Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-09-21

When we consider how much progress
has been made Of late. ia sharpening and
improving The intellect, while so very lii.
tie has even been attempted, in our public
schools, towards developing and exercis.
ing the moral sense, can we wonder at
the strides our community have been talk.
ing towards utter deprivation of morals
that every mail should bring new ns,an.
ces Of breach Of faith among all classes Of
our citizens? Is not want of conscien.
liousness the true source OF nearly all our
political and social evils ! and is it moi
time that some attempt should be made 10
arrest them!
! A clerical friend Of mine lately remark
ed, that he had frequently serious doubts
whether he aud his brethren of The minis.
Try could be acting right in expanding so
much time and exertion, in the way ofre-
IIgious instruction, with such small re-
suits. But how can the ,rifing amount
Of these results be a mater Of SURPRISE
when it is recollected, that one ofthe most
important means of spreading religion is
entirely neglected! God has commanded
Us to train up child in the way he
should CO." Have we fulfilled that CON-
mand2 Are our children "traiaed IN the
way they should GOT" What should we
think Of farmer, who should sow his
seeds upon hard, stony ground, without
lhe slightest previous effort to soften and
mellow it by plow or spade! Would it be
rational 10 expect any return! And yet,is
not this precisely the course we adopt
Prospecting religious instruction! We take
no pains to awaken aud develop the con.
sciences OF our youth, and 10 excite them
! to action. They are never called on 10
look within, to judge between right and
wrong. How can we wonder. then, that
the seeds sown from the pulpit on this an.
prepared ground should fail 10 take root,
and that, "when the sun was up,' they
should be scorched. and wither away q"
We do perform part Of our duty. We
do provide religious instruction for the
people. But we neglect an equally essen
t'at part, for the want of which what we
~ Psr'e--, AZ rendered almost null, and of
no effect. And yet we caIinfy wusn our
hands, and say, 6 We are innocen! of the
blood of this people," We exc!aim
against the hardness of mems hearts, and
complain Of the ineficiency of the preach
ed gospel.
Let not any thing that is hear said, how,
ever, be distorted so as 10 appear like adj
vocating the teaching of religious tenets
in schools. La the present state of socie-
ny, divided as we are, and as we are like
lily 10 remain, into such variety OF sects.
the scheme would be a faiIure-perhaps
ldeservedly so. But, because the great va
riety OF religious faith, and modes of wor-
ship. and the danger of conysTljpg the
school into an engine OF religious prosely:-
ism. absolutely forbid the teaching of re-
hgious doctrines there, does it follow that
every species of moral training must be
excluded Does Tot this circumstance
rather enhance the necessity of peculiar
attention 10 that part of moral instruction
10 which no such objection can apply
Is there not an extensive field. which may
be regarded as common ground, in respect
10 which every portion OF society is per.
fectly agreed Is there any parent, who
does no: desire his child TO be trained to
the practice of virtue, and TO the avoid
ance OF every vicious habit2 that he
should be inspired with veneration, graft
tude, and love to God! that be should be
honest, faithful. humane, and gentle, ODE
dent to his parents. true to his word
that he should possess moral courage and
self.control; industry. perseverance. econ
: omy, and temperance; patience. foriitude,
{ magnanimity, and cheerfnlness2 Surely
not. On these. and such like points, we
} shall meet with perfect unanimity.
The series of reading books. of which
, the present forms part, has been written
. principally with the view OF introducing
into our schools an easy method of awak
ening and developing the conscience. anc
keeping il in continual action. This j!
not attempted to be done. however. by NOR
al lectures. or sage apophihegms Thes,
will rarely have any effect upon early
youth. save the pernicious one Of produc
ing dreamy wandering Of mind. of lh,
{ most fatal tendency both 10 intellectual
4 and moral culture. But the plan is, I,
excite the conscience to Judge aud act 70
itself. and TO Strengthen il by conlinua
use. by means Of series Of questions
Il arising naturally from The subjects read
' aud suited to The capacity Of even inIan
minds.
Nor will the effects OF this moral train
! ing be exclusively confined TO the cullur
: Of the heart. II is believed, thai clanc
at these questions will show, that they vii
I afford az important. aid in unfolding all III
a mental faculties that observation, conlpal
:. ison. reflection, abstraction, judgment, rea
A a -
!. and strengthened by the simple exercis,
:, connected with the reading lessons. Thu
!; the understanding and the affections wi
: alike be cultivated. and some approach'
made towards the development OF Il