The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacessit." TOKOMAIRIRO, JANUARY 24, 1872. LENTON PASTORAL, 1872.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 402, 24 January 1872, Page 4

The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacessit." TOKOMAIRIRO, JANUARY 24, 1872. LENTON PASTORAL, 1872.

As we are always anxious to disseminate useful information to all denominaaoha and creeds, and especially as we have inserted in this issue the views of the Presbyterian Synod relating to education, and , also a report as to the manner in which the Educational Board of the Province has mqfc the complaints of our Roman Catholiri felloww citizens and settlers, we feel conßtrainea 1 to publish the following extract from Bishop Moraigs Lentaa Pastoral, 1872. Weunder* stand the Bishop honored us by reading last Sunday in chapel some extracts from articles that appeared in bur paper on education, and we desire to ac^nowiedge^ the ment by giving publicity to the following :— '

" The following are the regulations for the Fast "of Lent which we make in virtue of .'special faculties received from the Holy See, and bearing in mind the circumstances of the Diocese :— We grant permission for the use of $esh meat at one meal- only, that is at dinner, on all Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and also on all Saturdays except one, viz , the second Saturday during Lent. Lard and dripping may be itsed after the manner of butter at dinner on all days of fast and abstinence during Lent and throughout the year, with the exception of the Wednesday of the first and last week of Lent and Good Friday. White meats, such as butter, milk, cheese an i eggs are allowed on all days at dinner with the exception of Ash Wednesday, and the Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week, on which three days the ancient discipline of the church is to be observed in all its riyor. Fish and flesh are not allowed at the same meal. There is neither fast nor abstinence on Sundays in Lent." "It is necessary to remind you that the Society of Freemasons is condemned by the chxirch, -and that all its members are ipso facto ex • ■comWilnicated. Should ally Catholics, then, unfortunately belong to this Society,, on "which has fallen so heavily the 'anathema of the church, we earnestly exhort them, as "they value their salvation, to abandon it at •once and for ever ; for .should they continue -members of it, she will refu3e them her aid -while living, and deprive them of Christian imnal when dead. "

" Your generous and zealous co-operation in the efforts we are now making to establish 'Catholic schools in this diocese is most edifyins and consoling, and calls for our thanks," and the thanks of -all good Catholics. But it would be a grevious error to suppose that Enough has been done. In truth the work has only cbmmr-nced, and we must prepare ourselves for lone; continued, arduous, and self-sacrificing efforts in the cause of "Christian and Catholic education. Never 'was a genuine Christian education more necessary than at the present time. Science •and literature have, to a great extent, fallen ; into the hands' of the enemies of religion and •Christian civilization, who are endeavoring to monopolise education', in to turn it into an instrument for the destruction of that 'Church, in which alone men can find salvation. The; effort, indeed, is vain, for the Chr.rch is " the pillar and ground of truth" (1 Tim. c ill-, v 15), and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it— (Matt. c. xvi. v. 18). But there is no security for us or for -our country If we neglect our duty, for the promise has been made to the Church — not to arry particular people, l'he highest and holiest interests, then, of- yourselves and 'Children are bound up in the question of education.

For -yon the battle of the Faith and of morality is to be fought in the School-room. After "the 'Church^- wherein is offered up the 'adorable sacrifice of Christ's Body and Blood, *he' sacraments administered, and the "Word of God expounded— - the holiest and most important place on earth is the Catholic Schoolroom, where the mind of youth is trained and knowledge imparted, in accordance with the Religion established by our Divine Redeemer. Science and literature ■-= and art. ma word, all departments of learning—must be made so many hand-maids of ■true religion ; or, in the age in which -we live, they will be turned, in the han<?s of ■wicked and unbelieving men, into instruments for its destruction, There is— there 'can be — no -real opposition' between reason andreligion, for both have a common -origin -both come from God ; but as. in the '■words of "the Apostle Peter, the unlearned and 1 unwary wrest even sacred Scrip tiire to their • own destruction, so the ignorant and unedu"cnte'd easily become a p-ey to the fallacies of fatee-science and the sophisms of unprincipled men -of genius and learning. The only frerne'dy and safeguard, after grace, for individuals is to be found in a solid Catholic education, which is itself a great internal grace. T3e convinced, then, that for you the battle'of the Church, or social order, and of material progress such as will be no obstacle >tbyotfr salvation, is to be fought iv the '? School- room.

It is •absolutely necessary for y.ou to be on your gnarci against the Government Schools in this -Diocese. They are anti-Catholic, •reprobateß. by the Church, and many ofthe *class"books "used in them contain atrocious calumnies on our Holy Religion and its ministers. On these accounts, Catholics in most places find themselves unfortunately ;and distressingly circumstanced — as, generally speaking, there are no other schools to which ■they can setiH their children, and the probability of having Catholic schools within their ireach is remote. For the Government of the Province not only perseveres in maintaining ■at the public expense this most objectionable .and anti-Catlmlic -system, but refuses us all •aid towards, tlie erection and support of 'Catholic schools. 'This is unjust and impolitic. We nrust protest and strug«le against it in every "legitimate way within our reach, iieantime let us bear in mind these words of our Divine, Redeemer— •' What will 'it avail a man to gain the whole world if he lose his own smil ?" And again, these words •of the Apostle Paul (Seb.cxi. v. 6) " Without Faith it is impossible to please God." Whatever you do, y'nu cannot, without ■making shipwreck of ynuf salvation, endanger the faith '.of -your children— faith, their most :preciousan4 'niost important inheritance. On no accnunt and under no circumstances ■ whateyer, can" you 'allow them to be instructed te prayers or any other mat ters pertaining W'"'' religion by non-Catholic teachers': nor can you permit them to use

-the. " books to which we have "jnsf; now directed your attention. And wherever Catholic schools are within your reach, you are strictly bound to withdraw your children from the Government schools audsiend them to the Catholic. ' .. Efforts are now being made to. substitute :;a purely secular system ior the Presbyterian system of educacion at present existing ihronshout this diocese ;. and Catholi'C3 are invited to aid these efforts. You must be on your against .secularism ia education. Both systems are antagonistic to Catholicity, , for whilst the Presbyterian system would weaken and ultimately destroy your Catholic •faith, the secular system is calculated, and intended by its. chief patrons, to uproot all Christian and Divine, faith,- and erect on its ruins stark^ infidelity. : Oi the two, therefpre, the: latter is . the L more objectionable, and should, therefore, meet from us the most severe condemnation, and the nidst determined opposition.;" ,

•i -.."?"iWe also exhort those =to meet on Sundays lac the purpose of, -public prayer,, and nude? ► ; all- circumstanfiesato bo careful to. have at ileast -family; prayers, and to avoid: the 1 ■^scandal iiandiinjury to • God, involved in - ;. going • to/": Protestant u places j)f -Worship. ; Christ established but one Church, and put•Coiae;that;church^here, is no; ; To i.join/ thecef qre^: inany, form.rofr worship re- ■ egrpbated^by^hia. Ghurch is to commit. a-most; jjreyious sin, and to do an ?act . derogatory at once to the sanctHy and veracity of God. "