Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-26
A PREACHER REPLIES.
Rev. Charles E. Locke Talks About tho
Public school Systematic Pays His Re.

| Kew Chafies Es Locko 1hihs ADout tus
Public school Systematic Pays His Re.
spects to the Parochial School Also.
1.-THE Heart as Well as the Head in the
Public Schools" was the subject of Rev
| Charles E. Locke's sermon at the Smithfeld
Street M. E. Church last night.
Introducing his subject by the remarks
that the schools were soon to be opened fol
Il, ,OOO, 900 children he dwelled upon the
history of school education; how it had
emanated from the clergymen. Then he
spoke of its importance, inasmuch as the
characters of men and women are formed in
the school. He spoke of the teacher, who
ought to be person of high moral character,
CAPABLE. conscientious, kind, Christian and
infused with the feeling of the greatness OF
disposition. Then he spoke of the poor pay
teachers receive for their work.
There was very large attendance and a
number of local school teachers were pres
ent, At the conclusion the reverend gen.
tleman paid his respects to the parochial
school system in the following manner:
"Mv subject is not a new one. 1t has
agitated the minds of educators for many
wears. and the solution has been sought in
some quarters in the establishment of the
parochial school. / am not here tonight to
inyeigh against any branch of the Christian
church. or to indulge in any acrimony
against the plans Of men; but as loyal cit
izen il is my right and duty to declare that
the parochial school is non-American. Fol-
lowed to its logical conclusion it will
menace and finally destroy the most splen-
did system OF public education that the world
has seen. If one department of the church
is granted the privilege of denominational
nf hn1n
to Presbyterians, Episcopalians. Baptists
and the Methodists. And If SO an enerva-
ton and diminution of power would be the
inevitable result. In some quarters already
yociferous demands are being made for a
division of the school funds. FAINT echoes
of it may even have been heard among us.
Parochial schools will encourage partisan
influences, which will seek the overthrow of
an institution which contains within itself
the power to perpetuate this nation for a
thousand centuries.
"There is an Indian legend, in which a
dwarf is said to have stood before a king
and asked for as much land as he could
cover with three strides. The king laugh
ingly consented. In a moment the dwarf
had become mighty giant. In one step he
covered the land, with another the sea, with
the third he knocked the king down and
took his throne. Oh! busy men, you who
have delegated your responsibility as the
custodians OF the public school to few,
awake to the eminent danger. Influences
which to-day may seem small and contempt
ible, may develop gigantic power
which shall not only result in the
disorganlzation of the school system, but
shall not cease its ravages until it has
trailed the banners of liberty in the dust
and crushed our principles OF freedom out
ofa t.
citizen is a sovereign, where the Govern
ment is of the people, for the people by the
people, if the rank and file of the business
men and professional men fail to stand up
to the emergency, we shall find ourselves in
the inextricable folds of deadly serpent.
Keep an eye of vigilance on the public
schools"