The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-12-07
Christian Education.

and must proceed on the superstition Of
some religion, or of some irreugion; and
secularity itself, when il ignores God, be-
comes q crime.
- Nor do you meet the case by consenting
that the moral may be joined with The secu-
lar In the educational process. For what is
morale What Is morality2 The very word
bripgsuP the distinction OF right and wrong:
But, then, what is night? What is wrong7
How shall know that l may educate ac-
cording 10 them7 Prostitution was duty
in Lydia, Ia Armenia. In Pbenecia, in Egypt.
Theft was applaudod In Sparta. Infanticids
and parricide are now honored among the
Hindoos. Plainly, then, we must have some
ultimate aud accepted standard Of NOR
ality, IL we would educate Ia the moral as
we'll as the secular. What Standard
Christian education, say; not denomi-
national, not sect arian, but Christian. And
these are immensely different. Just here,
however, some seem TO get confused, and
20 lose sight Of the real question now loom
ing up before Us, and pregnant with veal
or woe to our national future. Not long
since an eminent civilian addressed US on
what be called "The problem Of the public
school and church" His address was elabo-
rate, able and eloquent; it contained many
most excellent things. But then it dis
cussed problem which does not exist. As
! understand the matter, there is no such
problem IS that OF the schools aud the
church, or If there is it is only incidental
and secondary. Blot out every church eX-
isting in the United States, and the real
. educational problem will remain just as it
is now. The churches arc not Christianity
some OF them do not even represent Christi
anity. And certainly the Protestant churcle
arc unit against the teaching of any
merely church dogmas in our public schools.
They will resist this with all their power,
snd to the last day. They will do It upon
principie. They will also do il for their
own real interests. Tho only true question
is. shall Christianity, the ideas, the spirit
and the example OF Jesus Christ, enter into
ana influence our education2 II you say no,
you do what you can to turn US into heather
or atheists; you do what you can to bring
upon us individual and national deterlora-
tIon and ruin.
am pressing now but single point. It
10 simply and only this-the necessity Of
Oh istian education relative to our true and
highest interests as individual men, and ns
n nation. do not even ask, for the present.
where and By whom this education must be
given. contemplate il only as q necessity,
imperative and pressing. Whether we rea-
sonlfrom facts or from principles, il is equal.
ly clear and certain that no man can reach
the high character and destiny of which he
is capable; and that no nation can reach
lasting stability, prosperity and true great
meas, apart from the pervading and perma-
nent power Of Christian truth. And let me
say, the pervading and permanent power Of
Christian truth will effect such character
and achieve such destiny for men and ma
tons. Suppose, for one moment, whole
nation reverently acknowledging and
worshipping the Eternal, the All-wise and
the All-holy God; aud cherishing the prin-
ciples, exercising the Spirit and obeying
the precepts of his Son Jesus Christ. Who
or what could destroy that nation? Impos-
sible. Suppose, for another moment, whole
nation ignoring the only living and true
God, and turning away from the principles,
'hc Spirit, and the precepts Of his Son jesus
CIrist. Who or what could save that ma
toni Impossible. The greatness and glory
of the one. and the degradation and ruin oil
the other, were sure and everlasting as God
himself. The power of Christianity, i'm
pressing and moulding its citizens, is q
necessity to the State. If the State would b.
permanently enLobled, prosperous and free
nay, il the State would not, sooner or later
perish.
There thus arises q most definite and {
most grave question. Can the State right,
and wisely, ignore, not the churches, no
the sects, but Christianity In doing so
would 1t not betray its trust2 Would it no
sacrifice its own highest interestss Would
il not render forever impossible true anC
permanent popular freedom2 Would it no
invite and secure, by the fixed operation o
natural and moral law, ultimate Dationa
ruin1 Christianity, repeat. Whether thu
Bible shall continue to be read IN our publi'
schools, is n question of interest and mo
mont; but it Is not tn main question. l
would indeed be most strange thing II
from ALI existing books, tho Bible shoulC
be sinpalcd out as tho one book to be pu
under ~ ban of tho public law; bool
whicN, by concession of the purest anG
pdndest souls which have ever lived, Is th,
Book OF books; matchless as to its histor,
and poetry, its principles OF ethics and re
iigion; most strange thing, IL Zoroaste
and Confucius, DrAhm aud Budds, Plate
aud Mohammed, Eoltaire and Renan, nigh
enter our schools, aud yet the public Law
close their doors against Jesus Christ;
most strange thing, il Jupiter and Juno
Mars and Venus, and the whole train o.
Pagan gods and goddesses, every one o
them covered with filth as with garment
might show themselves and their reekins
pollution IN our schools, and yet the public
who Is the reason of all being, tho sourct
Of ali blessing, the sum Of all goodness and
beauty A most strange thing, surely 4 Blu
this, repeat, is not the main questiop, "a
telligent and candid men may dIffsf as 10
whether the Bible should he, read in cui
schools. Tho greatest Importance OF this
particular question seems to me 10 arise
from tho principles on which, and the spirit
> la>which the demand for the exclusion Of
the Bible is made. But suppose il excluded
SUPPOSE tho Word Of God thrown out, by
Law. from every public school in the land.
What shenf Have you thus reached and
solved the vital prob cunt BY no means
You have only made it immensely more
difficult OF solution. Like the ghost il
Macbeth, this problem will not down a.
your bidding. Bible or no Bible IN The
public schools, society and tue State canno,
prosper without the influence OF Christian
ity. Our American society and State can
not live without the influence Of Christi
ani,y.
But you say, the State must devolye THU
duty on tho family aud the church. Itil
common, but great error. The Stat,
cannot do this IL It would; il has no righ,
70 do It II It could. 1t is its own duty T.
promote and 10 protect its own interests.
And II Is its own well.being and its owI
life which arc imperilled and sacrificed il il
do not this duty. In the last analysis, Il
might just as lightly and nationally devolv,
upon the family aud the church to drill snC
marshal its armies, to build and equip IL
navies, and provide and manage its finances
IS to devolve upon them the provision
ard maintenance of those moral means and
forces which arc more essential than al
armies, and navies, and finances together
TO ITS own true life and It's owE true welfare
Somehow the State must bring itself under
the influence OF Christianity, or il. vii
perish; and II the State will not do this, il
will deserve to perish Ertraet from a scr
sos ~ tie Res. Or. Vida Lord.
Daniel webster ~ q noy as Table
The following story il told In = communal