The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-10
Extracts from the Christian NGigh10r.
A Question Of Education.

The extract below is from Geo. L.
Angells address to the annual meeting
of the National Association of Super
intendents of Public Schools, at Wash
ington, D. c., Feb. IA, 1854. Copied
from Our Dumb animals:
"Nearly all the criminals of the iu-
ture, the thieves, burglars, incendla-
ries, and murderers, are now III our
public schools, and with them the
greater criminals who commit nation
al crimes. They are in our public
schools now, and we are educating
them. We can mold them now If we
will. To illustrate the power Of cdu-
cation: We know that you may make
the same boy Protestant, Roman Cath
olic, or Mohammedan. 1t is simply a
question of education. You may put
into his little hands, as first toys,
whips, guns and swords, or you may
teach him, as the Quakers DO, that
war and cruelty are crimes. You may
teach him to shoot the little bird IN
springtime, with it's nest full Of young,
or YOU may teach him to feed the bird
and spare its nest. You may go into
the schools now with book, picture,
song and story, and make neglected
bows merciful, or you may let them
drift until, as men, they become suttl-
ciently lawless and cruel to throw
YOUR railway trains off the track, place
dynamite under your dwelling houses
or public buildings, assassinate your
President, burn half your city, or IN
volve the nation in civil war;.
"Isi not largely, if not wholly, Il
question of education ?"
This extract contains most impor-
tant truth, one which should be taught,
if need be, over and over to every
child, and adult as well, and never
forgotten.
The truth as stated by Mr.. Angel,
is embraced in chain of truths OF
kindred and equal Importance. The
links of this chain are, l. Faith
comes through teaching. >. Accord
ing to accepted teaching so is faith. 3.
According to faith so is conscience.
a. According to conscience so is con-
duct. 5. According to conduct 50 is
character. 6. According to character
so is destiny.
Rejection of teaching is unbeliet
concerning that which was taught.
Whether the teaching be true or false,
faith follows acceptance, and he who
accepts the teaching is sincere in his
belief, as much so in believing the
false as in believing the true. SINGER
ity is essential to and inseparate from
faith of any kind or degree. If one is
not sincere he does not 'believe-has
no faith.
How important then is it that per-
sons should take heed as to achdt they
hear and also as to hoaU they hear.
Still more important is it that teach
ers should take heed as to what and
how they teach! Teachings accepted
are the infinitesimal wires that make
the first link of the series which enGs
with destiny.
After teaching and faith comes con-
science, which answers to faith as the
printed page answers to the types by
which it has been pressed.
{. Nextis conduct, which is a manifest
translation of faith and conscience i'll
to practical lifc--showing faith and
conscience by works.
Next, the actions in probation life
conduct-are the accretions that make
character; and character is that which
man, after probation, carries with
him into the state of award-dcStiny
Faith and conscience never disagree
as the right or wrong of anything.