Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-01-20
The Eastern Normal School.

luhNl DtNt-SalllN Ntt llbiit Ailt
views already expressed, that the eyes
of all religious sects are watching its
course, and that the slightest departure
from a true regard 10 rights of con-
science and religious liberty, will at
once raise storm not easily allayed.
Difficult as this may at times be, aud
prone as good men always are, to wish
to have others adopt their religious
views, it is nevertheless imperative on
the directors and instructors of institu-
tons supported by the taxation of all
denominations in the state, to see to il
that no undue influence shall be exerted
and no p:oselyling attempted. For no
such purposes as these, did the State en-
dow this invaluable institution. Great
care should be exercised by those who
demand these rights, not TO pnt letters
on the soul liberty Of others, and de-
prive them of free action as moral
agents.
II seems to us that no question OF the
religious belief of any teacher should
ever be asked in the selection OF instruc-
tors for the Normal School. Their COM
potency, fidelity and zeal should be the
sole requisites. AS free and responsible
men and women, they may with propri-
ETY. teach in the Sabbath schools, hold
religious services on The Sabbath, teach
all those pure aud noble moral precepts
found in the Bible, which are the loun-
dalionof, and common to, all faiths
To DENY them this right, is TO abridge
the freedom allowed 10 all, and those
who would do so, are themselves secta-
rian, narrow and bigoted in the highest
degree. At the same time, no teacher
should use his position arbitrarily 10
enforce his peculiar religious views
teach them in the school-room-or at
tempt TO prosclyte those intrusted TO his
care. The division line between what a
teacher may rightluly do, ani what he
must not do, may be very narrow, in.
deed. but he has assumed the RESPONSE
bility,j and difficult as it may be to
avoid overstepping it, he must regard
the rights OF others, and at the same
time preserve his own Independence
This very difficulty should prompt those
of the Liberal faith TO be charitable.
y discussion like the one in this pa
per Tor few weeks past, will teach as
sailants that il is unwisc TO defy rightful
authority-to teach INSTRUMENTATION. or
to cry out bigotry and sectarianism,
while they themselves are more narrow
and intolerant than those whom they at
tack. No catholic direction and no true
teacher need fear such discussion, as
rom ii, their own worth and fairness
will become more apparent. II is on
these accounts, that, we think good,
rather than evil, will result from this
inquiry. The people of the State will
haye,more of confidence in this school
than ever before, for the reason that the
watchiul, jealous eye of circulating
skepticism, Will find 50 little to COM
plain Of
With nc wish and no intention to APP
ply the above general remarks, we may
be permitted TO say that the present as
pect of the matter has entirely changed.
The charge of sectarian management on
the part of the teachers has been virtu-
ally abandoned, and an entirely new
issue is raised As is well said. 1.-THE
discussion now naturally centres around
the use of Brooks Manual" To W hat
extent this Manual has been used in the
Normal School does not appear, neither
what portions have been read in the de-
yotional exercises of the school, bat
enough has been quoted by Mr.. Abbott
TO convince any candid man, that, so far
as certain denominations are concerned,
(those usually termed non-Evaugelical
or LiberaD this book must be consider
ed Sectdrtdn. Although some portions
quoted, are literally extracts from the
Bible, yet others are Objectionable as
teaching doctrines held as error by GER
tain sects. This is enough, and in our
humble opinion, this book should never
have found place in the school-room of
the Eastern State Normal School.
While we regret that this should be so,
M bat aF -. l.
cess of the Normal School, and no loss
OF confidence in the faithfulness and abil-
ity of its instructors will be allowed
Some of them we personally know, and
to our knowledge, the State has no more
earnest, laborious and faithful workers
and none moHe willing TO make great
er sacrifices than they. The objection
able Manual may easily be discarded,
and we trust that none will be so bigot-
ed that they will inveigh against the
School or its Board of Instruction, sim
ply because of its previous use, and that
none will he so fanatical as to insist on
its retention for the reason that it teach
es their own dogmas.
The Normal School at Castine has
been growing in public favor ever since
its establishment. Its good results are
seen in almost every town in Eastern
Maine, in the increased interest mani
fest in Common Schools, and in the SUI
perior qualifications and work of teach
ers. Every friend of Education is the
friend of the School, no matter Of what
denomination. Several communications
frem gentlemen of the Liberal faith and
of other beliefs, have been received, de-
Tending the Trustees and Instructors
from the charge OF Sectarianism, and
all unite in the sentiment that the School
is doing a noble work. These articles
we have delayed publishing, prefering
to give those more Immediately interes-
ed an opportunity first to he heard. As
the matter now stands, we would ask if
il wOulu he well to pursue the tpattar