The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-20
EsSED THE PEACEMAkER
DIR. YATES SETS TOMS AND BAS-
SETT STRAIGHT.
The Poet and Philosopher Sees Good
in Both These Young Men, aid
SAYS Shake -iaods.

Toms, superintendent of the Durham
graded schools, ut is but just and proper
that the people of North Carolina should
read the eminently sensible and appro-
pirate article of DIR. Z. a. Yeats, publish
ed in yesterdays Sun. 1t is SO clear, so
pointed and yet breaths such a true spirit
of love and charity that it must necessar-
lily have a good effect. Here it is
PROPS. TOMS AND BASSETT.
Editor Sun: do not wish to be con-
sidered as meddiing with matters that do
not concern me; but my interest in and
kindness for both these young men, and
the institutions they in part represent,
induces me ITO say a few words.
/ have known Prof. Bassett from his
boyhood, the son of christian parents, and
himself "a christian and "a gentleman.
| have known Prof. Toms for several
years; born of christian parents and rear
ed Methodist. My long experience and
somewhat accurate observation Il may
say, / trust, without egotism) has made
me a tolerably good judge of character
And / am much mistaken if there is the
least faint of Deism in Prof. Toms.
regard him as real christian, and | be-
Rieve him incapable of surrendering, for
any reason and upon any condition, his
faith in the Christlife and Christ-death,
and the doctrines which are essentially
connected with this great fact.
What then? Why, Prof Bassett has
simply misunderstood Prof. Toms. The
latter in his last falls report of the Grad
ed School was not writing a treatise on
the christian religion, but was noticing
simply the good effect upon habits of
thought and action, in teaching the youth
to observe in everything the life and
goodness of God-to "see God in clouds
and hear him in the winds, that there
are sermons in stones and God in every
thing. If he had had time and space,
and it had been necessary, he might,
and in another place doubtless would, have
preached a little sermon ON the neces-
sity of repentance toward God and faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ" according to
Methodist formula. But that was not his
business, nor the school embracing all
denominations, and taxpayers, the place,
for such exhibit.
It is true that Prof Toms spoke of
narrow ecclesiastics." ! hardly think
he intended it to apply to, DIR. Kilgo or
myself, since he knows DIR. Kilgo to
be scientist, and myself bit of one
a student. / presume he meant by mar
row ecclesiastic," men who scout at the
study OF natural science and look upon
those who do study it as treading on for
hidden ground, and ground inimical to
religion. If so, agree with him. / ana
heartily sick of narrow-minded, ignorant
eccesia sites. They are the cause Of all
the isms and all the follies hung around
the neck OF religion. A teacher has no
right to be so ignorant and narrow that
he can see dnfidelity in every manifesto
ton of natural truth and every explana-
ton of natural phenomena, and therefore
to fear that something will turn up to
overthrow the Bible. 1t shows how pov-
erty-stricken is his faith.
The difference between Morality and
Religion is simple, but large. Morality
is the negative, but essential, basis OF
Religion. Its formula is Thou shalt
not" But frequently it takes the form
of the positive and seems to be active.
Still, the act roots itself IN the Thou
shalt not" For instance, an honest man,
il able, will pay his debts. But there is
no essential merit in it, since it only COM
plies with the Thou shalt not steal Of
the Ten Commandments.
But Christ added a new commandment
to the ten. "a new commandment give
l unto you, that We love one another"
Now, love is the greatest force in the
universe, since God is love. And love is
not am abstract, quiescent thing. 1t is
positive and always active. Love al
ways include morality, but morality
does not always include love. One may
be moral in the sense of thou shalt not"
without being religious; but one cannot
be religious without being moral. Love
manifests itself in positive and active
goodness-helping others and sacri-
ficing SELF It's
Quality of mercy is not strained;
1t droppeth like the gentle rain from
Heaven
And dis twice blessed-blessing him vino
gives
And who receives
Love says II help and bless some one."
Morality says II harm no one" Religion
is love in every sense OF the term, and re-
lig;on is moral in the sense OF doing no
wrong. Morality ceases to do evil rell-
giOn learns to do good.
Now, Prof. Toms was not put into his
position to teach the methods and pro-
cesses OF religion, only as he may do it
by the example of his life. Religion is
rot in the course of study, and could not
be- That belongs to the church of God
and to her divinely ordained ministers.
And it belongs to the home and parents
to begin this work with the infantile life.
There is deadly effort being made in
many quarters to take from parents and
the church the work for which God holds
them responsible. And hence there are
all sorts of isms and errors and folles
abroad that produce in the soul a sort
of religious dyspepsia.
Youth is sent to school by parents, not
20 get religion, but to get an education;
not to be taught infdelity, but to be
taught mathematics, etc. The church,
and the church in the home, is Gods Or
dained teacher of religion.
Let these young brethren shake hands
and make new start.
r. A. YATES.