A FRENCH BOARDING SCHOOL.*

IN a French Roman Catholic school, the religious instruction of the pupils forms a prominent part of the education. Parents send their children to boarding-school early, in order that they may be properly trained, and fully initiated into the mysteries of their religious tenets. At ten years of age the sacrament is administered, and before that time infinite pains are taken, both by teachers and priests, to ground their pupils thoroughly in a catechism, containing full explanations of the doctrines and practice of the Romish Church.

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"Train up a child in the way he should go," command, and cannot be too early complied with. tion of all instruction should be Jesus Christ. foundation, and if any man build on any other, his work shall not stand. This is a serious consideration for parents, and all those who are in any way intrusted with the instruction of the rising generation. First impressions are very lasting, and a child who receives religious instruction almost from the cradle, will in after life, even if plunged into scenes of dissipation and vice, frequently be checked in the commission of sin, by the remembrance of some text or precept learned from an affectionate parent, or anxious teacher; and in how many cases have those early instructions been blessed to the conversion of a sinner, even after long years had elapsed. Let us then obey the injunction, the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." But if it be as I have said, and as I have witnessed, that in Roman Catholic schools religious instruction is much attended to, how does it behove Protestant parents to consider the subject well, before exposing their children to the danger of receiving, if not their first, at least their early, impressions of religion from such a source.

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*We copy this description, which purports to be written by an actual witness, from a deeply interesting narrative, entitled "Helen, or the Infant Prisoner of War." On this subject we have always had our suspicions, and cannot therefore recommend too strongly that circumspection which seems to be required by such an exposé of an education a la Francaise.

The establishment into which Rosalie and Helen now entered was a large and well-conducted one. Madame Saint André was a conscientious and well-informed woman, and herself overlooked the studies of the young people. As the pupils were numerous, two rooms were devoted to their reception, and into that one designated la petite classe, the new-comers were introduced on the morning following their arrival. Here were assembled about thirty young ladies, employed in various ways. Some were engaged in writing, others (the class in which our young friends were placed) were occupied with the needle, while the large number stood around Mademoiselle Hérault, the head teacher, repeating their daily portion of catechism. Helen's attention was first excited by the following questions :

"Do all the just see God immediately after death?”

"No, all the just do not see God immediately after death; it is only those, who by the grace given them at baptism, or by martyrdom, or by a perfect repentance, are free from all the temporal punishments due to sin.”

"What is the state of those who have not undergone all the punishments due to their sins ?"

"Those who have not undergone all the punishments due to their sins, finish the expiation of them by the punishments of purgatory, before they enjoy the sight of God."

"Can we soothe them in this state?"

"Yes, we can soothe them in this state by prayer, by fasting, and by alms-giving; and principally by the sacrifice of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, in the way in which the church has always observed it."*

The doctrine of purgatory thus brought before her notice, startled Helen, and she looked at Rosalie to see whether she had remarked the questions, and by the heightened colour of her cheek she saw that the same thoughts had occurred to both.

One study succeeded another till the clock sounded the hour of twelve, when each one started to her feet, and making the sign of the cross, repeated after the teacher the customary address to the Virgin.

"All hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you: you are

Catéchisme, ou Abrégé de la Foi, approuvé par Monsieur Christophe de Beaumont, Archévêque de Paris.

blessed above all women; and Jesus, the fruit of your womb, is blessed.

"Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us poor sinners, now, and at the hour of death. So be it."*

The young ladies then left the school-room and prepared for dinner, after which they were permitted to walk in the garden. Helen and Rosalie walked a little apart from their companions, for each wished to speak to the other of the morning's studies. "I wonder, Rosalie," exclaimed Helen, "whether Madame Saint André forgot to tell Mademoiselle Hérault that we were Protestants. I should think she must have done so, because she promised papa that our religious opinions should not be interfered with; and I think if we are to be present every morning at the lesson of catechism, when the Popish doctrines are explained, it very much the same as if we were taught the lesson ourselves." Rosalie agreed with her friend, but thought they must defer judgment for a few days.

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Nothing of any importance occurred during the remainder of the day. Rosalie and Helen were possessed of good abilities, they therefore found no difficulty in performing the duties required of them; and with the assistance of their new friends, who were very attentive to them, went through the routine of the day to the satisfaction of their instructresses.

After supper Madame Saint André called her pupils to prayer; and here the religious feelings of the new comers were again shocked. The sign of the cross was first made, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; then the Lord's Prayer was repeated, followed by the Apostles' Creed; and afterwards the following Litany to the Virgin and saints :

"We fly to thy patronage, O holy mother of God, despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin.

Catéchisme, ou Abrégé de la Foi, approuvé par Monsieur Christophe de

Beaumont, Archévêque de Paris.

"Christ graciously hear us.

"Christ hear us.

“God, the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us.

"God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us. "God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy upon us.

"Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon us.

Then came a long catalogue of names appropriated to the Virgin, each followed by the ejaculation “ Pray for us.”

An examination of the conscience succeeded, which each performed in silence, then this confession of sin.

"I confess to God all powerful, to the ever blessed Mary, always a virgin, to Saint Michael the archangel, to Saint John the Baptist, to the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, to all the saints, that I have much sinned by thought, by word, and by deed it is my fault, it is my fault, it is my very great fault. Wherefore I entreat you, ever-blessed Mary, always a virgin, Saint Michael the archangel, Saint John the Baptist, the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and all the saints to pray for me to the Lord our God."*

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Such were the evening-prayers at Madame Saint André's, and such are the prayers to which Protestant children listen daily, when under the care of the Roman Catholic instructors! any reflecting Protestant hear these invocations to saints and the Virgin, without shuddering, and feeling that the commandment, "Thou shalt have none other gods but me," is either sadly misunderstood, or wilfully overlooked, by those who thus address created beings as intercessors? and that they entirely set aside the truth, that "There is one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus."

Captain de Belleville had made arrangements with Madame Saint André to allow his daughters a small private room for their own use, and had exacted from each of them a promise, that on retiring to it for the night, they would search their Bibles for proofs, either for or against any Popish doctrine they might hear during the day. He was fully aware that much must be said in their presence which would strike them as differing from the principles in which they had been educated; and he trusted by

Catéchisme approuvé par Monsieur l' Archévêque de Paris.

this method, any wrong impressions they might receive would be corrected.

As soon, therefore, as the young girls entered their room they determined to obey their papa's injunction, and each, taking her Bible, with a concordance began, to search for proofs.

The first subject was purgatory, as that had been brought before their notice in the morning catechism. They found that St. Paul desired to "depart and be with Christ:" that to the thief on the cross, Christ said, “To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise;" there was no mention made of his expiating his own sins, but on the contrary, they read that "Christ came into the world to save sinners;" that He came "to redeem them from the curse of the law;" that the Scriptures said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." "Come unto me all ye that labor, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" and that so far from our being able to "sooth a departed soul," the author of the forty-ninth Psalm said, "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever." Again, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

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They were now interrupted by the entrance of a teacher, who came to see if they were in bed. She told them that it was contrary to the rules of the establishment to read in the sleeping apartments; that she should take no further notice of their offence as it arose from ignorance of the regulations, and not from disobedience, but that it must not be repeated. She then said, that she would allow ten minutes longer, when she should return and take their candle.

Rosalie and Helen undressed as quickly as they could, but deeply bewailed this regulation, as it would entirely prevent their conforming to their father's injunction, as they had but half-anhour allowed them in the morning to dress, and were not permitted to carry their Bibles down stairs. When then were they to read and study the sacred scriptures? they asked of the teacher who came for the light.