THE LOYALTY OF AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS

New Zealand Tablet, 12 October 1916, Page 39

THE LOYALTY OF AUSTRALIAN CATHOLICS

.WHAT THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE HAS OBSERVED.

Speaking at the opening of the new school and hall at Ridge street, North Sydney, on Sunday afternoon, his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate delivered an inspiriting address on the beneficial results of Catholiceducation, and showed how nobly the students of these schools were doing their part in the cause of their country (says the Sydney Freeman of September 21). ‘ I rejoice every time I hear or read of a new school being opened,’ said his Excellency. ‘ The school is not only a factor in the progress of civilisation, but it is a centre of learning.’ In many respects the school was more necessary than the Church, he continued, because without it the Church could not flourish. It would be quite useless to erect a church if it remained empty. His Excellency said that he was not surprised when he read in the American papers that the Bishop of Albany (Dr, Cusack), whom he knew personally, had publicly announced to his people that under no consideration would he grant permission to organise a new parish or build a church unless at the same time a school was erected. According to Catholic principles, education must penetrate the whole soul of the child ; it must be extended to all the faculties of the soul, which could not be divided into parts. That was the reason why the Catholic system of education, since the beginning of Christianity, combined secular knowledge with moral and religioxxs training. When the first schools were erected, that system was adopted, and it has been the same all through the centuries. Experience in Australia. While on that point, his Excellency said that he would give them his experience since he arrived in Australia. He had moved about extensively, and had visited the capitals of the other States, as well as many villages and towns, and everywhere he had the honor of meeting the leading men, many of whom were members of other denominations. When he asked the Catholics who were prominent men where they had been educated, the reply invariably was ‘ in the Catholic schools or colleges.’ These men were holding the most responsible positions in the community ; they were model citizens, well equipped, prepared, and trained to take charge of any office in the State ; consequently the system of education in the Catholic schools gave as good fruits and was just as good as the education given by other denominations. Apart from that, the Catholic schools not only imparted religious as well as secular knowledge, but trained the boys and girls to comply with their duties as citizens duty to themselves, their neighbors, and their God. That they knew and realised their duties tangible proof was given. - Catholic Loyalty. If one looked around, he found hundreds of young men, pupils of the Catholic schools, who had enlisted and gone to the front. At St. Ignatius’ College (Riverview), St. Joseph’s College (Hunter’s Hill), and the other colleges of the city and country, there was at the entrance a roll of honor containing the names of the ex-students who had left their country and made sacrifices at the front. Even from Waitaxa, added his Excellency with a smile, three of its babies had enlisted. (Laughter.) Continuing, the Apostolic Delegate pointed out that the young men educated in the Catholic schools had faithfully discharged their duty to their country. A few days ago he had read with amusement in the paper that a member of Parliament in Victoria had stated that the Catholic-schools were disloyal. Hi? Excellency was glad to say that the Premier, himself an honorable gentleman, repudiated the statements of Mr. Snowball, as they well deserved. No one who knew anything about the system of education in the Catholic schools could throw the slightest suspicion upon the loyalty of its boys and girls, its teachers and

professors. The secular education in the schools was of just the same standard as that of other schools, while at the same time religious knowledge was imparted in order to form the children into good citizens. The results have been most satisfactory towards the welfare of the State and society, and that fact cannot be denied. (Applause.)