The Irish standard., 1916-02-19

education give some thought to the
spiritual. In its January issue there
appears an article on Religious Edu-
cation in the Public Schools" which is
a most interesting contribution on this
subject, as much by reason of what it
incorrectly as we'll as that which it cor
rectly says. 1t emphasizes the neces-
sity of "a training of the heart" as
we'll as "a training of head and hand"
TO complete the trinity of activities
1T remains to find means for right
training of the heart-for that kind
of training which results in charac.
ter based on principle, actuated by
love of right. Without such character
the individual is like piece of ma.
chinery out of gear, and society made
up of such individuals suffers conse.
quent disorders and discords."
To all of which hearty assent can
certainly be given. The spiritual fac.
ulty of man does decidedly need train
ing and development. when all of
the faculties of the human being" we
are further informed, "are in thei.
right adjustment, the life of the indi
vidual runs smoothly; and society ap
proaches the ideal in proportion as
this adjustment in the individual lives
prevails. 1t is by the centralizing of all
the motives of conduct in obedience tc
the Divine Commandments that this
adjustment is accomplished, even as II
is by the operation of the immutable
law of gravitation that all the forces
of nature are held in equilibrium" 81,
Is much to be desired" we learn, "that
our public schools be made effective
in the development of character, as
we'll as in the training of the intellect
that character-building take the place
in the school curriculum which it's i'm
portance demands"
1t is here that the stumbling in the
argument begins. Our religious edu
cation is not to be the education that
we generally understand it to be in the
use of that term. 1t is to be that
deeper conception of a personal re-
ligion which in the past has produced
so many sanity characters 4.
plus an education that has reference
to the whole human race, in it's entire
range of interrelated necessities and
obligations, and that looks upon each
individual as vitality related to the
WHOLE" ut is much to be desired that
there be prepared book of selections
from the Scriptures, acceptable to Prot
estant, Roman Catholic, and Jew, as
suitable for reading in the schools, and
that the daily reading of portions of it
without comment be prescribed. 1t is
impossible to estimate the benefits that
would follow from such a daily exer.
else, especially if the teacher were in
sympathy with it. The singing of
hymns expressive of love, gratitude,
and worship may be powerful factor
in the development of that religious
susceptibility without which religious
instruction is inefficient" (Vol
XIII, PIP. 92-101.)
Unhappily for all, this form of effort
is not religious training. 1t is but a
poor, weak imitation of that education
which will really produce the great
benefits desired and which have been
prognosticated. Mere reading from the
Scriptures and the singing of hymns
will not develop the spiritual fiber of
the growing child. 1t will not give to
his will that impress which will pow.
erfully assist it in keeping in the way
of right and proper action. The teach
ings Of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus
failed to produce vital effect upon
the lives of the people because of this
lack OF a compelling supernatural
force. For proper religious training
we must mold the will of the individ-
ual, give to him that strengthening
vital power that will enable him to
carry into practice the thou shalt
n0ts" of the commandments. To &C
complish this both instructor and in
structed must ever wildly realize that
such commands are of Divine origin,
the essence of moral law God-ordain-
ed. Only in training carried on in the
light of such a realization can the in
dividual be said to be truly religious
ly" educated.
c.. B.. of C. V.