Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-15
sectarian Colleges.
These Ins,;tations haze always affsr

These Institutions haze always afforded
fine target for the shafts of professed lib.
erals and philosophers. We must confess
that we have, IN sons degree, participated
in this prejudice, and have ardently desired
that all our public schools. could be entirely
free frOm the influence Of both religious and
political parties.
We never indeed believed, with Mr. Gil
.rard, that the youthful mind could be left
in religious matters, like blank paper, or an
implanted garden; we know full we'll that
wherever such gorgeous folly was at
tempted, the white paper would soon be
darkened by the lines of rrelIgion and I'M
morality, and the garden oyerrun with foul
and oathsome weeds.
On the other hand, we have seen no alb
stract reason why several denominations
might not unite, as they sometimes have
done, in supporting Colleges, where the
great truths of religion and the great precepts
of morality, might be inculcated, irrespec-
tive ofsectarian differences and advantages.
We had hoped tha. by such course the
temptation to appoint professors and trustees
more in reference to their religious eonnex-
ions and opinions, than their moral and in
tellectual qualification would be removed,
and the only valid objection to Institutions
under The management of one denomination,
thereby obviated.
But SO strong is the spirit of party that
very few such experiments have been tried,
and very large proportion of those think
ing men, who set any value on religion,
have been almost forced to the conviction
that the esprit de corps Of one denomination
is the only reliable source of that enthusi-.
asm and persevering energy, which is in
dispensabIe to the foundation and support
of literary Institution without State pa
tronage.
We know, from personal observation, that
in protestant colleges, the sectarian bias, SO
much dreaded and mathematical, is mere
bugbear, that sectarian doctrines are never
taught, and that, whatever sectarian inhu-
ence may be actually exercised, is always
indirect, and never so potent, as is often
imagined. But we have always believed,
that union OF sects would take away even
this trite theme for 'the argument of epi-
thet." r .a..rv ts .a,lac
Reason as we may about it, this much
abused and ridiculed feeling of sectanan at
tachment is the only principle, sufficiently
strong and enduring, to originate and sus.
tain the requisite number Of schools and
colleges, IN this, or perhaps any other coun-
.ry. We may indeed be pointed to few
instances Of institutions, successful without
this support, as our University, that Of South
Carolina, Union College, New York, and a
few others. But they are mere nothing
to the wants fthe community, and there
seems to be small likelihood OF their multi
plication. .E.r,s .oa-
Where were all the great men of our rev.
olutIon, who received liberal education at
all, trained? Every one of them at sec
tartan college for no other sort of college
was known before the revolution. Harvard,
William and Mary, Princeton and Yale were
all under the control Of denominations
Did they send forth dwarfs or giants into
the revolutionary conflict h Did the impress
left on the minds and hearts of their alumni
prove that they had been SO compressed in
the narrow mould of sectarianism, as to be
incapable of expansive thought and liberal
action3 If we look around at the men now
prominent among US, in all the walks of
life we shall find that an immense majority
among them have been educated at institu-
tions of the same character.
1t must be admitted too that the very
same feeling, narrow and contemplate as
some may esteem it, which founded these
institutions, now sustans them, and actual
ly induces many persons, with ,chom other
moiiues could mol operate, TO give their chill
dren liberal education. 1t therefore not
only furnishes the means, but excites the
desire of education, which latter, after all,
is the great desideratum. This effect will
be most clearly seen in the rapid diffusion
of instruction and thirst for improvement
in sects, which but few years since, de-
spised or disregarded education.
Experience then demonstrates that relig-
ious feeling, manifested, as 1t always must
be, in some peculiar form Of religious belief,
has been always and every where the nurs-
ing mother of education. A fond and fool
ish mother, she may sometimes have been,
bandaging the limbs and checking the growth
of her alumni but still no foster mother
has yet been found, in whose hands they
could be more safely entrusted, or who
would indeed undertake their nurture at all.
To drop the figure, the objections to Sec
tartan organizations are palpable to every
intellect, and may be easily urged by any
smpleton. But to find another spring Of ac-
ton, sufficiently strong TO keep in motion
the great machinery of education, and make
society ready and anxious to avail them
selves Of its full benefits, hic labor, hoe opus
est. If such substitute can not only be
suggested, but proved by actual experience
to be efficient, and consistent with that NOR
al and religious training. which ought to
form part of all education, none will re-
joice more than we.
But until that substitute be forthcoming,
we must yield our personal dstaste for de.
nominational colleges, to an overwhelming
sense of their long tested utility, and must
ask from their enemies, not well-worn tru-
ism and philosophical sneers, but substantial
arguments founded on well established facts.
Richmond Mail.
o. The senses of smelling, tasting, and
even of feeling or touch, are liable to emu
merable causes of deception. 1t is mention
ed IN the Museum of Art and Science that
if two fingers of the same hand being cross. |
ed, be placed upon table and marble or
pea is rolled between them, the impression
will be, if the eyes are closed, that two
marbles or peas are touched. If the nose
be pinched and cinnamon be tasted, it will
taste like common stick Of deal. Many
substances lose their flavor when the nos
trils are stopped. Nurses, therefore, upon