St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-14
administration. The presi-

our administration. The presi-
dent and all other officers are
inducted into their Offices by an oath
taken on the Bible and in the name of
the Christians God. In like manner all
citizens are endowed with their fran
cblse. We have Christian chaplains for
our legislatures, training schools
and military organizations. In
every department of the pub
hc service we recognize not
merely God, but God as manifest in
Jesus Christ. Prof. Dwight, of Colum-
bla law school, says: at has been de-
in the Union that the Christian religion
is a part of the common law"
Second-It is the duty OF the church
to keep it SO. How? "By establishing
churches everywhere in the land"
True. But a church is good for nothing
except generate force. Its influence
must be as salt, leaven, light. 1t must
make its power felt in all departments
of life. First, in the home. Froe-
bel says: "a mans character is formed
before he is seven years old" How
much depends then on the influence at
home. Second, in the training of the
public schools. Not that these schools
should be in any sense denominated;
for we believe in divorcing church
and state; neither should they
be goddess. Why should a discrimi-
nation be made against the Bible,
which is by universal consent the most
perfect classic of the ages? Neverthe
less. we borrow no trouble on this ac
count. 1t is, indeed, impossible to put
the Bible out of the public schools"
its truths are interviewer with every
science and every art. Its power is
manifest Oh every page of history. The
ultimate triumph of its Christ is set
forth in circles of latitude and longitude.
Put out the Bible and your arithmeticS
the praises of God. But should the
worst come to the worst, we have sue
safeguard against goddess day schools
i'll our Sabbath schools. This inf1u
ence, however, is of limited value; for
as a rule, young people leave the Sab
bath school when fourteen or fifteen
years old. What then? Third in order to
secure the proper training of youth
the church must provide academies
and colleges. The lad who ''goes
away to school" at fourteen or
fifteen years of age leaves home
and Sabbath school behind him.
1t is OF the utmost Importance that help
full influences of another sort should now
NC llllONH dIOullu Hill. Ills ISdClCIo
must be godly men. His associates
should be youth of wholesome charac-
ter. His course of study ought to have
somewhat of the Bible in it. Briefly, he
should be sent to Christian school.
Third-The duty of the Presbyterian
church. OF the 400 academies and col
legeS i'll the country, Sc per cent are un-
der denominational auspices. The
Presbyterian church, for various rea-
sons, should be in the forefront of this
educational work. First. because, by
reason of our creed and polity,
we require a thoroughly educated
ministry, and body of laymen
qualified to exercise free thought. Sec
Ond, because for centuries we have had
laudable pride in our devotion to lib
eral education. OF late we have fallen
behind in this matter. 1t is proposed
to regain our lost ground. A commit
tee having the matter in charge
will call upon you in behalf of
this movement. Receive them cor
daily: heed their appeal in generous
manner; dismiss them with hearty
gOdspeed. Whatever is done must be
done quickly. The iron is hot; the time
has come to strike. Let us now under
trke great things for God and expect
great things from Him.