The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-03

attracted hy the eloquent address de- 'liverod by Rev, Father William J. Fitzrcrald at the graduation exercises i.s ~. AuRustine's school last Sunday night. The Times-Farmer has secured q copy of the speech, W hich Is print cd below in full.
 imony with the spirit of this occasion to offer our most sincere congratula- tionr to you boys and girls on the suc- cessful completion of your Eranmer school education. It is a privilege to wish you Godspeed on your entry into that broader school where, on the foundation you have Aere laid so firmly, you arc to build the super structure of n life dedicated. l hope. to the highest principles. the most sublime ideals of CuthOlic manhood and Catholic womnnhood. It is solemn duty to cypress publicly our heartfelt gratitude to your parents who have generously given of their n1l tiat you might enjoy the benefits of n christian education: to your pastor who has SO abundautly provid- cd for your every need until your school ranks with tho best equipped fin tho diocese of Hartford: to the sisters of Mercy who during all these
  thoy had to give, all they possibly could give. have given you them selves Their evory thought, after the God to whom they have dedicated their talents and their lives. has been for you. Generously does your gratl- tudo ru out to them and while they taught you "to give to Caesar the ghinRs that are Caesars" inculcated at the same time what Is of far
 A.. 4- k.n heart of all true education, "the ne cesslty of giving to God the things that are Gods. Under God. to pa rents, pastor and teachers you owe all that ycu are tonight, all you can ever hopo to be.
 The system of education under which you have been trained is not of to-day nor of yesterday. 'Not 10 any one people or any civil authority anywhere" says Henry Barnard, but 70 the Christian church belongs the higher credit of first instituting the public school or rather the parochial school. for the elementary education of tho poor. which was the earliest form this mighty element of modern society assumed" After the third csr jury ~ the Christian era," he says, "v-hercvcr a Christian church was planted or religious institution es- tablishod, there it was the aim Of the higher ecclesiastical authorities to found fin sorne form n school for the purturc of children and youth for the yservice of religion and the duties of / society"
 From the very beginning the Church of Christ has taught that mans education should be such as will enable him to attain tho end for which he was created. But mans destiny is God. Nothing else can sat 5sfy the cravings of his soul. Wealth abundant may surround him; the highest honors may he his: he may revol in the manifold pleasures which the world offa-s, yet his heart ever remains a void. There is still a some thing for which he craves. something nobicr. something more sublime something more substantial than any. thing this world offers, instinctively does he yearn for God. "Our heart; know no rest, O God" says St Augus tine. "untl they find rest fin Thee Mans end. therefore, being religious religion should form the foundation of and enter into all his instruct! on
 Religion and education cannot b. divorced without detriYnent to the in dividunl aud danger tc society. Con slider for a moment what society ds Inands of us as citizens. It dernand that VIC be loyal to our country: zeal pus in her defense; o5eGient 10 he laws;: scrupulous in our oaths ar vows; just in our contracts and ho44 est dealings. IL demands that VI reverence authority; that we be cour teous 10 our equals; faithful to ou friends: afrable to our interiors, mer ciful to the poor and to the oppressed Jt demands conjuEa1 fidelity of tn married couple. Of parents 1t ask provident vigilance: of children fila love and obedience.
 For the faithful discharge of thes virtues of citizenship strong incen tives arc necessary. They must b strong for wo have strong passions [ overcome. They must be universal fo .hey bind all. They must be per Tnsnsnt for they apply to all time nnd to all places And there is no mo tive except religion which posscsse sufficient strength, universaIity an pcrmanency to insure the discharg of those duties. and the practice C those virtues without which societ crumbles to earth. and disintegrate into n horde of fnurderous b .rnarian
 II is argued by some that Cread C civil punishment is motive stron enough to insure tho due dischars of those duties and virtues. Ala. Tho records of our civil courts br prove too well the utter weakness ( Such sanction. The civil power take cosnizance only of external acts. cannot enter into the heart, the seer, chamber of rebellions and tumults
 cannot enter into the domestic eirc 10 stop tho internperance. the calun nios, fife hntreds. the selfishness thu poison family life. and spread soci corruption.
 If tho child asks, Why should I moral''7 it is useless to point to il policeman. It Is childish to say tn. morality Is the decent thing, the tao ful thing. tho useful or the poi. thing All these considerations wi be swept away fin tho face of tempti tion. and passion. pleasure, seif-Ii terest ambition will become the gui dng standards of conduct
 Noi Civil sanction Is not fund
 mental. II is through God that kin reign. and HIS judgment in the on sure. the only solid foundation of n,