ThE New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1878. THE RESULT OF GODLESS EDUCATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 246, 18 January 1878, Page 11

ThE New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1878. THE RESULT OF GODLESS EDUCATION.

(JAIN and again we have raised a earning \oice iv reference to secular or godless education, and denounced the injustice to Catholics done b\ recent legislation in this colony. 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 }>c inevitable. The question of secular schools ; - of sin 1 ill import for the family and the State, and cannot l" x too carefully or too often considered. From both Germany and the United States of America i (formation reaches us which we commend to the attention not only of Catholic*, but of all, particularly of ministers of the Urown and members of Parliament. \Ve shall hegin with (jjennany, where secular schools and colleges have brought 3i»out 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 Report of Herr Coxsis-Tukial-Ratii Natorp read before the Annual Congresses t«* J the Hhenish and Westplialian Society for the inspection of |.ri.s(>ns. Tin's 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 fcf the prevalence of frauds, thefts, forgeries, swindling, dJrorce, and self murder. The worst feature, however, of all is the increase of youthful criminals under twenty years of age. Amongst the various causes to which Herr Natokp attributes tills state of things, the chief he considers to be — the " dissolution of the sacred ties which had hitherto hound the people

\- to GrOD and His divine ordinances ; " in other words, education without religion. From the same 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 sec 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 th >re was more flirting in the school than anything else ; but, said she, the teachers do it, so why should not we ? I know girls who at thirteen, gave promise of pure, noble womanhood, who are now at twenty so 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 victim of their superficial attractions, for they are bankrupt in Lead 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, ns 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, 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 on 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 Godlchf schools that will be established under it. This is not to be wondered at ; but did they act otherwise it would be surprising indeed.