The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-05-10
APPEAL.

4
Baxter Rev. Geo. Willard, and Rev. John NJ. |
Gregory, Superintendent of Public lns;rac-
ton, members of the State Board Of Educa-
tion:
Gentlemen:
The following memorial, which / understand
has been presented to Faculty of the Agricul-
lural College, and furnished me by one OF the
sigre-s without any restriction or reservation a
to its use. viii speak FOR itself:
40 tie FGealtg OF tie agricultural College
IN the catalogue, published at the opening Of
the .riculIural College, it was announced TO
the public that there viii be religious services,
ever Sunday, al the institution. the elerSymen
Of Lansing officiating in rotation.
During the frs. winter term O. the .nst.ta-
ton, large majority of the students requested
that the Rev. Mr. Knickerbacker Of Lansing,
who had been neglected, or excluded from parti-
cipation in the religious exercises Of the College.
might be invited "a vel a. other clergymen OF
Lansing.
The students were then informed that tie
Professors only would officiste from that time
forward. an arrangement which It'll generally un-
derstood has not been agreeable TO the PROBES
sors themselves. or the students. This rule has
also been departed from, and other cleTgymen, ana
clergvmen and persons not belonging Ia the
Faculty, have been invited 70 otficiatc in the
Chapel.
We, the subscribers, students of the Agri-
cultural College therefore request that a return
be made 10 the original rule, and tina, the clergy
men OF Lansing, including the Rev. Mr.. hnlck-
erbacker be requested TO ot'lciate, in turn, IL
the religious exercises at the Institution on
SUNDAY.
4. B. Morse A. II. Scott, jr., c. B. Anderson,
H. VI Brown, lanes g. Brney, [. l.. HOLSTER,
l. 4
Z. l.. Brewer. g. I. Humphrey. Wm. Scott, ).
Vickerv, Herman A. King, VIM. +. Dow. +. &.
Haydon. W s Humphrey, VIM. Hatch, T. H. b
Morehou-e, William Webster, Sidney :. Sessions,
Edward : Jewet, G. 4. Foot, Rnfus Bush. \.
Y. Prcntiss, {. II. Bennett, Abjah Wixom, Jas.
Button, Nathan Bakesee, Thomas j. King, VIM.
K. Cole. 4 II. King. IL. e. ulrtwell. John Pen
mover. Charles u. Fox, ". T. Rayrer, VI. II.
Beech, T. VI. Wisncr. Henry {. Wisner, ". J.
Nelson. J. ) Strong James Boss, +. Storrs, 4.
II. Knox. W. Tredick, VIM. 4. Thomas 4. J.
| Cook, Wv. Bowdish, I. \. Branch, j. II. Gun
nison. L. Il Sullivan. {. Z. Carrier, -. ID. Rus
sell. .. B. Ireland. l.. Clute, q. b. Gunnison, q.
B. Thompson. John Hull, l.. :. Benham, \ 7.
Billings, r. {. Backus. :. 4. Stephens, A. Ii.
| Garfield, 4 II. Doty, J. Grower Frank r. Chase.
/ G. |. Hi
/ Il appears from the above memorial, that du-
ring tie first year OF this institution. wa cX-
Guided from participating in tne religious services
of tie College, while other clergymen ot The
town were invited. And even when "a large
majority of the students requested that ! should
/ he invi:ed 10 alternate with the other minister,
/ of the place. Il ,rqe Icaie{ The other clergy
men OF the town were then also excluded
nhiuking. probably, that this wouid 1':jst, Il j;
did not sGt;sfu the students > and it was decided
1 that the Professors should ;aEr upon hcrtS''re'
40 tucuI, tpc opevu"s 'rjs.a arII.-, ,,e,,t
less disagreeabie 10 the students. .lso
And it furths- appea-a tina. the rule has a'~c
been departed from, and others have been inv
ted TO "tiicia,s WINE even 90 tins d2y. tie ca'n
clio and wise rule, announced AMI published dt
the opening of Tie ,ologo, thai thcrc would b,
religious services every sabbath az tire ius'itn
tor, ~ tie cierqgnt@1, in Iat>l'q, oiJcid.tao il
rota.ioH,' has proved 4 ialslIY.
Nov. then. Gentlemen a, the Board re
spect.ully an you .rts tins / think ! hay,
a richt TO press ills question there IS -
cred duty laid upon me ju this rs,e. Aud asi
not oul, YOU, hut ak the ponple OF This STATE
whose College tbs Is, aud no Tee. ,. deep inter.
ct in is prosperity, Rig this "Nc!u7is"uezs-
shy men %. NY faith. OF a"y othe. religion
faith. must BE- cSt-.rjzeo in an institution supper
ted all. represented ny al --cys.
i it herqu-e We worship the God ot our bath
ers. after the manner that som" cal here-y -
And is IL really tue design Of thi- F1rHt. la,
Board 81 Education. also, - sit in judgment upor
tie conscirDces cf men, and make This StI'- Ia
stitution scst1rjdp Such seem, TO BE- thc cs7,
I-ves. more. thi. : not merely an iattr1.ce. nu'
II / ps1n ana .olr.abe upon the v"Ev surtNcr 90
. t.in"-.
Here are the facts Contrary 90 the pub-hct
announcement. the clergym.n sfoiing fhemse'cc,
"Ortho-,N,' oH}g were invited. Professor Tracy
gave az a reason, 10 enc of the students, that
could not Toe invited, q because Uniyerscs,,
wcre not considered Christian The youn.
| man cNposrliatcd, somewhat, about making the
, Institution -ectarisu, but waS met with the rcty
courteous o. reply - II YOU don! ike the in
stitutioa. Won can leave but the Uuvereslisr
minister cant be invited"
AMI the Rev. l.. t. FiSke. Is | was informed
al the time, declared THAT be would resign hi.
position, if was invited to otticate in the rei
/ goUs services Of the College.
( And thi- was understood to be the reason why
III the c,-rgymen in Lansing were excluded; "a
prevent an outbreak among the Professors and
at the same time Ia quiet the Students and have
their own religions doctrines alone preached
/ The above facts were well understood by some
( Of our citizens at the time. and much in gua-
+ ton was felt By few, which would then have
+ found public expression had !; not been believed
( ,hl, the Hon. j K. Williams, then Prcsi!eut OF
the College, was in favor OF the widest liberation.
and that ultimately p rational liberal and Chris
! tan practice would prevail. An earnest interest
IN the success of an Institution, founded on reu-
erouS and catholic plans. then suppressed an
agitation that might mar Ijs prospects and retari
Its success.
+ Bat the Rev. Mr. Fiske, being nov President
pro te9t OF The College, who has already decided
+ that men of my f,ith should De ostracizcd, the
same based on hi alleged conscientious aGher-
I ence to his principles. or bis creed, | have no
! doubt the above memorial will I've suppressed, or
perchau.e, referred to your Board for action
Hoping and DresH7,E9 that the question must
be referred 10 you, | pass over al personal con-
siderations. and present you few thoughts
Personal considerations should be forgotten
where public question of this magnitude j. IN
VOWED
Article itl, OF tire Constitution, declares a.
follows
SEC. -. The legislature shall pass no law 10
prevent any person from worshippiug Almighty
God according to the dictates Of his own con-
science; or to compel any person 10 attend
erect, OF support any place Of religions worship.
or 10 pay tiihes, taxes oT other rates fGr the
support Of any minister Of the gospel. or teacher
Of religion.
( sec. Al. No money shall be appropriated or
drawn hJm the treasury for the benefit O: any
religious sect or society, theological or religious
seminary, nor shall property belonging to the
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