St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-10-18
FOR NATIONAL REFORM.
A Series of Meetings Here Last Week
Instructive Discussions of Vita
Topics.

Importance u luC IulSSilIy VI IhS
national life were discussed in a very
instructive manner.
On Wednesday afternoon Rev. DR.. T.
P. Stevenson of Philadelphia, general
secretary OF the association, spoke on
1.-THE Bible in the Public Schools" He
said at the outset that this had not as
yet become living issue in Vermont,
but there are five states in which the use
of the bible in the schools is forbidden
not by reason of the law itself, but
through the Interpretation of law by
school authorities; and three other states
in which the Bible is ruled out OF the
schools simply by general usage. There
is no state in the Union where the law
definitely forbids its use, but school
superintendent and boards have seen ut
to so interpret the statute as to bar out
the Bible. This condition of things pre-
walls in every great city west OF Cincinnati,
and general tendency in that direction
has set in, to be checked only by earnest
action and sound reasoning. In Danish
ing the Bible from the schools we go far
toward banishing everything that the
Bible stands Tor from all places IN the
nation.
Mere secular education is partial and
detective. A child does not 60 to school
in sections, but as whole-moral nature
and all. Conscience is immeasurably'
more important than any other faculty,
because it is regulative. Neutrality is
impossible in the work of education, as
between religion and unbelief. The child
looks up to the state as great institu-
ton; he sees that the state considers re-
ligious ideas as of no Importance as the
rule OF it's government and does not
teach the child concerning God and his
law; this is positive education in atheism.
How can language, history, morals
and other branches be taught aside from
the idea of God? Must the soul of
child be stricken with mallet every
time it rises toward lnhnity?
Secular education does not meet the
needs of a nation. The public school is
established by the state for the needs of
the state. The boy is in line for service
in four different functions-as voter,
witness, a juror, an office bearer. Intel.
ligence and conscience are needed in all
these, and the highest grade of prepara
ton should be made by the state to
equip its citizens for these functions. The
speaker emphasized the sense of religious
obligation involved in an oath of tealty,
and said the lack OF knowledge of God
makes such an oath valueless.
The secular scheme of education is con-
trary to the spirit and genius of our
American institutions. 1t is a modern
invention. "What you would have
appear in the life of the nation you must
put into the schools" He pictured the
results of neglecting to teach in the
schools anything about our republican
principles as nation, and as parallel
case asked how long we should continue
to be Christian nation if nothing at all
was taught concerning religious ideas.
DR.. Stevenson earnestly commended that
the use of the Bible and what it stands
for in the public schools was not, in any
sense, open to criticism as a tendency
toward the union of church and state.
At the Wednesday evening meeting Rev.
Geo. Mead of Lyndonville spoke very
earnestly concerning the evils of divorce
and the remarriage of divorced persons.
especially as regarding the effect upon
the children of parties divorced. He uged
the need of uniform laws on this subject
and uniform course of action by clergy
men in this particular. He emphasized
the sacredness OF the nuptial VOWS, and
stoutly maintained that violations there.
OF should not be granted so easy abso
luton as was now possible by law. He
maintained that in most cases divorce
was sought as an opportunity for re-
marrying, and cited case in st. Johns
bury where a divorced party was mar
ried again within an hour and hall
after being freed by decree of court. He
said it was forty times easier to get di.
vorce in this country than in Great
Britain.
DR.. Stevenson took up the subject o.
Polygamy and how to suppress it, and
make strong plea for the awakening O
the public conscience in this regard. HI
referred to the Christian family as the
foundation Of the republic, and the dan
ger which threatened it by the rise o
polygamous practices. Utah had beet
admitted to the Union only on condition
that this practice should be, barred GU
by her state constitution, and she hat
pledged herselfthereto; yet the pledge ha
been ignored. Reference was also made tt
the proposed amendment now under con
slderation by congressional committee
making polygamy crime in every stat
and subject to penalty involving tn
forfeiture of citizenship; and at tn
speakers suggestion steps were taken b
. the meeting to memorabilia congress
DR.. Stevenson incidentally paid tribut
to Senator Geo. F. Edmunds of this stat
!. for his efforts towards the suppression {
e polygamy.
On Thursday morning Rev. D. c. Fari
of West Barnet discussed THE Mora
Accountability OF Nations" holding tina
, nations are accountable because the
have to deal with moral persons; tina
e God gives each nation its own place an
: defines its limits; that God gives his con
mands to the nations; that he appointe
( judges in Israel ia order that his con
= mands might be entorced that b
l Furnishes nations for national sins; tina
t he expects nations to punish its either
e who commit crimes; that he punished
!. nation tor the unpublished crimes OF il
citizens. Mr.. Faris elaborated on thes
e points in helpful way and backed thel
up by numerous citations from scripture
I'M