St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-30

in mates are OF the finest breeding and move
ment, and are looked after 10y their coored
master with the greatest care. During her
visits TO Great Darlington Mrs. Hopkins may
be seen on the afternoon of every fair day
driving out behind q pair of fine trotters, she
herself holding the reius. She makes long
excursions about the surrounding country,
and every inhabitant, young or old, knows
her. She is the great woman Of Great Bar
rington.
Compulsory n ~ndance at college Prayers
To the Editor of the Globe:
beg leave to object to the sweeping tone
of your editorial remarks in this mornings
GLOBE, regarding the compulsory attendance
OF students at college prayers. l think there
Is more OF principle involved in the matter
than you seem to have observed. This is a
subject on which have given much thought
since the days when, a lad, ! was subjected
to the same tyranny, and have always re-
garded 1t as an outrage on my rights and a
violation of the liberty of conscience guaran-
teed to every human being By the laws of
God, and the sentiment of the age and the
country in which we live.
use the word tyranny because I hon
estly think that the custom your article refers
to is nothing less. 1t can be defended on no
ground that can see, either of right, duty
or policy. Certainly no one has any right to
coerce another in the matter of worship, or
subject him to any compulsion, force, or
brow beating. Will any one disagreeing
with me state from whence, or from whom,
such an alleged right is derived? From any
state lawg From any precept or command
ment of the great founder of our religion
nv1f Nlafr, It- inir
the practice of that most Christian of all
rules, the golden rule which, put in prac-
tice, would forbid religious persecution and
coercion Tue whole teaching ofCnrist and his
apostles is in the direct line of liberation, and
it is a little short of i'm pious to claim, Qf any
does make such claim), that anything He
taught would justify a single pretended fol-
lower of His in bulldozing fellow being in
religious matters, interfering with his prefer
ences in the least, or in aoridging to the
slightest extent his full aud perfect freedom
In matters of con science.
Much less, if the right is wanting, can it
be matter Of duty" Duty is a scape-
goat. which is made to cover many al out
rage on the defenseless and helpless-es-
pecially the young. How many wrongs and
cruelties are inflicted on the helpless and IN
resisting, their feelings outraged, their dear
est aspirations coldly crushed, their loving
generous impulses chilled, and their whole
lives warped and sDured, under that deceiv-
ing plea Of "duty?'' Almost any wrong or
cruelty that parent, guardian or teacher
could feel like inficting on child or youth
in his power, can be excused under the pre-
tence of duty. And those who have deal
ings with the young should he especially
careful, lest their zeal might insensibly lead
them beyond the limits of justice and right
in their eagerness to carry out their ends.
Young people have frequently great sensi-
tiveness, and more keen appreciation of
what their rights are, than is generally sup
posed, though circumstances deprive them Of
the power or opportunity of asserting their
claims Of conscience.
Nor is it good ''polcy'' to COM
pei the attendance Of anyone on religious
worship, under any pretense. 1t does no
good TO the person so coerced-if that be the
object, perhaps makes him worse, because it
provokes a natural feeling Of resistance and
defiance, and Of distrust and antipathy, be-
sides engendering that worst foe 10 true re-
ligion-hypocrisy. No one was ever made
sincerely religious by compulsiOn. Millions
Of our race have been led To Christ, but never
was human being driven TO Him. 1t is OPP
posed 10 the whole spirit of the teachings and
practice Of the great author himself l am
satisfied, moreover, that beyond doing good,
1t does actual harm. II college student
does not take kindly, and from the movings
Of his own conscience TO religious matters or
exercises, how is it going to change his views
by giving him, on compulsion, more of the
very thing he dislikesi II would only root
more deeply, and intensity his antipathy
to 1t.
The whole idea of compulsory attendance
at college prayers, or any other religious ex-
crcises, is founded on u wrong theory. Re
llgioc cannot be forced into an unwilling
and protesting person, like dose of castor
oil, or some other nauseous potion, down the
throat OF q recacitrant child True religion
Is cultivated only in the hearts OF those you
wish to lead TO Christ by gentleness, persua-
sion, careful Difference To their scruples aud
ideas, by liberation, love, aud forbearance
Force, compulsion, harshness or brow beat
ing will only wither up In their breasts the
very soil in which the truths Of our Savior's
gospel, II kindly and iudiciously sown, might
have sprung up, bearing hundred fold, -
but which, mot So managed, produces only the
defiant atheist, or the sneaking hypOcrte
TOI.ERATIoN.
81 pauI Januarv % IoS5