The sun., 1916-08-27

- II is a shibboleth OF the
day and close akin to prepared
ness. and no subject is more worthy
Of attention. for its scope Is uni
versal. It touches life at every point.
1t affects both time and eternity.
Historically education of some sort il
as old as the human race. God Him
self gave positive instruction to the
first man in the earthly paradise. But
educational systems as we now know
them are largely the outcome Of local
needs and requirements. as well as Of
racial. political. international and re-
ligious influences. But in every sys-
TEN some ideal was held up for imi-
tation. some end to be attained. and
wherever. as in ancient Egypt, on tho
banks Of the Nile or on the plains Of
Chaldea or in the ancient civilizations
Of China India, Persia, or among the
highly cultured Greeks and ~lawgiving
Romans. learning found a home. II was
never quite separated from recogni-
ton and ceremonial worship Of the
Deity.
Priests and prophets wcre the ac-
kn~owledeed depositories Of all esoteric
mysteries for much Of the learning Of
those days was embalmed in some
mystic cult True. Greek soph.s:ry.
Greek comedy and Greek philosophy
cast OF many Of the trammels Of SUI
perstition. while nevertheless paying
due homage to Zeus and his large FAM
lily on Olympus or TO the oracle at Del.
phos. Rome at the very zenith Of her
power had her Pantheon. a hospitable
lone for all the gods. Everywhere the
Deity was to be duly honored. en-
treated and placated. Life was to be
attuned in harmony with the will and
law Of the dlvinlties. War awaited
. heavenly assent and benedict!on.
Thus the ideal OF education tool on
q divine character and paid n honor
1 the powers above. The end was
such happiness as could arise from the
practice Of civic virtue and good gov
eminent and observance Of law. A
future life was enshrouded in mist or
some kind Of metempsychosis. or in
q fantastic drama Of disembodied spif-
its, or in Nirvana, complete absorp-
ttion Of the Deity.
False and ridiculous as these sys-
tens may appear to our enlightened
eyes. they cmbody n profound truth
which II SO deeply rooted In the con.
sciousness of humanity that II cannot
be efYaced. although 1t may Be OBJ
scured and denatured. That truth y
the deep and intimate influence Of re-
ligion on education. and on human life
In all its phases. Such q fact must
b an appanage Of no race bound up
with very existence. Since human ma
lure has not radically changed, the
need of religion as n prime element
Of education cannot be reasonably de-
MED. We who are "the heirs OF all the
ages In the foremost files Of time" can
not AFFORD to ignore our inheritance.
And this is chiefly hat Christian pol
ity. Christian education. Christian CIV
ilization. which Is not a farrago OF
Sublime tenuitics" or an eclectic COM
bination Of philosoph!c systems. but
is a complete whole. a perfectly organ
lied code Of morality. doctrine and
religion.
The Catholic Church. which Is as
suredly the protagonist OF the divine
drama in the world. %postulates in her
educational system. first. that man
owes supreme homage. allegiance and
worship to God. and as n member OF
his divine commonwealth Is destined
for q glorious hereafter; second. that
an q member Of society and Of the
State man owes to those In which his
lot Is cast certain civic duties and civil
allegiance. Christ Himself has thrown
into divine formula this twofold duty:
"Render to Cesar the things that are
Caesars. and to God the things that
are Gods" That those duties should
not and need o conflict Is one OF tho
commonplace OF the Church's teach
ing. The very root, then. Of all edu.
cation lies here. A man should be .
good Christian and at the same time
Q good citizen. And the better the
ILL.,