The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03

be blessing but a curse. To be COM
plete education must take into account
all OF mans faculties and train him
to use those noble endowments for the
highest purposes Of life. To this end
the light and inspiration Of religion
everywhere dominates the school 1t
Is made the foundation Of all moral
instruction and the groundwork upon
which character is built. indeed the
very cornerstone Of the edifice. 1t is
not taught merely as separate entity
in the curriculum, but it permeates the
whole course, and Is brought into vital
relation with every other branch.
Catholics believe that since education
is preparation for life and since the
life Of man continues beyond the
grave, II should 1T him not only for
time but for eternity.
Call to mind some Of the growing
evils that are now gnawing at the very
vitals Of our country. Divorce, that
dread social leprosy that would destroy
the home and family. the strongest
buttress Of society. Socialism, which.
spurning the right Of private prop
erty, is threatening to undermine our
national life and which carries In its
wake seven other spirits more wicked
than itself Brazen vice that would
sweep aside all barriera How are
these to be combated7 How are they
to be uprooted7 The Catholic
school supplies the answer. 1t is re-
Hgion in education. The only remedy
that win eradicate them IL to daily
train the youth Of the nation in viz
tue and lay the foundation Of his char
acter deep down in the rocked Of re-
Iigion-
In giving prominence to religion in
education Catholics are thoroughly
American. living up TO their country's
earliest and highest ideals. There is
nothing more in harmony with the ira
ditions Of those early pioneers who
laid the foundations Of our glorious re-
public than that religion should be cher
ished as the strongest defence Of its
free institutions. They sought" says
Webster. ito incorporate the principles
of Christianity with the elements Of
their society and to diffuse its infiu-
ence through all its institutions, civil.
political and literary" 1t was under
the Inspiration Of religion that the
first settlers braved so many perils In
coming to our shores This country
was conceived and born and nurtured
in an atmosphere Of religion Our
and Declaration of hide
pendence breathe q deep spirit Of re-
ligion, and the custom stiIl observed
Of opening with prayer our Legisla-
lures, both State and Federal, as well
as the annual Thanksgiving proc
lamations by the Governors Of our
States, are but present day witnesses
Of the religious inheritance handed
down to Us from the beginning. Har-
ward College was founded as a school
Of Divinity. Yale, too, was In the be-
ginning essentially q school OF re-
ligious teaching. No. It is not the i'm
portance which Catholics place upon
religion which marks a departure in
Dur country's history, but 1t Is the de-
Outstanding Of our schools which
does the greatest violence to our Oldest
and most sacred traditions.
The ever growing reed for religious
In the training Of youth has
not gone UNDECIDED. and several ex-
pedients have been and are now at
tempted to supply this want. These
take the form Of moral instruction,
ethical lectures, lessons from the an
,ient philosophers, moralists and the
ike. Who will deny that they have
something? But who
an admit that they can ever I'LL the
place OF religion In properly moulding
he win and developing strong Chris
ian character? Without religion there
an be no enduring morality. No sys-
em Of ethics that has not behind II
living faith was ever effective In curb
ng the evil inclinations Of human ma
ure. Where Is the sanction that backs
10 these moral lessons? Whence the 1
source Of their authority? What Is to
,e the character Of these instructions