The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-09
Religion and The University.


Religion and The University.
I The question of religion and morality
in the schools has been discussed extern
sively, but different opinions on the sub
ject still prevail. It may be said, perhaps,
that is a natural sequence of so much
contention. The object of debate should
be the development of truth and arrival
at unanimity OF understanding. Unless
different opinions are expressed and COM
pared, subject cannot be fully compre-
hended, for all sides OF it ought to be con-
sidered before judgment is rendered.
The University of Utah has been often
designated an infidel university, because
it is understood that religious tenets are
excluded, and it is alleged that many
young people have graduated from it.con-
frmed skeptics. The University Chronicle
contains an article by Professor GEORGE R.
MATTHEWS, on behalf of the faculty, which
puts the matter squarely before the pub
lie and in its right light. The gist of the
communication is to the effect that as the
institution is supported by public funds,
it ought not to be and is not an exponent
of any party or clique in politics or re-
Igion. But it is not, therefore, to be
dumb on questions of state, of morality
or of religion.
/ That is, In our view, the correct posi-
ton. The science of government may be
taught without advocating the cause of
any political party. The relations of sci
ence and religion may be explained and
their value compared without contend
ing for any article of faith. Morality
may be inculcated without espousing the
ethics of any particular school of thought.
1t is announced that the university, in
stead of being anti-religious, is pro-re-
ligious; in that it is favorable
to broad religious sentiment with
out sectarianism. Prayers are con-
Quoted every morning, but no student
is compelled to attend them. sit favors
no religious establishment nor tends its
support to one form above another.''
If all moral teachings is excluded from
the schools, we may expect tendency Of
the nation toward immortality, because
the road downward is easier than the road
upward, and the mind unframed in moral
lessons is likely to run wild and become
FESTIVE against restraint. The essence of
religion is morality and devotion, one as
much as the other. Religion without
morality is nothing but a name. All
moral sentiments are really religious.
Moral precepts had their origin in religious
teachings, and moral practices are SO far
religious in their nature that those who
live moral life are the best exemplars of
religion, while professedly religious
person who practices immortality may be
booked upon as living lie.
For these and many other reasons,
morality and a religious. sentiment may
with propriety form part of the course of
instruction in the public schools, COM
mon and advanced, SO long as sectarian-
ism, enominationalism and everything
of that character is carefully avoided.
So with political principles Invested OF
party tenets.
But all this needs careful supervision.
There is danger of the introduction, both
of party politics and sectarian religion,
when jealous partisans and enthusiastic
believers are entrusted with the power to
train the mind of youth. The influence
of the teacher is great if he gains the
respect of his pupils, and bias in any
given direction can be impaired if the
desire to make it exists in the heart OF the
preceptor.
The lack of moral and religious train
| ing is viewed as one of the causes of crime
in this country, educated persons form
ing surprising proportion of the prison
population. If this can be supplied with
out making the schools in any way de-
nominational it would be good thing,
and in this respect we believe the Univer-
sity of Utah comes as near to the line to
be maintained in public educational es-
Establishments as is possible without being
anti-religious.