BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12, 15 September 1913, Page 5

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

A OATHOLSG FEDERATION.

QUESTION OF ORGANISATION

At the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Stratford, last evening, Archbishop O'Shea, in the course of his sermon, which was based on the text from St. Luke v, whore Christ teacheth the people out of Simon Peter's ship, referred to the Bible-in-Schools movement, and .the attitude of tho Catholic Church towards it. His Grace remarked that persecution of the Church was always going on in some part of the world, and though here they were not severely suffering open persecution, there were certain injustices, such as the educational injustice and the scholarship injustice, and now there was one which threat-

ened their'religion. There was a system of schools here for which taxes were levied on Catholics and nonCatholic alike, ' but of which they (Catholics) could not take advantage, for one reason that it was a purelj secular and not a religious education. Now a system is being sought to be introduced much worse for Catholics than the existing one. Thej were faced with this persecution, and that was why they had established ; Catholic Federation. His Grace said he was glad to know that a ver\ strong branch had been formed ii the Stratford parish. The Federatior had been formed for defensive and no: offensive purposes—to protect the in terests of Catholics, religious and social. It was not a political movement because people supporting all parties could be members of the Fed eration. It was political only in tin sense that they would use means to secure their rights by bringing pressure to bear upon the political leaders. An; it did not seek to destroy. Instead, i was entirely in sympathy with th Hibernian and other societies anc would assist them in many ways. Per feet organisation was aimed at on th lines of similar organisations whicl Catholics in older lands had been 6 successful in organising for the pro tection of their rights. It is the firs' time, said the rev. speaker, that an at tempt at anything like it has beer made. Before, they were scattered units; he likened them to a heap o' sand, the particles of which were blowr by every breath of wind to right o: left, but when bound with cement and made into concrete \ could resis' almost any force. Especially valuable now was such,.an organisation wher they were threatened with this furthei injustice through the Bible-in-Schooh League. As Catholics they were no against religious teaching in |th schools; indeed >tbey had proved i with sacrifices during the past 3( years in this country, paying the ex penses of tho schools, and imparting hot only secular knowledge that gav« perfect satisfaction to the Govern ment inspectors but teaching their own religion to the children. Tin training by the Government may make good Citizens for this world, he con tinued, but they could never hope fothe future without religious edu'ci tion. But they did not want— am' would never agree to—a one-sided ar rangement to suit one or two denominations and leave nothing at all for the others. His Grace N said he was perfectly sure they had the strength to carry them to victory if they dk all in their power in this matter, and he was sure that in the Legislaturethat influence would be respected, anc those would seek their favor win wanted to get'into Parliament and into power. While organisation war not everything, it would help, and tlv preacher advised his hearers to striv< to live up-to the teachings of tlv grand old Church and so be good citi zens and examples to all around o that teaching which makes good met and women. It-would bring a tast< of happmoss that would be a fore runner of the further and greatei happiness, a more definite happiness, that awaited them all in the world tr

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