheme Of education in
which we do not believe. The public
school methods are opposed to Our
conscientious convictions.
"The public schools are said to be
non-sectarian, but they are essentially
anti-religious to our people. You
teach them the laws of history, but
never a word about the heavenly laws,
you teach them to revere the heroes
of history, but never a word of the
Christ, the greatest hero. You may
say that these facts Of religion can
be taught in the Sunday school, but
religions can not be put on like a suit
of clothes to be worn only on one
day of the week. 1t Is an Inherent
part of man that cannot be separ-
ated from his actions.
Harmful to the State.
Moreover, the present system of
public school education is harmful to
strengthen the minds and wits of men,
without giving them a religious mo-
tive. Mental development Is a great
power but the throttle Of religion must
be supplied to control that development.
Who are responsible for the crimes
that are undermining the foundations
OF society today? Is it the poor
Sicilian, who kills man on New
York's East Side? We are corner
ing the very necessities of life, making
the path of the poor unbearable? Who
is responsible for the corruption in
Pittsburgh and Ohio, that has shocked
the country? Who hold UP the laws
in the Senate, pandering to the desires
of the corporations? Those who are
responsible are not ignortant, far from
it, they have had their minds devel-
oped, but their consciences are blunt
ed to the right. They have not had
the religious instruction that should
deter them from unconscionable acts.
Irreligion Rampant
This irreligion is rampant in your
secular colleges and schools.
mo nation can rest, grow or ex-
pand which has not religious fol1n-
dalton. Washington said the safety
of the republic rested upon two props, |
religion and morality. When a man
accuses us of unpatrlotism he is either |
an idiot or an irredeemable bigot We
want our schools to excel in all pro-
fame branches but we want religion |
in them, too
Lieutenant Governor Blakeslee, speak |
ing for the State of Connecticut, said |
he was glad to be present to congrat- /
utate Father Early and the people of |
st. Peters parish. stTIlis school will |
be the place for future Congressman,
Representatives,, Aldermen, and think
the Roman Catholic people are to be
honored for their convictions in the /
wish many other denominations held
the same beliefs. The churches and +
religion would be better supported
Mayor Rice Speaks.
Mayor Rice congratulated Father
heir enterprise. He said he hoped
The city would in a short time pur-
,hase the ground in the rear of the
new school building and add to the
beauty of that section of the city,
Which the Roman Catholics had SO en-
lanced
Father McKeon congratulated his
,ormer assistant on the new school,
md recalled that ten years ago there
vas only a swamp land where Row q
church, school and hall stand, a mon
1ment of Father Early's energy and
.eal
Owing to a previous engagement the
bishop was not able to attend the re-
hall in the evening. A splendid mu-
'ical program under the direction of
Miss Elizabeth Gaffney and Riley
Philips, Jr., and John o. Lynch WIS
,iven. Coakley and lannon's orches-
"a furnished the music