The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-22


educate her into disbelief The develop
ment of her mind will never uproot her
faith, or destroy the beautiful harmony
which cxists between what we can and
cannot comprehend. Education will
dignity but never destroy her mental
equipoise, and the seductive delusions of
Darwin and Tyndall find in her neither
convert nor disciple. The hope Of the
aoorld rests in thoroughly educated wo-
men. Imbued with strong religious in
stincts and crowned with christian grace,
she is the means of infusing into society
those religious and moral influences
which silently, and yet perpetually, color
its thought, check its evils and maintain
its periphery. -, -.
Mere intellectually without religion
is demoralizing. If man is to reduce
everything to the standard of the posi-
tive, and must know the why and where
fore of everything, how abashed even
are the wisest philosophers and scien-
tias before the simplest works of our
Creator. Take homely illustration.
An acorn is planted, from it springs the
majestic oak; the effect is seen, and
science vainly seeks the terminating
cause. So lost have the greatest minds
become in contemplating the works OF
God, that the profound Socrates ex-
claimed, "The hi ghth of all knowledge
is to know that we know nothing" and
the glorious author of the theory of gray
itation, after all Of his researches, con-
fessed in the humility of his own ignor-
ance "that he felt like a child standing
beside the great Ocean of Truth, and
casting in pebbles" while Eug lands
greatest thinker, the wonderful Bacon,
says: "The subtilty of nature is far
beyond that of the sense or understand
ing" In this age of giant studies IN
natural history, chemistry, geology and
astronomy, and the practical application
of all great discoverise and inventions,
the tendency is to skepticism and mate.
rialism; to discard the fixed thruths OF
religion, and to substitute in their stead
the vain fancies and foolish imaglnatlons
of fanatical theorists.
The antidote is to be foundin a healthy,
scientific, christian education and to no
one element of society is it more impor-
tant than to woman. Formerly, infdel-
ity assailed truth through metaphysical
reasoning. 1t now comes in the danger.
Gus form of appeals to the senses and
would-be positive demonstration. The
cynical irony of Voltaire, the brilliant
essays of Rousseau, the sophistical plaus-
ibility of Hume and the caustic dersion
of the Illuminati are forgotten in the
fierce attacks of Comte and Spencer, OF
Mill and Huxley. 4 healthy home ln-
huencc, where educated woman impresses
on the tender mind the facts of science ;
acknowledging its truths as the hand
maiden of religion, and as evidencing
the grandeur and glory of God, aud yet
subordinating them to higher principles,
creates religious atmosphere, which
gives tone and character to everything.
Their influence superadded to that of the
able orthodox scientists and ministers,
and earnest thinkers of all avocations,
presents barrier against which infidelity
beats in vain.
How pitiable and erroneous is the idea
that there is no use to highly educate
her. Home influence and the cultivation
received at school and college fits her to
take her proper place in the world. The
training received at home is first and
most important as laying the foundation
of all the graccs and domestic virtues
which adorn her; but, alas, parents too
often make the mistake of not entering
sufficiently into the joys and sorrows OF
their children, or of ditiusing an intellec-
tual charm over their homes by CONVEX
sation or reading. The educated, refined
sister supplies this in great degree, and
becomes the special object of love to the
younger portion of the family: Her
influence moulds and refnes their tastes
and habits. And then when she is called
to fulfill that great trust for which God
in his good providence has most eminent
ly fitted her-a help-mect for man-she
is better prepared to assume its arduous
duties; or, if she prefers to remain single,
her education qualities her for greater
self-dependence, and imparts to her more
self.confidence. A thorough education
fits her to take charge of the youthful
mind in school or college hall. TO fill
this most important station, she is pccu-
liarly adapted, and by her patience and
example instills into the youthful mind a
love for the true and the beautiful. There
are at this time in the South several
fine institutions presided over by them
with great ability and success.
To qualify her for this important posi-
ton, the regular curriculum of our most
advanced institutions should be adopted
She should be instructed in the severcr
sciences; in the symphony Of the clas-
sizes, and the graces of the more orna-
mental branches. Every opportunity tor
a thorough education should be given
her, and the end she has in lifc-that
noble purpose of teaching-kept con-
stantly before her. An experiment OF
this kind is now being tried in England
with eminent success at Girton College,
near Cambridge. Under the faithful
efforts of its friends it is now on firm
and sure basis. No girl is allowed to
enter under eighteen years of age, after
standing a fair examination, and has to
remain for three years. 1t graduates III
the same course of studies pursued at
Oxford and Cambridge, and its students
passed lately as satisfactory and crcdlta-
BILE examinations as the graduates OF the
same grade of these two advanced insti-
tutions. A similar institution in the State
of New York, known as the Vassar Col
lege, has been equally as successful the
pupils, however, being admitted at an ear
t;or oro ond tho curriculum differing. OF