Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-11-23
SEC IdKLANLSM IN THE ENI.
EERSIYH OF MISSISSIPPI

cOpSlueI.tulS lhlIntsSl IuiI lllo htHlu'
point Of its author. Ths charge Of
Sectarianisn has been made against
our State University. 1t simply
shows the most bitter sectariSnism
on part Of those who prefer tho
charge. The University Is not q
Theological Institution, and the
writer Of the article in question ad-
nit, the ability of the faculty, and
acQuits the management Of any de-
sign to make the University secta-
rian. We say, then, no one has a
right to enquire whether the major
ity of the Professors are OF one sect
or the other. This thing of sectari,
anism is intruding itself into all our
schools, public and private; it is the
most n~on.scusical ou%tcroPping Of
opinions that are the very essence
Of bigotry and intolerance. The
question Of sect ought to be entire.
.ly discarded from eur schools; it
has no mor right there than IN our
State or local governments, and 4
pro rata representation might As
well be demanded in our political
Offices rs in our Universities.
The preiudices OF sect are strong.
sr and moro bitter than even politi-
cal prejudices; they smother and
crush out that cstholiclty of feeling
which Religion contemplstes. The
very word Religion, in its original
Specification, means "to bind It's
modern meaning is "to divide" 1t
cuts even society up into little cir
cles, and intrudes ITSELF into our
educational lite, which should be as
broad and untrammelled as ciyiiiza-
zion itself, OF which it is really the
soul. The writer Of the communi.
cation referred to, complains that
one third Of the faculty of our Uni
v~erEity are Pre5byterians. What
Of it, Suppose that third were
Baptists, would the cry OF sectari-
enism have been uttered from that
quarter?
Doct, Lyon, for instance, was
called TO the chair of metaphysics
and moral philosophy we believe.
lie is . Presbyterian OF tne straight
est sect he was placed there, not
to teach Calvinism or any other
ISM" Can any one be so blinded
with s~ectarjan prejudice as to say
tie was elected because he was \
Presbyterian. Nay, further, can
any one al'ege he is not competent
to hoNor the chair to which he is
assigned? Further still, can any
ore affirm he has his superior in the
State for that position? But, As the
writer in the Baptist does not make
the issue Of incompetency, we ask
if this third Of the faculty was not
composed # Presbvterians is it not
probable it might be of some other
sect. The truth is, wo are disgust,
ell with this cry Of se~ctariAnism it
is sitting te all broad and liberal
views Of education. We care not
if all the faculty Of tho University
Nero Baptists or Prosbyterians.-
Why, even in colleges, eoniessedly
under the auspices Of some particu-
lar denomination, where they &C,
Quire a reputation for talent and
thoronghness, our young men, IRE,
Fpectjve Of scctarian bias, are edu.
Gated by thousands. Some Of our
denominations from the qualifcs.
tons demanded to make them teach.
ers in the pulpit, will furnish more
thoroughly educated mel than 9TH
ers-mcn who are familiar with the
curriculum of our oldest institutions
of learning, and many with = Euro.
pean experience added, and all this
education, experience, and knowl-
edge Of men and books-must sue
eumb to a arrow spirit of sectari.
aniSn, which Is out Of place, in bad
taste, and subyelSiye Of the broad
views that should govern the edu-
cation Of all our people under one
civilization.