The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-22
RELIGION AND
EDUCATION.
Rev. Or. Kerr breaches an Able
Sermon,
CHARACTER IN THE YOUNG
The Speaker Argues That tho Future
ola People Depends Upon the Prop
or Training of Them--Serviccs
in the Churches Sunday.

Az the First Presbyterian church or
Sunday morning Rev. Or. Kerr the pas
,or nreached on Religion as c Part Of
Education" his text being And these
words which command thee this day
shall be in thy heart. and thou snalt
teach them diligently unto thy children"
CDcut. vi, 6. y.
DR.. Kerr said in part:
Moses about to die. exhorts Israel 10
keep the words OF God in their hearts
and to assure the future he commands
them 10 teach these words unto their
children The future Of a people depends
upon the training OF the young, ard those
charged with this duty bear the greatest
responsibility ever committed 10 man,
The childhood of to-day Is the MANHOOD
Of tomorrow. The most important ele-
fnent In education is religion, for no peo-
ole can be safe pure and strong without
The fear Of God. This Is nearly always
acquired in childhood. and no church nor
State can be safe in which the young are
not diligently taught the Holy Scriptures.
Many think they can develop morality
without teaching the precepts OF the BIZ
be This j. a mistake. the only sure
way 10 secure morality is b3 ihculcdtite
positive religious truth.
THE RESPONSIBILITY
Where lies the responsibility for teach
ing youth religion? Not with the state,
but with parents-Gods trustees for chill
dren. under the direction Of Gods Holy
Church The Church must see 10 II That
parents have their children taught relig-
ion. and the right kind OF religion. Par
ents must teach religion az home. and the
Church will be wise II - secure the es-
fablishment Of Church schools. by Chris
tian parents in which religion snoh be
taught as a part of daily STUDY. II re-
ligion be taught on Sunday only, 60 be-
comes a Sunday coat TO be put ci- on
Monday.
In a church school I would have taught
an addition 10 the secular branches. ne
Bible. the Church catcchism, Church his
tory. and Christian ethics. This would
develop thorough churchnen; vel. so be
It. the best churchman is the best ciu-
zen. In church school should be taught
not merely sectarian peculiaritics but
also the broad doctrines Of the Gospel
Haniel Webster said: who will divorce
religion from education" Governor Rice
OF Massachusetts. derides "the folly of
surprising that good morals can be de-
veloped b. mere brain culture.
Dr. r. l.. D&bney declll ed last year:
Il would have a system Of parocaial
schools as general as that Of Knox IN
Scotland"
WHAT THE CHURCH is DOING.
II is an interesting fact that in tie
United States there are In male state
Colleges g7.l96 students, while in male
church Colleges there are $3.50. and in
independent institutions Ike Hampton
Sidney. and Washington and Lee. there
are IS 9iG. This shows that for higher
education the Church is doing more 'han
the State. Many Independent colleges
,the two Just mentioned were established
by the Presbyterian Church, We're found
ed BY the Church and are under Churca
influence
But in tie matter Of elementary edu-
cation the Churches. except the Roman
catholic. are doing comparatively Hitie.
While IN state institutions of higher edu-
cation there are only 27l96 students. the
States nave over 1895. 5s5 pupils in the
public schools
II Is time the Church awoke to the
great Importance OF establishing and
maintaining parochial schools in which
religion should be thoroughly taught day
by day. National character Is the result
OF national faitr, and II men are 10 be
made to reverence the laws Of The State
they must first be taught TO fear God
and keep His commandments" For this
sis TIE beginning OF wisdom"
The strongest Christian character Is not
born % sudden Transformation. but Is the
result CT years of religious training. be-
ginning al the mothers knee. and con-
tinued up TO manhood.
A PATRIOTS WORDS.
9atrick Henry said Of the liberty and
independence gained by the Revolution:
whether this will prove a blessing or a
cursc depends upon the use our people
make of the blessings which "a gracious
God nath bestowed upon us. Righteous
ness alone can eXalt them as nation.
In his viii ne wrote: This Is all the in
heritance ] can give 10 my dear family
The religion OF Christ can give them
one viii n will make them rich indeed"
Character ig usually formed in youth.
and human character is the only everlast-
ing thing made on earth. except the
Church OF God.