GODLESS SCHOOLS ARE IMMORAL SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 27, 2 November 1894, Page 17

GODLESS SCHOOLS ARE IMMORAL SCHOOLS.

ACTS are plain talkers ; but even striking facts, recurring at painfully frequent intervals, do not seem to open the eyes of the people to the terrible consequences of the national divorce of Christianity and education. Larrikinism and moral decadence in the young are on the increase, and yet no steps are taken to remedy the evils which are quietly sapping the foundations of society. Godless schools still flourish and do their hellish work of gradual dechristianisation. We, many times in the years gone by, commented on the injustice with which Catholic applicants were treated in the matter of public school appointments. We were laughed to scorn by " pure-minded " secularists, and even blamed by weak-kneed Catholics, for causing unnecessary bickering. There was, forsooth, "justice, simple justice, and nothing but justice," in tb.3 administration of the Education Act. Everything comes to him who waits, and the latest instances of intolerant bigotry at Moa Creek and Waimumu show the possibility and probability and actuality of cruel injustice. With the map of Otago before our eyes we can say that Moa Creek and Waimumu have not a monopoly of bigotry in this very matter. Again, we have alluded to the absence of a proper moral tone in colonial public schools. In making our assertions about godless schools we had in mind what had been chronicled by the Prpss in New Zealand and Australia. We gave the opinions of prominent Protestant divines, some of whom — strong adherents of Presbyterianism in Victoria — denounced in unmeasured terms the " paganism " of the young brought about m>y the banishing of the name and religion of Christ from the public school. Even these are unheeded. The babyhouse of secularism must not be knocked down. Notwithstanding a contrary experience, we are still to believe, with fcir Robert Stoui, that morality without religion can be, and is, taught in secular schools, and that the cause of morality is fostered by the enlightenment given by national education. Sir Robert's educational fads are, like his political fads, happily not quite universally followed. Sonio men dare, from time to time, to rise in revolt and protest against the assertion that the moral tone of State schools is healthy. A

few weeks ago, in Melbourne, the Rev E. H. Fcott, the new vicar of Kangaroo Flat, made in the Anglican Church Assembly what the Herald called " Some startling assertions." Acting on information r^e^ivM from a prominent public man, with exceptional opportunity for acquiring knowledge, Mr Scott proceeded to show how the condition of the children is simply appalling. The Herald reports him as follows :—": — " The Key ft. H. Scott said that, in reply to the question, ' Is thore any need to modify the present system, and the administration of the present Act ?' he would say that there was a man in Australia, who, if he did his duty, or made public what he could of the moral condition of children in some parts of Victoria would make the ears of the community tingle. That man could affirm from actual knowledge of facts, that in some cases the moral condition of children was simply deplorable. Children of tender years are, or were a time back, living those lives and doing those acts that make their fathers hang their heads with shame, and their mother's heart faint with sickening tremours. Why is this condition of things ? They have neither the grace of God in their heart, nor the fear of God before their eyes." Thus Mr Scott. Turn we now to our own fair young land for an illustration. Two young men were lately prosecuted for assulting a young girl on a Sunday evening at Prebbleton, Christchurch. Two were prosecuted out of quite a mob of lads — some fifteen or twenty in number. An ex-State school teacher was called upon to give evidence, and fearlessly expressed his opinion on the inability of the present system to effectively teach morality. He said that all the lads were his own pupils atone time or other, and, after seventeen and a quarter years' experience as teacher in that district, he unhesitatingly attributed their misconduct to the want of religious training in the public schools of the Colony. Of course his words will be unheeded. In their gross personal selfishness and utter disregard for grave parental duty, people close their eyes and see nothing wrong in their godless fetish. A deluded woman comes to the Colony and talks utter nonsense about the Mahatmas of Thibet, of whose very existence the highest Buddhist Lamas are in complete ignorance. Sir Robert Stout patronisingly takes her by the hand, and the multitude runs after the would-be destroyer of Christianity. Brave men stand up and expose the festering, quickly -spreading 1 sores in our national life. They are unheeded. At once our local Mahatmas cover the wounds, and even declare their non-existence. But they exist all the same. A Melbourne contemporary calls godless schools "hotbeds of immorality." Is it precisely because of immorality among pupils in this or that school, because of the sins of the children and teachers and patrons of public schools that we call Godless schools " immoral schools," and speak of tho " immorality of public schools? No 1 By the immorality of secular schools we understanjj especially the cardinal sin of the vicious system — the absence of religion, of religion which makes the individual virtuous and gives stability to the nation. Great disorders arise not so much through the presence of evil as through the absence of good. In the physical order the best food, without salt, becomes unwholesome and corrupt. The man, to whom salt is denied, may eat the most excellent food, but his blood will become impure. Ihe absence of s<»lt means poison to the bodily system. Education without religion means conuption of the heart — cultivation of the intellect and neglect of the soul. It means that man will be, like a bird with one wing, bound to the earth and unable to soar aloft into the heavens. A bird with two wings can walk in the field, and run along the ground, and fly away at will from place to place. A man who has been educated in the real sense of the word, — into whose training religion has entered, can do his work in society as well as his fellows, and do his duty to the God who made him. What happens when man i* denied the salt of the earth, when religion is excluded from the training of youth ? Simply this. His capability for evil is increased by the very ins! ruction he receives. He becomes a heartless intellectual monster. Without religion there is no true sanction for morality : schools without religion do not effectively teach morality. Because of the immoral principle upon which they are established, we have no hesitation in calling the Godless palaces of secular instruction "immoral schools."

