, 1854-02-04
EDUCATION-NO. 9.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATI0N.-Ihep pOSslDulty OF
teaching religion in its full practical appli-
cation is no longer a matter of dispute in
those schools which beneyolence has estab-
lished for the children Of the poor on the Sab
bath in England; it is, however, a truth re-
eeived to a very limited extent among pro
Gessional educators Of the upper and middle
classes, and only acted out in very rare
Instances.
DR.. Arnold was of opinion that from
the natural imperfect state of bOyhoOd,
school boys are not susceptible of christian
principles in their full development upon the
practice" But religious biography estab-
fishes the converse of DIR. Arnolds opinion,
with evidence strong and abundant. Cur
sorry readers Of this branch Of literature
must be struck with three salient facts
that there is great religious susceptibility
in youthful minds-that noble decision of
character, in a religious sense, in the gene
fality Of cases, has its source in EARLY picty,
and lastly-the fact to which we chiefly
invite attontiOn-that In the generality Of
instances we find this youthful susceptibility
left to itself as far as systematic profession
al education is concerned, or If fostered by
foreign aid at all, that aid has been casual,
the occasional pious ministry Of mother or
sister, a companion or even a stranger.
In these facts we have sufficient mat
ter, we think, to oppose the conclusion Of
the above venerated authority. Yet We
cannot raise our voice in contradiction Of so
great master of education, without doing
him the justice to examine well his state
ment on the subject. DR.. Arnold, we are
confident, had high views ofthe 'full dcvel-
opment Of christian principles upon the prac-
tiee.n He was not a man to say scornfully
ofthe religionist "He brings measures from
heaven to measure things Of earth" DR..
Arnold discovered the reciprocal bearing
Ofthe transient life that is, with the immOr-
tai life to come; he knew "the native sim
pIicity and sovereignty of religion in a pi-
Ously religious heart, and from his truthful
view Of the elevation Of the character, APP
pears to have inferred, that it was beyond
thenatwal imperfect state of boyhoodi" a
conclusion that surprises us, seeing that
be knew better than most men, that it is
the newly turned soil in its freshness that
best receives all good seed, and not the
hard foot-troddsn, weed-covered ground
The fact is the imperfect state Of boyhood
& contrasted with the full development Of
christian principles on the practice, without
regard to the admirable adaptation Of chris
tlan principles to all degrees Of human de-
yeIopment. A boys views, passions, du-
ties, temptations, responsibilities are not
those Of man; nor are the views, passions,
duties, temptations, responsibilities of an old
mah-who may be young christian-those
Ofayoung man whose long tried piety makes
him comparatively early in life, an old chris
tian
The question is not, therefore, can chris
tian principles, in the maturity which long
probation gives, be reasonably looked for in
ehildhOodl 2 but question far more impor-
tant. Is there religion for bOyhood, a re-
lgiOn adapted to the intellectual, moral,
social and physical development ofthat age!
Our bold answer must be, There is, or chris
tianity is naught.
But we hasten to the few serious words
we meant to write on this occasion those
words arrange themselves as follows:
The spiritual clements q mans Nature
bhat in him tohiek establishes his rclation Il
God TO spiritual beings, and IN lchich his I'M
mortality c0nsists-is the element iRrdiRg H'
AOS earnest and constant culture. Iha
asPrcciso'y II The element least needed byedpca