The New York herald., 1870-03-14
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
The Public Schools and tIip RibIe-lIands OFF,
sermon by the Rev. DIR. Hepworth.

The Public schools and thn RibIe-lIanss OFF,
sermon by the Rev. DIR. Hepworth.
The attention ana appreciativeness which charac-
terize The large fashionable assemblage usually
present at the services in the Church OF the Aessah
faliy illustrated last evening by the crowded
congregation that thronged the handsome
edidce. After the preliminary exercises
the Rev. Dr. Hepworth preached SER
mon taking his text from st. Paul's
First Epistic to the Corinthians. xvi, l"Quit We
ike men, The reverend gentleman commenced by
saying that the governments of Europe were based
upon and protected by muscle and bayoncts, while
the government or America, on the other hand, was
based upon and protected by brains and heart The
necessity OF moral education then easily seen.
Freedom and virtue were born OF the same mother
and rocked IN the same cradle. That fact mad been
notcd by our greatest statesmen from Patrick
Henry to Daniel Webster. 1t was oitentimes said
that there recognition sOf God In cOnsti.
tuition. II would be remembered that when Thomas
Jefferson presented to the American Congress the
Hrst draft Of the Declaration OF Independence he
he'll out ali reference whatever to God ana that the
Congress, after due delibcraop, inserted the two
clauses; trst o Apneang @ tne to tne supreme Judge Of
tentlons;" and and second ts That firm >, re
PTovidence.n Nearly every State that had since
entered The Union mad had In its preamble similar
clause. the following beng generally used :--'Gratc
ful to Almighty God for civil, political and religious
libertyn NC. We were thus committed as people
10 religious as wen az TO secular education. No man
entered upon an Office OF any Importance without
soiennly declaring his faith 10 The Almighty In our
colleges part OF Tue scheme OF education Consisted
OF text books upon religious matters. Paieys
"Eyldences OF Christianity and Wayland's ''iOral
Scienceo were taught III every academic institution
OF this country. IN our common schools II was the
custom before the exercises Of tue day to read
portion OF tie Hlbe and to make a prayer. This
education IN religious matters was wholly unsec-
tartan. Nosec,arian teacher would be considered
qualified for tnat Responsible position Thus 1t was
tried 10 iniuse into the minds OF the young sense
OF a aer d ,sr ws as Of 0s ns OF fa
necessity OF religious education the kev. DR.. Hep
worth contimued:-Now. who asks us to take the
| Bible out Of the schoosf Are the men who are
| most Americanized, VINO are most influential, who
arc best educateds No; they are persons who have
| come from the oppressive laws and customs
| OF the old country. and who have fonnd
home In our republic. To republican lnstitu-
tons they owe Ill they have. TOO often they
Zenship. II mas. unfortunately happened that many
man, fresh from the monarches OF Europe, has,
within twenty-our nours after he arrived, by tine
chicanery OF politicians been empowered to vote.
Indeed this attempt IS made by what is Termed the
dangerous element OF our American society, as well
Ms the uncducated element. II you ask me what
their nature IS the answer Is plain enough. Is
1t simply 10 get the Bible out OF the schools
VIII they be satisfied II we substitute Catholic
IhDes instead or the one now IN user Will they be?
satisfied If we use prayers OF their own making ?
No. Tne truth Is that they propose to undermine
the public school system. They have organized q
light and Americans must meet II bravely and
sanarely We have taken them INTO our political
mouse. II they tell us that tree lntercepts their
vison viii cut it down. II they tell US that the
house too small we viii build 1t larger; but II with
pich IN Hauu tuey tty W sap ehc ivuasio'l " ou'
building 1t Ii time that we should be up and doinu
they tel ua that their plea IL OF conscience.
respect conscience AZ much al any man; but II their
conscience is IN our way Why did they come 10 TINS
| country nj af IL they cannot accord with Inc
4 splr of our institutions tney have no right on our
| shores. | ask whose conscience is trouDledy Is
| y that OF the poor man whose children are IN
| our public schoOlsr No. Is it that OF the priest
who gives him his spiritual lessons from
! SUNDAY ~ SUNDAYS No. Is il that OF the archbishop
| who controls the ecclesiastical afiarsf No; IT is
rather tnat OF the Head OF the Churol, who neither
| knows anything OF nor cares ANYTHING for republi-
can Institutions. Ny doctrine simply lhis:-I say
TO all the oppressed Of Europe Come to our country
for We have acres enough you all: iIsEi-
| tutions Tor your own development for that of
your children; but DO not attempt 10 destroy what
! we h0la so dear And my only motto ia thls--Our
! pubic schools and our Bible-IIanas or