The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-05-19
EDUCATION.
Christianity Always Its Originator and
Promoter.

Cnristlahity Always ItB originator Shu
Promoter.
The relation of Christianity to pop
ular education is a parental relation.
Christianity has always been the origin
ator and promoter of education. 0
the church, indeed, this must be said
with some qualifications; for there
have been periods when nothing in the
world was more frightfully unchristian
than the ecclesiastical machine. y y"
IT, therefore, it is true that the church
at certain periods has shown scant
favor to other than theological science.
it is nevertheless true that the drift of
Christian teaching and discipline has
been toward the diffusion of learning.
The uniform testimony of the Sacred
Scriptures is of this tenor. The value
of knowledge is everywhere insisted
on. 1t is, indeed, asserted that knOwl-
edge must rank below love; but if the
Scriptures seem to disparage knowl-
edge, it is the knowledge that despises
virtue. Every careful reader of the
Bible knows that the value of intelli-
gence as the foundation of character
and the solid basis of National welfare
is taught with iteration and emphasis
in both Testaments. Neither is the
knowledge thus praised exclusively re-
ligious knowledge. The man of the
Biblical history most renowned for
his wisdom, and most applauded for
his pursuit of wisdom, was not con-
spicuously theologian, but a man
who seems TO have mastered what was
honorable in his time of the ''human-
tiles" This wisdom of Solomon's did
not keep him from falling into an abyss
of sensuality; but the record does not
intimate that his fall was the fruit of
his learning; it was rather in spite OF
his learning. His wisdom is always
commended and never censured. The
Bible. the Christians textbook, may
be claimed as the friend of learning.
Even in the ages of darkness, when
the Bible was not in the hands of the
people, the churches and the monas-
teres kept alive what learning was left
in the world. Through all this period
the councils of the church steadily re-
quired the clergy to provide gratuitous
instruction for the young. Theodulph,
one of Charlemagne's bishops, issued
the following instruction to his clergy;
sLet the elders establish schools in
towns and villages, and if any Of the
faithful wish to intrust to them their
children to be taught letters, let them
not decline to receive and teach them,
but with the utmost care instruct them.
And when they thus teach, let them
take from them no recompense for their
service, nor accept any thing from
Them except what parents, in the ex.
ercise of charity, of their own accord
NAV offer them" This epistle OF
Theodulph is fair sample of numer
Gus admOnitions addressed during these
times. by councils and dignitaries, tc
the inferior clergy. Charlemagne him
self gave orders that schools be opened
everywhere Ito teach children to read,
and that Tin every monastery some
one teach psalms, writing. arithmetic
and grammar" The great King yea
for learning is noteworthy when it il
remembered that his literary acquisi
tons stopped short with the art o
reading, and left room for dispute
among the historians as to his abilit.
to write his name The reasonings o
his decree show how closely he con
meets learning and religion; he urge
that, just as good conduct is prescribed
by definite rule, so also must teachin.
and learning be Systematically carried
on, that those who seek to pleas
God by right living may not neglect t.
please Him also by right speaking
Washington GLADDEN., in Century Maya
zine