OPENING A CONVENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1438, 13 May 1912, Page 4

OPENING A CONVENT.

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD ON THE CONDUCT WITH AGNOSTICISM. (By TelesrapH.-Presa Association.) Wanganui, May 12. The ceremony of formally blessing and declaring ojjen a new convent was performed this afternoon by Archbishop lied wood, in tho presence of several thousand people. The convent and school have Ijkii erected at a cost of J;l7,S!)t. The site cost .630(10, the furnishings will run into JI2IIOO, niul preparation of grounds and other expenses will bring the total to nearly .£25,000. Tiro building, which is throe storied, stands on n magnificent site on rit. John's Kill, overlooking the (own and suburbs. ' t Jn tho course of his opening address, (lie Archbishop said: "in our days, when error is so pretentions and aggressive, everyone must be as completely ormod as possible with sou ml knowledge—not clergy only, but the people also—that they may withstand the noxious influences of popularised irrcligion. In the great coming combat between truth and error, faith and agnosticism, an important part of the fray must bo borne by the- laity, and woe to them if they are not prepared— especially in our era of popular rights and liberties, when every individual is an active and influential factor in Hie body politic. All should bo fitted by suitable training for an intelligent mid conscientious discharge of the momentous duties devolving upon them. Can anyone reasonably deny that a sound civilisation must depend upon sound education? Hound education must develop what is best in man, and make him not only clever, but good. One-sided education— education with the best part, viz., religion left out—will develop a one-sided life, and such a life will topple over, and Tso will any social system that is built on such lines. True civilisation requires that, not only physical and intellectual, but also the moral and religious, wellbeing of people should be promoted, and at least with equal care. Take religion away from tins people, and morality will soon follow. Morality gone, even physical conditions will, ere long, degenerate into corruption which breeds decrepitude, while the people's intellectual attainments would only servo to guide them to deeper depths of vice and error. That is so glaringly demonstrated in iho past that it is amazing that there can bo two opinions about it. Many unfortunately, say: 'Let religion be the light anil the. atmosphere of the lie mo awl church, but exclude it from the school. What folly! Are not childhood and youth the periods of life when character' ought especially to be subjected to religious influence? And can wo deny that the sohool system is so important a factor in the formation of tho character of childhood and youth thot its influence often outweighs those of tho home and church. Right-thinking men are Icing forced by reason and experience to recog- : niso that the only practical way_ to onisuro a christian people is'to give our I youth a christian education.