The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-28

and ours is a Christian land. A bank c0rpo-
ration or a railway company may be neutral,
but there Is no analogy between them and
the State. Moral men only could conduct
the affairs of our republican institutions
and these the State must raise.
4. Morals and sectarianism are widely
separated. Better have moral men not
church men. than have church men not
moral men.
common to all religious sects, and these are
what Horace Mann c0ntended should be
taught In our schools. "The State does not
affirm that the Bible Is book Of God but 1t
recognizes the fact that 1t is the best book
about God"
The character of Christ Is as scientifically
historic as any event, and containing as 1t
does the loftiest ideals Of morals, being man
in perfection the State would be dlsloyal TO
itself did 1t not provide for its exhibition In
its schools.
These four principles then are historic
American, and common ground upon which
all eminent educators stand:
1st-That 1t Is the right Of the State to
educate.
2d-Intellectual without moral education
sd-itis the right of the State to educate
In morals.
4th-That morals and sectarianIsm are
widely separated.
There may be some open. questions consid-
ering which you are doubtful as to your
course. Has the State right to forbid the
establishment of UNCONVENTIONAL Schools?
The Blair and Edmunds bills say, Yes. !.
The English government says, No, and
under 1t Methodists and Baptists, Episcopa-
lians and Romanists establish them.
Undoubtedly, our common school system
Is the ideal method and any other Is to be de-
plored. Only by might, however, can 1t be
maintained intact for long time to come.
During the last ten years about one million
children have been taken from our common
schools and put into denomiuotional
schools.
Another question vexlng us has been set
tied by England as to the division OF the
school money. Shall aid be granted to de-
nominati0nal schools?
The Blair bill says No.
England says, with qualifications, Yes.
The law of contract enters here. .Acknowl-
edging the terms Of the State, that every
school shall teach exactly according to six
standards or grades covering six years, un-
der scheduled time and annual examination,
with the right Of inspection and
suspension Of grant IL the school Is found
varying from its schedule during any part OF
the year; conforming to this any sectarian
school in England may receive It's proportion
of the school money according TO the num-
Der of scholars passing the examination.
The sectarian school enters here as ser
want of the government with right to its pay.
Then the situation would be this. that the
State shall see that the child studies certain
text books and answers certain questions,
possessed Of certain knowledge. Now after
this IL any denomination wants to teach any
thing, say contrary to the State, 1t cannot be
the State rests its case with the truth and
error both in the child's mind, left to fight
itself out.
The objective point of all adjustment Is
to pass such laws that will work well what
ever party Is in power. We trust we are
Fastening to the day when final appeals
shall be to principles OF right aud not parties
of power.
What would we demand II our enemy
were enthroned? We should expect ''the
| in morals, and TO supervise, but we should
| claim the right to teach as we thought, and
| expect, II we served the State, to be paid for
We should pay taxes, and If we did moi
want to contract with the State according to
| its terms, we should not expect pecuniary
aid.
When we can settle upon a course in har-
mony with the golden. rule, let us put 1t In
our national constitution, and make IL an
eternal shame against which all the powers
of heaven and earth shall protest, for any
party to dare to tamper with 1t.
When the Army of the Potomac was about
to break camp on one occasion TO start upon
the uncertain march their chaplain was max
inghis way to afayorable point from which to
address them, when tall and stalwart SOL
dier whispered in his ear, SAY something to
encourage us, won't youy" His heart
yearned for comfort and strength for the
Members Of the graduating class, we
wanted to dignity your labor and encourage
you to go on in your chosen service. At
every new departure it Is the character OF
your service that alone changes. When a
| midshipman becomes lieutenant, and then
l captain, and next commodore, he has simply
| passed from the service of names and rules
| to that of men, to that of laws with ever In
creasing responsibility, at last demanding
| his obedience to the very finest point or his
destruction-but then he governs and seems
to utilize the powers of wind and steam and
tide at will
SO you are accumulatiDg energy divine.
with every month Of willing service. In con-
contending with the foes you do, your may
rest assured that power will be forthcoming
| to conquer self and the grave; and that he
| who serves immortal interests will find i'm
mortality will be his willing slave. Ap-
| plause.]
At the close of Rev. Mr.. Frost's address
| Mr.. MCGOWAN Of the school committee
rose and said that there was something very
bitter in the address just made that he very
| strongly opposed. If l had known, said
Mr.. McGowan, that such an address was to
have been made, should have opposed ii.
| 1t never should have been delivered before
the members of this class to prejudice them.
1t gives them false impression; this de-
nominational question should never be re-
ferred to on such an occasion. This is
not a place to preach sermon.
| / consider the address uncalled for, uncon-
stitutional and oppose it. Iprotest against
| anything seotarian in the schools Of Port
land.
Mr.. McGowan's remarks created quite a
ripple Of excitement. No reply by anybody
| present was made.
Before comforting diplomas Rev. A. T.
Dunn In behalf Of the school committee. ad
dressed the class with words Of profitable
| advice.
| The members Of the graduating class were
Misses Lillian w. Waldron, Susie J. Sawyer
Ella G. Webster. Ella F. Coe. Carrie Gordon
Carrie Clark, Mabel Hobbs and Nellie
| Sawyer.
| The Portland Practice School is doing a
| good work and has before 1t successful
| future of much usefulness.