Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1837-06-14

though all that is essential to Christianity may
not be taught, without mcdsliug with the pcculi
ariiics Of sects. This may lie the arena upon
which the great battle is to be fought, not be-
tween Christian sccts, but between all the
friends Of rational liberty on the ono side, and its
enemies on the other.
But how shall Christianity be introduced and
taught in our common schools!
Ii Is not my present purpose to dwell on this
inquiry longer than simply 10 notice the stale,
and insipid objections that are often urged the
score Of sectarianism.
begin With the remarks that scctarianism is
not Christianity: the one is light-thc other dark
ness the one from Hcavcn-mo1cst, gentle, mild,
benelicicnt, and div inc-thc other nursc1 and ma
turcd on boasts and blundcrs--big with pulpit
SANDERS and editorial les comes rocking hot from
hell--whclming Garth in strife, rancour, rage and
death. But since the Devil has contrivcd to
bring these natural rcpclancics into close and in
tiH'atc contact with our own age and land to the
Disgrace Of Christianity, and to the shame of hu-
man nature, the question how the good can be
sundered from the evil, has become, in the minds
Of many, serious and pcrplcxing.
In solving this difficulty, ought not 10 forget
that all tolcrably intelligent christians and even
all evangelical scots, perfectly agreed as to
every doctrine Of Christianity that materially af
fccts conduct in this worlt or our salvation in
tho next. The quarrcs, wrang!ings, jcalousies,
and ieuds Of rival scots, are all about the straws
that float Oh the surface, or the fathomlcss CULTS
and grots that lie beneath.
I However deadly scctariansn may be in itself,
it ought not to be forgotten that is but few scat
tered PARTICLES Of earthly mnpurty floating in the
boundlcss atmosphere Of celestial truth. Shall
we then, deprive our children and tho youth OF
, all the moral benefits Of christian education
lost in their daily draughts from the pure and OK
ham f1pSs tnss. nj Cp,r11<
siOnally drink in commingling drop Of human
iniirmity and folly? Shall we not teach them re-
publicansm because republicans disagree in the
minor points Of their systcm?-Shall forbeal
to teach them Astronomy, Philosophy, Geology
: Chemistry, and in short, the whole circle of tho
sciences, because there arc points connected will
: all these still Old the anvil Of debate? Shall We
4 neglect 10 teach them Grammar, Arithmetic
: Writing, etc. because teachers disagree in thci
: modes Of disposing OF particular wOrds-solvins
0 particular problems, Of forming particular char
= actors land yet such a course would be the high
- est wisdom compared with tho .h...raisy and t.,
B. " OF those who would shut tho larkened mind
+ Of our children and youth from the benign re
a ugcncc Of christianity lest some Of the straggn
- rays should receive unnatural rcfraction from
= the mind Of the teacher. We might as well sto
r our nostrils and hold our breath, lest we shout
= inl,alc tho miasma Of the aguc. Besides
= teaching Christianity involves no necessity o
ls discussion on any Of those points which are III
N radiating foci If blind scctaran zeal. A Chri:
Of tian teacher with the New Testament in his han
IN need not be a scctarian teacher, any more tina
10 republican &c .chcr, with the Federal Constit,
ton his desk, need be vcndcr oil the polite;
n dogm,s Of rival parties. But even il he is, on
O. consideration alone is enough forever to siicnc
is this objection from the mouths Of all those wi
VIC cand'd1y and honestly urge it; that is, that ii
Of an invariablc law that the creed Of the child
at written by the parent, and not by the teacher
", except in those where the parent has in f
IN neither creed nor belief, and then in mercy to II
child, surely ought sriss him in better hand
I; five cannot get him there This law might a
ply in all cases, and j, surely ought to apply, al
nd will apply, where the parents not grossly ne
re ligont o.; their duty.
ID To those who have the mcanncss and hvpoc
sy to report to this objection from motives OF DO
IL ularity, to conceal their il-lsgu;sed enmity
ms Christianity in all its forms, have nothing to s;
O. i leave them TO their "glory alonc.' Al AZ
he rate, some mode must be devised Of making d
cr, New TESTAMENT TEXT BOOK in all our schem
'al Of common education. IL contains the only 3,
n, tenn Of morals that crer has taught, or euer 6
as teach to man tic art Of self sooeramcnt
ed Advocate.