The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

268 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.It is well known that the superior advantages ofour female academies throughout the country leadmany of our dissenting brethren to send their daughters to these institutions. It is also well known thatso warm is the affection which these young ladiesentertain for their religious teachers ;so hallowed isthe atmosphere they breathe within these seats oflearning, that they often beg to embrace a religionwhich fosters so much piety, and which producessuch pure and fragrant lilies. Do the sisters takeadvantage of this influence in the cause of proselytism? By no means. So delicate is their regardfor the religious conscience of their pupils, that theyrarely consent to have these young ladies baptizedtill they have obtained the free permission of theirparents or guardians, after being thoroughly instructed in all the doctrines of the Church.The Church is, indeed, intolerant in this sense,that she can never confound truth with error ;norcan she admit that any man is conscientiously freeto reject the truth when its claims are convincinglybrought home to the mind. Many Protestantsseem to be very much disturbed by some such argument as this Catholics are very ready now to:proclaim freedom of conscience, because they arein the minority. When^ they once succeed in getting the tipper hand in numbers and power, theywill destroy this freedom, because their faith teachesthem to tolerate no doctrine other than the Catholic.It is, then, a matter of absolute necessity for us that