The Irish standard., 1914-06-27
\ SOCIALIST FATHER AND HIS
son.
A,FRANK ADMISSION.

be a communication from a French
Socialist to his son was first pub
lished in "L'Humanite," Paris
Socialist organ, edited by Mr.. Jaures
the most prominent Socialist in
France. A reader of THE LIVE
ISSUE has translated the letter from
the Spanish. it having been published
in the latter language in the religi-
Gus section of La Lucia" of Cuba.
The father is a socialist who has
broken with all religious faith. His
son has followed in his footsteps and
is now studying at the university.
The son has written request to his
father to induce the latter to give
him note excusing him from taking
a course in religion, PARENTAL per-
mission being necessary for not TAX
ing this study. Knowing his fathers
views on religion, the son is con-
WINGED that he will get the requested
note. However. the father, free
thinker that he is, insists that his
son take the prescribed course in
religion. In the following letter he
gives his reasons for his decision:
Dear Son:-You ask me for
short letter that may exempt you
from taking the religious course.
partly to have the glory of proceed
ing in a different manner from the
greater part of your fellow-students.
and, fear, also partly to appear
worthy son of man without reli-
gious convictions. am not sending
you such a letter. dear son. nor shall
l ever do so. 1t is not because
desire you to be a clerical, although
there is no danger of this, nor that
you may embrace the religious be-
liefs that your professor may ex-
pound to you. When you reach a
sufficient age to judge, you will be
free, but there is a binding obliga-
ton on me to see that your instruc-
ton and your education are complete
which would not be the case without
the study of religion 60.
have said that wish your in
struction to be complete, but how
could it be without sufficient I'M
Outstanding of religious questions
which everybody is discussing?
Would you wish, through voluntary
ignorance, not to be able to tell me
a word on this subject without be-
traying your lack of knowledge?
But let us put aside politics and
mooted questions, and let us see
what is required of man who has
a definite place in life.
The study of mythology Is neces-
sary in order to enable one to COM
prehend the civilization of the
Greeks and Romans. and what would
YOU know of the history of Europe
and the entire world since Jesus
Christ without understanding the re-
ligion that changed the face of the
entire world and developed a new
civilization?
With reference to art, what mean
ing can the masterpiece OF the MID
die Ages have to you and of modern
times have to you il you do not
know the motives that inspire them
and the religious ideas they express?
With reference to letters. can you
afford to be unacquainted with Bos-
suet. Fenelon, Lacordaire, de MATS
tire, venillot, and many others VINO
devoted themselves almost exclu-
siyely to religious questions? Then
there are also Corneille, Racine IN
one word, all these great masters
who owe their inspirations to Christ
ianity.
Can one who desires to devote
himself to the study of law. philos-
ophy or morality, disregard those
clear expositions of the Natural Law!
Even natural sciences and mathe-
matics are linked with religion. Pas-
"a, and Newton very fervent Christi
ans: Ampere was devout; Pasteur
used to prove the existence OF Co..
concluding with the remark tna'
through science he had regatned the
faith of a simple Breton peasant;
F,amarion, too, engages in theologi-
cal speculations.
Would you wish to condemn your
self by skipping important pages IN
your reading and study?
All have to confess it; religion Is
Infinitely united with all man1festa-
t,ons of human intelligence. 1t Is
the foundation of our civilization
and he would place himself outside
the pale of the intellectual world ana
doom himself to intellectual inferior
itv who would insist on ignoring
science which is the object OF so
much study and numbers so many
master minds among its votaries.
And now that I have spoken about
erudition, it is necessary to say
word about the laws and the prac-
tices of the Church in order to fur
Their round out your education.