The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-06-27
Sc. Psvi's School commenc ON emit.
Continued from first page.)

new Republic of the west. Her
clear. definite and emphatic declara-
ton that all right education must
embrace religious truth has neither
changed nor weakened. In the full
fillment Of her divine mission to
preach the truth that makes man free
she has covered the land with schools
of her own foundation and establish
ment and has therefore the right and
Justification to claim that her loyal
adherents under her guidance, are
doing more for popular education
than any other religious body. There
Is no idle boasting in this unqualified
assertion. The demonstration OF
this truth may be seen in the condi-
tons with which you are familiar
and which need no present consider
alton.
Splendid indeed as have been the
achievements in the matter of edu-
cation, whereby the Catholics OF
America have given to the world an
object lesson. Education is not only
for the children of tender years, but
for children of all classes, without
distinction of age or condition. She
has realized the truth Of the senti-
ment expressed by one of her fold,
who says that, system of schools
should form a ladder, leading from
the gutter to the University and that
tho hi0hact iptaracts of tho oon M IN =
wealth demand, the rights of the in
dividual require that natural talent
should be trained to It's highest pos
sible DEVELOPMENT.
The rich, those who move in ex-
elusive social circles have no Mono
poly of natural intellectual ability,
executive, literary or initiative. 1t
is no respector of social conditions.
1t may first see the light in the mod
est tenement as in the sumptuous
mansion. The Catholic school is
founded to instill into the minds of
the young respect for God and Gods
authority. Remove God from the
class room and remove from the
child reverence for the highest au-
thority, the very source of author
ity. No matter what is said of the
other teachings of the church, this
much all great men must grant her.
that she is one of the most oonserva-
tive elements in the country, that she
stands on the side of God and Of self
sacrifice and generosity, that elo-
quently reveal the sincerity and 10y
atty of their belief in Catholic prin-
cipals, yet there is looming up before
the church in America another re-
spolsibility not of one class or an
other but equally less weighty than
that which she has recognized and
fulfilled.
To provide Christian training for
the great mass Of her little ones the
church from necessity, and from the
dictates of wisdom hds hereto con-
her efforts UPON Il e organ
izatiol of the elementary parish
school, Whilst she now has done
this she has felt that her responsible
Ity in Gods law against Atheism, in
fidelity on the side of law and order,
against socialism, anarchy, and her
respect all legitimately con-
,tituted authority. The church rec
oglizes that all authority comes
rom God.
knowledge is one thing, virtue an
other. Education without religion
nay make a professor of mathema-
les, it cannot make a Christian
quarry the rock with razors or moor
he vessel with a silk thread, then
nay you hope with such keen and de-
icate instruments as human knowl-
edge and human reason to contend
against such giants as the passions
md pride of man. An education that
doesn't bring man nearer to God is a
allure. Our country needs clever
men and women but it needs virtu-
Jus men and women more, not agit-
,tors and demagogues brilliant but
shallow, but citizens thoroughly
earned in the principles of true
solidly grounded in true
Fear and love OF God, reverence
or law, respect for the rights OF 9TH
RS, fairness and business to all men
ire the virtues that must be plant
ID"
Rev. FIR. Sullivan of Gaines deliv-
red brief address on the subject OF
,ood reading. He urged careful Sc
ection of all reading material and
howed how the matter which one
eads affects him.
Old Friends Are tho Best.