Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-29

"Note: When Mr.. Brewster read
in the Press Herald that the
undersigned Bishop of Portland
would reply to his TRADE. he sent mo
copy of his complete speech, which
| read carefully. The first part is
rather a pretentious historical sur
lvcy Of education, especially in New
England, but as it has no direct bear.
ing on the chief point of issue. and is
full of inaccuracies, which do not
now concern me. l do not think it
advisable to distract attention from
the main falsehOodS that appeared in
the official abstract, printed in the
Press Herald on last Friday. and
which l follow here for the most part.
zone would suppose that the
know it-all Mr. Brewster would tell
the truth, at least when he is adj
dressing a Sunday school reunion.
but long continued habits do not
seem to give way even in such at
mospheric conditions.
"At Watervillc, on last Thursday.
he said 50 many things that are not
so. that l feel it my right, perhaps
even my duty to inform the people
of Maine, in whose fair mindedness
still have strong faith.
l. Mr.. Brewster says that the
utS pm vi the pubic ScllCOt
system is the reSon of the eXis-
tence and development of Names
parochial school system. This is the
strangest and strongest indictment of
the public school system that I have
yet seen, for it means that the pub
lie school system is not only not
hristian, not religious, but has ac-
tually 'dechristianized and 'despirit-
ualized' the pupils, has no spiritual
value or influence, even of the latest
species. called Christian science
spiritualism.'
1T is not my place to argue for or
against this queer indictment. let Mr..
Thomas tackle Mr.. Brewster on this
point and throw him down, if he can
and so wishes.
ut is my right and duty to say.
that. if one admits Mr.. Brewster's
terrible charge as true, namely that
the public school system is 'dechrist-
ianized' and 'despiritualized,' hence
simply n materialistic institution.
then he has strongly justified the eX-
iStence of our Catholic school system,
which, however. existed long before
there was any such thing as Il public
school system.
will the State Of Maine stand for
and finance a 'dechrisianized' and
lIlSlltulIDH. WHICH
can have only one effect. namely to,
'paganize' the children, hence also
the people?
,. Mr.. Brewster says: The Bis
hop has definitely stated. that he
would not permit children OF his faith
to attend the public schools, because.
they would not receive there a Chris
tan character and civilization.
strangely enough Mr.. Brewster
admits the conclusion to be substan-
TALLY true and proves it by his pre-
vlous indictment of the system, but
l must reply that I never made any
such statement though l have said
and do say. in the words of the Holy
Gospel: You cannot gather grapes
from thorns nor figs from thistles.'
you cannot reap a Christian harvest,
unless you SOW good Christian seed.
There are thousands of Catholic
children in the public schools all over
Maine. simply through sheer necess-
ity and impossibilty of having a
Christian school. The Bishop Of
Portland is not the Catholic church
and has no right to make any such
laws and never has made any such
laws or statements. The Catholic
church law is very clear and simple.
viz: That all Catholic parents are
'ooAiN Al NCilStiOhNC W give tllelL
children a Catholic education either
at home, or in a school, or some
where else.
Now the public schools do not and
cannot under the present law and sys-
tenn give such an education, hence
conscience again comes in to deter
mine the Catholic people to build.
equip and maintain their own
schools. because the State rightly
demands that children be educated
up to a certain age and grade or
standard and the Church rightly
teaches what are the obligations of
a Catholic conscience. The Bishop
simply states what is the doctrine
and law Of the Church and is the
judge to declare what course is to
be followed when it is impossible for
any individual, family or group in
some localities to carry out their
plain duty. namely to send their
children to Catholic schools. once
that the necessary or minimum grade
or standard Of education is assured,
the State has no further interest un-
der our laws.
3. Mr.. Brewster, with patronizing
air. says that the Roman Catholic
church in Maine agrees with US in
the great necessity of religious edu-
cation. No, Mr.. Brewster. Neither
the Catholic Church nor its official