The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-08
RELIGION AND MORALITY IN
 SCHOOL LIFE
Are ChiefFoe Of Mater- iaIiSm, Says Rev.
 pr. Moore
New Pastor Of Sacred ReaTt Strongly Advocates ParOGhIaI
 School Training For Youth

The potent influence of Ca4holiG,. l parochial school education in com 1 batting the influences of materfaaism, ! through the forces of religion and nor l ality, was striI1ingIy emphasized in a l strong sermon delivered by Rev. Dr.
 Richard F. Moore, the new pastor oE E 1 the Sacred Heart parish at the vari- 1 ous masses yesterday. pr, Moores sermon was especially timely, coming on the eve of the open ing of most of the Bridgeport Catholic | schools Delivered in his characteristio manner, it proved a most forcefuI ar gument for the schooling of the Cath l olic youth in the parochial schoola. Dr. Moore said, in parts The theme of today's instruction will be Christian Education. At the beginning of every school year a ca1es- Catholic parents regarding the school which their children should attend < Will it be @ school that totally ignores religious training or the school that teaches the correct rule of faith and conduct but neglects most the studies that prepare them for the duties of life? In fact, there is not so much choice in ythe matter, since parents, at | best. are but the representatives or steWarts of Almighty God, whose will it is that children from their child :. hood should be trained to love and5 practice their religion. As a truth [ God and God alone has the absolute . right to say how and where the young ! should be educated: because they are
 His from a two-fold tftle-that of creation and redemption. He made them, as He made all His creatures: while He redeemed them at the high price of the blood of His beloved Son.
 Jesus Christ emphasized His deep love and interest in children during His mortal Hfe. It was His greatest f7o f1 -S11.ll
 hold them on His knee while lie look ed into their innocent faces and spoke words of love into their tender hearts. So great was His love and compan- ionship for them that, on one occa- sion He reprimanded the Apostles for attempting to prevent their coming unto Him. Forbid them not Suffer the little children to come unto Me- for of such Is the Kingdom of Heav- en- When He founded His church, one of it's chief functions was to feed the little ones of the flock. Feed My lambs,' sad He to Peter the first pas tor of His Church. The children of today will be the men and women of tomorrow From their number will come the future props of the Church as also the priests and nuns who will carry her work in subsequent gen eratiOns. A young man according to his ways: when he is old he will not depart from them, says the inspired writer. Remember they Creator in the days of thy youth So dear to His Sacred Heart was the innocence of childhood that He threatened with severest punishment priests and pax ents and all others, who in any way would interfere with their Catholic conscience or conduct. Woe to the man through whom scandal cometh. It were better that a milestone had been tied about his neck and he be cast into the depths of the sea, than that he scandaIize one of these little ones.'
 IMPERIALISM.
 ""There is a scandal today that i8 devouring the very vitals of faith and conduct. It is not inaptly called Ma teriaIism or indifference to religion In it's mad race for wealth; in it's self sh greed for the sEsOils and sinful pleasures of the world, it practically denies the existence of God and mans accountability to Him. Like the pa gans of old it boldly proclaims as the guiding principle of life:-let us eat. drink and be merry for tomorrow we
 "ro safeguard the young against such appalling errors and evils. that are lurking everywhere under insidi- ous forms, is our crying need and ob- Igation. We must protect, at any cost and hazard, the religion and nor ality of our youth
 '"This is stupendous work It is the combined work of the home and school and church. Alas! it is la mentally true, that the home is fast losing it's influence as a factor in the family and in society. It is becoming less and less the fruitful nursery Of faith and piety and devotion Through various agencies, it is being sociaiiz- ed and, a result, is fast becoming IrreIgious. As a consequence, the inn portant work of preserving faith and virtue must devolve upon the united efforts of the church and school Both are valuable adjuncts of one another A venerable prelate has well said. that a parish without a school Is like a home without a mother
 RELIGION
 ''The parish school is indeed a re- igious mother to the young With a mothers love and tenderness she pro- tects them against the evils and wick adness of the enemy; while she insttlls Into their young hearts the wholesome lessons of piety and wisdom that will be the joy and support of their future years. She teaches the child the true end of man. Man was made by God for God. Tn that short, simple sen .ence is summarized the whole phil 0sophy of life. On that basic truth s reared the entire system of educa- commercial or pollti- sal. Revealing, as it does. mans dig lity and destiny it proclaims truth of Pagan antiquity. The human sciences cannot solve the problem Of mans creation and existence. In the presence of the questions-'What is nan's destiny and how may he attain