The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-01-10
THE RELATION BETWEEN
EDUCATION AND RELIGION
DR. J. VIM Finn Chaplain of South Carolina College, Re
Views History of Institution from Standpoint of
Greed and Devoutness-An Able Sermon.

thought no system Of education com
1Slete which neglected the great con.
Germ OF religion" and in the college
records from time 10 time We find ap-
,oropriations OF money for the purchase
Of psalm books for chapel use. The
old college diploma breathes a solemn
and lofty religious spirit in the sonor.
bus words: "Omnibus has literas per.
iecturiS salutem in Domino senpeiter-
Nam" Chapel worship was abolished
more than once in the history Of the
college and afterwards restored. 4
large proportion Of the college profess
sorS both in the early and in the later
days, have been ministers belonging tc
some one of the evangelical churches
Both in the presidency and in the pro
fessorships the four leading denomina-
tions of the State. the Baptist, the
+! Episcopal, the Methodist and the Pres
byterian. have been we'll represented.
A remarkable episode in the religious
life Of the college is found in connec-
tion gith the presidency Of DR.. Thomas
| Cooper. who served as president from
1s21 until 1884. How man holding the
unfriendly beliefs which he cherished
with regard 70 the Bible and Christian
ity could have been made president OF
the college Of a State whose citizen
!
mystery. This is no time or place to
discuss DR.. Cooper's character or to
weigh his learning and his intellectual
power. On these subjects men differed.
But the end came at last. His cause
was fully heard before the legislature.
The final result of the hearing was that
he was removed from the presidency
and from the college. The whole State
i was aroused. The rejection of DR..
| Cooper meant that South Carolina can
trust no man TO be a guide and edu-
Gator Of youth who is a foe to the
Christian religion. Fhey affirmed their
faith that religious belief is one of the
necessary qualifications for a teacher S
Office.
| The vital connection between relig-
ion and education in the conduct of the
college was further emphasized by Gre
ating the chair of sacred literature and
Christian evidences and making the in
cunbent of this chair the chaplain of
the college, charged with the duty of
giving religious instruction to the stud
ents. The first man thu. filed this
chair was the gifted and sanity
Stephen Elliott. who served from 1885
to 1910 and then was made bishop Of
I Georgia.
DR.. James H. Thornwell, the match
less teacher and president, the remark
able genius. scholar and orator, was
the next incumbent Of this office.
Through these men and their success
sors in later years pure and undefiled
religion has been preached to the youth
of the State. Through them and their
colleagues and the influence of the
board, and the Young Mems Christian
association (organized in 1889 Chris
tian influences have pervaded the COL
! lege. and in the words of DR.. LaBorde,
"a noble literary institution has en-
blazoned upon it's portals the signifi-
cant inscription, the Christians God is
alone to be worshipped in these
walls -'.
The Honor System.
In the very beginning Of the history
of the college the honor system of stud
ent control was established. This sys-
tenn makes its appeal to the sense of
honor and duty implanted in the
breast Of every young man. 1t appeals
to his pride and self respect to be brave
and true. Supreme regard is paid to
the honor of the student, and of the
college, whose reputation is put in the
keeping Of the student body. The con-
troll of the student body is sought. not
by inquisitorial proceedings, not by a
system of espionage, not by the testi-
mony and stories of others, but by the
promptings Of honor, leading every
student to tell the truth about any
charge brought against him. he stands
or falls by his own testimony. In the
words of the bylaws: The rewards
and punishments of this institution
j shall be addressed to the sense of duty
shame" However proud and grateful
South Carolina college may be of the
name and fame. the scholarship and
achievements of it's alumni and profess
sors, it cherishes as it's most precious
jewel the spirit of honor that has ever
characterized the institution. The fruit
Of this spirit is profound respect for
the rights and the personal dignity OF
ones fellow students. The logical out
come Of the principle is not only de-
fense of ones own dignity and honor,
but indignation for another's wrong as
deep and sincere as if inflicted on the
man himself. Naturally, cherishinS
this spirit of personal honor, the stud
ents of South Carolina college lead the
institutions of the world in formal
condemnation of hazing by resolution
adopted in 1893, in these words: Re
solved, That the members of the senior,
Junior and sophomore classes DO most
ennphaticaliy condemn the practice OF
haZing, and are determined to do all
in their power to prevent the practice
in the future" Truly. this attitude is
an exemphfcetion of the golden rule
and the great ethical maxim of Hegel,
BE person and respect others rs
persons Nj,
A Venerably Bylaw.
Outside Of Holy Writ know of notf-
ing in the literature of ethics or religion
that .bre"tLsS a loftier spirit than the
following su,enn and stately bylaw
published from year to year IN the
college catalogue:
"OHenceS are any acts, omissions or
habits unfavora bic to the peculiar du-
ties of student. or Incompatible with
, the obligations of morality and rels-
ION. and inconsistent with the pro
prlety, deeorum. or courtesy Whlch
should always characterize gentle
man. AS the end of the college is to
train body of gentlemen in knoWi-
edge, virtue, religion and refinement.
, whatever has a tendency to defeat
this end, or is inconsistent with 1t.
shall be treated and punished as an
: oftense, whether expressly mentioned IN
the laws or not. The sense Cf decency'
proprlety and right, which every non
,, orable young man carries in his own
bosom, shall be taken as sufficient
: means of knowing these things, and ne
VINO pleads ignorance in such matters
is unfit to be a member of the college.
Inc board expects and requires the
stuoents TO maintain the character OF
|. Tenneo and elevated Christian gentle-
!. men. 1t would be ashamed OF any man
: VINO would excuse breaches OF moral
lty' proprlety, and decorum. on tne
: pea that the acts in question are not
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