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tu© lm pupils with a reverence for things holy. This la the real spiritual training without which a certain amount of cramming with catechiam and Bible history will not amount to anything.Compulsory Education.It is surprising to see how easily u good many well-meaning ProteBtanta and honest non-CathoIica are galled by the Infidel cry of compulsory education. We have seen papers, profeaaedly religious, advocating this peculiar invention of the Serpent, on the ground that intelligence was in itself adverse to crime, aud that the education of its people was a dictate of self-preservation for the nation. We have about three observations to make on that point at this present time.1st. There is not a shadow of necessary connection between intelligence and innocence. The Devil is extremely learned, ae are also many of the moBt noted Atheists and reprobates among men. On the other hand, the greatest innoconco and virtno are often found among an illiterate peasantry. And on principle, thero is no goed reason for supposing that an accurate knowledge of arithmetic, or grammar, or geography, will inclino one to contemn the things of this world and givo his affections to God. It seems manifest to na that the greatest illumination of the raind may be effected without arousing a single good impulse of the heart.2d. If education is a necessary element of preservation in government, where did the intelligence come from to organize the government. If men without any previous compulsory education are found sufficiently instructed to give shape and life to a new nation, how can we pretend that auch a nation will perish because its citizens are left to the same accidents of education as those which surrounded its foanders T 3d. Compulsory education means too much for the good of onr Protestant friendR themselves. It concedes to the government a power which is virtually the right of controlling conscience and dictating religious belief. If government can enforce education, it may find it necessary to abolish all schools but its own. The other schools would weaken its own too much, they would in its opinion bo equal to no schools at all, they would not givo education enough, or of the right kind, to savo the nation, if education is a necessity, the right kind of education is a necessity, and the government could suppose that to be attainable in its own schools only. Such would be the argu mont.How would our Protestant sectarians like that? And it is not a fancy sketch by any moans. It is exactly wliat is happening now in Prussia. That nation is breaking np all the Catholic schools on one pretext or another, so that compulsory education may carry the children into the Bismarck-Infidel schools.Now suppose that a government should say : “Your children must go to school. You shall close all schools but mino for they disarrange my system. Therefore your children shall all go to my schools. As I have the right to educato them, I have tho right to say of what that education shall consist. I say they shall be tanght the noble, free, liberal, enlarged, untrammeled doctrines of Materialism and Atheism. I will have no more of that nonsense among my people which will warp their judgments and enslave their souls. Your absurd superstitions and theological slavery would ruin our country and Bhall not be taught-”What would the so-called Christian sects think of this T Tet concede to government the right of compulsory education aud you concede the whole control and construction of that education. If Infidelity got into control it wosld not hesitate a moment at exorcising most despotically a power so improvidently conceded.i eqc ! \iDgcas sug wb tirt awi fori one bra cer fea ref ison die anj me at !Ipaipelt;prlt;doiNethebetCanal1recanlt;latterbuveitothealnoctjus•MrroatheBuweheibalthe the see cat art is c cot iuggi'qu:pa«infprireaapnalgrelicttruavclisiC An thii Sou its I chu tho Pol bah will geo in o asd this antiO frou lish of I was goo whi dral cent
Newspaper Details
The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger
New Orleans, Louisiana, US
Sun, Feb 01, 1874
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 28 Jul 2023
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