The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-07-03

fosterer of mental ignorance ia in
capable of seeing the sun in the splen-
dor of its MONDAY rays.
It was said that the secularized
school-room is the great American in
stitution, that in stunning it Catholics
show lack of patriotism to America.
The school-room, if you will, is the
great American institution. To the
school-room Catholics accord whole
hearted devotion. In this devotion
they yield to none among their fellow
citizens. Farther do they 60 than
others of their fellow Americans. To
have the school-room, to which their
children may repair, they tax them
selves doubly; they share in the main
tenance of the secularized school, from
which others draw benefits, and then
pour out lavishly of their money to Gre
ate for themselves the school-room
where their faith is in safety. The
school-room is the American institu.
ton; the exclusion of religion from
the school-room is not the American
institution; to this exclusion only do
Catholics make objection. Her reasons
are no longer misunderstood in
| America.
And this other charge we were wont
to hear-that American patriotism was
barred from our schools. Facts, how
ever, are too plainly seen to be doubt.
ed. No other schools there are in
which America is more honored and
loved than in the Catholic school; no
other schools there are in which the
nag of America draws to itself more
ardent love and devotion. Too plainly,
also, to be doubted is this other fact
seen and known, that when America ia
the issue of the battlefield, former pu.
pills of our schools are there in their
fuil proportions. to combat and to die.
In Catholic schools patriotism is incul.
Gated as religious, even more than as
civic duty; the oath Of allegiance to
the country is taught to be an act of
which the Almighty God is the sover.
eign guardian.
The contention of the Catholic
school is the principle-that religion
should permeate and vivify the educa.
ton of childhood and Of youth. On
this principle the Catholic Church
rests her case before public opinion.
Dlner from US who may; combat
against us who may, provided the prin-
ciple we uphold is understood and hon.
orably admitted.
Praise to Pastors, Praise to Teaching
erotherhoods and sisterhoods
Of the Church.
AS we chant the triumphs of our
schools-praise to whom praise is due
name the pastors Of parishes.
With what whole-hearted energy they
have thrown themselves into the
breach! Sacrifices, heroic in their
exigencies, were to be made; they have
been made cheerfully and perseyer-
ingly. By continuous exhortation, by
unceasing impulse of example. they
have lfkened to their own the convic.
tons, the sacrifices of their people
and so, pastors and people united in
nrm phalanx, wonders have been
wrought. Among pastors there is the
holy rivalry-who shall have the most
sefviceable school building, who shall
number within them, proportionately
to the population, the largest number
OF pupils? Time was when the
church or the presbytery was the chief
magnet of priestly zeal; today it is the
school-house. without the intelligent
zeal of pastors, without their personal
seif-denial, their ceaseless appeal to
their people, the triumphs of the Cath.
Ollie faith in matters of religious edu-
cation were never possible.
name our teaching Brotherhoods
and sisterhoods. To them, this morn
ing, In the name of Catholic educa.
ton, bow in reverence and gratitude.
sublime their life, in which we behold
the magnificent Towering of divine life
Embedded in the deep fibre of the
Church by Christ, her Founder. Moth
Ing but a divinely-fashioned Church
could have produced them; nothing
but the supernatural grace of the Al
mighty could have nurtured the vir.
tues that brighten their labors.
Our Brotherhoods and our Sister,
moods 1t is, that permit our Catholic
schools to exist. They are prodigal of
their services for the merest shade of
pecuniary retribution. Without them
the financial burthen of Catholic
schools were insupportable; without
them Catholic schools should have
long ago closed their doors. Our
Brotherhoods and our sisterhoods it is
to whom we owe the high degree of
emciency which is the glory of our
schools, which has VIGOROUSLY over.
come prejudices whether among Cath.
olics themselves or among non Catho-
lies, that at one time SO seriously i'm.
peded their onward march.
Welcome to the New Cathedral Of a.
| Paul.
/ thnA