The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-20
TEE QUESTION OF EDUCATION IN INDIA.
Can Religious Instruction he Excluded
from tho Schools and the Comm nifty
10 SQfo1
from the Calcutta Englishman.l

From the Calcutta EngIishman.I
It Is remarkable fact that the war cry OF the
Roman Catholic hierarchy against the Irish educa-
tional system should have found an echo in tho
organ Of body at the opposite end Of tne theolo-
gical gamut In the one case the infallible Church
puts forward its claims to influence the minds Of
the young, and denounces every scheme into which
that influence does not enter as goddess educa-
ton !" in the other the same cry Is raised In tho
name Of q Church which Is virtually subversive OF
all creeds. The Indtan AfrTor OF the 90
Of July den0unces the present system Of
teaching in government schools az goddess" ana
demands that 1t shall be changed for one teaching
ethics without religion The writer wakes eio-
quent on the evils that will result to the state II
"that goddess and secular education which over
turns the very foundation OF morality be persisted
in.n go at our educstionists" he says, meg
cc our conscience teach to ignore the moral law
and mans accountability and bring up the next
generation under on infdel system, that In avoid
ing religion denies morality, we can easily predict
the political and social dangers that are sure to
follow" This Is strong language, but Is 1t inteigi-
bier Does the writer know what he means or
what he wantss win he tell us how
under existing circumstances, morality 10
to be taught without religion Will
he say where the text books, where the teachers
ore to be found capable OF imparting system OF
ethics free from sectarian bias2 Yet he Still holds
the government bound to "stand aloof with strict
impartlality from Christians, Hindoos, Mohamme-
dams and Brahmins.n ''The cultivation" he says,
'Of sense Of moral responsibility TO living
Creator would, IN our opinion, prev ent all potIca!
complications and dangers, and make all sects and
aya nason BY Il
even with the powerful adjunct OF direct religious
DECIDE wnas rsaion snail loow
since each creed has Its own code OF
morals Is not that practically suffering every ono
IN deci AaOY had 1t been found
| possible to instil system OF morals absolutely
Tree rom religious bias would not the Pupil stop
This might not be an questionable result IA some
mems opinion but in the minds OF the majority it
any creed, however remote from their own. TO Us,
however, 1t appears that the Mirror demands an
teacher viii teach Christian ethics; the Mussulman,
etnics according to Mohammed: In the pres res.
and religion cannot be divided: One here
and one there, OF somewhat cold organiza.
in forming for himself and imparting to others
code Of morals from which oil theological iniiu-
traced back to Its source In the consciousness Of
mankind, or forward to its criterion IN their COM
mon good. But who are the moralists OF the world
Are they practical men, busted in the AFFAIRS OF life,
doadened by the routine OF teaching, worn and ha-
to meditation and introspection In the retirement
OF the closet For all others morality and religion
ated by the other; and it with the teachers
| not less SO Is IL with the taught.
| Iuc history Oh Tile WOrIu III all Ll1ucB mas SHOWN
that what our contemporary demands, 30 far from
being suited to the warm and ductile mind OF
youth, Is the outcome Of an advanced stage q
living under the pure moral law without religious
creedf Is 1t possible Tor the immature mind to
| develop or even appreciate an indie pendent moral
code9 Are lot all infant races religious and Is t
not only through ages OF study and reelection that
right between man and man not dependent on
Divine commandf What the future may have
in store for us, whether tho day viii arrive
when moral code, based on utility or conscience,
will be recognized az sufficient for the guidance OF
mankind as far Us regards the relations OF man to
man, we dare not venture TO predict. since, then,
neither teacher nor pupil appears, what are we to
be found in the TACT that he is not consistent with
himself A pure morality alone win not suffice
him The existence Of LYING Creator ana mans
n n.u s y truth he to "hs ss, sSs % 81
Brahmo soias, ' 10 30 instllled INTO the plastic
mind Of youth. after which , be viii n. con,
deep S' Jssutlcal design We take bis
teach morals according to his own religious be-
lief We do not say that he perceives this ten.
strikes at the root Of the Hindoo the Roman CatSo
| hc the Anglican, OF oil faiths promulgated by .
to God. THIS as a reiormer it may be the part Of
the Bramin leader to strive tor even though 1t cut
tine rom mo. eae part ns Of hs
AS we write the Atrror's article Of the 18th on
Morality and Religion lies before US. lto
| purpose is 10 prove the very point Tor which We
| have been contendng, that the two are at present
| and for most men indvisibe, and needs only to be
followed up by explicit declaration That Bromin
Thclsm is the form OF religion to be taught.
! IL Is not uncommon TO meet with people who
think that the laws, moral and social, Of the uni
/ verse can be moulded alter their own good pleas
ure that he who steals can be led to steal no more,
| the man OF violent passions be changed to
man OF peace, the liar made truthful, the selfish
| seltsacrihclng, through the medium OF some
human instrumentallty, either punitive or
reiormatory In TINS spirit our wS contem apo
| be:-"All that we say to government is, leave
everybody to decide what religion he should follow,
| but give every young man sound moral character
| that he may prove a blessing to his family, ms
country and also to the ruling body" SIC Uoto $50
| government is, under the present consultation Of
| things, limited the bodies OF men. The form OF
| government which shall give to every young man
| o sound moral character, and render him q bless
Ing to his family, his country and bis rulers, mas
| yet to be discovered. .I.