Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-09-18
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with the why dissen, from the author of the
'sStrc,uresn said address.
Mr.. Hooway:-I have, for some time past, OBJ
served that individual, signing himself .Rch-
mond, has been publishing, ~ your paper, some
structures on an address, delivered by Rev. }
Clay baugh before the convention, held IN this city
in May last, in defence Of the use Of the Bible IN
Common Schools. In my humble opinion, this
address should have been published in your Pa,la
dun, before tho structures OF 'RIchmond' were
admitted into your columns. This should have
been done in justice TO the author Of The address;
and also that your readers ght have known the
sentiments he maintained, in reference TO the
of the Bible in Common Schools; and his argu-
ments, 10 an ungarbed form, by which he supper
ted hi. position. Ifihs course had been pursued,
] for one, would not have troubled you with any
of my thoughts on the subj ect; nor would have
feared any bad consequences resulting from the
publication OF his structures. For The public would
have been, thereby, put in possession, Of the true
data from which, to form a correct opinion, in
ference to this important subject But, it is,
at present, the great majority Of your readers,
are in entire ignorance of the arguments, by
which Mr.. Clay baugh, SO clearly and forcibly H.
Illustrated and established tho important position,
undoubtedly appear to every candid mind. Is it
not important, whether we educate our children
in a RICH, or wrong way '--wheiher introduce
into common schools, that system of ms true
ton; which is best calculated to qualify nan, to
answer the great end and design of hi, existence?
LIE, the parent, who values the welfare and hap
pness of his children, both in time and eternity,
as being very near and dear to him, and who is
49, IS l.,
to promote tina, great end to tho best advantage,
answer this important enquiry. On this point,
10 doubt, the author Of the structures and yseIf
would agree.
But Mr. Claybaugh and the author of the
structures differ, yea, differ very widely on the
question: What constitutes the best system of
education? The former maintain that. "That is
the best system of education, which most perfect
Iy developes the human powers, and most fully
qualities TO answer the end of his being
aud has, in my judgment, ably maintained the
position, that of all school books the Bible is best
adapted to effect This desirable result-ths great
desderatum, by sound and conclusive arguments
drawn from the scriptures; such as the author of
49,
thrown by tho reasoning of man, for they are
founded on the word and testimony of the living
God The latter, however, maintains that the
Bible should not be admitted a school book in
to common schools. What design on the pres
Ont occasion, is to lay before your readers, the
reasons which induce me to believe with the for
mer. and to dissent from the sentiments published
by the latter, in his structures.
"Man isl as the author of the address says
s'not only a compound of body and soul, but his
spiritual nature, possesses various powers. He is
not simply an intellectual, but a moral being; and
as such, sustains divers relations to his maker and
his fellow man. The Bible not only teaches us
our relations, bu. contains perfect system o.
duties" which arise out of these various relations
in which man stands to God and his fellow men
Here every other system of moral instruction
(and what is education without moral ms truction p
sis deficient" And why deficient? For the plain
and simple reason, that they are of human origin
and partake in greater or less degree, of the
imperfections of their authors. But not so with
the Bible, coming il does from perfect being
from God of perfect wisdom, of necessity il
must be perfect Or If ii not, 1t would de
monstrate its author to be imperfect, And in
confirmation of this prnc iplc, the Apostle, speak
ing in lst Cor. 2nd chap, says, after having de-
clared that the inspired servants of God "spoke
wisdom, yet not the wisdom Of this world, nor Of
the princes of this world, that come to naught:
But the wisdom of God in mystery, even the
hidden wisdom which Sod ordained before this
world unto our glory" sucn wisdom as men could
never learn by the sight of the eye, nor By the
hearing of the ear, could have the heart O,
man devied such wisdom. "But as il is
written, eye hath not seen, heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man the things
God prepared for them that love him. But wha
man conld not learn in these ways 'God hath re-
vealed unto us by his spirit. Which things also
we speak not in the words which mans wisdom
teache,h. bu. which The Holy Ghos: teacheth''-
Now, this is plain declaration of the Apostle.
that the inspired pensmen not only infaiabIy
directed, by the spiri, of God, to the matter con