National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-16
THE LAST SHOT.
BY WAY OF EXPLANATION.


COlorcd Coincidence COntroversy-James II.
A Jobu.on R.pIIs, IN lain n. nrooI,.
~ IS =
Learned DisqulsitiOn on the Subject
Nt-hn, p,,,t,,,,, A,,a,r. 90, Ah.,, E,A
~ ',"'"''' '''' H""u'
short Paragraph brought TO Focus
Tho u,.Is or the Opnosi,iop- f,hitdrcD,.
:
Souls Must be Saved from Hell.
And NOW tho following cnra Of Mr. I IT A
tohnsor on ,ho co,nro1 scbooI ,nastIo,, IA ,,,h-
"Vni's'h U" t"e 'OiO'.u n'"Voi quo'Nvh - PuV-
llshed, In response TO that OF MT. John II. BrooEs
EDIToR REPUBLICAN: You will allow me space
In your very excellent journal to reply TO the
collateral articles which referred, In the issue Of
the l4th instant, to "The right OF conscience In
the public schools"
The FIRST, under the head, "Songs w. Hymns
Ia characterized 10y unfalTness and error, There
has been no attempt by any Of the pastors Of this
District to Introduce any sectaTian dogma into
any Of it, public schools. They have simply re-
uuestcd the trustees to see that the feelings nf
religious schoiars-Of those who have the 'power
Of godliness"-be respected, and not subjected to
outrage. They did this regardless OF denOmina.
tiOnal considerations, and held that the feel
lngs OF truly regenerated person were not
Of q seCtarian character, and should be observed
as the results Of the Holy Spirit, and a. too sa-
cred TO he disturbed by educated wOrldllness.
They said nothing OF "text books or the ''study
Of music.n Every person who has sense enough
to dahhle with this Important matter must know
that the study OF music Ia one thing and the
singing OF secular songs Ia another; aud that the
singing OF such songs Is not a sine qua to the
science Of music.
They protested against the course pursued by
some OF the teachers Of forcing their young pupils
TO sing those songs against their religious feel
ings, not against their Instruction, fOr no such
instruction had been given those young persons
when the matter was sprung upon the pastors,)
but against their ConsclenCes, against the RpOn-
taneous dlctatlOn Of that mysterious principle Of
! the soul which regulates the Affairs OF men be-
| tween themselves and God. This ia the ground
they took; this Is the ground they hold, and this
| Is the one upon which, In the name Of heaven,
they will stand the consequences Of the issue
| Now let US see TO what extent they are justified
| In this position. certain author says: mo one
has authority over the conscience hut God. All
! penal laws, therefore, In matters OF mere con-
! science, or things that do not evidently effect
| the civil state, are certainly unlawful"
| Another says; "lts decisions are more or less
! clear, Just and imperative, according to the de-
heart, and especially according TO the degree In
which It's purity and sensitiVeness have been
| preserved aud cultivated
That good and learned man, the late DR.. Barnes,
/ says: "Consclence prompts TO do right, and con-
dennis US Il we do wrong. In all lands, at all
times, and In All circumstances, II prompts a
man to do what 4 right, and condemns him "
he does WRONG These are nus straightiorward
| sentiments, Whlch can neither ne misunderstood
! nor mislnterpreted, nor be viewed a. having a
tendency TO put the subject under control OF
| human power, much less under twO-man power.
! We now bring this paragraph to focus by re-
! ferring to published course OF lectures TO the
young The author OF the course says This
| internal feeling OF the mind IL the power OF
conscience Mplch the Almighty Governor OF the
! World mas bestowed on each Individual as pre-
! sentative from error and guide to virtue; and
It's secret influence Is acknowledged as soon as
we are capable Of thought and reflection" These