The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-08

who revel in the possession of any
apparent justification for not
patronizing educational institu-
lions under the auspices of the
Church. It is a well known fact
that the majority of the religious
congregations in charge of Catho-
lie schools and colleges possess
Normal Institutes for the educa-
ton Of the young sisters who are
preparing to become teachers.
All the tests applied to these in
stitutions show the efficiency of
the pedagogic training impaired
to those for whose benefit they
exist.
Then, too, there was consider
able discussion at the convention
in regard to the Carnegie Foun-
dation, a fund established for the
benefit Of teachers. No one will
deny that Mr.. Carnegie has the
right to make whatever DISPOSE
ton he wishes Of his wealth. To
the fund which he has set apart
for educational purposes he has
attached certain conditions which
eliminate from the list Of it's
benefciaries all UNCONVENTIONAL
schools.
We do not and cannot approve
Of these conditions. We believe
that the tendency of the Carnegie
Foundation, as at present consti-
tuted, is to injure the cause of re-
igion by reducing education to
the merest secular instruction.
And while we freely confess that
we would like to see this fund
administered in a more liberal
spirit, we are convinced that moth
ing is to be gained by such a
violent attack on it as was made
by the Reverend Timothy Bros
nahan, S. j., of Loyola College,
Baltimore. No good can possibly
be accomplished by such an i'm
prudent and aggressive onslaught.
Certainly, it will not tend to make
those entrusted with the manage
ment Of the Foundation less
hostile to Christian schools. On
the contrary, it will make them
more antagonistic than at present.
Would it not be much better for
the convention, if it desired to
take action on this matter, to
memorabilia Mr.. Carnegie in an
address setting forth in calm and
dignifed language the reasons
that can be adduced in favor Of a
more liberal Interpretation Of the
letter Of the law.
Furthermore, it seems to us that
the question Of the Carnegie
Foundation lay without the scope
of a convention called to discuss
Catholic educational problems. It
has very little, if any, bearing on
the matter that should occupy the
attention Of the delegates. This
tendency to drag in for discussion
subjects not directly connected
with the main purpose OF the
meeting constitutes the greatest
danger to which Catholic conven-
lions are exposed. 1t gives an op-
portunity to few imprudent men
men with hobbies, so to speak
to dominate the convention and
foist their personal views on the
delegates. The result is that their
views are then spread broadcast
as if they mere those of the Cath.
Ollie Church. No Catholic conven-
ton, however numerous or prom.
inent it's delegates may be, car
claim the right to speak for the
Church. The members Of the
Catholic Educational Association
in convention assembled did not
represent the Catholic Church
even though their collective opin
ion may have been Endorsed by
many churchmen. The only de
Lucrative assembly that speaks
with authority for the Catholic
Church is council of her Bishops
AS already stated, we believe
that the recent Catholic Educa
tional Convention justified its
existence by the good results tt
follow from it's deliberations; bu
we deem it a duty to profess
against saddling on it the aggres
sive expressions of personal opin
ion which have been heraldet
abroad as the deliberate views O.
the Catholic Church on a question
Of such moment.