New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-28
Parechial -chesls.

To ~ TSisr a The " Y. T-bvn<
sE: The Presbyterian General Assembly, % 81 nov
in session have well to give attention to the Interests
Of elementary education recent report upon the sub
ect of PAroeha Schools indicates increase OF ten dur
inc the last year making the number under the care
Of tina: church about hundred and two The Board
which submit the report evidently feel the objections when
have been raised to this system Of education. Their CLAIMS
are modest and their plans decidedly nonintervenbon
In their view the lays about thus; Religions edS "a
ton an urgent necessity Public schools ana 3 'Ar
education are equally necessity 10 establishing the fir
ochal school they make upon the puDhs scnool
end there ed be conflict between the Two they re
or, the strict secularty of popular efucaon ana rec1
ming thu mpractc8biity OF reneiylng the de'sct III W
rubic schools they propose remedy which sha n est
avail 4 their own churches families and children Tie
language is our. the sentiment theirs.
We do not object TIE spirit Of the gong views ont
We doubt their wisdom. They are not firsighted Ihey
do Mt embrace al the conditions of the etncahonal
problem for a great people Nor in the end VIII they be
found slusry for the religious denomination VINO no" &C
No o, Il can befal either the world thu Church
than ~ have the grest gulf prematursy fixed between
the two Worlduess Is thing. contact with the worii
or the wisdom which results is quite another Inc Churcn
needs the friction and external and
as Sc adiy a. the world needs spiritual illumination Inc
case in question is but Of score just ike t. we iis
trust an educational sys'sm which does not embrace WIN
hbe raj forecast all the exgencies OF the future MN ae
srriua relations of man 10 God are among these ana
such should b. recognized For this very reason we would
not divorce them from he Is and wed them 70 man
As he IN Sunday Church IN company OF deyout
believers Consequently doubt the possibility OF ma
teray aiding growth Of practical pey b, making its
docirn ceremonial elements take rank with arithmetic
snd geography in par chal school
We are proud Of New England. That !, stout srgu
which stands upon the intelligence and 81
her children. and points 70 her religious SCHOOLS as the
cause II no wonder thai this Argument Az ais with many
he exclusion Of all other considerations Nevertheless,
we cannot assent 70 L. For the religious gu ity OF the
schools in New Eng land itself eectan effect coguae
with her other exceencies And wherever similar historic
antecedents wanting the arbitrary Introduction OF re-
lgous schools is ndiscreet and impossible as would be
the grsng of grape scion upon peach stock ndiScreet
in the attempt impsssb.ein the itergrowth.
New England owes to the fact that the political
exile of her founders compelled them 10 act their religion
a. well AZ believe than she does 10 the simple fact that
their belief defined ard their spiritual nature devel
oped Prayer and the Bible pervaded all things the school
not excepted Their individual aud social life was sus
tanned protest against all authority that Of God and
the Bible Consequently religion in those schools was
merely nfnesimal part Of the religion ot their lives
To transplant il. and alone expecting Il 70 mature into
such results bless New England is 20 say the least une
Qualed simplicity. The principle holds good now, that that
alone Is huenta religious education which develops
aud illustrates te not alone in the SIX hours 81 school
nor chiefly there bat which gps ana eolors each act o
life and 70 the eve Of childhood makes the resulting piano.
perpetual to the question, What do these
more than others
Reverend fathers of the Assembly parochis schools VIII
not teach religion.
And now comes an Affirmative consideration Of great
weight 80 org AS l. holds these that American men must
stand and wek together upon the common platform OF cit
izenshp and hst every enterprise Of public moment must
depend largely upon the unaHmity and magnanny OF the
people long il is not only desirable, but absolutely
necessary hat each generation should spend portion Of
their youth together upon the common platform OF scho
anbp.
In short the ms.,er seems AROMATIC the hxnd
that religion terminated and developed ia psrochia
conservatory NUT wifi when transported, and on the
other hand that soraft0m thOughcssly cultivated 10
youth will ulnmstsy inerSaso 10 eSoai distraction sna
weakness Hepse we dsapprove OF the parochh school
as being suicie policy for the Church and destruction to
'"s ''A'' MANY CHRISTIANS.