The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1880. SOCIAL SCIENCE CONGRESS, MELBOURNE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 397, 19 November 1880, Page 13

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1880. SOCIAL SCIENCE CONGRESS, MELBOURNE.

SOCIAL Science Congress was lately held in Melbourne. At this meeting the education question was discussed by able men under the presidency of the Anglican Bishop Moorhouse. Gentlemen of views the most conflicting on this important point took part in the discussion, but nothing new was elicited. The old arguments, and the old arguments alone, were brought forward, The discussion, however, is not without interest and utility. The old arguments were well put, and the ignorant, if attentive, could not but have derived much profit from the able speeches of those who took part in the discussion. The most remarkable feature of the whole proceedings was the absence of all attempts to justify on principle the establishment of a national system of merely secular education, and the universal acknowledgement of the necessity of religious education, Such an acknowledgement at once and for ever disposes of the question so far as principle is concerned. The only question, then, that remains is, whether expediency or the peculiar circumstances of divided communities render that necessary, which on principle must be reprobated. But an answer is found in the fact that divided communities, when willing, can find a way out of the difficulty without sacrificing principle. England herself is an example in point. There, in the midst of a community split up into numerous religious denominations, the national system of education is denominational and religious, and for that very reason, comparatively cheap, as may be seen from an extract from a speech by Cardinal Manning, published in another part ©f this paper. But if at the Congress no attempt was made to defend godless education on any principle except that of expediency

which, as is evident, has no solid foundation, there were not wanting some empty-headed bigots to give expression to the usual absurdities about secular schools and Catholic views and objects. One of the Victorian godless school masters stoutly denied that the Victorian S} 7 stem was godless on the ground that the name of God was not yet entirely expunged from all school books, though it is well known that the Minister of Education has directed that the holy rame shall be blocked out in all future editions of these books. But even though such an order had not been given, the argument of the school-master utterly fails, inasmuch as he is forbidden to inculcate the existence of God, and to base morality and discipline on His will and authority. It is also a crime for a school teacher to manifest any respect in school for Christ, Christianity, or any Christian principle or institution whatever. Why the fact is the secularism of the day, so far as education is concerned, is no more God-fearing or Christian than it is Chinese or Buddhist. And this is the demoralising system which a community of professing Christians has, at enormous cost to the community, established for the training and guiding of their children. There can be no doubt whatever that such conduct is in reality an apostacy, not only an ignoring, but a positive rejection of all religion, as well as of Christianity. The man who accepts purely godless education for his child, proclaims aloud his conviction that neither religion of any sort nor Christianity is necessary or even useful for the happiness and well being of this child either here or hereafter.

Another rampant secularist could not allow the occasion to pass without easing his pent up feelings by an effort to wound and insult Catholics. According to this worthy, the opposition of Catholics to the godless training of their children, arises not from conscience, but from a desire to obtain public money. The mere announcement of such an assertion shows the mental and moral calibre of the man who was capable of giving expression to such drivelling nonsense. The Catholics desire that their children should be educated as Christians and Catholics, and that a fair share of the taxes to which they contribute in common with their fellow-citizens, and which are spent on schools, should be given in aid of their own schools.

The Univers remarks amongst the new members of the Oriental Athenaeum two prelates — Mgr. Redwood, Bishop of "Wellington, N.Z., and Mgr. Lamaze, Bishop of Olympus, Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania. A commission has just been named at the Athenaeum to bring out a book of scientific questions relative to their dioceses. Their Lordships kindly undertake to send replies, either personally or through their priests.

The Dominican Sisters request that those of their friends and well-wishers who have kindly undertaken to dispose of tickets for their approaching art-union will endeavour to return the blocks of tickets sold to the convent as soon as possible, as the Sisters are anxious to arrange for holding the drawing early in the new year. They acknowledge the receipt of remittances as follows :— J. Corbett, Greenstone ; Mrs. Mcßride, Kinloch ; J. Fitzgerald, Masterton ; E. Phelan, Charleston ; J. Hunt, Charleston ; M. Rooney, Invercargill ; J. Fleming, Kaiwarau Gorge ;A. Mcßae, AddisonsFlat ; P. O'Connon Oamaru.

In reference to the remarks made by our Christchurch corres. pondent concerning the calumny headed " Purgatory in a Convent," published in many of the N.Z. newspapers, we may r3mark that the Very Rev. Father Forest also contradicted the falsehood in a letter to the HamTtes Bay Herald, giving a translation of its refutation by the Monde.

The Rev. Father O'Malley, S.J., has kindly consented to deliver a lecture at an early date in aid of the Christian Brothers' School lending library. The subject chosen by the rev. lecturer is the " Deluge," which will be treated of from the scientific point of view.

In another column will be found an invitation to the citizens of Dunedin to aid by tbeir interest and votes in the election of Mr. A. H. Ross, as Mayor for the ensuing year.

We have received the Bules of the MarlboTough Trades' Protection Society. The object of the society is to promote the integrity and welfare of the trade of the colony, and it must, therefore, recommend itself to the approbation of all respectable colonists. His Lordship the Bishop of the Diocese will hold a visitation at Lawrence, on Sunday next, 21st inst.

Mr. J. J. Connor announces in our advertising columns the Press Consultation, No. 4, on the Dunedin Cup, 1881. Judging from the success which attended this event last year, and from the undoubtedly satisfactory manner in which the " Press " drawings are conducted, we should say the present undertaking will prove even a greater success.