DR. MORAN ON EDUCATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 224, 16 May 1872, Page 6

DR. MORAN ON EDUCATION.

The Eight Rev. Dr. Moran discoursed on education at St. Joseph's on Sunday las t t; and spoke for an hour and a half. Of necessity, he travelled over a good deal of ground which has been gone ever on previous occasions; and we shall, therefore, merely give those portions of his addres which Btrike us as containing fresh matter : —

After referring to the present education Ordinance, under the management of which, said his Lerdship, it became practically impossible for Catholics to obtain justice, because it was impossible for them to obtain the appointment even of an assistant master or masters of their own religion, and because, even supposing committees were disposed to act fairly and give Catholics a choice according to their principles, Catholics could not . make use of the system, inasmuch as it made compulsory the use of the authorised version of the Bible — a forbidden book to Catholics, because it contained innumerable and substantial errors in reference to some primary and most important truth of Christianity ; whilst the conscience clause, said to be a protection, as such was illusory— he spoke as follows : — I am unable to find out upon what principle any one who is really a Catholic can accept employment under this system. I speak not in reference to an isolated case— I am discussing a system ; and I say that the practical working of it is as I have described it. I say further it is impossible for us to obtain the appointment of a Catholic teacher, either chief or assistant, , in any of the schools of Dnnedin, or important localities of the Province. In an out of the way place, or for a very limited time, because of the difficulties of obtaining qualified teachers, possibly a Catholic may be appointed. But that is nothing to the purpose, and no answer whatever to my objection. Now we had an illustration in this very town not long ago. The office of assistant teacher at one of the schools was vacant, and candidates went up for examination. A Catholic offered himself ; and was declared eligible, so far as Ms qualifications were concerned. Practically, the appointment lay with the headmaster, and he wrote to the committee, say- '• that the person was a Roman Catholic and recommending another, not because that other was better qualified, but because the other had the greater qualification in his eyes of not being a Catholic. The committee making a show of great virtue and liberality, wrote back to the master not to consider religion, but to make his recommendation irrerespective of it. The master then sent iv a second recommendation, in which he named the same person he named before. The whole thing was simply throwing dust in the eyes of the people. Aow again in reference to this system, suppose for a moment that the conscience clause be arranged as to be in terms precisely such as I could demand or be satisfied with, still we Catholics must object to the system because even then for us it would be a secular system. I wish you to bear in miud ; to impress upon you strongly that whatever improvements may be made ; or in whatever way the Ordinance may be amended, it would be nothing more nor less, under the most favorable conditions, than a secular system of education, to which the Catholic Church has always objected, and will continue to object for ever and ever. *

* * * Now 1 will say a few words in reference to ths proposed Bill of the Colonial Government. It differs practically from the Ordinance in nothing, so far as I can see, except in regard to what are called the aided schools clauses. ,*So far as these are concerned there is an effoit made to do us justice — to meet our principles, or as some people would call them our prejudices. Thus far, therefore, we are under an obligation to the General Government, and bound to pray that this Bill may pass. Still, you are not to come to the conclusion, because I say this, that I approve of the Bill. I cannot approve of it, because the principle embodied in it, with the exception of the aided schools clauses, is practically, and considered as a system, the principle of the Ordinanoe of the Province— wnjch principle I believe to be unsound, and caloulated to injure society. It is practically, to the community at large, secular education — to which, of course, I object ; and, whilst I object on principle, I am not prepared to offer any active opposition as long as justice is done to us ; so long as we have fair play. Though we may deplore the establishment of an unsound principle we are not called upon to do more than to give public expression to our opinions, leaving our fellow citizens at perfect liberty to make whatever they may please for the education, of their- own children. The community at large may agree, to, accept the system and I shall be perfectly satisfied ; provided, of course, that exception will be made in favor of our schools— in other words, that the aided sohools clauses shall become the law of the land and be administered by the Government in a spirit of fair play and. justice." His Lordship next referred to Catholic education ; its teaching and continued : — I have several times spoken to you on the subject of the books that are used in these schools ; it is, therefore, unnecessary for me to repeat what I have already said on this subject. I have before designated them as atrocious calumnies on the Catholic religion and its ministers.

Now there are some secularists, who, as you are aware, object to the removal of these books, and say "Are you aftaid of these things ?" I answer very simply, "Give us. our own schools ; and you can teach your own children these lies." Some again say, "Are you afraid to be judged by history ?" I reply, " Very well, I want not any lies ; and lam afraid of the lies of history." The things £ disaprove of in these books are lies of history ; they are injurious to us, and calculated to injure the faith of our children. Another party says, "We will get books which shall contain nothing objectionable." My answer to them is, " Let us see them.' But these books are objectionable on another ground— they ignore our nationality. Oar forefathers have handed down to us a glorious inheritance — on one of which we, as a nation, may be well proud of. How can the English people think to do us justice by ignoring that history ? The thing is an impossibility, because, to tell the truth about the Catholic religion, would be offensive to their own religions. Therefore, I conceive it to be impossible to get books which will be acceptable to us, or which did justice to our faith and our honor as Irishmen. .... Now I am going to indulge in a little bathos. Here, though utterly insignificant in point of numbers, I see in the people the same spirit and love of the Church. The Catholic body in this diocese numbers about 6,500 — it may be a little more ; but certainly not over 7,000. We are very poor ; the Government gives us no help ; yet we have spent more money during tke last twelve months for education than any other body in the community. ' * * * Here is a great difficulty which will arise in the future. The time will come when these schools will have to be supported by rates ; when that occurs then will come the tug of war. Do the people fancy we are going to pay rates 'to support schools we conscientiously object to ? If they did they would find themselves deceived. * * * I have a word to say about the Industrial school — which is not so well conducted as it ought to be. I wish you to understand Ido not mean to attach any blame to the superintendent of the establishment, who does his best, and acts si fairly as he can. First of

all, the system is bad. The little boys and girls are brought up together, which is simply atrocious. It exists nowhere else, should not exist here ; and lam surprised that a civilised community should expect to make moral men and women of these poor neglected boys and girls under such a system. But apart from this their faith has been attempted to be violated, by their being sent out to Protestant masters. That has been done in spite of our remonstrances, and they have refused to give us any satisfaction. This is unjust, unrighteous ; and the whole thing is rotten. 1 feel called upon— if I can do nothing more — to raise my voice and denounce the systen : which ought to be discontinued. It is a libel upon Christian society ; an injustice to the children and an injustice to the Province that supports the school.