The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-25
CHARGES NEGLECT
John PeIton Upon Moral
Instruction.
The Veteran Pedagogue Reviews the
Situation and Offers Some
Suggestions.

At the meeting OF the Presbyterian Mlnlsterlai
Union yesterday morning Rev. ID. Hanson
Irwin, for the committee on Sabbath. obserV-
ance and municipal reform, reported progress,
and the committee was continued
John z. PeltoD, known as The founder OF
public schools in this city, read paper on
Religious Instruction in Public Schools" He
holds that, while great advance has been made
along the line of intellectual education, the
cultivation OF the moral faculties has been
neglected, the result being an Increase OF vice
and crime and immortality generally.
THE world has become materlallstlc, man.
monized, as perhaps il never was before. Gold
has not only become king but Is worshiped as
God. so that anything else is comparatively OF
little concern 10 The mind of man. Our public
schOos have reached degree of efficiency that
challenges admiration; they are in charge OF
teachers pTe-emnent for their ability, profess
sioual pride and zeal; they are magnlhcently
sustained financially. and they have puplage
OF suDerior intellectually and great promise,
but for all this they have become Intensely
secular, and so are destined 10 fail in the great
end OF making OF their pupils good citizens"
All this. Mr.. Pelton thinks. comes from the
n glect Of religious instruction in he schools.
The Bible he considers The basis OF moral
teaching, and he has met multltudes of public
school chlldren-boys and girls-who had
scarcely ever seen copy OF lt-Who we're
utterly ignorant Of its contents, never having
read single passage from it-and some he has
seen WHO. when lie SPOKE of 1t. Gld not know 10
what book he referred.
To bring the schools up 10 the position which
thy should occupy as agencies for moral train
Ing he believes return should b. made TO rellg-
iOus teaching through the pr cepts OF the Bible.
lie does not advocate a general and lndlscrlnl-
nate use OF 1t, but would have COPY OF IL lying
upon every teachers desk and would have Judi
clous selections from IL read daily along with
such other devotional exercises as no reasona-
bic person could object TO, and which should be
satisfac DRY TO every Christian and patriot alike.
Mr.. Peton made som touching references 10
his past relations with the children and youth
OF our land extending over period OF more than
half century. fortY-hye years OF which he has
passed IN California; aud spoke with deep feel
ing of the approach of the time when these re.
lalioDs will be finally suudefed.
In conclusion he said that in the closing years
OF his life nothing would afford him greater
happiness than see ADLER hands than his take
up the work which lie IS now pnwerless TO ac-
cOmplish and carry ii TO its final and glorious
results. very few years would Then render
our public schools the pride the boast and the
boon of society, and the assurance of perpetual
lie aud safety TO the stare.
The subject was pretty thoroughly discussed
by those present.. The discussion showed quite
general agreement with the views expressed
IN the paper, though there was All evident d.
vergeDce on some points, among others as TO
the proper use 10 be made of the Bible, some
believing that it should be used as a textbook
entire Instead or having garbled extracts taken
from II in accordance with the judgment or
fancy OF whoever may happen TO be given the
task 10 perform.
1t was decided TO invite Rev. H. R. Haweis
OF England. now stopping in the city, TO address
The union next Monday on subject of his own
selection.