New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-25
PAGANISM IN SCHOOL BOOKS.
ITS EXCLUSION NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. THAT ARE Az
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FRCTED BY n.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Forty years ago, before State schools
had begun that wonderful Of usefulness which
they have rum Presbyterian schools proposed
The traditional theory OF the denomination, the Kirk
and the School, had vigorous advocacy by such able
men as Drs Miller Breckenridge and Van Rensselaer,.
More money offered than accepted. Yet Pres
byterans gave almost unanimous support rising
public school system. They have idea OF re-
vivng UNCONVENTIONAL schools than astronomers have OF
the hoax. But the violent reaction from church
schools which proposes 10 put away all knowledge OF re
gi0us trusts, starts issues Let subscriber plead
for the retention at least OF the knowledge OF pagans
First, because that knowledge underes astronomy
If cannot know about Venus aud Mercury and Mars
and Jupiter, and Andromeda, then astronomers must
furnish books, with different names and a Il erent
history. Before the science can be taught, before
another child be admitted 10 the glorious
knowledge Of the heavens, We must pass
every hook astronomy through purgatorial fires.
Secondly the exclusion OF heather would rule out
all the history and literature Of the ancient world Ho-
mer Virgil, Horace and Tacitus sealed books TO
our youth The splendid oratory OF Greece and Rome
must be shut out for Demoshenes and Cicero could
be understood without some knowledge OF mythology.
Thirdly the history OF the world cannot read without
that knowledge The religions Of ali people have been
essential element Of their character and the i'm
pOrldnt influence upon tner conduct You play
Hamlet with Hamlet left out by request" az
write Of what nations have done and yet disclose the
pagan tene's animatiDg that doing Fourthly the ex.
cuson OF the knowledge Of pagan tenets will shut the
Bible out OF schools. The Bible tells about tho
worship OF idols. The old prophets speak plainly Of
Baa and Moloch. They describe the worship Of tho
dead III pagan tenets must not be taught in schools
then the Scriptures must 20 out with mythology and
history and astronomy. Yet the Bible has power
than other book. i will mora
intelligence, more manhood, than any other work ever
has The mass OF men benefited by
its teachings, elevated by its morality, s0othed
by s promises more strengthened by Its theology and
more quickened by its motives than by all the in
all the libraries In the world. Yet the Bible be shut
out from Its abundant usefulness pagan tenet must
he in schools Filthy this exclusion will shut out
dictionaries. Much we would love 10 have the knowl-
edge OF the very language we USE yet cannot havs
the unabridged dictionary for il has definitions Of pagan
enets pictures Of pagan dynies statements OF heather
principles The dictionary must go out with the
omy, with the history and with the Bible. II then
shut out religious teachings, II deny 10 our
youth the knowledge that there is Savior IL we can
repress that which all human hearts so much need to
know, that for which God made and sustans nations
cannot afford to shnt the knowledge OF pagan enets
fc1tonn, Penn Dec. -, 1879. GEO. c. BUSH