Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-09-05
CORRESPONDENTS,
A Call to Duty.
'17t1srOtSi MID, StPt d, IoJ0
To the MINING JOURNAL.

To the MINING JOURNAL.
Rev. C. A. Britt's explanation in
your last issue fully exposes the abso-
Lutte power held by our county school
commissioners in the matter of de-
Gliding whether the reading of the
Bible in the public schools is per-
Missile or not.
am glad the Ministerial Associa-
ton felt called upon to make the ex-
PLANTATION that it was candid enough
to make known its future course, and
that they so clearly showed to your
many readers where the responsibility
rests.
also most heartily join you IN con,
demning the indefenslble action of
those who shirked their plain duty and
placed it on the defenceless shoulders
OF our teachers, who, whether they
read the Bible now or not, will invite
the Twill OF part of each community,
cause dlssenson. perhaps, and thus
retard the progress and impair the
efficiency of every school wherein the
issue is raised.
With so plain duty before them and
with the power to perform it, they
should have decided at once and final
ly the question-not only for Frost
burg, but for the whole county.
Either that or resign and let men
take their places who, knowing their
duty and their power, will discharge it.
Look at the disgraceful muddle they
permitted to continue for months in
Homecoming. SO far as they did any
thing to arrest and stop that trouble
they might as we'll have been in Africa.
Yet they could have done it. But
then, as now, they let Perdew, who
had performed every duty to the peo-
pie and to his employers-they let him
stand single and alone, unassisted and
unshlelded, to bear the full force of
that vengeful storm. Perdew was not
only under their guidance and control,
but he was under their protection, but
they deserted and left him to "bear
his cross alone"
Why should this sort of policy con-
troll the school commissioners This
is question that will arise, If it has
not already done so.
dislike as much as any man to ex-
pose human weaknesses, but duty is
incumbent upon the citizen as we'll as
the official. 1t is suspected that our
shrewd, Understanding, reputable, res
pectable school commissioners are
swayed by their subordinate, the school
examiner. If this be true, and very
large body of people believe it is, is it
not high time for the commissioners to
do one of two things-relieve them
selves OF the suspicion or resign.
Whoever has had the misfortune to
appear before those gentlemen and see
with what Difference nearly every ques-
ton is submitted to the examiner. and
note also the oracle like manner with
which easy matters are disposed of and
the non-committal style with which
the uneasy ones are treated by this
official, will understand fully all | am
stating. When, too, it can be seen
how he smiles and pockets all the
plaudits for any good that happens 20
be accomplished, and lodges behind
the commissioners coat-tals when a
storm arises, my meaning can also be
apprehended.
| will not go farther into motives
than to say that | fear our teaching
quality is kept down in order that Mr..
Weimer may be retained in office.
This is apparent from other circum-
stantial testimonies also.
In all seriousness l appeal to the
commissioners to decide this Bible
matter without reference to Mr..
Weimer's judgment, wishes or welfare.
When that is done, take firm hold
of every other issue that arises and
make Mr.. Weimer your servant, not
your master. A PATRON.