Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-23

mad had exceptional opportunity for look
ing at 1t from It's various sides He agreed
heartily with much that was contained
IN the report much that was IN the sub
lsututes, and much that was said by Mr..
Milne The old picture of the church and
schooi-house, standing side by side, was
most inspiring one. but this church. du-
ring It's twenty-eight years of separate
existence, has not allowed itself TO be
governed by precedent. 1t is not sub
Ject 10 any Precedent that can be
quoted from any part of the world. The
plan enunciated In the report was new,
aud therefore Ii was their duty TO dig
deep before committing themselves. DIR.
Woodrow then dealt with the function OF
the State. the Church, and the family In
regard to education. He agreed with Dr.
walden that the duties of the State were
police duties. 1t has no right to establish
colleges, or common schools, or to estab-
lish anything outside it's functions. he
contended. AS to the great function OK
the Church, he said. its commission was
to pTeach>the Gospel. WhateveSft does
that is beyond the preaching of the Cos
pei is beyond the will Of Christ. Preach
ers must be trained. but in order to train
them, how much must the Church do?
That question. he said could not be an
swered I'm the same way in every country.
The Church has to deal in real estate, to
build churches. but should the Church
commission real-estate men? This Church
is about 10 build a ship for the Congo
river but was not intended 10 be a pas
senger boat for any and all persons. The
position OF the head of the family, said
DR.. Woodrow. ia something like the posi-
ton OF the State in the Federal Union.
He could not countenance the usurpatlon
Of the right OF the families to dictate who
shall be the teachers of the children. The
substitute. he said with emphasis. does
not go far enough, for it seems to hint
that ii is some of our business. The in
stitutions OF Church and State should be
kept absolutely separate and apart. lie
hoped that a motion would be made TO
lay the whole matter on the table.
DUTY OF THE CHURCH
Mr.. j. VI. Clymer said the Church owed
a duty TO the baptized children. The
idea that the Church was 10 do nothing
TO look after the children was altogether
repugnant. do we not" he asked, owe
some duty to the baptized children of
the church,"
DR.. Woodrow, replying to this question.
said that he spoke of secular education.
The Church was obliged to teach
the catechism and the Bible as it was
to preach the Gospel.
Ut. Shearer said he would believe with
DR. Woodrow In everything he had said
If he could believe that education was
purely secular function. The Church we
love has lost her grip in the days that
are past, because for the last one hun
dred years education has been treated as
a secular function. There has been
change within thirty years Christian
men are standing up and pleading for the
Word Of God, that 1t shall be put upon
the pedestal of every department OF
every school. The tendency TO secularize
education was TO be deplored, but it
would continue TO be depiored until edu-
cation was unsecularized. The objection
to the amendment was. that there could
be no uniformity Of action under that
scheme and no permanency Of administra-
ton. The theory is not new. 1t is
embodied in the constitution of the South
western University. In conclusion the
speaker strongly advocated the adoption
of the report Of the committee.
The further debate was suspended. and
pending a motion TO adjourn. the death
of daughter of Rev. J. r. Mitchell one
Of the commissioners, was announced and
a resolution of sympathy was adopted.
The assembly then adjourned until this
morning. Rev. r. L. Campbell delivering
the closing prayer.