The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1834-08-02
NORTHERN STAR.
WARREN. II. i. SATURDAY. AUG. 2, issa
MoMAL INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION

MOMAL INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION.
NUMBER POUR. -
, For some years past the interest felt in III
Of popular education in this country has bee
: rapidly increasing The evidences of this ar
neither few nor cquivocal. 1t is true TINT. ther
are persons to be found, who take little or no in
, terest in the general diffusion Of knowledge; bu
: the number Of those who belong TO this class
constantly diminishing. Many, who once regard
ed efforts to aid the cause OF popular education a
something, in which they bad no concern, are nov
among the most active and efficient friends of tina
cause. II is felt, extensively felt, that, in coun
try like this, the people must be Intelligent ant
well informed, or be unfit 10 discharge the datie,
ofan American citizen. sour children must have
knowledge is becoming more and more decided.
ly the prevailing feeling Of the community. As a
natural result OF this state of feeling tho means o
acquiring knowledge have, Of late, been greatly
multiplied. And these means are still increasing
Lyceums are starting up in many Of our viIloges.
LECTURERS going through the length and breadth
Of our land, furnishing to atclasses, in a greater
or less degree. the Of searching into the az
cana Of Nature. Newspapers and other periodic
ais are opening their columns to articles cohnected
with the subject Of popular education, and are
thus exerting powerful and beneficial influence
on the public mind Professional men nre direct
ing their attention to the subject and are in various
ways, adding to the amount Of knowledge possess
ed by the community. These characteristics Of
the spirit Of the times are becoming more and more
obvious, more and more general. Public opinion
has fixed its seal Of appreciation to the efforts, that
have been made TO extend the means Of education
to all In short the question is decided whether
the cause Of popular education this country shal
go on or not. 1t ,UiH go on. Let the friends Of
religion neglect it, and the Catholic and the Inf
del will gladly embrace the opportunity, thus af
forded them, Of controlling the youthful mind, and
nstilling into it the poison of their own unhoy
sentiments Ifany one doubts the truth of this, let
him look to the western valley, and observe the
efforts which the enemies Of religion are making
there. Let him listen to their avowals, that they
intend to get the control ofour literary institutions,
and that they expect, by this means, ultimately to
control the nation. Let him listen to the notes of
alaim, which have been sounded by some, who
love their country, too well to be silent when its
interests are in danger. Finally let him count the
literary institutions Of various grades in our coun-
try, which are now under the control of the ayow-
ed enemies of evangelical religion. And then, az
ter he has done this, let him judge for himself
whether the cause Of education, will not be con-
trolled by the enemies Of religion, il neglected by
its friends. The question should press on the
mind Of every friend Of religion and morality in A.
merica, BY whom shall the interest Of education
in this country be sustained! / wish that the
sound might ring in the ears Of every philanthro-
pist in the nation, Will you do your part in trying
to enlist the influence Of science in favor Of religion.
or will you suffer the enemies of religion to direct
that influence to the accomplishment of their own
unhallowed purposes' This is the question. Let
il be fairly met. The people of this country ,oiH
haze knowledge; and this knowledge will exert
an influence. What shall be the nature Of that
influence, depends much upon the course pursued
by the friends Of religion.
There are not a few individuals in this country,
who, though not religious themselves, have so
much respect forr religion, that they would choose
to have their children educated nt seminaries in
which it is, at least, not wholly disregarded but
who nevertheless determined that, il their chill
dren cannot be educated at such seminaries, they
shall be at Others This assertion IL not made at
random, nor does 1t rest on slight grounds. Any
one, who is acquainted with the state Of things in
the western part Of this country, can bring facts in
abundance 10 support it. What is the duty Of the
friends Of religion in regard TO such individuals p
Let reason, let conscience answer. Better would
it be for Americt that her halls Of science shou Id
be levelled with the ground and her Libraries con-
signed to the flames, than that the education Of her
sons and her daughters should be generally en-
trusted to those who will exert all their influence
to overthrow the religion Of Christ. But, God be
thanked, this is not the alternative. Prompt and
persevcring effort will do much But there is no
time to be lost. Every ota Of influence that is ex
erted in the cause Of education now, tells on the
destinies Of generations yet unborn. Let il be
born in mind that if that cause IL not under the d.
rcction Of the friends Of religion, it will be under
that ofIts enemies, and who can doubt what is the
duty Of every who processes to seek either the
glory Of God, or the happiness Of man,