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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
where religion is taught, and only regret that all can
not see how important it is that the youth of the
country be taught the truths of religion during the
years when the mind is being opened and the char
acter is being formed. We consider this so necessary
that we are maintaining separate schools, while at
the same time we bear our share in supporting the
public schools,”
The Catholic Church in the United States expends
more than a third of all her income to maintain
parochial schools. Over fifty thousand men and wo
men in her teaching orders devote their whole life
long to teaching Catholic children and youth, not for
the sake of a livelihood, because it does not afford
them a livelihood, but for the sake of the cause for
which in the name of Christ they give up home and
family, and still the strongest yearnings of the heart.
They never seek another position, never go into
business for themselves, never marry, but devote
their whole being, through life, unflaggingly, unself
ishly, eagerly, to the teaching and training of chil
dren; for which the very best paid among them, in
the whole United States, gets $450 the year.
To what result do they teach, you may ask, and
you are interested, of course, in that result as it ap
pears outside of religious matters? Well, in last
week’s news items 1 read where in a contest under
the auspices of the Louisiana Daughters of the Con
federacy, for the best essay on the life of a former
governor of that State, pupils of Catholic schools won
first, second, third and fourth prizes, while the fifth
prize went to a pupil of the public schools. In a con
test about the same time, held under the auspices of
the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, for the best
essay on “Ship by Truck and Good Roads,” pupils of
a subdivision of the Catholic University of St. Louis
won all the prizes. A few weeks back under the con
test conducted by the war department throughout the
United States for the best essay on “The Benefits of
Enlistment in the United States Army,” pupils of
Catholic Schools won first prizes in Florida, Kentucky,
Washington, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Dis
trict of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New
Jersey, South Dakota. The list of different contests of
various kinds in which both Catholic school pupils and
public school pupils took part, could be extended in
definitely. Nowhere, on any subject, have the former
failed to make creditable showing.
Indeed, it stands to reason, that where teachers
give life-long devotion to their work purely for the
sake of the cause, they become finished experts. Not
only that, but if you will recall that the first primary
schools in America were Catholic schools, which were
going a hundred years before any other kind began,
that Catholic Universities in this Western Hemis
phere existed for more than a century before any
other kind started, that the first normal schools ever
known were started by Catholics, that the education
systems of Europe are of Catholic origin, virtually
every University in Europe having been founded by
a Catholic Bishop, that as far back as the sixth
century the Church, through her Councils, directed
priests to establish schools in every parish, even in
country places, it having been the custom already at
that time to have a school attached to every Cathe
dral and every Monastery recalling all this, which
is the barest skeleton, you will realize that the Cath
olic Church not only cherishes education and holds
it of paramount importance, but is far from being a
novice in her experience along that line. You, of
course, like your Baptist friend quoted above, will
have no objection to her, too, putting the emphasis on
“right education.”
This, I think, should be sufficient to convey a
clear idea of the Catholic attitude both in general and
in particular, towards education. If I have tres
passed beyond my welcome on your time and space
allow my earnestness in seeking to establish Catholic
citizens in the neighborly esteem of their fellow-citi
zens, so as forever, if possible, to do away with that
religious rancor, which is so inconsistent with the
great commandment that we all alike believe, rancor
that can not but blind our better judgment in many
things, thus proving a common evil to us all—allow
this to plead my excuses, and believe me, sincerely
yours, Publicity Manager,
THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF
GEORGIA.
The above debate has been widely commented on
and copied. It drew some favorable letters, which
are on file in the office, but we are taking the liberty
of printing two, one from out of the State and the
other from that distinguished Georgian, Major J. C. C.
Black, whose broadmindedness is so well known to
Catholics and whose example might well be followed
by other leaders in the state. His letter follows;
(Copy)
“Augusta, Ga., September 6, 1920.
“I have for some days intended to write you about
the reply you recently made to an editorial in The
Christian Index. I desired to very cordially com
mend you for the dignified tone and spirit in which
it was written. It seemed to me to be entirely free
from passion, and what is perhaps the worst of all
prejudices, the religious prejudice. If our religious
and political controversies were carried on in such a
spirit, it would be very much better for the disputants
and the public, and much more helpful in ascertain
ing the truth, which should be the supreme object.
(Signed) “Very truly yours,
“J. C. C. BLACK.”
The other letter follows:
(Copy)
"Louisville, Ky., October 21, 1920.
“I have recently read the debate on 'Catholics and
the Public Schools” between The Christian Index
and yourself, published in The Augusta Herald and
later copied by The Record of our city.
The manner in which your arguments are put
forth are really inspiring in their remarkably calm
and unbiased clarity and embraciveness.
"Incalculable good must come of it, for no honest
mind could be unmoved by its contents. What won
derful good a widespread circulation of it would do.
“With heartiest congratulations, therefore, I pray
that the guiding spirit behind that letter shall ever be
with you and your society,
(Signed) “You rs sincerely,
"R. E. VAUGHAN.”