The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-08-01

The suffrages Of all unbiased minds
declare that the Hsste should furnish
the meanA Of scquiriug the elements oi
knowledge; Tor sneh attAinnents are
necessary TO its existence. A free bal.
lot 10 not more essential 10 liberty than
q free school. But higher sducation
looks to other soources Tor lie support.
The church Of Christ, manifested as 10
nov Is By multiplied sects. has an un-
mistskable duty in this respect. Each
denomination In under solemn obliga-
tions TO God aud man 10 provide the
means Of entering the moro advanced
circles OF knowiedge. This obligation
is not met until at least one weil-sn-
dowed and properly manned college
has been established by each denomin-
ton. rans
IL il the province Of these schools Of
higher learning 20 so compress and
simplify the vast material Of human
knowledge that its leading principles
shall be attainable In the period usual.
ly allotted TO q college conrse. 10 this
arrangement the Natural Sciences can
not be neglected: for, mont to Theolgy.
they bring M more than any other
branch Of ,knovlaAgs into direct soD-
tact with the thoughts Of God. They
are the imprint of the hand Of the Crea-
tor in the world Of matter and of mind.
In plan Of Christian educatiou, Natur-
al Science must ever Ill an important
place. A few Suggestions will render
this assertion clear.
Whoever desires TO influences other
minds, either with the pen or from the
Nal - A. -.
gate. must acquire habits OF searching
minutely for truth, facts or principles.
No pursuit presents such perfect mod
els OF accurate and comprehensive
methods rs that Of Natural Science
The careful stady OF the manner in
which DIR. Charles Wells established
bis theory Of dew win alone furnish
the mind. seekig for the highest disci-
pline, with method Of patient investi-
CATION superior 10 anything offered by
other sources. Zone snch sample
thoroughly ingraiued, will constitute
his working model ever after" The
reasons Why the Natural Scieuces pro-
vide such advantages are evident. No
other branch Of study furnishes equal
opportunities for acquiring breadth Of
view or hahifs Of wide generalization.
The study OF Nature lifts one ont Of
the grooves In which he has hitherto
run. and wijens the path which his
mind is 20 pursue. II bursts the bonds
Of littleness and gives seope and expap.
sion to the intellect. A distinguished
Christian educator recently wrote,
When / find wv q students questions
and his modes Of expression that ne
has left his shall and Ia coming into s
new life. when ba begins 10 take In
great theughts. when trutl. in its vast.
meas beains 10 shape itself In his mind.
I become ACRE that be has a fnture.
that he is NOT Ia live for himself alone.
that he Ia getting that Scientific prrs-
cience which will shape the thoughts
of other miuds.
Passing bv the direct practical value
~ Scisntific studies-admitted by ALL
We would suggest another thought TO
show the indispensableness of Natural
Science In scheme of Christian educa-
tion. To the untutored mind the phe.
uomena OF nature often present q mys-
terry that finds voice only in the Ia.
bles Of superstition. This mental hab.
il in easily transferred To the mysteries
Of revelation, which were intended 10
be SO clear that 'wayfaring men, though
fools, shonld u err therein Thus
religion, which should ever be bright
cheerful and easily understood, IL made
to bear the burdens Of superstition,
gloom and fantieism. The study of
Natural Science is q means Of removing
from the sphere OF mystery a very large
proportion Of the facts which the most
casual observer must notice. BY IL
the movable IL defined more clearly
every year. By il. also, the limit OF
investigation is taught. What tends
more 10 show the value Of miracles
than this knowledge Of the limit OF In
yAsfiQation? The mind recognizes the
fact that the world In not governed by
mere chance. but is the subject OF fiI-
| ed and definite Law. Without this no.
ton Of Law, the common phenomena Of
organic nature, such as the action Of
food and consequent growth, are wrap
ped mp in sn impenetrable mystery.
Much more the unusual appearances OF
nature, as tsmpests. pestilence and
earthquakes. Bring them. however.
into the domain OF Science and these
ordinary aud extraordinary phenomena
become the voicings Of the agency and
mefhods OF q benevolent God. A
mere facts. they develcp superstltidns
Tread: as manifestations of Law, they
foster the. highest capacity OF our na-
tup.---a reverent and devont compre-
! hension Of Deity. We need no other
considerations to show the great value
of Natural Science In O curriculum Of
Christian education. sfFe nlR5
The aiiestion naturally arises, uho
/ ahould have charge Of this branch Of
education in our institutions Of learn.
ipg2 And this question of far more
| importance than at first il NAV seem.
Irreligious men have crowded into the
walks of science. end. with commebds.
bic zeal. have made high attainnents
| in the teachings of lature. On the
other hand hearts that have humbly
snc.ptel the revelations of Chrisiiaui.
ty. nrompted ia many cases by the
| snpposed sntsgonism of Science aud
Revelation. have SHRINK from pnrsu.
inc studies which Apparently threaten.
"A to undermine their faith In the
Bible. Thus they have tscitly yielded
the ground 10 the rciectors OF Chris.
tisnitv We 40 moi believe that these
last can ma the heat exponent. OF
science. for they ignore or discard one
Of the sourres of human knowledge.
We would. indeed. accept with thank.
fulpess the facts which they have
gathered: nor would we reject any oi
their concIus.ops that may besr the
scrutiny which sli scien,ific trnth musi