The Newtown bee., 1895-11-01

The present age is pre-eminently one
of education. But we must remember
that perfect education includes the train
ing not only of the mind, but also of the
heart and of the soul. That man is not
thoroughly educated who lives immor-
ally, or who has disregarded the claims
Of religion. Philosophy and science
may have received bis attention, and he
may have stored his mind with the learn
ing of Greece and of Rome but even then
he may still be uneducated in the higher
sense of the word, for religion may have
been passed by unnoticed. To cultivate
only the mind, is to cultivate only half
the man. To neglect religion and the
moral improvement of the heart, is to
neglect work the noblest and best, one
which brings US into nearer union with
the great essence of perfection, and assim-
Hates US to the likeness of that Being
who sits enthroned upon the riches of
the universe, and is at the head Of all in
telligences which are in heaven or on
the earth. Man has been called relig.
ious being. In all countries, he has been
found regarding some religious rites,
and bowling the knee, either to the true
God or to some supposed divinity. He
cannot rid himself of the belief that
there is Spirit who presides over his
destiny, who takes cognizance of all his
acts, and who will ultimately reward
the righteous and punish the nnright-
eous. 1t is, then, the highest consist
ency in man, the most rational work, to
make provision for his spiritual cutiva-
ton; for the most important part of a
mans education is religious instruction.
Solomon, who was noted for his Di-
vinely-given wisdom, says, ssTrain up a
child in the way he should go; and
when he is old, he will not depart from
It." Or, more literally, the first clause
of this passage reads, "Initiate, or in
struct, a child at the entrance, or begin
ming, of his way Early instruction
will usually lead to good results. Solo
mons idea was that child should be
instructed as early as possible, in order
that he might retain the impression and
CdLly ~ lAbo RldNtiSC uAIOuEnOul Lis lACs
Early instruction is necessary.
LOOK AT THE STURDY OAK,
whose roots are firmly secured in the
ground. whose trunk has been gradually
expanding for century and whose top
most branches are far removed from
earth. Can you bend the solid wood of
that tree. Can you train it to the form
which would suit your idea of beauty
and would afford pleasure to your sight?
No, it is now too late. This training
ought to have been performed while the
tree was young and flexible. There was
a time when it was q sapling; and then
it would have yielded to pressure with
out breaking. Then it was SO plant,
that it might have been trained to the
most fantastic forms without injury.
But now its mode Of growth must re-
main unaltered. You can destroy it's
branches, divide its spacious trunk and
uproot the cords which bind it to the
earth, you can kill the noble tree, but
the training OF 1t is now far beyond your
power. Apply this to the training Of q
child, and you will see the necessity Of
early instruction. You can mould the
young plant heart and mind and fashion
it almost at will. But If the unframed
mind be allowed to have free intercourse
with the world, and to imbibe it's spirit
and to drink In it's follies; then training
will be impossible and instruction will