The Lansing state Republican., 1861-01-09

few lines from the pens of those deeply versed
in this subject; the first quotation is from the
testimony OF his Hsnor the Recorder of lsrmins-
ham, England, Mathew d. Hill, E.q, given be-
fore the Parliamentary Committee, upon the
subject Of criminal and destitute iaveniies.-
Here LET me say that Recorder Hills testimony.
by virtue of his experience obtained through
age and position, should be received With the
greatest confidence. The testimony is as follows:
Mere reading ard writing, mere mental ,duca-
tion of any kind looking at it as a practical re-
strant OF crime, hold very cheap indeed. -
The other testimony vas given before the same
committee by Capt. Wm. |. Williams, ior 10
years Inspector OF Prisons OF England, for the
Home District; ia his testimony he SAWS. IL
think very much depends on the sort Of ,ducs-
ton TO which these children were subject
think much OF the education they u dergo is
useless TO them; il is not ot a sufficiently useful
oI Interesting nature 10 keep up an interest in
their minds" fhtse Schools, a general thing
include large proportion OF truaut> from the
public schools thus YOU are called upon 10 vary
the exercises often from the regular routine per-
sued in those schools in order 10 give the largest
measure of success 10 the undertaking. In ac.
cordance with the above statement, larce
amount of ora! instruction is demanded in these
Institutions.
| But again. these Institutions are iiGusiriai
Schools. The children sent 10 bc educated here
II.
and have manifested an aversion TO any Industrial
pursuits. Here again We must guard the reader
against the adoption OF the impression that these
Institutions were established tor the purpose Q.
learning the inmates Of such Schools the various
branches of industry, or that trade must he
learned to these children while ia the Institution
this is a mistaken notion, tor the most oi them
will no, remain a term sufficiently lOng 20 aar.
rant such step, and even it th,y cid remain
long enough. neither would it sc dcsirsblc, Tor
the great object contemplated by these lnstitu.
tious in relation labor Is 20 create industrial
habits, to teach the pupil labor at the or thi,
in order that he may develop IN industrial ae-
tivites. before he goes forth TO tie world TO
choose hrs ie's calling
Again, these schools ATE schools If moral.
ity and religion. In cur public schools the great
burden OF moral rrsiumg d.vo.v,s upon the
home education aud ,he sabbath School lirre
i, is dificrrrt 'or all Ihis mportaIt work j. com
mItcd L. the condur.or~ ol ihe>, schools Thrss
childcea are placed here 10 have their moral
pp~ers cultivated--to have seeds 81 pune u,ur.
= auy planted in the soul Nhr scctariali,n
: ought to bc bnni-hci from, thv-, schools VT ~
: arr free u admit tia, fact thai the gicat ohi.c,
sought 10 toe accomplished b, these lnstitutons
2 il th, instruction oi be- isoral man. tee mpart-
Ing vicor to the MORAL iaculties
2 Bat again, th,sc schools are appropriated,
named Reform Scho,is. The object oi IL, Sc
Institutions j. not ou, ihe implautiue of the
great principle of truth, bur the eradication O;
evil principles. Thee ehiigeu have ,io-
|. lated the laws al .ieil nature AL l. wrong IN
, practice. They come To th,s. Schools ior the
purpose of being Re Formed Old HABITS. of vice
t must be root, out and in their place plants OF
virtue and piety must be Eurtured. The whole
man il TO be reformed takir the control OF
the soul from base desire aud giving it To rca
iHu> th' HuHb W. ltsdi ro-itith
= ~hch is favorable to the rightrg up OF the ahole
. moral man
1 But lastly, these Schools are Homes. The
e want Of good home mas sent these children 10
0 these Institutions. Many have had iut,mpera;c
D parcnts--sll have been deieciivcy trained, auc
: for this sent To these schools to have
d the home element supplied 20 them. These
schools thus in order 10 answer the end Tor which
i q ey were created should bc homes To this unf0r-
o tunate class Tire hand of experience, Kindness
: and sympathy should be exterded 10 them NJ
. they enter these schools. A fIther should be
s there to council, sympathise and love these un-
fortunate ones. 4 mother, love should be f,lt
i in all these homes, and the tender relations
Il which come ihrou.h the sacred chanel OF home
{. should flow into ihs soul Of these heretofore
homeless and houseless children.
Z HUSANfTAS
e Lansing, Jan &, 1861.