The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-26
BEECIIER'S PERFORMANCES
IN ARRITGNHENT OF BROOKLYN'S
TE4CHERS OF SCHOOLS.
A Thun nderboIt from Plymouth Church Pull
pit school Commissioners and How
Beecher says They are Influenced.

pit - school Commissioners and How
Bcecher says They are Influenced.
Plymouth Church was artistically deoo-
rated yesterday, and every available foot OF
space was occupied. Mr. Beecher looked ad-
miringly at the collection Of fruits and flowers
as he stepped upon the platform. The choir
sang Haydn's "Marvellous work." from the
"Creation." The text was part Of the sixth
verse OF the thlrty-tnrd chapter OF Isalah
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability Of
thy times, and strength OF salvation.
Mr.. Beecher announced as his subject 4" The
Common Schools OF the Country" And he said
that the democratic wave spoken OF by De
Tocquevllle had not yet run Its course. The
people stood In the month OF April looking only
at the experience OF the February and March OF
the past, and forgetting the rich autumnal har-
vest OF the future when that time arrived
people must change their views on the
policy OF conducting the common schools.
There should be no class Of distinction
among the pupils. Your ounces and
mine," said he, "should sit side by side on
level with one another. There must be distino-
tions, but they should be such IA the spelling
book, tho arithmetic, and the copy book make,
and not what wealth or social position demand.
Tho common schools should be so comfortable,
80 fat. rich. complete, that no select school
could live under their drippings." This sentence
Mr.. Boecher delivered with enthusiasm, and 1t
drew out round OF applause. and the preacher
enjoyed 1t. lie was afterward frequently COM
PEELED To pause, because OF new outbreaks, and
after an unusual manifestation he said, Two
years ago the utterancs Of that sentiment would
not have met with the approval Of your feet'
which IL does now"
lie spoke OF excluding the Bible from the pub
lie schools. advocating IL earnestly as the only
iair policy: It was not fair, he said, to com com
the New Testament, In which he did not be-
hsye' hsNS' wsi,nd Mwsi read every day to si Sni
Catholic brother 70 tax him to sustain a system
OF public education in which she Protestants'
Bible was conspicuousy used. 1t was not right
either, should Catholics gain the ascendancy in
Affairs OF State, to tax Protestante In support OF
schools where the Douay version Of the Scrip
he, lis the motto. But said some, will this
not make our schools eodiess Yes, in % one
ment Is goddess. The schools nre not religious
institutions, and snould not he made so, any
more than a store. What would you think OF
mans going into a furniture manufactory and
asking ths proprietor Do you make chairs
DO you make Bibiesp' No, sir We'll.
then, i won't patronize you. Your concern
| IL IA goddess one " Tue congregation laughed
at the Illustration.
there were persons, Mr.. Beecher explained.
who thought our f9refathers we're goddess be-
| cause the word God was not In the Constitu-
| tiOn. The sane persons contended for the
bible In the public schools. This was Pnarisa-
| ism run mad. There were mothers work.
church work, and common school work in the
education of a man and each was separate
from the other. lie believed In inculcating
| principles Of honesty kindness, virtue, charity,
anu Inc like, the Fundamental principles Of
true morality, but not sectarianism or even
| Protestantisu. These were topics that be-
longed exclusively to the different churches,
aud were not, properly a part Of com
school houses comfortable aud particular
religions excluded, the public should see
| appointed. "l know OF cases near here" said
Mir. Beecher, and his voice dropped and his face
| assumed a serious expression, where Commis-
| sioners have hired female teachers aud have
made their employment depend upon their Will
| tngness to surrender their bodies to crafty the
| lust Of their employers and In some cases the
| teachers themselves were foul mOuthed and
| fuui handed" Then, stre;ch'ug hiiusrtf up tu
| his fun stature and stepping backward from his
dosk, he said, with stamp that shook the dust
| out Of the Carpet, This Is blasphemy against
the Holy Ghost OF intelligence"
| Enthusiasm, he further explained, was an es-
sental element in this controversy. We have had
religious Enthusiasm, enthusiasm Of patriot
ISM and why not enthusiasm OF education.
! One might US well try TO march a triumphal pro-
cession through rat mole as TO attempt 10
squeeze Into any one tnsiitution all the cle-
ments Of an education. The forge that made
put the edge on II. There Is physical edu-
cation, and there is intellectual education,
and there Is spiritual education but you cannot
connne them all t. one institution. Neyerthe.
less children ought TO be taught something OF
themselves as well As Of geography ana gram,
mar. While we teach them about the hills
aud valleys and guilt streams OF geography We
should also teach them about the hills and val.
leys anu gulf streams here" said he, slappinG
his hand on his bres.t.
The press OF the land, he said, was coming
the common schools. They would help swell
this enthusiasm that was AS essential to the sue.
cess OF the measure M fermentation was C
make wine Education was essential to the bes
welfare Of the State. nation uneducated wa,
like an iron mountain OF unwrought ore.
Again speaking Of the necessity OF abolishinl
all distinction as to class or caste, Mr.. Beeche
said that, like different kernels OF corn, they al
must be ground into one neal then mixed int,
one dough. After that one might make biscuit
OF some, bread OF others, aud cake OF Others, n
necessity demanded but as long as they wer,
In the common schools they must all be on
-four, ono dough. lLaughter.l
| Speaking Of the necessity OF having the sch ool
| houses comfortable, he said that 1t Ia consld
cred q crime to poison single child, but irri
tate them In schoolroom and poison them b
the hundred, and the Law Is silent. The schoo
houses mere crucibles to test the endurance
Of the children. 1t is shame To make jails ant
cali them schools, to make holes and call then
halls. Applause
Mr.. Beecner believed In compulsory educa
tlon. 1t was the birthrght OF every child, AM
no parent mad a right to deprive them of 1t. An
n any mercenary father or mercenary mothe
attempted to, the Sta,e should interfere. Ap
plause.1 Education was necessary to virtue an
good citizenship, and the state should hold tn
shield of its protection over II, flashing light a
from the sun into every dark place OF Ignorance
until every child OF poverty ana degradatio
should oe rich in all the elements OF a true edu
cation, rich In himself, and rich toward God al
his fellow-men.
THE OLD WORLDS NEWS.