The Oskaloosa herald., 1893-06-08
cognate branch of this topic comes the


QUESTION OF ''FADs",
popularity so called. Let me say 10 you
that all that instructs the hand OF the
head, the voice or the eye, or adds TO
the graces of life in any form, coming
out Ofthe public schools is money weii'
wisely and proftably expended. In a
general way, the splendid schools OF
this city can make an exhibit that should
bring pleasureto to the heart of every one,
showing aptitude and execution in sew
eral lines, at once most promising and
profitable. 1t is not all of life to gather
in the cold dollars and leave them to be
wrought over and fought over by greed,
and expeL ded by those who may not
have known the toilsome path by which
they were brought into the paddock. l
believe that it pays in boys and girls,as
we'll as in good horses, to raise them
and train them in the highest and best
ways of usefulness. Money expended
in this direction in many cases will
save court costs and prison support.
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION ADVOCATED.
Another topic suggests itself to me.
We hear much said about religiOn-Or
the lack of it-in the public schools, and
how seriously the walls of the citadel of
our liberties would be preached were it
made possible to give or have religious
instruction in connection with the COM
mon school course. Standing here this
evening, untrsmmeled by any church
connection whatever, I enroll myself
among those who Relieve that COM
mon and acceptable course of instruc-
tion in what may be fitly termed the
great moralities of the gospel, may be
arranged, and more than that, should
be arranged and should be used in the
public schools of Iowa. will be met
with combined command and answer
to "leave that entirely to the family"
1t is left there nOw-and among the du
ties of life left largely undOne, that GER
tainly is one. In this judgment am
supported by the testimony of the min
listers of the gospel, who have spent their
lives in that divine work, and who tell
me that this is unfortunately, sadly, too
true. boldly challenge the ObjectOrs
to such plan to an examination as to
how well the parents look after the re-
ligious instruction of their own children.
How many are the church members
who never broach the eternal yerities of
the gospel to their own children, and
who awake to find them entirely at sea
in their views upon matters more vital
than any that can confront humanity.
What objection can any one have to
clear, positive, earnest, intelligent in
struction on lines that shall take in the
beatitudes? You know it is called the
sermon of the blesseds;
BLESSED are the poor in spirit fol
theirs is the kingdom Of heaven.
BLESSED are they that mourn, for they
SHALL be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they SHALL
inherit the earth.
BLESSED are they which do hunger
and thirst after righteousness, for they
SHALL be filled.
BLESSED are the merciful, for they
SHALL obtain mercy.
BLESSED are the pure in heart, for
they SHALL see God"
Where is the parent who can object
to his child having instruction on the
everlasting commandments creed
wide enough in them to land any be-
lieving soul on the shores of the Blessed
Beyond ! Can he object to instruction
that tells his child that he shall not
steal, that he shall not lie, or bear false
witness, or commit adultery, or murder,
or take the name of God in vain,-that
he shall honor his father and mother,
above all, and keep himself pure and
unspotted before the world? Yet, to-
day see how many of the youth of the
land are sent out from all the schools
almost utterly bankrupt in such in
structiOn as would give the proper di-
rection to life that should do honor
always to its Creator. Ny sympathies
are with that line of thought that earn
estly believes that the first ten years of
a childs life are the telling and poten-
TALLY formative ones and that during
that time it is