RELIGION AND EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14568, 3 January 1911, Page 5

RELIGION AND EDUCATION.

PASTORAL LETTER' BY ■ BISHOP

GRIMES.

[BY telegraph.—own . CORRESPONDENT. ]

- Christchurch, Monday. ■< Bishop, Grimes has issued'a pastoral letter to be read in the Roman Catholic churches throughout his diocese with reference to the establishment of St.' Bede's Collegiate School in Christchurch. The institution will open in: February next, and will be conducted by the Marist Fathers, under the rectorship of the Rev. ■ Father Graham. His Lordship points out that whilst St. Patrick's College, Wellington, has done, and continues to do, yeoman service for the higher education of the youth of New Zealand many of the Catholic people in Canterbury are unable or reluctant to send their sons £0 far away.

; His Lordship, in the pastoral letter, says: —" I am confident that this, the new foundation of the Marist Fathers, will nob only have the approval but also the practical support of every zealous priest and intelligent layman of our diocese. In founding this school for' higher, studies we are fulfiling long-felt want. At the same'time we are complying with the reiterant wishes of the Apostolic See. It may be, and in fact it is often, aeked why we Catholics so strenuously insist upon Christian schools and Christian colleges. Instead of making, sacrifices in founding, equipping, and maintaining primary and secondary schools, of our own,' why do we not avail ourselves of the palatial buildings, with the admirable systems of Teaming, buildings for which we have to contribute and contribute largely to? Is it not because weave animated with the spirit ': of our Holy Faith? " We believe that secular knowledge, no matter how seemingly thorough, is always incomplete without religious teaching. Is it not because we are convinced that there can be no full knowledge worthy of the name .unless it leads to God, the Alpha and Omega of all creation?" \