The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-24

Judgment of what the best interests of edu-
cation in the State require, and on their own
responsibility"
EVENING.
Rev. J. f. Rankin of St. Adams, gave
very interesting lecture on the "Caims of the
Bible to place in our Schools
/ Mr. Rankin commenced his address bv
saying that it is matter of interest what
shall be the religious character of the fu-
ture inhabitants of our State. To accom-
plish an object so desirable as the preserva-
ton of the spirit of our Pilgrim Fathers
there is no instrumentality so potent as the
Bible. Some Christian men are timid con-
cerning the position of the Bible in Common
Schools. His subject was announced as the
Literary, Moral and Religious claims of the
lille to q place IN or Common Schools
Fust-As regards its literary claims, it has
positive merits. AS was said of Christ, "Ney-
er man spake like this man," so may it be
said of the Bible in literary point of view,
Never book was like this book" He brought
illustrations of the copiousness of its litera-
ture in the departments of History and Poe
try, of a high order, and abstract reasoning.
Its excellencies in this department were elo-
quently exhibited. None of the masters in
literature who have found their material in
the Scriptures have been able to reproduce
the original. Shall We not for this consid-
Grafton put the Bible into the hands of our
children, who are now forming their literary
tastes
Second7y-In considering the moral claims
of the Bible, he explained his use Of the term
moral as distinguished from religious, max
ing it expressive of mere human relations-
He then remarked that every school is a
world by itself. Schoolboy morals are pecu-
liar. Now what corrective of the bad is
there like the word of God ? Something is
needed more potent than human instruction.
The question what kind of men are our chill
dren to be is determined to great extent in
our schools. Saying nothing about future
life, there is no book that sets forth such an
excellent system of morals among men as the
Bible. Infdes have instructed their children
from it to this end.
He applied these principles to the subject Of
the foreign element of our population. How
can we make these persons good citizens bet
ter than by kindly insisting upon the same
moral culture which We give or children !?
7Mdly-Special stress is to be laid upon
the religious claims of the Bible. III this
book only has God revealed to man his pur-
poses and his law. Every creature has a
right to this as to the air he bleath.s. God
has revealed himself in his works, in tie
beauties Of nature, alike to rich and poor ;
and the Bible is addressed not merely to the
human race generally, but to every ind;yidu-
al Of it. In his works God reveals himself
as Creator : in the Bible as Father If a son
: has right to the paternal inheritance, then
has man 4 right to the Bible. When,h i'm
mortal relations are considered, We may ask
tie question-does that deserve to be called
education which does not provide for relig-
iuus instruction The soul must have sp;r-
itual acquaintance with God, must know
Christ in this life or be lost forever Moral
Ity can have no foundation without religion.
While then the specific religious training is
the duty of parents, is it not policy to the
: State to see that religious truth is recognized
and enforced in our schools !? In the true
! seEse of the term what can be more Catholic
) than the Bible After referring to and dis
: senting from the late action of the Board of
Education upon the subject of the use of the
Bible in Schools, the speaker concluded his
most interesting and eloquent defense of the
Bible, by urging the Importance of maintain
; ing the position that Biblical Christianity is
) the law of the State. Let US seek to bap-
TIE the young civilization of Vermont with
the spirit and temper of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
THURSDAY
After protracted discussion, the Sd arti-
Gle of the constitution was amended to read
as follows
ART. 3.-The annual meeting of this asso-
citation shall be held Tuesday on or next af:
ter the 2Oth of August, at such place as shall
have been previously appointed, the sessions
to continue two days or more and to be oc.
cupied mainly with addresses, essays and
, discussions upon such topics connected with
education as shall have been previously no
, titled by the executive committee.
? Discussion, question, "What standard Of
qualifications should Superintendents re-
, quire in those licensed to teach in our Com
: mon Schools ?" Speakers, Messrs. Rankir
of St. Johnsbury, P. II. White, Burbank
], Rankin of St. Adams and S. r. Hall.
Mr.. A. E. Rankin. in commencing this dis
cussion Of this question, noticed certain evil
, to be obviated by higher standard of quail
fication
l. 1t would obviate the frequent chang
ing of teachers. There would be fewer appli
, cations and more adequate compensation
+. ,. The evil Of granting conditional licenses
: which is bad principle.
: He then proceeded to give what he regard