THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN ON GODLESS EDUCATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 12, 19 December 1890, Page 19

THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN ON GODLESS EDUCATION.

Thk following is a report of the address delivered at Lawrence on Sund.y, the 7th inst, by the Most Rev. Dr. Moran .— He (the Bishop) had been much pleased with the answering of the children in Christian Doctrine. It spoke well for their intelligence and industry and the zealous care of their devoted priest A new and important work was about to be undertaken. The contract had the preceding day been signed by Mr. D. W. Woods, of Dunedin for the building of a new church. The foundation stone would be laid and solemnly blessed on St. Patrick's Day. Jndging from the plans the building wben finished would be substantial, commodious and elegant, a credit to themselves and an ornament to their town Half the money required was already in h-md. He believed th^ir spirit of uuion and generosity would enable them to opeo the church free from debt. In the course of his address to the children, the Bishop made reference to the system of education which obtains in the colonies. By Confirmation they would, he said, receive the Divine spirit, the Holy Ghost, who would confirm them in their faith and strengthen them to resist all the assaults made upon it The greatest danger which menaced their faith was to be found iv the prevailing Bystem of secular education. He distinguished between the advocates and friends of the system and the system itself. It was upheld by many men wbo in other respects were both good and eensible, but who in this matter were the dupes of crafty designing anti-Christiana He was willing to give tin credit to the supporters of the State Bystem of endeavouring to do their best What he had to say regarded the system which they upheld* rather than the supporters of the system of State education' Secular and godless education was craftily designed by the Freemasons. He spoke not of Colonial or English Freemasons, but of tbe Freemasons of the continent of Europe, whose lodges he characterised as the church of the devil. The object of these last was to destroy tbe Christian religion and to take away even the idea of God's existence. Their aim and purpose was truly diabolical History repeats itself. Every age in the last 1800 years has witnessed gigantic efforts made to destroy the work of Christ. Now property was confiscated, again civil liberty w..a taken away Tortures of every concievable kind were made use of to blot out trom the earth the name of Christ Hi 8 followers and faithful disciples were scourged, burned, crucified, even like their Master, and tried in every way tbat the ingenuity of man could devise. But all in vain. The name of Christ was only the more ejtalted. Many beholding the constancy of the maryrg and moved by grace, embraced Christianity and voluntarily endured the hatred and opprobrium of tbe world. After 1800 years of trial and sorrow the Christian Church exists a D d flourishes in eveiy land. " Truly the blood of martyrs has ever been ibe seed of Christian*,." Tbe experience of ma-iy centuries has shown that persecution but purifies Christianity and increases tDe vitality of Chrises Church. The Church still exists and spreads itself over the entire world. The world still hates the disciples of Christ, and endeavours, as the Rtdeemer prophesied, to mar His work Tbe means employed by the persecutor are changed, but the persecuting spirit yet remains. Tbe modern idea of the enemies of Christianity seemed to be this :— " We have faikd with the older people ; let us change our tactics. With the young we shall have greater success. We shall eatab isb secular schools ia which religion will be ignored, in which the name of God will not be mentioned with respect or reverence, from which Jesus Christ will be banished By practically inculcating the spirit of religious indifference, by a practical denial of the truth of Christiaoi y we shall speedily effectour object " Ihe enemies of Christianity wish to make the rising generation L ?o >.y. y Cist) spreading broadcast the seeds of religious indifferent by C2adly), inducing the young to regard only the things of life as of any consequence, and to set no value oq spiritual things, and C3rdly") by discouraging the justice of Christian schools. He dii not, in making these assertions, give way to feeling, or rua the danger of misjudging men. Tnose of wh.^m he spoke had revealed their intentions <md openly proclaimed their objects. Formerly secret societies were' not tolerated by the State ; now, emboldened by State recognition they fearlessly set forth their object. Freemason lodges published their programme. They male no secret of their determina>ion to weaken and ultimately to destroy Chnsiianity by means of secular and g)dless education. The Church seem? that ihe faith of her children is menactd by purely secular education, will not expose them to danger, and, th. refore, b.-hevm* that raith is most necessary the has unequivocally denounced it. Thus it is that Catholics, wishing t, preseive their faith, make the greatest sacrifices in order to minimise the danger of perversion. Tney are competed to pay tax;s for the eupport of secular and godless education. They have to support their own schools, or allow the faith of their children to be jeopardised The people whose ancestors preserved thair faith at the cost of their lives, have now to save the faith of their children by payiogan iniquitous double taxation. This, h ,wever, must be done as long as the sysem ofi justice and pluuder continues if in an age of indifference and open infidelity faitt i« to be saved. Catholics have made great sacrifices ami, with the spirit of those who lost property and life for Christ' they have at great expen e and selt-ienul maintaiued religious schools, where Jesus Christ receives due recog lition aud honour He had no hesitation in i-aying that, recognising the necessity of the work yet greater efforts would be made to B ave the yoUDg trom modern godleseness a D d to give them, together with a good secular, a aound religious education. '