IGNORANCE EULOGISED.

Western Star, Issue 31, 13 June 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

IGNORANCE EULOGISED.

There is a weekly paper published in Madrid, entitled the ‘Standard.’ In a recent article entitled “ The Science of Ignorance,” the editor dwells witbJ exultation on the fact that Spain is the only country in Europe which carried,, off no first-class prize in the department of public instruction at the exhibition in Vienna. The Liberal papers are crying out “ shame ” on the nation, but' the ‘Standard,’ in all seriousness, and 1 without the suspicion of the unintentional irony of its language, exclaims.,. “We regard this as the most honorable blazon that could increase the pride of the Spanish people, the people of the convents and of the autos da Je.” After alluding to Tertullian’s praise of ignorance, and to Eve’s morbid appetite for knowledge, the writer goes on to say that “ The fatal mania of thinking ” has become a terrible pestilence, a contagious malady, which vitiates the atmosphere with its deadly tmasnuw- “ Instead of confessing and communicating, of hearing mass, of assisting at sermons and novenas, and of constantly commending themselves to the male and female saints of the celestial court, the sole thought of our young people nowadays is to obtain instruction and to consume their faculties in resolving scientific problems, thus offending God at every moment.” i Science, accursed science, he says, is responsible for all the calamities that have befallen the Church, the emptying of the convents, the desertion of the confessional, and the decreased offerings to the clergy. “ Did not our fathers live in the most complete ignorance V\ he asks, with tears in his eyes, “ and were they not happier than we are 1 ” Science, he declares, is Satanic, and ignorance is something to be proud of. “ Remember the number of defenders which our cause can calculate upon in the north, and that will explain to you why we carried off no first prize for public instruction in Vienna. Let us rejoice at the fact. Viva la santa ignoranda." This is not intended as a joke. It is the sober language of are spectable Roman Catholic paper published in Madrid, and which signifies its veneration for religion by commencing every article and every news paragraph with a cross, and confirms it by being published every Sunday morning for the benefit of all lovers of ignorance who may be able to spell out its. extraordinary contents,— { Argus.’