The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-04-04
Dor the Jasper csarier
WHITTIER are we Drifting?


above question in its relation tn our fire,
Schools at this opporiuuc time, when i
may be free from amy political or Office
Isecking bearing, aud therefore the truth
which ! trust We are NIL ia search OF. b.
more likely 10 be arrived nj. agre,
tnliy with the declaration OF Mr.. "A.
in his article in the Courier" March 7tI
that truth is Freedom. progress aud
Happiness; error is bondage, decay and
misery Now how shall We arrive al
the truth? In regard To religious eslu.
cation la schools. l think tine effects o,
both n regards n religious life. aud the
judicious training Of the mind. is dctri-
mental, and that we can most CORRECTLY
Judge Of this by noting the lives of in
dividuals who have been thus brought
Y up in this county. with whom we
chance to be acquainted, and also its
general effects in those countries or
cities where religious instruction in
schools is made obligatory by law or
permitted by municipal enactment. In
making this comparison in NV former
article l alluded tn the ignorance pre.
vailing among the masses in Mexico.
Peru, Brazil, Italy, Spain. France and
other countries where religious iustruc-
tons III the schools is the rule. and Mr..
A. thinks 1t would have been better
had explained what meant by igno-
rance, and seems to think | meant that
ignorance prevailed in Catholic countries
only. did not intend to convey that
impression. but rather that ignorance
prevailed among the masses wherever
Church and State were united. aud con-
sequently their schools perverted from
places Tor training the mind SO that each
individual may be able to seek for truth.
TO schools where certain religious temets
are forced upon the young and plastic
mind until 1t becomes so 3rejudiced it
Will not investigate, and really has NOT
the strength Of mind to investigate
whether what it has been taught is true
or not. Aud Protestant Britain is as
amcnabls TO this charge rs any other
country where church aud state are
united.
Now what is ignorance rs taken 4.
conjunction with religion? I take IL
that true religion is the antipode Of ig-
norance-tiat every individual WHO has
true religion will show it in his daily
life, by . proper observance Of Gods
as laid down i'm the
Bible, aud which all denominations arc
founded upon, aud that countries which
are religions will exhibit ii in the char
Acter and acts Of their people, and that
any religion which does not secure this
Is but . c'osking OF ignorance thar!
kind which leads 20 . violation of the
laws Of God and man. Religion INSPIRES
It's dcvotees wish disposition for re-
search and learning, that they may bet
Ter enjoy the giOries Of their faith.
while ignorance is willing to take the
ASSERTIONS OF others rs basis for their
future life. Religion teaches the obscry-
ing Of the laws of The land, the render
Ing unto Ccasar Of the thing. which arr,
CcasAr 8, while ignorance beecis cupidi-
y anu desirc Tor personal qualification.
without regard ~ the laws Of the land.
50 that their penalties only may be eva
dct; religion teaches Us liberalty, iguo-i
rance begcts prescription, and so OH to
The end, and Was these views ot Ignorance
which led me ~ refer TO those countries
where religious tcrcts, of any particular
are incuIcated i'm common
schoOis. hope l have made my.eliI
Now, does experience show that the
paradox is true. tLaf the incuI-
cation OF religious instruction in com ;.
mon schools II destructive Of true reIig-
ION and good morals. OF IS criminal
Eases reported jim the Courier as on
The Docket Of the Circuit Court of Du-
Dois county this week. l am informed
~ Of them-or two-thirds are against
va he 1.o1
paid to their religious instruction In
schools, than to all their other studies
lnd three Of the indictments were
against Trustees Of Churches? How
much has their religious instruction i'm
schools benefited these criminals? toI
cad them to thus knowingly violate the
avs Of the land and Of God. Two of
Ihese Trustees we're indicted for doing
business on the Sabbath. How much /
respect did their religious education i'm
schools teach them to have for the third
/ opinc il their relig-
ous education had been left entirely to
religious parents, and faithful minister.
Md their school hours spent in study of
branches, their inteIlects would |
have been brighter, and the county.
heir churches, and themselves, would |
have been spared the disgrace Of these |
Indictments. This is but one home in
stance of the futiiity Of religious in.
'truction in schools for imparting a true
religious character, and q lamentabIe
evidence Of the loss Of time spent in
hat kind Of instruction; which might
have been applied in their mental culture.
md thereby have strengthened their
minds, 20 that their aspirations would
nave heen hivher than - I,.v. -I