The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1858-10-16

iToW bomc source, In Uuditioh 10 the I
public money.
l will now consider the propricty of
asking the Board to resign; the reasons
assigned for it; aud the real reasons
against it. 1t was stated by individuals,
soon after the meeting in July, that they
would raise tax il the Board would re-
sign. | believe it was also required, as
condition, that the County Superintcn-
dent should rcsig"!] Aud it has been
repeated since, by sone who would be
thought men of character, that no tax
would be raised till the Board did resign
When asked for the rru.,r, the answer
has been given, why, there is so much
prejudice against the Board No body
had anything IN particular against them
but there was a popular clamor about
them in the streets, nobody knew why,
nor how, nor what for; while tcw were
industriously encouraging it, by every
method in their power.
At length, two distinct charges were
fixed upon, ut the senli-annual meeting in
Sept. These were brought forward with
out any previous notice, and resolution,
ccusuring the Board in the scverest
terms, and then asking them to resign,
uithom yisiny them any opportunity TO
defend their course, was adopted. Can
this be called just aud honorable pro-
cecding! | venture to say, not only tha;
no man Ut conscious integrity would
heed such Il request, but that not one Of
those who have urged the Board to re.
sign, on such grounds, would have
resigned himself under the same circum-
| stances
Other reasons have been given, pri-
eateiy, which have been 50 much dwelt
upon as to cali for remark here. No
mrn has had brass enough to assign them
prLiicig, though some men who claim n
large share of intelligence aud respectn-
bility, have countcnanced and encour-
aged them. as being very effective among
! those less Informed, and easily influenced
| by tLcr prejujiccs 1t has been charged
| that the school was under actarian intiu-
ence, that the Congregational Church had
got the control of it, aud that this mat
ter must be rightcd before anything more
was done Objection has also been made
against one member Of the Board as q
@iais!cr, that no minister should have
any thing to do with pablo school.
We simply deny all of these charges.
We challenge any Que, in school or cut
to produce the lcas. particle Of evidence
tha, the Congregational Church, or any
mc,utcr thereof, has ever offered word
or syllable of scetarian instruction In the
| school, or used the least measure Of in
rueucc to elect mcuibcrs of the Congrc-
gational Church on the Board, becasue
they were members of that Church, OF
/ with any reference to such a fact 1t Is
true, that one or two members OF that
Church have been on the Board ut diff
tercnt times But they were elected on
account Of their known interest IN the
cause OF popular education, aud for nc
other reason. At present, no member oi
the Board is a member ot the Congrega-
tional Church in Upton; aud but one oi
them member of that bod any where
So much for sectarlanism.
Now, for the unlucky minister xht
happens to be On the Board nay, wht
was duly elected by his fellow citizens,
by vote more than twice as large as tha
by which Ee was requested to resign. L
should glory little in my position as ;
friend of popular education, the reade
will bear with me, | trust, eonsiderin:
my anteceslents, and considering that III,
enemies "have compelled me.
hail from the land Vt fee schools
where all the children arc equally entl
: tied to an education, whether rich o
poor, whether native or foreign born
whether white or black; aud where miu
listers Of the gospel are among the fore
mos, advocates and guardians Of til
: educational interests of the people. .-
Scarcely had the founders OF Ne,
England erected u shelter for their faml
lies, on the desolate shores, before the
; began to provide for their education'
aud spiritual wants. The church an
the school were among the first and chic
objects of their soicltude and endeavor:
Thus it has been from that day to tn
; present. And it is this very fact thu
gives to New England 50 proud an cm
= ! euce as the land of freedom, aud Of gel
! eral intelligence aud Piety.
Scarcely had the writer commenced h
), work as minister, when he was electe
u by the citizen of the town, chairman {
: the public school committee, which otht
> he continued to hold by re-cisction, IL
q six or seven years; aud Oh his removal
;, another town, he was elected there IN I'll
: same way. This is a common custom
: New England to the present day. Mo'
y than three fourths OF the public schoo
;, have clergymen on their boards, OF
denominations. The idea that mini
= : ter is not suitable person to have Il
:. y supervision of public schools, because
= is a minister, must have originated who
: the state of education and general int,
gence and good order, is at the lowe
& point. And we have yet to learn tn
- the people of Iowa are read to cndor
: such an iliberal and bigoted scntimer
:, The subject touches alike all denomin
e tions of christians. 1T the minister
- one denomination is not suitable for I
~ business, the minister OF no denolnlr
." tion is. And | am defending my bret
rem of other orders DO less than myself.
~ To show moro clearly the weight
-, character which has been arrayed, esI
~ ~ cially against the clerical member Of
~ Board, | will quote few lines from t
:. ~ anonymous letters which have receive
::r The first is dated June, 1888. qut
- rerLatin, etiiterdtim
it "Reycrcnt Cross--My feelings ha
IN. heeu so mutch affected this day BY
he conduct Of you towards Mr.. farmer J
we e,,;m 10 be the seryent of the most hi