Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-07-03

90 without reHglOuS SANCTION, tnat M
man is thoroughly good until the RICH
commands his will by its own inheren
majesty.
1t might seem that the religious
spirit has served its purpose in educa
ton, and is no longer needed to furnish
objects of inquiry or to stimulate
achievement. The children of faith
appear to have reached manhood, ant
to be entirely competent to &C
their own way. Law is established
and men can 60 on perfecting govern
ment and social usages by the princi-
piles of justice already established
The love of beauty will continue tc
lead into ever fairer artistic expression
Limitless fields appear on the horizon
in every physical science, boundless
opportunity for investigation and dis
covery, and the heart of man can be
trusted not to flag in the pursuit of all
that is worthy and good.
Unless all signs of the times deceive,
religious organizations are destined to
have less and less to do with educa-
tional effort. Sectarianism in educa-
ton has met its certain doom. The
broadcast fact in educational history in
recent years is its increasing secular
cation, using that word in no deroga-
tory sense. In the Middle Ages the
Church did all the educating, and the
monks were the only school-masters.
The first universities were as much
religious institutions as the cathedrals
which grew at their side. All our
early American colleges, in their in
ception, were religious enterprises.
When the clergymen of the New Haven
colony gave their books for the found
ing of college, they but created a
symbol of the religious spirit with
which from the first American educa-
ton has been permeated. But very
gradually and very steadily the Church
has gone out of the educating business.
The clergyman has retreated into the
background in educational endeavor.
The older colleges, built by godly min
listers, which have met with largest
favor, have lost most of their religious
manner. The institutions lately
founded through religious enterprise
are often small and feeble, struggling
in competition in narrow territories,
while by their side Universities Of large
equipment, with which the cleric has
had little to do, are steadily over
topping them. On the surface at
least it looks as if our colleges had
forsaken the mother which bore them,
and, while recognizing religion as an
innocent enjoyment for those who are
inclined thereto, depend no longer
upon the religious motive.
But, in the meantime, the facts of
our human nature have not changed.
We are still creatures of desire, per-
meated with the ineradicable convic-
ton that happiness and blessing are
our right, and pressing on therefore,
despite the tragic experiences of all
our fathers from the beginning Of time,
to some far haven of peace and quiet
ness, where the weary are at rest.
We are still held irresistibly to upward
striving; to stop it were to leave off
the very quality of manhood. We
may never desist our struggle for
assurance of permanence and personal
worth in this world of tempssts and
earthquakes, before which our powers
are as the futter of an insects wing
in the roaring of the storm. These
facts and forces are to be counted on,
as blunt, unacceptable realities, impel-
ling us to deeds.
Now, in the region Of personal values,
the industries and arts in which our
expanding science has busted rs are of
small avail. The knowledge Of things
can not assure the triumph Of the
spirit. 1t is the veriest trxisu to
declare that mans appetite for bless
ings can not be satisfied with material
goods. Though l speak through the
sound waves of the upper aether,
though ] even journey through its