The morning news., 1899-04-27

imported abroad 1t would be better to
seek them in the English universities. Mr..
jefferson then turned to Edinburgh, ana
endeavored to obtain faculty there.
About this time DR.. Joseph Priestley,
who was not only a great preacher but
a famous chemist, came to America, hav-
ing been driven from Birmingham by
mob. His Presbyterian chapel and house
were burned, his scientific apparatus and
library were destroyed, and he and his
family narrowly escaped death at the
hands Of a fanatical multitude, who, Of
Tended by the dissenting doctrines he
preached with such eloquence. rushed
through the streets shouting Down with
PriestleyT % the Presbyterians!
etc.
Dr. Priestly discovered oxygen, invented
sodawater and was a famous writer upon
science, history, politics and philosophy as
well as theology. His sympathy with the
rebellious American colonies increased his
unpopularity in Great Britain, and for that
reason Mr.. jefferson, who had known him
in England gave him a cordial welcome
when he sought refuge in the United
States. He had more to do with forming
the religious views of Mr.. jefferson and
the non-sectarian organization of the Uni
versty of Virginia than any other man.
He renounced many of the articles of the
in America, and was one of the founders
of the Unitarian denomination.
1t was about this time that Mr.. Jeffer-
son made his famous declaration: 81 have
sworn upon the altar of God eternal hos
tility to every form of tyranny over the
mind of man."
The present faculty of the University of
Virginia has found a passage of scripture
which it construes to carry the same
nd f,an
frieze of the rotunda of the auditorium re-
Gently erected. 1t is a familiar passage,
and in English reads:
And We shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free"
Dr. Priestley had a son-in-law named
Cooper, who was even more advanced in
his religious views, and upon the motion
of Mr. Jefferson the board of visitors of the
University Of Virginia elected him to the
professorship of chemistry at a salary of
$1,000 year and tuition fees of $50 from
each Of his students. As Unitarian was
then regarded as worse than an infidel for
denying the trinity and repudiating the
influence of the Holy Spirit, conservative
religious sentiment was shocked, and a vio-
lent attack was made upon the young in
stitution, which had received its endow-
ment and expected its maintenance from
the state legislature. Much to Mr. Jeffer.
board of visitors was compelled by public
sentiment to cancel the contract. 1t paid
DR.. Cooper $1,000 and obtained for him a
position in the University of South Caro-
lima at Columbia.
This is all set forth In the minutes of the
board of visitors. preserved in the office of
the university here, an MIR. Jefferson's own
handwriting.
The controversy over Prof. Cooper's ap-
I'M llA to = oala
icy of the institution in this respect on the
7th of October, 1922. The announcement was
prepared and offered by Mr.. jefferson. and
appears in his handwriting II was also
signed by James Madison and James Mon
roe, who were also members Of the hoard
of visitors. The last record in Mr.. Jeffer-
sons handwriting was made when he was
50 years old, on the 7th of April, 1926, a
short time before his DEATH
1t was resolved by the board of visitors
to place all religious sects upon an equal
footing In the university, and 70 allow each
sect TO establish and maintain divinity
school in connection with the institution
but such schools should be entirely indie
pendent of the government and the endow-
men of the university. 1t was resolved
that the library should be supplied with
the writings of the most respected author
tiles of every sect and that courses Of
uiar intervals for the education of the stu-
dents in those moral obliga tions in which
all of the sects agree.
In explanation of this policy of non-sac-
tartan education Mr.. Jefferson prepared
paper, which was made public al tbe same
time. 1t was not to be understood. " he
said. that instruction In religious oninion
and religious duties was precluded because
of indifference on the part of the board Of
visitors to the interests of society. on tho
contrary" he declared, "in the opinion of
the board, the relations which exist he
tween man and his Maker. and the duties
resulting from these relations, are among
the most interesting and important 10
every human being, and the most lncum-
bent upon his study and investigation"
Mr.. jefferson was a great Bible student
He spent many months in the preparation
OF an arrangement OF the New Testament
which he Intended 10 publish. The original
az found among his papers, was the work
OF his own hand, and can now be seen In
the National Museum az Washington. In
The nrst place, be rejected an disputed
statements aud coutrOycrsial passages
Then with his scissors he cut out from Inc
cFangcliFif the most complete and salts
factory pafsnRes concerning The life and
faaE nIuHF OF CnfIsf which urlfh0iff raa4r "a