The Worthington advance., 1881-03-10

i. Fisher, of Bement, ILL.,, wiites: Du-
ring the literary exercises ut the pub
lie school i'll this village one day last
month, the Principal of the school ut
the instigatiOn OF u Campbellite priest,
caused the reading of an article in the
Christian Advocate. which purported
to give an account of Waite's expose of
Spiritualism; and in commenting there
on referred in sarcastic and derOQatOry
terms to Spiritualists and Spiritualism.
Indirectly singing out from among his
scholars the children of Spiritualists,
and subjecting them to the jeers of the
other scholars, who are supposed to
have been begotten by orthodox parents.
Is there no remedy for this species of
blgotry and intolerance which prevails
in our common schools? Or must Spir-
itualists and Liberals patiently submit
to the insults of any ill-bred fanatic
that board Of orthodox directors may
employ? This matter should be agita.
ted until legislation , ,rnl,ihits, under
severe penalties. these blackg,.ard as
saults by flnatical. teacl,ers upon the
children Of those who differ with them
in religious belief.
At present there is no help for it, on
ly to 60 on making the good fight. The
schools are dominated by priests and
mainly taught by prlest.ridden teach
ers of both sexes. Baxter, the best
teacherin Winchester, Mass, was turn
ed out after seven years. of faithful
work, because he was 4 s. iritualist.-
Prof. Kiddle, who made the New York
public schools by forty years Of devoted
service, was deposed because he was
Spiritualist, and bounded by such igno-
rant bigots AS the editor Of the N. Y.
Observer, who are scarcely worthy. in
telltctually and morally speaking, to tie
Prof. Kid.ll+' s shoes.
The Principal of the school ut Be-
ment may have had these cases in mind
and 1.ay have desired to do something
to make his calling sure with the coarse,
overriding and bigoted orthodox e:p-
ment Of the town. Let us possess our
souls in patience and keep up the fight
against priestcraft and intolerance.
We are satisfied from u long expert
ehce that neither Il press nor 4 pulpit
that never diSpltaSes anybody is IF the
least possible consequence to anyb"dy,
and that the better way is, granting all
free and fair play, to be true to ones
own convictions, and let the grumblers
growl. And we rather enjoy good
groWl, but we want to see the dog. pup
py or What-not that is forever after
that bone and nothing else. and thinks
that bones, without marrow, are the
chief aim and end of human Iife.-
Pennington Press.
Bravo! But you won't see that pup
come out over his own name. lie will
write you anonymous letters, insinua-
ting bad things against You and threat
ming to injure your paper because you
do not agree with him; he will back
bite you and slander You among his be-
nighted church brethern; he will stab
you in the dark whenever he can, and
he will "free lunch" your paper from u
nelghbor and devour it. but will argue
that as "consistent follower of the
meek and lowly he cannot contribute
of the store which his heavenly parent
has bestowed upon him,' to the support
ofsuch 4 paper. Oh, no. 1t would not
comport with his sense of duty, ''dnty,
Sir" to lend aid and encouragement to
such a paper, but lie will trot regular
ly to some neighb0r who does pay for
IL and free lunch it from him.
We know him, Mr.. Press. lie lives
down this way, too. Ills name is a
score or so. lie is Il s;lnctimonious big.
OF. He won't contribute anything to
your support. but lie will free lunch'
from you, beg all he can get from you
for his little church society, and con-
sign you to that hot place made for all
who do not agree with him, and he
will part his coat tails and warm his
sanctitied back at the fire where you
are roasting. But then, he'll get left in
the long run.
ADRIAN.