The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-13

This communication is address sd to you
to inform you of this action, and to have
you select energetic men, who are friends
of education, who understand the needs OF
the people, and who have influence with
the Saints, to carry out any suggestions in
this direction that may be dee md proper
In the decision which was made by our
board, it was made the duty of these boards
to take into consideration the formation of
Church schools, and the best method of ac-
complishing this: and, sitter arriving at
proper conclusions, to report them to the
General Board. Communications of this
character may be addressed to Elder
George Reynolds. who is the Secretary of
the Board. 1t was felt by the Board, that,
to begin with, there should be one
Stake Academy established ia each Stake,
as soon as practicable we feel that the time
has arrived when the proper education of
our children should be taken in hand by us
as a people.
Religious training is practically excluded
from the district schools The perusal of
books that we value as divine records is
forbidden. Our children, if left to the
training they receive in these schools, will
grow up entirely iguoranG of those princi-
pies of salvation for which the Latter-day
Saints have made so many sacrifices To
permit this condition of things to exist
among us would be criminal.
The desire is universally expressed by all
thinking people in the Church, that we
should haee schools where the Bible, the
Book or Mormon and the Book of Doctrine
and where the principles of our religion
may form part of the teaching of the
schools.
To effect this. it will be necessary that
funds be objected. The Church will doubt
less do its share, but it cannot carry the
entire burden. The Saints must be appealed
to. There are hundreds of liberal-minded
people among US who will be willing to con-
tribute to this worthy object when they find
the subject is receiving proper attention,
and that definite and permanent arrange
mentS ars being made to est iblish acade-
mics of this character.
The brethren whom you select to form
this board should be men of character aud
Integrity among the people, who will b.
able to use an influence IN the collection of
funds. so that academies may be estab.
lished, good faculties be employed and edu-
cation be made so cheap that it will be
within the reach of the humblest in the
land.
After you have made proper selec ion
for this board, the names of the brethren
should be presented regularly
at your Stake Conference, as other author
ties are, so that the people can vote for
them. Very RESPECTFULLY yours,
MILFORD WOODRUFF,
Chairman of the Church Board of Educa-
ton.
GEORGE REYNOLDS, Secretary.
"In compliance with the above, the Stake
Salt Lake Sake of Zion appointed as the
Stake Board of Education the folio wing
named gentlemen, which action has been
approved by President Woodruff of the
General Board.
by formal action. the committee hereto
fore directing the Salt Lake Stake Academy.
has reslened all charge thereof to the Stake
Board of Education. The scope of the
school has been materially enlarged by
the addition OF an Academic Department
Offering thorough courses of instruction in
sciences, languages and mathematics, by
the engagement of competent instructors,
the preparatory and intermediate depart.
ments will continC in operation IS before
well fitted laboratory is provided for prac-
teal labor in the scientific branches, and
an adequate supply of new apparatus for
demonstration and experiment has been
procured 1he rooms of the academy are
and appropriately furnished,
and arrangements have been made to ex-
tend the capacity as occasion requires.
But far beyond all such facilities and ad-
vantages is that, 81 dear to the soul of every
true natterday Saint. the opportunity of
securing an education in secular branches
c0-ordinately with the study of the pIin
ciples of the gospel CT Christ, and a training
IN the duties pertaining TO membership In
the Church. We doubt not that the insti
tuition will continue to receive the warm
approval and material support of the Latter
day Saints"
MILFORD Woodruff, the chairman of
this Church Board of Educa-
lion, is also the President of the
Mormon Church; p I, as before indi-
Gated, the action TAKEN by the Church
of the salt Lake Stake"
with reference to its academy, is
\ TYPE OF THE ACTION BEING TAKEN,
or advocated. throughout the entire
rorritory. While the laws of the Ter
-itory do not forbid the "perusal' in
he district schools of the books re-
,erred to, or any other books, yet it is
not longer practicable to openly incul-
,ate, in them, the tenets of a creed.
Until very recently most of these
schools, although partially supported
oy taxation, were to great extent es-
sentiaily Mormon denommational
schools, and 1t viii take time to free
them from this influence, and especial
y from the reputation they have thus
acquired. When we come to consider
he fact that the Mormon people are
argely In the majority, that the in
1uence of the lead srs of that Church is
sufficient to, and does, shape and con-
,rol the legislation of the Territory, it
8 fair and reasonable conclusion that
he attitude taken at the recent session
If the Legislature, to provide no further
means for the support of schools, I'M
ess it could be shared proportionately
" private schools, was but another
of the purposes set forth
n the letter above quoted from Mr..
Woodruff.
AS long as this purpose is entertained
Ind advocated by TIE Mormon leaders
md people, and the legislative
power remains in theic hands,
here can be no reasonable expec-
;stion of any material Jim PROVE
nent of the legislation of the Territory
ipon the subject of public school sys-
EN-, Or any further provision made for
heir support by general taxation.
By the 25th section of the Act of Con-
,ress, entitled IAN Act to Amend an
Act entitled an Act to Amend Section
1852 of the Revised Statutes of the
United States in reference to bigamy,
md for other purposes" which took
effect March 3, 1887, it is provided,
That the Office Of Territorial Superin-
endent Of District Schools, created by
he laws of Utah, is hereby abolished;
md 1t shall be the duty OF the Supreme
Court OF said Territory to appoint
of Schools, who shall
,0sGnsS and nYorniao oil tho NOM ,rc apd