The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-01
THE MESSENGER ALWAYS STANDS
FOR EDUCATION.

Herald ID Mr.. w. Il. Abernethy. He is
a writer OF ability and a ideas and
views which he sets forth in clear and
even admirable English. He old to
the idea that mere secular education
(the Holy Spirit being entirely left out
OF the consideration does make men
better" 1t is a question that can not
be determined by a mathematical de-
monstration. The Messenger is staunch-
ly the friend and steady advocate for
education. 1t has been always SO. 1t is
no new thing with it. It believes it
gives a man a great advantage in the
battle of life over the unlettered, ignor-
ant. 1t holds that an educated man is
a much more important factor in the
states service than stolid ignorance.
Mr.. Abernethy finely. admirably says,
and We give mis- felicitous view most
willingly:
Education called by whatever name
means personal adaptation to environ
ments, an understanding and mastery
OF the natural forces around us, and
some conception Of the vast stores of
knowledge which have crystalized into
what we call civilization.
In other words. secular education
alone tends to open the eye to the
handwriting Of the great God as seen
In the stars, upon the nigh hills, in the
rocky strata. in the smiling flower, in
the seething sea, in human history, in
h heart of man The devotee of
learning meanly traduces his mistress
when he suggests that the development
of mfnd tends to lead it away from
Faith. It's the stupid blindness of the
bat which shuts the eve 10 the flaming
SUN in the heaven. and cries out, where
is it, Academic instruction is but the
rudimental grasp of learning all of
which came from that Fountain of
knowledge which men call God"
In discussing education no man has
a right to impugn the motives. intro
duce insinuations. or belittle the intelli-
gence of an opponent. Without enter
ing at length upon the subject of edu-
cation it may be said that there are
Some facts well understood and unde-
n1abie. Look at Greek and Roman life.
See what was the condition Of morality
and life among them. They were bet
Ter than the more ignorant heather
aroHnd them but not good. They prac-
noed things that Gospel condemns, and
all well regulated and sanctified intel
tigence stigmatizes. Then again, go
tie h ~penitentiaries in Europe and in
n northern states, and o will find
thousands of people VINO are educated
according to the ordinary standard.
Many are eve people of scholastic
training and sin against human know
ledge every day and all the time. Go
10 southern prisons and o will find
awo-thirds of the negro inmates able to
read and write. Whatever else educa-
ton, without Christ and the Bible, may
have done for their minds. it has not
lifted them in the scale of being, made
them pure, honorable. honest, useful
men and women. a blessing to the hu-
mar race and exemplars IN any civiliza-
ton past and present Bill Arp, the
wise Georgian, long ago said shat ed
ucating'' the negro only spoiled a good
field hand Bill is no mere sentiment
al theorizer, but a practical observer of
passing events and the fruits of our
times.
The kernel in the Messengers conten-
ton is that however desirable is ed
ucation" for the few or the many, it
can not take the place Of Gods own
system Of educating the soul and
moulding character and uplifting the
fallen The Divine place is the redemp-
ton OF the fallen by the ~benignant
work of God IN the soul by the opera
ton of n Holy Ghost and the cleans
ing power of the blood of Jesus Christ
which cleanseth from all sim" The
Messenger says give education to all
the children. but DO not build for eter-
nifty upon that foundation-do not stop
with the earthly schools whether high
or low. There are thousands of the
very foremost scholars and men OF
science In our own land and many more
i'm Europe, who are any thing else than
representatives of the highest develop
ment OF the human soul under the
mighty touch. so transforming. purify
ing, ~efevating, sanctifying, Of the Fling
err Of God. There are probably in North
Carolina a. thousand teachers who are
as ignorant OF the Divine life In the
soul-"Christ In you the hope of glory"
-as the heather in any land or under
any sun How can d teacher impart
what he does not know. An educated
man without the light Of he Cross and
a personal knowledge Of the Son Of Coz
by faith, Is as blind as a bat to the
higher, greater, grander things that
crncern an immortal being. Let US
have the best schools and the best all
round teachers possible. Make educa-
ton something more thar culture. than
asdeveloping of aesthetic taste, than a
mastery of the natural forces tha
the mere gathering "of the vast stores
Cd knowledge Train the children for
the best living here. for a life or use
fuiness, Of sobriety. OF virtue n IN
dustry. and help them TO build for eter-
nifty. "It is not all of life TO live.
Nothing earthly, nothing utilitarian,
nothing material ever yet or ever cam
take the place Of the Book of books