The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-05-31
Morality in the Public
Schools.

There is need of an eduoasional
symposium OF representative roen OIL
all shades OF religious belief and spec
ulstion, -Catnolic and Protestant,
Orthodox and Liberal, Jew and Ag.
nostlc, Ito consider this subject. Sit
ting Gown together, and looking int
each others faces with sentiments of
mutual esteem; setting aside for the
moment all speculative questions,
and fixing their thoughts upon the
one subject of moral teaching 10 the
schools, they wo3ld no doubt b. as-
tonlshed to find themselves in perfect
agreement. Upon the abstract ques-
ton whether the ultimate basis OF
morality is 10 be sought In super
natural revelation, or in the nature
of map and the testimony of exper
fence and observation, they would of
course differ widely; but as to moral
lty Itself, in its practical citations to
the education OF the young, they
would speak with one voice. Travel.
lag by different rosds, they would
hud that they bad arrived at one and
the same place, aud were ali seeking
common end. And the morality
which they would al commend as
essential to the purity of society and
the safety OF the republic, and there
tore indispensable to good citizenship
would be. in substance, that o the
New Testament, which has it's grand
est illustration 10 the teaching and
example OF Jeeus,-his example in
death "a we'll as 10 lie. What mat
tiers it that some OF them hold this
morality to be binding upon men
upon supernatural, ana others upon
purely natural, grounds, since thsy
heartily agree that II le absolutely
upon all men, aud that there is q
crying need that it should be taught
In the sshools? Does any ore doubt
the reality OF this agreement? Let
him remember that the agnosticism
of the day, whatever may be said of
that OF earlier times, Is not seeking
to abbolve men from moral restraints,
but puts q strong emphasis upon eth
les. 1t forms societies for ethical
culture" and on moral grounds has
no occasion to shrink from criticisms.
Even Robert Ingersoll, while denying
supernaturalism in every form, is
ca-etuI to SAY that he accepts the
morality Of the gospels as to him the
Law of life. Mr.. John Fiske speaks
for all the scientific skep!ics of the
time when be says, THE principles
OF right living are really connected
with the constitution OF the uni
verse. Is there not here q platform
broad enough and strong enough for
all the friends of the public schools?
Why will they not all plant their feet
upon 1t, AMI stand shoulder to
as one brotherhood in 8
common effort to educate the science
as we'll as the intellect of the children
and youth o: the republic, and aid
them in laying the foundations OF
that moral character which is the
primary condition OF good citizen
ship?
The controversy between natural
ism and experimentation must OF
course go on. | am by no means
blind to its importance. But I insist
that oul public schools, by consent of
parties, should be kept out of this
fiery vortex. 1t is a question not for
but for grown men. How
ever much, as a Christian, l may
long to make all the children OF the
land familiar with doctrines and be-
liefs TO be most precious. l frankly
acknowledge that l have no claim
upon the state to assist me in the at.
tainment Of this object. As a clti-
zen, I am content to stand, in every
thing pertaining to religion, upon
the same ground with those whose
views differ most widely from my
own, -even those who think my re-
ligion a worthless superstition. l
make no demand upon the govern
ment save for protection in the free
exercise" of my religion; and what l
ask for myself is what | willingly
accord to others, whatever form of
faith or 70 faith ii may please.them to
adopt. Libersy.as thus broadly de.
fined. is the vital breath of free
government. the atmosphere most
congenial to the growth of true re.
ligion. Whoever fears that his
will not endure this liberty,
and therefore seeks to ally it with the
state, evidences q suspicion, il not q
consciousness, that that religion ia
fatally weak.-,OIi0eT Johnson IN At