We are happy to say that, as we go to press, the improvement in the condition of the Most liev Di Morau continues. Hia Lordship still remains at the country place, where he. went last week, and is making very considerable progress.

In J-t Patrick's ch.irch, South Danedin, last Sunday forenoon, the Very Rev Father Lynch, who preached, alluded to the hci't'i of the Bishop. He wag pleased to b> able to cay 'hat his Lirit-hip was gradually aud H-cavllly improving, and now birmclf felt pnp°ful of recovery. Referring to ttiu recent opening of ll, v church, Fi'.h.r Lynch said the amount subscribe \on the occasion was £400. If th<» entertainment piomoti'd by th • D.ineain Cithilic L tcriry in conncctioi with this openin/, were t ken into ac^oum, cJosi on £500 rad been realised within a few w^ks fjr this one ol j-cfc.j -cfc. Considering tnc dulaesjof trio times and tho muiv eti s upon a gcncrou3 people, ho bok-d upon this r< suit as very sati«fac'ory. Dr Moran had desired him, while again thanking the people-, to express his j iy at the progress made in South Dunedin.

Our contemporary, the Dunedin Star, briefly mentions the fo'lowing. The wonder is that our contemporary mentions it at all. But may be it is a boast he makes :— " It costs £20 a year esch to educate the thirty-four boys (most of them being under fifteen years) who attend the Waitaki High School."

"Upon the returns furnished by the head nni dis'iic inspectors after the annual examination of teachers, recently he'd, ("i\ys an Irish paper) the Commies oners of National Education have ordered that Mr William O'Riordan, principal teacher of the Millstreet Male National School, be promoted to the first division of the first class from the lit April, 1894. The promotion of Mr O'Rio'-dan is all the more remarkable because he has never baen to either of the training colleges, and is one of the few instances of a teacher attaining the highest rank of the profession by m?ans of private Btady alone." The gentleman so creditably promoted, we may add, is a brother of our esteemed townsman, Mr O'Riordan, of Her Majesty's gaol,

