, 1854-02-25

We come now to the second proposition;
namely.
That the spiritual clcmeats Of mans ma
twe is precisely the element least heeded by
Educators gea0aAy, and regarded By pro-
fessional Educators either as lying beyond
their prorince or rarely attended 10 in He el-
pcadtiOa Of immediate results.
1t would be grossly unjust to charge the
profession with absolute neglect. Public
opinion secures it from falling into that
stage of degeneracy. An irreligious school
could not exist. Religious schools, SO call
ed and self called, abound. In all, what
ever the mode or degree Of religious pro
fession, machinery is kept in play having
religion for the profcssod result. 1t may
also be alleged that in all, the machiney
and the result correspondence means an
swer the end. Spiritual education, never
theless, is not attained. -s.--
Herein lies the exact neglect with which
the profession is chargeOble. Religious in
striction is provided, but spiritual educa-
ton is not attained. .
To this extent we accuse the profession
without reserve or exception; for we are
sure those who have most thought of sldr-
itual education as the result Of their efforts
will be the first to admit themselves open
to the charge Of negligence, u.
1T is an omission lying as closely at the
door of every educators heart, as the neg
lectsof his oM1isoul. ~ G..---
The one depends upon the other; a man
sacannot be an educator, but the spiritual
d'degelopment Of his charge will keep pace
with his own. The pupils The talent he
has in. trust
But the child has parent at home, and
n minister at church; are NOT these the re-
sponsible partiesH Is not the work Of the
professional educator asSuredly done, when
4the daily deyotions are attended to, the
sformularies of religion learnt, the house Of
God frequented and the Sabbath observed ?
In these particulars his work is often
over-done, and yet enough is not done
The, "tithe Of mint and anise and cumin" is
laboriously paid but the weightier matter
omitted. The memory is exercised, deco
i. rum taught, the sectarian spirit imbibed,
and in this result the professional educa-
tors work terminates, what more is want
ing to produce religion is conceived to lie
beyond liz province and to be no concern
Of his On what grounds can the profess
iOnal educator prove himself exempt from
\ this dutyF WiIlthe age Of the pupil fur
nish him with an excuse Most certainly
when, he can find pupil whose Intelligence
= Cannot apprehend The story Of Christ Jesus,
and who cannot be brought to understand
1is interest In the sacred facts, the love
they express and inculcate, and. as il were
instfl; when he can fnd a pupil who has
not read fewer years than his own, num-
bered on a grave stone, and has not felt in
n lIs dwh s0ung hesrtl the turbulence which
Religion is nppointed 70 Restrain and quell.
, Until It & the0 uutha1ppiiiRess Of'ths teacher
to meet With such a pupil let him not claim
exemption on the ground Of age.
i.rss Has the chhch, the ecclesiastical polity
which The educator recognizes, given him
7lIithis immunity Z Is it not the reiterated
~ 4 complaint Of faithful pastors that their la
4 'boFs, th The pulpit are unsupported by the
efforts Of those who have the charge of'the
w Ministers Of religion look round
ihopeisssly, too ofte6as far as their personal
influence is concerned, on the most interest
= ingIprt Of their 4ock and perceive with
sorrow that they IRE si6accessnIis, that the
teaching Of the pulpit does not reach NE
ypulhfA ySrshipper in plainness and power,
and that no amount Of physical labor would
serve to bring the pastor into close and
: -hmiliar intercourse with the little ones
tliom rs 3ast#h tSgghtldh tenderly
Ito lore. IN Whatever peculiarly Of spiritual
function may deyOIve on the minister Of re-
Iio;on thara Il. ~ raefriofioh 20 n,ol,do