ROMAN CATHOLICS AND EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1038, 30 January 1911, Page 6

ROMAN CATHOLICS AND EDUCATION.

NEW SCHOOL OPENED. SPEECH BY ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD "GALLING GRIEVANCE." In the presence of a largo gathering yesterday Archbishop Redwood opened the new Marist Brothers School in Tasman Street, off Adelaido Road. This up-to-date school building lias already been fully described. It is of red brick and concrete. It is substantial looking and combines all tho features which modern science suggests should not be found wanting in schools. The contract/ price was .£3374. It will accommodato 300 boys, though it will be started with only 200. Brother Justine will have chargo of it. Tho Vicar-General, leather O'Shea, after • tho building had been consecrated by tho Archbishop, and after .lie had referred to the groat interest which his Grace had always taken in education and the schools which stood as a monument to -his zeal and far-seeing wisdom, said that" for some time past it had been evident that with a chango of population from Boulcott Street vicinity where the Marist School was, out towards Newtown, another, school'at that end of the city was necessary for boys.. They had therefore acquired tho present site for ,£IOOO, and, to get another. entrance to tho property they had spent a further .£369. Their thanks were "duo to Messrs. M. O'Connor, Martin Kennedy., and a

■third party who did not wish his name to be known for having given them cheques for tho amount of the section. (Applause.) A house-to-house canvass had been made, which had produced a little over .£6OO, which, with interest added, now stood at .£650. Prom tho land in Boulcott Street. they had been ablo to obtain (.£IOOO altogether, though *£2000' was to go towards the Thorndon School). Thus altogether to liquidate the debt on this building they had obtained c£2650. The total cost was <£337-1, and furnished N and completed, . .£3750. ( They thus had yet to obtain another '.£llOO. The building, he said, was designed by Mr. Swan,- architect; Mr. John Moffatt was tho contractor, and Mr. Waterhouso clerk of works; to all of whom the VicarGeneral gave tributes of thanks. He also mentioned donations that had been contributed.and mentioned that Mr. and Mrs. Martin Kennedy had that day each handed- them a cheque for <£50. (Applause.)

The Archbishop's Address. "Christian education is .the basis of Christian -civilisation," said the Archbishop, in his address, "and, therefore, Christian civilisation cannot endure without it. Christian education is as dear to the Church as the apple of the eye. , An education which does not extend to the whole man is lop-sided and insufficient; an education whicli extends only to-this world is insufficient. Hence the Catholic Church sets much store by Christian education, in order that _wo may be taught to fulfil, all our duties. There is only one true basis of sound education, and that is religion. Separate one from tho other, and you destroy real education. If you eliminate God from education, our boasted civilisation will end in failure. I sincerely congratulate the Catholics of this part of the city on the erection of this handsome, spacious and up-to-date school for the purpose of enabling the efficient and devoted Marist Brothers to carry on their noble work of Christian education in a still moro successful manner, and to make it a living force in the nation. The first school where the truths and the whole truths wero taught was the school'of Nazareth, and .the first college where a similar curriculum obtained was the college of the Apostles. And along these lines, whether by the altars of the catacombs or in the groves of Rome, or in the arena of the Colliseums, the Cross-crowned school drew to it those who would learn of Him because He was meek and humble of heart, attracted thither by His own anxious call: 'Sutler little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not. 1

"Then came the latter days, when Christian schools and scholars made illustrious the nations, of .Christendom, causing that torch of science to blaze in the same steady flame then as now as the torch of Truth. Whatever there be of value—helpfulness, solidity in all our modern systems of education—commenced there. There is nothing in to-day's curriculum, whether, of kindergarten or university, that in principle, at least, did not obtain then. Science may have broadened, invention and research may havo added in later days new names and new facts, but the principles of - knowledge tho Christian schools, of tho middle ages are still the same, as broad in faith, as deep'as the needs of humanity. X "Now, tlieso facts show two things: First, tho magnificent zeal of Catholics in pursuing of that kind of' education which they appreciate, and their fixed determination to it at any cost; secondly, the great injustico indicted on them (a soventh of the population of tho Dominion) by being compelled to pay taxes for public-schools to which they cannot conscientiously send their children, except in cases where, owing to too small a number of Catholics, no other schools are possible. Catholics do not build their schools to- opposo other denominations. 'l'hey havo no fight with people of other faiths.

Roman Catholic Demands, "Catholics liavo never asked, and'.will never ask, one penny from the State to help Catholic propaganda, or as a remuneration for leaching Catholic doctrine; hut Catholics, in tlio name of justice and fair play, do demand equal wages for equal work. They demand that as they educate half the Catholicchildren of the Dominion in their own schools, at their own expense, and . spare the taxpayers thousands, and, in the long run, millions of pounds sterling, they should liavo tho money tlicy spare the Government and the taxpayers refunded to them for tho secular knowledge up to tho Government standard and under Government 1 examination, which they impart to at least half their children in tlio Dominion. They should not he fined and oppressed, for imparting one item of education . beyond the _ secular curriculum required by the State when that item is tho most important of all, to form the very citizens of whom tho State and society at largo stand most in need, viz., men and women who will bo God-fearing, law-abiding citizens—men and women to bo relied upon as uncompromising foes of everything dishonest ' and corrupt—who can be depended upon to support only a clean and free administration of public affairs. Until tho day dawns when this galling grievance is removed and I lie just claims acknowledged- and granted, they are determined to maintain tho struggle in the causo of God and religion.

