BISHOP REDWOOD ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 52, 30 January 1884, Page 2

BISHOP REDWOOD ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

— ♦ - ; i After laying the fonndation stone of; a convent at New Plymouth, an address was presented to J^ishop Bedwood by the Catholics of New Plymouth. Bishop Redwood said :—" You are 1 aware; that what we have, done, to-day isf <for 'the-* object of > ..providing" Jibe , Catholics of New Plymouth with raeans of giving their children a good Christian education. The proceedings of this day. are a very strong protest .against what we consider — aud justly so — to beayery , great grievances. We Catholics erect magnificent £cbooL* wit'li our own money — wifhthe'savingfof thepbbi'^hich require 1 1 very great ' aiid berbic ~ l efforts—^andtwe | ' fehallenge anyone toteay that! we r do. not 1 impart m our schools' a sound, secular education, while at the same time we give religious fnstruction to our chil-! dren. Tbo religioiis education will make them good Christian men and good citizens. "W. bile, these facts cannot be disputed weare debarred from^obtaining our share" of the taxation is made for the ptirpose, of educatibhf and at the jSame time. all 'other people obtain • the advantaged by .tising ,'t|ie ; . Gpyerpmont schools. We are debarred from the advantages because -we cannod consent .to a system m -which God -is put out of the way, and religion is iiot taught m the schools. Therefore we claim that we ought ; tp have our fair share of the contributions of the public funds for education. There are ■jthose who say to us, ? Why do yon not avail yourseiyes of the,, public, ■ sehopls ,iqt ' your.ohildrenP'J They, might, as well say, ' Why do you not make use of the churclies of other people ?' It \k just as J reasonable;- Such a statement is not consistent, and it is not what is called ; English fair play. Even although assistance is denied us we shall continue to build our own schools, and if anyone not a Cathlic now present will assist us! by putting his hand m his pocket and help the cause of education, he will gain our admiration and- respect. - The effort that we make is to teach: the religion of Jesus Christ, and all Catholics have responded willingly m other parts of the Gokra*y. maY you -Clafchdlics ' of New Plymouth) fihave not been- behind hand m the gQdd cause. I am deeply indebted to father Chastagnon, your excellent and uatiring pastor, who has done wonders m your midst, with very limited- means, and I feel sure you will continue to support him and furthW'life undertakings with un* flagging' -zeal and generosity. Aud: now, through' the influence of those ladies ;; who are devoting; the wblole of their lives to education^ you are- going to' have one^ 'of their extensive and magnificent establishments m your midst. lam sure you wi^l be proud of it, as I lrn'ow l you *re, afad I hope all . the Catholic children m New Plymouth will' attend .the school. JfHhfe'y -do so, t hey' will ob_t;aih thai fenSwfedge which >vil| enable tliem to be good and do iheirdiityin life," ;;; ■,