New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-19
Secular Teaching i'm our Public
Schools.

We publish in another column, (taken from
the National Republican, the proceedings OF
a meeting of colored Methodist ministers in
relation to the singing OF what they consider
to be secular songs. These gentlemen speak
of the upright and efficient teachers as IN
godlv, and call upon the Christians of the
District of Columbia to hold a meeting il op-
position to the ungodly course which has
tendency to endanger the fundamental prin-
ciples of Christianity" We suppose these
ministers will feel constrained to go to tie
extreme in opposing the studying in our pub
lie schools of whatever is secular, which
Webster defines to be "that which pertains
to this world, or to things not spiritual or
holy" If all secular matter is TO be pro-
hibited, it strikes US that the schools should
be abolished Immediately. No reading could
be allowed but that Of the bible and sermons.
Geography could not be taught, neither arith-
metic. algebra, nor grammar, etc., ETC., be-
cause they pertain to this world and are no
more holy and spiritual than the following
secular song which has caused so much fright
among the colored Methodist ministers Of this
city:
WHAT LIVE FOR.
| live for those who love me,
Whose hearts are kind and true
For the heaven that smiles above me,
And araits my spirit too;
For all human ties that bind me.
For the task my God assigned me,
For the bright hopes left behind me,
And the good tina. can DO.
live TO learn their story.
Who suffered for my sake
To emulate their glory,
And follow in their wake:
Bards. patriots, martyrs, sages,
The noble of all ages
Whose deeds crown History's pages,
And Times great volume make.
live to hold communion
With all that is divine;
To feel there is union
iTwixt Natures heart and mine.
To profit by aflction,
Reap truth from fields OF fiction,
Grow wiser from conviction
And fulfil each grand design.
live to hail that season,
By gifted minds foretold,
When man shall live by reason,
And not alone by gold;
When man to man united,
ind ersry ,rrong thing ,igh!ed,
The whole world shall be lighted
As Eden was of old.
live for those who love me,
For those who know me true
For the heaven that shines ABOVE me,
And awaits my spirit too
For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the future in the distance,
And the good that can do.
The above song is the one being sung when
2 scholar in the school refused to sing be-
cause of its being secular song, and the
teacher becoming cognizant of it caused the
singing to be stopped and said to the school
" If there is any one scholar here so Ignorant
az not to be able to see the hig moral senti-
ment embodied in this song they may leave
the school," and no one left. BY some means
the watchful guardians of Christianity became
aware OF the above affair and Immediately
set to work to show their devotion to the
cause of religion and morality, as indlcatedn
the extract from the Republican. The letter
of Mr.. Brooks is certainly a sensible one, and
gives the correct view of the subject. The
board of school trustees is composed Of MEM
hers Of church and men Of known high moral
character, and are each and severally earnest
in their efforts to do only those things that will
conduce to the greatest intellectual benefit Of
the children in our schools, and we believe
the intelligent parents Of our city will stand