The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-17

heavy and abundant |, must tell upon Fall
feed, corn and potatoes.
Van Amburg's menagerie was here on
Wednesday with big elephant, good ma
ny horses and some other animals.
Vermont Teachers Association.
This Association is holding its sessions
in this place this week. A large number of
the friends of education are present from
nearly all parts of the state. The exercises
were opened by social gathering at the
Town Hall on Tuesday evening. The cornet
band were present enlivening the occasion
with good music, and notwithstanding the
very unfavorabe weather, the large hall was
full Of ladies and gentlemen. Ex-Gov. Fair
banks was called to the chair, and in behalf
of the citizens of St. Johnsbury, extended a
hearty welcome to the strangers present ::
cordially welcoming them to our village, our
hearts and our homes. Remarks were then
made by J. S. Adams, Esq, and Messrs.
Winslow and Burbank, when the remainder
of the evening was spent in social way
This was altogether u very interesting and
profitable evening. Wednesday morning
was taken up in organization, and afterwards
discussions. In the afternoon the Association
listened to very able address from Profess
sor Boardman of Middlebury College. In
the evening Rev. J. L. Rankin of st. Adams
lectured upon the Claims of the Bible to a
place in our Common Schools The south
church was full, and perhaps it was as intelli-
gent an audience as ever convened in this
place, the menaserie and other shows draw
ing off all those who preferred to crafty a
curiosity rather than attend an intellectual
feast. 1t was an excellent address. After
Mr.. Rankin closed. Secretary Adams asked
the indulgence of the audience while he made
some explanations and corrected certain erro-
NOUS impressions which were quite prevalent
in regard to the course that he took in the
question of shall the reading of the Bible be
enforced in our common schools ~ as
brought cut in the case at Island Pond some
two Years since 1t will be reccollected that
certain Irish Catholic parents at the above
named place. commanded their children not
to lead in the Bible. as was the custom Of all
the scholars in this school. The teacher took
the ground that her scholars must all read
The Bible or be expelled from school. The
question was referred to Secretary Adams
and he ruled that there was no law upon our
statute book that could ccmpd the reading
OF the Bible in our schools. 1t was the de-
Tense Of this position that Secretary Adams
now endea, ored to make; and to US he did
it most clearly and forcibly. In no other
) thing have We seen tic eloquence and power
of our deservedly popular Secretary, hi:
great veneraton for the Bible and religion.
instruction, his extreme courtesy and defer
ence TO the opinions Of others, his love ant
zeal for the cause in which he is engaged
more strikingly shown than in his remark.
on this occasion.
Before this reaches the eyes of very many
Of our readers the exercises of to-day
(Thursday) will be closed, and the friends of
education whom our citizens have received
here so gratefully, and we trust cordially will
believe, without giving the glorious cause of
education new impetus in our State. Next
week we shall give the official proceedings
entire.