Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-11-14

caough to ATTEMPT to inculca.c regard for
one thing in preference TO another without
showing rea:o for the distinction. Now,
personally, have no objection TO the Bible
| being and continuing in our schools, and
were oily my own feelings and personal in
tcrests TO be consulted, l shonld say let i,
remain there. Nevert ,cless, justice. the
4 liberty Of the individual, the principle eff
our Republican institutions, the hearty in.
!, terest which have in education al reform
and educational advancement, compel me to
take the position against the Bible IN
schools. Should | enieavor to give my rea :
sons for this, should exhaust your space
and patience. and say nothing but what has
often been said before pe,mit me therefore
/ I, make a few general remarks:
/ The teachers Of this county it seems, are
not satisfied with The simple rellin: Of the
scriptures in school. but they resolve "to
inculcate true regard for the christian
rcli sion.' No doubt they will attempt 10
show that this has modified meaning, tina,
ii means this or that or nothing at all. But,
there it stands in al, its native ugliness, u
sentence crelitable to its author neither in
| Rhetoric or sentiment in this age Of ed
ucationai advancement. I, seems TO me
that the pure morals and great teachings Of
Christ carry with them. in most cases, their
own meaning without the rid Of these
would-5c commentators. Will they not in
nine ceses ont of ten be entirely unfit for
~.
prejnd'ced perhaps by ear religious train
ing, will they. car they incnlcate religious
principles differing from these which they
have received, or from those Of some pccu-
liar sect or denomination. How fcarfllly
are the sayings OF Christ sometimes mang-
led by these persons. We're lie now on
to thoughts Of which certain religious sects
Calm him to be the originator.
But the supporters OF this resolution may
say that if the Bible is retained in our
schools the whole object Of the resolution is
accomplished Very well, then; l claim
that the reading Of tie scriptures rish,fully
has no place in our public schools. As l
ha said before, de not choose TO discuss
this question here, bat if any gentleman
chooses to toss me the glove l shall gladly
NEE; him.
There are some people in the world who
think that others have no rights which they
are bound to res .cct. Such l am sorry to
say is the position Of a portion Of the Pro-.
| te.tant church /. ward those Of o her beliefs.
| They point with = terrible signiicasce to
| the bloody deeds Of the Catholic lrcuisition,
forgetting that in deeds Of ,rde christian
charity the Catholic Church surpasses any
other church on earth forgetting that a
work Of most stupendou, magnitude has,
within the last few years, been begun in
the Catholic church, and carried far toward
completion. From the night Of mental dark
ness are emerging into day. Will they
help forward this work or retArd it!
The greatest educators in the world have
said that The Bible. or the recogui ion Of
one religion to the exclusion OF another,
has no place in the public schools.
Germany always has been foremost in
education, and always will be for she has
taken the head in the great movement which
haa given and will continue to give tire.
mendous impetuous to education and civili-
cation, and these two march side by side in
tie van OF human progress and now ar
association Of teachers In y small town in
far west, where yet the rudiments OF eluca-
ton are to be earned, lift up their voices
and resolve, That we will at all liluss en-
deavor.'' Sc. Their nc ion reminds one of
that element OF the Ctaholic church which
has endeavorea in vain 10 uphold the M
poral power of tho Pope, or Of that shatter-
ed aud broken church Of old. wher it sou sht
to stay the reformation sweeping every
thing before il. Il Was the power OF but
one leader with which il hal to contend /;
but that power was irresistible, for I.ul her,
with one arm pointing forward and the
other beckoping to the nations, charged
down from vantage ground Of many CEN
turtles and planted amid the ruins Of a rot
ten theology, banrer upon whose f Ids
was inscribed in letters Of gold. Onward !
That element which q, this day seek, to
mingie secular and spiritual affairs, and
unile church and State has not The power
Of the educated world. Shall We longer
continue the unequal contc I, and prolong
the wrange, CIR by removing the Lone Of
contention, let Christian, Catholic, Infidel
and Jew. Join hands and toge!h wo'k in
the interest Of education and the advance
ment Of thought Thought: mighty, pow
erful which seeks new worlds and won.
ders beyond the home Of the sunbeam; and
when these have passed away will still re
main potent, eternal.
fear have dwelt toe long UP this
The second resolution reads
..Resoiued That We will not per nit profan-
ity or other immoral practices in our
school" it stopped there 1t would
have been well, but il goes on-'nor will
we under any circumstances be guilty OF
these vices curse yes 1t speaks for itself
The sixth resolution is general one, and
Ia 8 found q place in the resolutions Of con.
ventions, religious or otherwise, for years
1t has about rs much effect upon this minds
Of men a. the passin, breeze. The ques-
ton naturally arises, what is it for? whaI
good does i do II it has any application
why is mt il given.
The eighth resolution does not say
whether Normal Schools are worthy Of sup
port, or whether those passing the resolu-
ton will support them !; and has about 81
much application as resolution reading
"Re.slrfd, that the reelection Of Gen
Grant will do for the country what the ex.
ploration of Africa has failed to do
The tenth resolution says that in Mrs
McGonegal we recognize a true christian
&c. A peculiar emphasis seems to be put
upon the wc,d christian by the manner in
which the resolution reads. Now have nc
doubt that the lady in question is q ,ru'
chr istisn, but why peculiar significance
should be given to the fact cannot see.-
She came among the teachers IS an educa
tor only; as such should she he lauded. Par
don me for intru ling SO long.
Yours very truly, CLorD.
Old settlers Correspondence.