A VALUABLE contribution in tho cause of temperance (says the Napier Nens of October 25), was the poweiful sermon of the Rev Father McCarthy on Tuesday evening, and wo are very pleased to learn from many sources that it was thoroughly appreciated. In matters of fuiib, society is a good deal divided, in morals and on social questions there is generally unanimity, and on the temperance question of all others, persons of all theological views meet on common ground. Father McCarthy's sermon dealt chiefly with the moral and spiritual aspect of excessive drinking, and dwelt upon the necessity for cultivating temperance. The extremist may sneer or be intolerant at such teaching, but it is the true teaching, and we never see or hear it without adding our humble endorsement. The evil is a great one and it calls for strong deterrent remedial and repressive measures. But it will not yield tjany violent process of suppression of the traffic. It will yield only to moral suasioa and firm just lawp. founded upon well considered ar.d tested bases. Nothirg but failuii 1 waits the extremists. We have joet seen a Bignal instance of this in tlnj virtual cxtinc ion of Sir Robert Stout as a political power. Nothing has spoiled his career m >re than his devotion to a fid. There was a great ou'ery from a section of peop c that he would have a mighty following. But it did not come eff, and between the teetotal f i i, imd Ms factious opposition lo the Government, hj descended from the high estate whence he started. A licen-irg law, well adminis'ered. should regulate the traffic an! minimise its evil eff cts, as a temporary expedient . Ii the meantime, public opiniou is stiadily and strongly on tho side of temperance, and it is to thnt more than to all fids and violent means, that we shall owe all true riforrcs.

The funeral of tie kt3 Mrs Biyle, wif3 of Mr Tnomas Boyle, of Block 27, (says the Thames Star of October 19) took place yesterday afternoon, an 1 was \, rgely attended both by members of the H.A.C B. Society and the general public. Tha remains were taken to St Fiaccis's Chuic'i in Willoughb/ a'reet, whf>ru the usual service waa conducted by the Rev Father O'Reilly, after which the cortege continued its way to the Shortlanl cemetery, where the last sad rite 9 were most impressively performed by the rev gentleman.

AT Leeston on the Foast of the Most Holy Rosary, the festival of the church of Our Indy of the Rjsary, was solemnly observed. High Macs be'ng ce'ebrated at 11 a.m. The following Sunday there was a general communion of the local branch of the H.A.C. B.S > who were pre c ent in a body, wearing their regalia, and the number of communicants, on the whole, was greater than on any previous occasion it had been in the parish. The Rev Father Chervier, S.M., deserves warm congratulations en the progress that is evidently being made under his wise and z:alous administration.

The annual spurts of the O ago Hussar?, which touk place a( Thhuna I'aik, Dunedip, on Saturday, eirne oil with great eclat. The corps distinguished themselves highly by their dixtenty and admirable training. The committee of management aru to be

congratulated on tho happy results. They are as follows :— Captain Rob n, Lieutenants Price ani Siovwrighr, S:rgeant-major Parki Sergeants Munro, Stronach, and Morris, Corporal Mitchell, and Troopers Haz'ett, C Reid, Orbell, and Lsary. t

The programme of the entertainment to be givei this (Friday) evening in the Foresters' Hall, Port Chalmers, in aid of St Mary's church, is of great attraction. All tastes have b*en taken into consideration and the comic as well as the sentimental bag bepn provided for. The unnea of the ladies and gentlemen who kindly give their services aro a sufficient guinntee for the character of the performarc*. The first part takes the form of a concert, into which, however, a clog dance is introduced, aod the second consists of the play, with the same cast of characters, which elicited so much amusement, and gained such well deserved applause at the recent entertainuum given by the Du-iedin Catholic Literary Society. Judging by its merits the programme alone— even wi hout the aid of the object to be served— should draw a crowded house.

An entertainment will be given in the City H ill, Dunedio, on Friday evening, November 16 in aid of the Christian Brothers' school. The performers will be the pupils of the school, and there is no doubt bat they will ficquit themselves with the-r usual success. The programme contains a choice selection of music, and some dramatic Ecenrs. We need hardly bespeak for the young performers a liberal support. This is invariably accorded to them, and it must be admitted that in no instance have they showa themselves undeserving of it. Their audiences have always expressed themselves highly pleased with the entertainment. The performance now to be given will prove no exception to the rule — indeed it may be assumed in advance that marks of the boys' progress will be very apparent. The Christian Brothers are growing in fame every year. Their sue. cesp, for example, in the recent Intermediate Examinations in Ireland has been brilliant, and the spirit with which they labour and the results gained by ttem amongst ourselves are comparatively no less. In every respect, then, the approaching entertainment will be worthy of patronage.