SIGNIFICANT STRAWS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Aug 8, 1906

SIGNIFICANT STRAWS.

IN discussing the Education Bill in the British House of Commons, Mr. Birrell, Minister of Education, is reported to have expressed surprise on learning, in connection with his official duties, how many Protestant children were attending the Roman Catholic schools. He was much astonished to see inscribed in Roman Catholic books of devotion, signed by a Roman Catholic bishop as prizes for religious knowledge, the names of children whom he knew to be Wesleyans, who attended Catholic schools and exhibited such skill in mastering Catholic theology that the bishop inscribed their names in books of Catholic devotion.

Another straw showing a growing Roman Catholic influence under the British flag is noted in Australia. A member of the Australian Parliament has been talking in London, and he gives almost sole credit to Bishop Moran for bringing about the Federation of Australian provinces. Among other laudatory expressions we note these significant remarks:

The cardinal is not only a leader in religious, but in secular matters. His people look to him for guidance on all questions. The minister of works has often acknowledged that, next to the state, the cardinal is the greatest builder and the largest employer of labor in Australia. The commissioners of education recently said that his eminence is one of the few men in Australia who have a correct grasp of the educational requirements of the people. He gives a lead to the state authorities, and at the last St. Patrick's day celebration he achieved a great triumph by a schools' industrial exhibition of huge dimensions and workmanship in the arts and crafts.