tensive than are accorded to Catholic minorities in any part of Canada. In the great University of Laval and the many colleges and convents throughout this province, the higher education of the Catholic population is well cared for. Graduates of these institutions are found holding excellent positions, not merely in Quebec, but throughout Canada, and in many places in the United States.

In Catholic elementary education, the Catholic people of Canada have been deeply interested. They support their schools liberally where they have them. They are always ready to act as trustees. for them, and in other ways to manifest a practical interest in their work and their welfare. In secondary education their interest has unfortunately not been so keen; and higher education is left almost entirely in the hands of the clergy and religious orders, the assistance of Catholic laymen being not sought and apparently not desired. I am convinced that this is a mistaken. policy. We have in Canada amongst the laity many well educated men, occupying leading positions in the literary world and in professional and business life-men who, if encouraged to do so, would be prepared to interest themselves in, and to devote some of their time to the affairs of advanced Catholic education. Their knowledge of the educational requirements of those who have to make their way in the learned professions and in business life, their practical experience of the value to themselves and to the men about them of philosophical, classical, scientific and commercial training, should prove of undoubted advantage to those in charge of the preparation of the courses of studies in our Catholic colleges, even though these gentlemen of the laity should be called upon merely for consultation and advice. I cannot but think that their counsel and assistance in matters of business management would also be valuable. Moreover, the prospect of material advantages in the form of gifts and endowments to be expected from men of means who would be thus personally interested in the work and the success of our higher educational institutions should not be underestimated. I do not know what are the conditions in your country in this matter. I do not know how you look at the question. But I regard it as a great weakness in our Catholic educational system in Canada at

the present day that the Catholic layman plays no part and practically has no voice in the management, the course of studies, or the methods of training of the institutions in which our Catholic youth must receive their advanced education.

But you may ask me, "What of the efficiency of your Catholic separate schools in Canada, as shown by official statistics?" From the new provinces where there are such schools I have not received any such statistics. In Ontario, where separate schools have existed for about three-quarters of a century, I was informed on inquiry at the Department of Education that statistics are not presently available showing the comparative standing at the high school entrance examinations of public school and separate school pupils throughout the Province. These examinations, conducted by the provincial authorities, afford a test of efficiency which is indisputable and not open to any suspicion of bias or favoritism. It is unfortunate that comparative official statistics for the entire Province are not now to be had. Upon inquiry made in the cities of London, Hamilton and Ottawa, I failed to get precise information. But for the city of Toronto, with its population of 350,000 people, about one-ninth of that of the entire province, I was able to secure reliable data from the year 1906.

In 1908, of the total attendance in the public and separate schools of Toronto, the pupils of the separate schools formed about 9.2 per cent. This percentage would vary but little, if at all, in the other years of the period. During the four years, 1906,-7,-8,-9, of the total number of the Toronto candidates at the high school entrance examinations, those from the separate schools were 11.5 per cent. The separate schools therefore sent up proportionately a greater number of candidates. Of the separate school candidates, 76.1 per cent passed, as against 67.6 per cent of the public school candidates. It is not necessary that I should expatiate on these figures. They tell their own tale, and demonstrate once more and most conclusively the falsehood of the oft-repeated slander that, owing to the loss from secular studies of the time devoted in our Catholic schools to religion and religious instruction, the secular education which they afford is inferior to that

given in the public schools.* I have also obtained statistics from one outside town-Orillia, on Lake Simcoe-and they are so creditable that I feel you should have them. Very Rev. Dean Moyna, of Barrie, until this year parish priest of Orillia, informs me that during the twelve years of his pastorate upwards of 200 children from the Orillia Catholic separate school passed the entrance examinations. During this entire period not a single candidate from this school failed to pass. Last year twenty-one separate school pupils wrote, and all passed, with an average of 79 per cent. of marks. There were in the Orillia separate school 140 pupils all told. In the public schools of the town there were between 800 and 900 pupils; ninety-three of these wrote on the same entrance examination, and forty-seven passed, with an average of 67 per cent. of marks. The separate school pupils. took the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth places on the list. This record is simply astounding. But it only shows to what degree of efficiency a school taught by Catholic teachers and well looked after by the parish priest may attain. I think you will agree with me that the devoted Dean Moyna has good reason to be proud of his school and of his late parishioners. I only regret that statistics from other localities in Ontario are not now available.

Let me conclude by thanking you for the patient courtesy with which you have listened to my long story. I trust that the day is not far distant when in many States of the American Union public men and the citizens at large will realize that, in compelling Catholics who maintain parochial schools at the same time to pay taxes for public schools to which they cannot conscientiously send their children, they are not only doing a grievous injustice to some of their best and most loyal people, but are also discouraging that system of education best calculated to provide the State with what it most needs, men and women who will be

*The results of the entrance examinations for 1910. published on the 14th July, show that of the total number of candidates in Toronto 11.4 per cent. were from the separate schools. The examination papers are complained of as unusually severe. Of the separate school candidates 57.81 per cent. passed as against 54.59 per cent. of the public school candidates. This year every candidate from this school passed, and of the first ten places it captured all except the sixth.

God-fearing, law-abiding citizens-men and women who can be counted on as uncompromising foes of everything dishonest and corrupt-who can be depended on to support only a clean and pure administration of public affairs. Until that day dawns you are, I know, determined to maintain the struggle in the cause of God and of religion. When it does come-may it be soon-we who have known the blessing of Catholic separate schools shall rejoice with you, and we shall be gratified if you find in the separate school legislation of Canada some ideas that may prove of service in the construction of Catholic separate school systems for yourselves.

COLLEGE DEPARTMENT

PROCEEDINGS

FIRST SESSION

TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1910, 2:30 P. M.

The meeting was called to order in Detroit College by the President, the Rev. Charles B. Moulinier, S. J., of Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis. The Rev. President requested the Secretary, Very Rev. D. M. Gorman, LL. D., to open the exercises with prayer. The Rev. President named the Rev. E. F. Doherty, C. M., of St. John's College, Brooklyn, N. Y., assistant secretary. Father Moulinier in his opening remarks welcomed the delegates, and explained the section work. He also submitted several timely queries for the future consideration and probable action of the Department. He named the two committees as follows:

Committee on Nominations:

Rev. Francis Cassilly, S. J., Chairman; Rev. Mathew Schumacher, C. S. C.; Rev. William P. Shanahan; Rev. J. J. Dean, O. S. A.; Very Rev. B. P. O'Reilly, S.M.; Very Rev. J. P. O'Mahoney, C. S. V.; Very Rev. M. A. Hehir, C. S. Sp., LL. D.; Rev. D. J. McHugh, C. M.; Very Rev. J. A. Van Heertum, O. Pr.; Rev. J. F. Tuscher, O. S. B.; Brother Maurice, F. S. C.; Brother Norbert, Xav.

Committee on Resolutions: Very Rev. J. F. Greene, O. S A., Chairman; Rev. William F. Robinson, S. J.; Rev. Patrick F. O'Brien, A. M.

The regular program followed. A paper on "An Outline of Program for Religious Instruction in Catholic High Schools and Colleges," was read by the Very Reverend J. A. Van Heertum,