THE ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 47, 13 March 1885, Page 19

THE ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

In a report of the distribution of prizes at the Cathedral Girls' School the Sydney, Freeman's Jownal gives the following :—: — The Archbishop, whose rising was the signal for much hearty cheering, said that before separating he mast congratulate those present on the success of the day's proceedings, and he need hardly tell them how delighted he was to see so many prizes awarded to the deserving children. It was particularly cheering to know from the report of the devoted Sisters in^cbarge of the school that there had been something of difficulty in making the awards, on account of so many being equal in merit in the various classes and subjects, and be trusted that every year there would be displayed the same eagerness of competition, and the same average excellence among the children (applause). Tnere was an old proverb belonging to the Celtic Church in the ages of Faith to which we all look back with such great pride and joy, a proverb which taught them that a church without its school is like an apple tree without its apples (hear, hear). And if they looked at the beautiful cathedral adjoining this new school of theirs, they would at once ses that it was like a great tree blessed with abundant fruit, one of its choicest fruits being manifest that day in the bright array of devoted, studious, and religious children gathered within those" waLs (applause). There was another saying of the ages of Faith which had become proverbial and which was recalled to his mind by their present celebration. The old proverbwaß, " There is no client of wisdom without the love of truth and justice, but there is no love of truth and justice without the knowledge of God," and in those few words much learning and wisdom was condensed. This had been the battle of the Church for many ages, and it was the combat of the Church at the present day as in the past to preserve the knowledge of God as the foundation of true science and true education (applause). Religion was to the fruits and flowers of trae knowledge a perpetual bloom and a heavenly aroma, and the children of Christ should pursue the paths of science and learnicg under the protection and direction of the divinely appoiuted guide (applause). The Church was wreathed with a glory of scienc, and knowledge yet it was the spirit of the age in its endeavours to banish religion, to pluck from tbe fair brow of the Spouse of Christ her peerless diadem of richest gems of science and learning (applause). There were those who would, if possible, substitute tbe false principles of infidelity for tbe religion founded by our Saviour, and many more were ready to lay the axe of destruction at the root of ft)l civilisation, and to attempt to build up a new society without having regard for God, for religion, for order, or for authority at all (hear, hear). There were, he believed, few countries in which State education had been more fully tested — and there was none in which the fruits of this system were more abundantly shown— than in the United States of America (bear, bear). He had been much struck by the report of a distinguished German visitor, who, in a recently published account of his travels, stated that outside the Catholic Church the fruits of the system were seen in the two thousand religious sects, ail boasting of tbair own particular form of belief, and not one of them having the true knowledge of God (applause). Efforts were made to substitute modern theories for the Faith of our Fathers, and the chief danger was in the schools, where the young were most exposed (.hear, hear). There wbb one remark he wished to make, and it was in reference to those diabolical outrages committed in London and Paris, and in other continental cities within the past few months, which had filled the whole civilised world with horror (hear, bear). He was sure there was not a man of common sense in Sydney, or throughout the Australian colonies, who would cot hesitate before venturing to say that these fiendish men were trained in religious -schools (applause). It was sot by the teaching of tbe

Church that such men were led, and the system which aimed at the suppression of all religion and authority furnished those fruits which had filled the world with shame and horror (applause). Such scenes, as they h d witnessed that day were most encouraging, and he hoped that those schools in which the young were trained in goodness and piety by the Sisters would spread and multiply throughout the continent (applause). The children thus trained would, he was sure, be true to the principles of their religion, and growing up in piety, virtue, and honour they would become not only good Catholics, but useful, intelligent, and creditable members of society (applause). He had almost forgotten to say something 1 ot the good Sisters themselves (applause), and to thank them for .their unpurchaseable and devoted labours in the education of the young. They were not wanting in appreciation of the noble services of the Sisters, but it seemed that instead of congratulating the Sisters the Catholic people had perhaps more reason to congratulate themselves npon their good fortune in having such a hand of devoted teachers among them (laughter and applause). Once again he would offer his best wishes to the children, hoping that the succbbb of last year's work would serve as a stimulant to even greater energy and industry in the present year (applause).