The Result of Godless Education.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2796, 30 January 1878, Page 2

The Result of Godless Education.

Again and again we hare raised a warning voice in reference to secular or Godless education, and denounced the injustice to Catholics done by recent legislation in this tolony. We return to the subject to-day with the intention of allowing others-to describe the effects of Godless education actually experienced, and which we have so often declared to be inevitable. The question of secular schools is of awful import for the family and the State, and cannot be too carefully or too often considered.

From both Germany and the United States of America information reaches us which we commend to the attention not only of Catholics, but to all, particularly of ministers of the Crown and members of Parliament. We shall begin with Germany, where secular schools and colleges hare brought about the following state of things. Out of every 10,000 inhabitants in Prussia, more than 9 are detained in the house of correction—that is almost one criminal in a thousand inhabitants. This we learn from the Beport of Herr Consistorial-Itath Natorp read before the Annual Congresses of the Hhenish and Westphalian Society for the inspection of prisons. This report also draws attention to the increase of crimes against property, especially in Berlin, and to the immense extension of begging, which is to a great extent pursued as a trade.

But more painful still than the demoralisation of the masses is the corruption of the middle classes, which is proved by. the prevalence of frauds, thefts, forgeries, swindling, divorce and self-murder. The worst feature, however, of all is the increase ot youthful crimin* Is under twenty

years of age. A rnongst the various causes to which Hcrr Natorp ni tributes this stale of things, the chief he considers to be— the •' dissolution of the sacred ties which had hitherto bound the people to God and his divine ordinances ; " iv other words, education without religion. From the satuo authority we learn that evidence was given by booksellers in towns where there are large schools—that books of a certain class were largely purchased by boys ; from which the painful conclusion was drawn that fearful secret immorality prevailed in these schools. So much for Germany and secular education. »» Let us now see what may be learned on this subject from the United States of America. Here is an extract from the New England Journal of Education, a teachers' journal: —".Not many; weeks since I heard a scholar in one of our most respectable schools remark that there was more flirting in the school than anything else; but, said she, the teachers do it, so why should not we P I know girls who alf thirteen gave promise of pure, noble womanhood, who are now at twenty 10 tainted with a moral scrofula that no after treatment can ever, cure them. They have talked and thought of dress, and beaux and marriage; they have schemed to attract attention and admiration until now, on the threshold of life, when they should, by the aid of our boasted schools, be ready with brave hearts and clear heads to take their part in life's duties, they are unfit for anything but to play at living, and very poor playing at that. Woe is the man who is the viclim of their superficial attractions, for they are bankrupt in head and heart." These two illustrations of the result of secular schools in Germany and America afford us specimens of what will be the state of things in this colony in a few years if the new school law remain in force so long. Its inevitable outcome must be, as in point of fact it has been wherever it has been tried, the demoralisation of the boys and girls subjected to its deadly influence.. It is no wonder, then, that Catholic parents—to the very humblest of whom the faith and purity of their children is dearer than all other things—should protest so loudly and, energetically against this shocking law en education which was enacted last session. *

Is it again any wonder that all Catholics, with a few disreputable exceptions, should have determined, come what may, to punish to the fullest extent of their power the members who voted for compelling them to send their children to the Godless schools that will be established under it. This is not to be wondered at; but did they act otherwise it would be surprising indeed.—New Zealand Tablet.