The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-11-01
Communicated.
HAvRE DE GRACE, Nd,
October o5th. 1879.


EDITOR WING. - Dear SRI notice
Tie Democrat has a rather tardy report in
its last issue, of the last meeting of the
Teachers Association" in which the
request is made that as have so often told
them what do not 6eliece, that will give
them some idea of anhat do beliers. Our
accomplished Secretary must have been
very inattentive to the proceedings of that
body if she has not learned sometime ago,
at least some things that l believe. With
the exception of the first on "Little
Things and this last on "Fictitious
Literature" all the essays l have read
before that body since my connection with
it, have been published, and if the Cecil
public care for what ! believe they can
read for themselves as my opinions are not
such as am IN the habit of being asham-
ed of. The first one published was as
earnest plea as was capable of writing
for " Home Education" For more in
the part of parents for more home life and
home training as the only way of making
Children what they should be. That on
Teachers Beatitudes," was designed as
work, and more interest in general educa-
cation in, "all of which l steadfastly be-
lieve"
The most bitterly criticised of all, "Fe-
male Education" was certainly outspoken
in its beliefs. A belief that whatever want
of ability women may have shown to COM
pete with men has been a consequence of
legal subsection to his WILL and belief in
her future education and absolute social
and political equality was rather a positive
creed | think; not 4 string of negatives.
sour Home ;" was an attempt to sum up
the admitted facts of Geology and show
the hand of design through all its changes
and revolutions in preparing a home for
man. Had not believed the teachings of
Hugh Miller and his followers l should not
have written rs l did in that case. "Com-
pulsory Education" the only essay read
before the Association that secured an
attempt at reply by a member of that
body, was at least an earnestly meant plea
for compulsory attendance at school by
those who most need such training. l am
a most earnest believer in schools, free to
all and compulsory attendance upon those
schools. | will give this as another article
in my creed. "Fctitious Literature " was
not designed as an attack on fiction but the
abuse of it; a plea for more strict truth to
real life, and a condemnation Of much of
the wild sensationalism of the hour. l
don't believe in the New York Weekly, or
Ledger, nor in Munro's Dime Novels
do believe in the influence for good welded
by Dickens, Mrs. Craik, etc. I do not
believe in obscenity, pruriency, sensational
ism. | do believe in purity, truth, and
justice.
l believe in the brotherhood of man, in
human progress, in one God the maker,
preserver, and ruler of the world, in "The
Holy Catholic Church pardon me, no
the religion of right of justice of humanity.
A Catholic Church is yet possibility of
of the future. l believe in equal rights for
women, in the temperance reform and
unicersal education, in the final certain tr-
umph of right and life everlasting
| submit this as my creed of faith to the
Secretary of the Association and to any
one else who may be curious to learn what
believe. If it does not prove satisfactory
will try to enlighten the Association furth-
er in the future as to what l do believe.
JOHN A. CALHOUN.