• Position of Other Denominations. "But,* it may bo said—and it is said publicly—if Catholics receive grants for their schools, even on the pica of the secular knowledge they -impart, other denominations will make similar claims, and thus good-bye teethe secular systems throughout tho Dominion. Nothing :of the sort!" declared his Grace. "It is a false and groundless fear. Why so? Because the other denominations havo practically accepted the secular system, have no conscientious grievance similar to nur own, havo made no sacrifices of money for the establishment of separate sciioois Into ours, and therefore havo no claim that any wise Government would listen to for a moment/' But supposing that, taught and encouraged by the example of Catholics,. they were in future to begin (o make sacrifices and set up separate schools of their own, whilo sparing the taxpayers vast sums per annum, as they did, why then education would gain, and tho country at large would be oquivnlently benefited; and if this led ultimately to the destruction of the secular system, it would only prove one thing: that tho secular system is not in accordance with the public opinion of tho Dominion, and therefore ought in a democracy to bo abolished. As tho caso of Catholic education was the eamo in New South Wales, said his Grace, and as the circumstances of fhe United States as our own. ho would cilo for his hearers the resolutions which the Cardinal at tho Into Educational Conference, held in Sydney, put before that assembly as coming from tho Catholic University of Washington. Theso resolutions the Archbishop then road. A summary of them' was recently published in The "OoauxioN,

"Such," said his Grace in conclusion, "is our Catholic programme, and this school, like the others under Catholic direction, will do its-utmost to carry it out to perfection as far as circumstances will allow. I now appeal to you to clear it of its debt, and make it really your own, and, taught by past experience again and again, I have no doubt of your generous response." The announcement was then made that the architect had donated half his fees, which amounted to .C'l2.

SPEECH BY MR. MARTIN KENNEDY, A STRIKING ANNOUNCEMENT. Mr. Martin Kennedy said their thanks were greatly due to his Grace for his presence there that day. They must also recognise the sacrifice his Grace was making in petting this and the Thorndon schools built and equipped before the erection of the Cathedral. "Within the next twelve months they hoped they would sco tho Thorndon School completed. Then the Cathedral could be gone on with. (Applause.) Referring to the Archbishop's address, ho said it might be risked what effect would it have in regard to legislation—would it hayo any practical outcome? He referred to how things were mixed up with politics nowadays. Education seemed to be a matter; of politics; what would the granting of this or that do for politics? If a trades, union deputation went to tho Government they wero heard. AVas a Catholic deputation heard also? No! Why was it? Because they liad not that unity that was required—(applause)—and until they had it, and they became a power, it was practically useless proclaiming such things as the amount of monev they spent in .tho schools they established, to~ get any amelioration of their grievances—for it was a grievance, nay, it was a persecution that a minority should be treated as were they. Ho pointed to the way Catholics were heard 111 Great Britain, where, in proportion to the total population they were very much smaller tlian onc-scventh, as hero. His hearers would bo glad to know thai a start had been made towards nromoting that power, that unity among the Catholics, and in such a way as to bo able when they did make a demand, or a request, they would: have something behind that demand! (Applause.) Ho knew that one-seventh of the population could not return a number of members large enough to be of material strength, but, nevertheless, if they wero an organised body they could support persons in the House who would be favouTablo to them—not necessarily men of tho Catholic faith, because for many years to come a very few of their number could find their way into Parliament. But there was more thoy could do if they had sufficient organisation: they could do as Cardinal Moran had said, and turn out tho Government of the day. (Applause.) If one-seventh of tho population wero organised there was 110 reason why thoy should-not be able to turn any (government out! They were not saying that wero cither Liberals or Conservatives. They could hold their political views and yet fight for this cause of education. (Applause.)

In conclusion, Mr. Kennedy proposed a licarty vole of thanks to his'Gracs for tho service ho had rendered.

A collection was then made towards tho liquidation of tho remaining debt of .01100, and the sum of ,C3OO was taken up. Tho visitors were also shown over the building. ORGANISATION. " SERMON BY FATHER PEOPLES. Tho Rev. Father Peoples preached a sermon, yesterday ,on tho necessity of Catholics rousing themselves up and working 'ill their own interests politically. Ho slated that they-should all enrol on the municipal and Government electoral rolls and exercise tho ri™ht lo.vote. Ho pointed out what tho great Liberator, Mr. Daniel O'Connell, did in the. Homo Parliament. He wanted the Catholics to come together and assert their rights, as in tho past thoy had shown a considerablo apathy in organisation.