Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-24

and so Is void, as being against the common
law and public policy of Pennsylvania, and
this for two reasons: first, because of the
exclusion of all eeclesiassics, missionaries
and ministers Of any sect, from holding or
exercising any station or duty in the Col
lege or even visiting the same; and
secondly, becauseit limits me instruction
10 be given to the scholars to pure morali-
ty, and general benevclence, and love of
truth, sobriety and industry, thereby ex-
Guiding by implication all instruction in the
Christian religion. But the objection il
self assumes the proposition that Christian
ity is not to be taught, because ecclesias-
tics are not to be instructors or officers.
But this is by no means necessary or leg
itimate inference from the premises. Why
may not laymen instruct in the general
principles OF Christianity, as well as eccles-
iastics ? There is no restriction as to the
religious opinions Of the instructors and OF
ficers. They may be, and doubtless under
the auspices of the city government they
will always be, men not only distinguished
for learning and talent, but for piety, and
elevated virtue, and holy lives and charac-
ter. And we cannot overlook the blessings
which such men, by their conduct as well
as their Instructions, may, nay must I'M
part to their youthful pupils. Why may
not the Bible and especially the New Tesla
ment, without note or comment, be read
and taught as divine revelation in the
college-its general precepts expounded, its
evidences explained, and its glorious princi-
Piles of morality inculcated? What is there
to prevent q work, not sectarian, upon the
general evidences Of Christianity, from be-
ing read and Taught in the college by lay
teachers? Certainly there is nothing in the
viii that prOscrlbes such studies. Above
all, the testator positively enjoins that all
the instructors and teachers in the college
shall take pains to instil into the
minds of the scholars the purest
principles Of morality, SO that on their en-
trance into active life they may, from incli-
nation and habit, evince benevolence to-
wards their felloT-creatures, and a love of
truth, so5riety and industry, adopting at
the same time, such religious tenets as
their matured reason may enable them 10
prefer. Now it may we'll be asked, what
10 there in all this, which is positively en-
joined, inconsistent with the spirit or
truths of Christianity? Are not these
truths all taught by Christianity, although
it teaches much more? Where can the
purest principles of morality be learned so
clearly, or so perfectly, as from the New
Testament? Where are beneVOlence, the
love Of truth, sobriety, and industry, so
powerfully and irTesistibly inculcated as in
the sacred volume? The testator has not
said how these great principles are to be
taught, or by whom, except it be BY lay
men, nor what books are TO be used to ex-
plain or enforce them. Ali that we can
gather from his language is, that be desired
to exclude sectarians and sectsrianism
from the college, leaving the instructors
and officers free to teach the purest moral
ity, the love of truth, sobriety and industry
by all appropriate means, and of course, in
GLIDING the best, the sure5t and the most
impressive"
Under this ruling, the neral aud spiritu-
al culture of the pupils is diligently attend
ed to by a staff of conscientious officers and
teachers, who train the students in
habits of private prayer and of Bible read
ing, worshiping with them at the chapel
service each morning and afternoon, and at
the Sunday services. By authority of the
directors. the President of the college in
vites gentlemen apt to teach, and of well
established character, either members of
the board or others, to assist at the Sunday
services. Although under the ruling of the
Supreme Court of the United States, relig-
ious principles may be thoroughly inculcat-
ed by laymen, yet under the express pro-
visions Of the will, sectarianism is to be
avoided. The directors therefore
asked President Allen to prepare
Hymnsl and Formula of Devotion,
comprising also selected portions of Scrip
ture for reading or chanting, expressly for
use in the Chapel of Girard College, at the
discretion of the conductor of worship for
the time being. Moral and religious in
struction is given on all suitable occasions,
both in the schools and section-rooms, with
daily readings ia the Bible and Scripture
lessons on Sundays. The officers and pu-
pills attend worship daily, in the chapel be-
fore the opening of the schools and after
their close. The exercises are singing,
reading the Scriptures and prayer. On
Sundays, religious instruction is given by
lectures or addresses, delivered by laymen,
morning and afternoon, III addition to the
usual daily worship. Ii is believed that the
pupils Of Girard College, during their APP
premiership and in afterslife, will compare
very favOrably in morals and religion, and
in habits of obedience, with other young
men in the same conditions of life.
PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE.
:. The President of Girard College is Viii
liam 81. Allen, LII. D., a ripe scholar aud
a teacher by nature aud practice. He was
first elected in lS49 by a unanimous vote
of the directors. He brought to this high
trust large experience, broad and liberal
views, a clear and commanding intellect,
and strong religious convictions. Having
continued in this important trust twelve
years with entire acceptability, he resigned
and retired to private life upon farm near
the city. He was subsequently called to
the Presidency of the Agricultural college
of the State of Pennsylvania, but Girard
College again brought him back in 1867,
and he is now at its head. DR.. Allen is
also President of the American Bible
Society.
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
Near the West front of the College stands
a monument erected 10 the memory of such
of the graduates of that institution as fell
in battle or died from wounds or in hospital
during our "unpleasantness." The monu-
ment consists of base of Ohio sandstone
supporting four columns, over which is
canopy or roof, the whole being placed on
a pediment of granite. Upon the architra-
yes of the canopy are cut the arms of the
United States and of the city of Philadel-
phia, and on the opposite sides scholastic
emblems. Within the canopy stands a
figure in Italian marble, representing a
young soldier standing at rest The names
Of twenty four soldiers are inscribed on
The tablets on the faces of the base. On
one of these tablets 1 noticed the follow |
inscription from the will of Mr.. Gir&rd:
Especially desire that by every proper |
means pure attachment to our republican |
Institutions shall be formed and fostered In |
he minds Of the scholars"
VERI GREEN.