ARE OUR SCHOOLS EFFICIENT?

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 19 May 1893, Page 17

ARE OUR SCHOOLS EFFICIENT?

believe that oar Catholic schools are very efficient. Secularists affirm that they are not conducted satisfactorily. Whether they are presently efficient or inefficient, they certainly ought to be at all times fully up to the required standard. We have intelligent, industrious pupils ; we have excellent, self-sacrificing teachers. The priests of the Colony are remarkable for zeal in the cause of education, and the most rev bishops show their intense fatherly interest by frequent practical pronouncements. Why should we not have excellent results? The only opportunity of comparison with secular schools was the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, and Catholic schools have no reason to blush at the recollections. For the sake even of efficiency it seems a pity that we have not Government inspection in order that comparative results might be obtained. There is one subject on which public schools specially pride themselves, and that is arithmetic. To it, because of its great importance, we direct attention. We feel convinced that our schools are fully abreast of the godless schools in this as in other points. Still it is well for teachers and patrons of schools to note the boast and profit by the vaunting, so that wh«n the Education Act will be amended, it will be found that Catholic schools can easily hold their own. Our schools should be kept ready for Government inspection. The ironclads on our coasts are always kept ieady for action , so that at once they may enter into an engagement ; so we should keep our schools well manned and in perfect trim, that we may be able immediately to give a good account of ourselves when the opportunity will present itself.

The Dominican Nuns have arranged to hold a baiaar and art* union for tbe purpose of helping to pay off tbe debt on their convent. The debt has been incurred for tbe erection of their schools in Dunedin, and they have, therefore, a right to appeal for aid in tbe matter to all who are interested in the great work of education. The bazaar will take place next Easter, and it ia hoped that willing workers in abundance will, meantime, busy themselves to make it a success. — The work that tbe Dominican Nuns have already done should recommend their need to the sympathy of all those who value tbe progress of culture and refinement, and the work that they bave still before them should enlist tbe aid of all who have the welfare of the community at heart. The art-UDion will be drawn for in May, 1894, and the prizes will be well worthy of competition. To piove their genuine worth, a picture will be offered, for which the winner, if he desires to sell his prize, will be paid £100. We now give timely notice of the important undertaking in question, and it remains for our readers to give it, as we are convinced they will, so far as it is possible for tbem, their hearty co-operation.

Thb Bey Father Chervier appeals for aid in completing the chnrcb of Our Lady of the Rosary at Leeston. The work ia one that must recommend itself to the charity of all Catholics. The Bey Father's appeal will certainly meet with a cordial response.

On Sunday evening, in St Joseph's Cathedral, Dnnedio, a recap* tion into tbe Society of tbe Children of Mary took place. The ceremony was performed before tbe altar of the Blessed Virgin — which has been beautifully adorned for the devotions of tbe month of May. Several new members were received, and a number of aspirants were admitted, preparatory to the reception to take place next December. The existing members of the Society— in number about 60 - renewed tbeir act of consecration. Tbe Bey Father Lynch, Adm., preached the sermon of tbe evening, dwelling especially on the Catholic devotion to the Mother of God, and giving a lucid explanation of the difference between the worship paid to her and divine adoration— which the rev preacher proved to have nothing in common. A crowded congregation wbb present.

Thb first clause of the Home Rule Bill, providing for a Legislature in Ireland consisting of her Majesty the Qaeen and of two Houses— Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly— baa been passed, in comm\ttee, on a division by a majority of 42. The time, nearly a wetk, occupied in tbe discussion shows tht obstinacy of the obstruction offered.

Mb Michael Davitt has been adjudged a bankrupt for nonpayment of the costs of the North Meatb petition. Mr Davitt accordingly forfeits bis seat ia Parliament. The Nationalist members,

therefore, will hate one notable the less. We do not, however, doubt that they will be able to fill Mr Davitt's place in a satisfactory maocer. The costs referred to, meantime, were certainly not Mr Daritt's sole affair. Zt was bis party that >as, in fact, responsible for them.

OUB ioformatioo respecting the condit'on of the Archbishop of Adelaide is op to a late hour on Wednesday night (gays the Melbourne Advocate ot May 6), and it left, we regret to say, no hope that his Grace's illness would take a favourable turn. The venerable patient was on Sunday last supposed to be in extremis, but unexpectedly he improved somewhat on Monday. The change for the better was, however, of short duration ; on Tuesday he relapsed again into a state of great prostration, and on Wednesday night, when our message was despatched, he was in a very low state, from which recovery seemed scaroery possible. Deep sympathy fer Dr Reynolds was expressed by the Anglican Bishop in Synod yesterday, and that sentiment prevails very widely among all daises and denominate s.

Tbs dodge of our Hebrew friend, who shares the design ascribed by If. Leroy- Beau lieu, a champion, nevertheless, of the Jews, to unbelieving Israelites in Suropr, that, namely, of destroying Christianity, is to persuade tbe public that Catholics would be delighted to accept the godless schools, if only their clergy, and Bishop Moran etpecally, would, under the circumstances, admit them to tbe rites of the Church. Bnt suiely the advantages of every society are dependent on the fulfilment of its obligations by members. An obligation of the Catholic Church is that Catholics should give their children a Catholic education. And is it not a duty of tbe officials of every society to remind members of tbeir obligations and the penalties of violating them i Catholic bishops and priests act no exceptional part in keeping tbeir duty and tbe consequences of is violation before the eyes of members of their Church, But if they were guilty of neglect in the matter f Why, Catholics themselves would be the first to reproach them. And, may we ask, is it the custom of even the Protestant sects to admit to their " sacrament" all who present themselves, whatever m»y be their system of belief ox their course of life 7 Nay, surely even the rabbies themselves must make some distinction in their ministry, unless they exercise it as a mockery. Really oar Hebrew friend's argument has nothing in it, though he may have tbe cunning to make his dodge tell ameng a prejudiced and bigoted people. Our Hebrew friend, as we have said elsewhere, has at present much cause for laughter.