St. Paul daily globe., 1885-02-03

Compulsory Attendance at College Prayers.
| To the Editor OF the Globe:
| Under the above heading there appeared
in a recent issue Of the GLOBE a very extra
ordinary letter in reference to compulsory
attendance of students at college prayers
The writer signs himself "Toeratiou," after
devoting almost whole column OF your
paper to a dOgmstic denunciatIon Of PRAYER
as forming any portion Of the great religious
economy which all believers are bound to ac-
cept on the direct authority of revelation. On
-the tone and tendency Of the letter 1t is uu-
necessary 20 make any remarks. 1t begins
very spaciously by assuring the public that
/ this is a subject to which (Tolrration) has
given much thought since the days when. a
lad, was subject 70 the same tyranny. and
| have always recognized 1t as an outrage on
my rights and violation of the liberty Of
conscience, guaranteed TO every human be-
! ing by the laws Of God and the sentiment of
/ the age and country in which We live" This
| Is bold and empty bOmbast, which evidently
] proves that the writer is very incompetent to
pronounce on such great social subject His
! presumption even goes so far as to ask the
] rraders OF the "GLOBEn the fatal question
''Will any one dissgreeing with me state
/ from whence, or from whom, such an al
! legged right is derivedPi This is the answer
/ y his question; Directly from Col.
| the author aud hearer Of prayer; and who has
| made il the hrst and necessary duty OF all
those who believe aud acknowledge His ex-
istence THIS is the most clearly defined and
/ peremptory obligation to be found in the
Bible. Tue law OF prayer is as universal as
the human race, aud as lasting as time.
/ There is nO one too young or yet too old to be
exempt from this great Christian obligation.
| Even more lit is expressly commanded TO
/ impress this obligation on the minds and
hssrts OF the young people in their school
! DAYS. Your correspondent, federation. -
must have beard at some time OF other this
grand, this golden maxim of scripture:
Train a Young mau in the ways be should
go-and when be Is Old he should not detart
therefrom." The exercise Of morning and
evening PRAYER is the only link between man
and his Creator; snd whoever ignores this
fact the world will De to him q MYSTERY b.
can never understand, and diving, be must
20 down TO the grave without hO,c. Would
I venture TO ask your correspondent, 'sToier-
alton, " did be ever happen TO hear during
churrh service, that beautiful nineteenth
psalm which sings the praise Of lone who
dwells in the aid OF the Most High" and
who represents the struggle in which Que
who is eou uddeut Of Gods help is engaged
against bis enemy. NO suares esn eutsngle
him, no arrows can pierce him, no scour-e
can approach his dwelling Aud
why all this protection vouchsafed to
hint Is it not because he prays. "He
shall CRY 70 me and viii hear him, I will
deliver him from trihalaiion and danger"
/ You viii. Mr.. Editor. excuse me foz thus
| producing the prOof Of Scripture for the oSli-
cation and necessity Of PRAYERS in our public
I Institutions In The columns Of a newspaper.
But this remark will plead nv apology. Every
| good citizen and honest parent should look
I with alarm al tie puny efforts Of urbeiievers
/ - iutrOdEee into our public schools and eol-
I lct-es system of Goddess teaching which IS
I productive in the near future Of What 10 to
/ day the curse ot Europe-anarchy aud
ateelsn. z. P. SNrTa.
Fillmore County, Minn-