The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1904-01-07
TRUTH HITS HARD
Lofty Motives Bring Good Results
Common Religion Retarded

In his address at Aberdeen Or. Jas
Chalmers made an eloquent plea for
the saving Of the wayward in the
schools and cited Illustrations where
a well trained teacher, prompted by
lofty motives had changed what
seemed to be hopeless cases into valu-
able citizens.
This is along the same line with a
sermon recenti, delivered at Clark by
Rev W l. Meinzer, an ex-student Of
the S. q. A. c.. who took his text
from Prov. 22:6 Train up child in
the way he should 90; and when he is
old he will not depart from it "
Rev MeinZer'S sermon is well
worth reading and the REGISTER re-
grets thai u has not the space TO re-
publish it The foundation of this
sermon is based on the frightfui mur-
ders committed 10y four young men IN
Chicago recently. After dwelling on
that tragedy Mr.. Meinzer refers to
the public schools as follows;
"In the second place, let me speak
about the public schools. We have
become so liberty-lovlng, SO infatuated
with the idea of our religion. freedom
that we have eXpunged all religion
and morality from our public schools,
and in so doing we are sowing the seed
which will bring TO US a harvest OF
dire disaster.
The Catholics object TO having the
Bible read or having prayer offered in
the public schools because it is Prof.
estant Bible that is read and a Prot
estanU teacher that offers the prayer.
The Protestants. on the other hand,
Of course, object TO having Catholic
Bible read or Catholic prayer offered.
The result is that in this great Chris
tian republic, with all its Christian
civilization, there is not the least
suggestion of religious or moral train
ing in our public schools. The CathO-
lies remedy this to some extent by
means OF their parOchial schools, to
which their children are sent part
OF the time white they are withheld
from the publo schools. Now, my
friends, is there not some religion that
is neither Protestant nor Catholic?
Is there not religion of humanity
in regard to which all good men OF
whatever creed or church can agree?
Do not both Protestants and Catholics
believe that there is a personal God
who is the creator Of the universe!
And even the agnostics do not deny
that there may be a personal God, al
though they claim that we have no
reliable way Of knowing about him
except through nature. Then can we
not all agree to TO teach our children
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for the great
First Cause, however we may con
ceive of that First Cause, or 10y what
ever name we may call Him: reverence
for the government Of our country
reverence for parents: reverence f"I
everything that is good and pure and
noble"
Fright here ! wish to pay my com
plimcnt to the mothers who neglect
their own homes TO do public work
We are told that the mother Of Var
Dine was the leader Of an organization
to keep boys from the saloons. n
wonder her own boy became a murder
er, have never known mother whl
went running about making speechc,
and doing other public work whose
own children were not the most de
generate children in the community
In the women who leave their homes
and 60 running around the country
making speeches for temperance
wOman's rights, or whatever it may
be, | have not particle OF faith
Not only have | no faith in them, but
have no respect for them. The only
feeling | have toward such women is
one OF contempt. The cause they re-
present may be good, and for the
woman that chooses TO lead single
life the work il proper enough, but
whenever a mother comes around to
lecture sensible people ought to stay
at home and not flatter the silly crea-
ture by their presence. Oh. my God,
give US a nation filed with mothers
who have common sense and Cody
characters and devoted hearts, and we
will raise up a generation of men,
who, like the Spartans Of old, will be
invincible for truth and right and
God"
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