Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-16

Meade, of Virginia declared with ref
erence to their effects, II can truly say
that then, and for some years after, in
every educated young man in Virginia
whom / met l expected to find a scep-
tic, if not an avowed unbeliever." He
affirmed that the College of William and
Mary, which had been founded in relig
| ious motives and for Christian ends as
its first charter showed, had become 1.-THE
hot bed of French politics and infidel-
! ity." Yale College had succumbed to
the same evil influence, and when in
1895 the great Timothy Dwight came to
I the presidency of the institution he found
IT in the most wretched condition as to
both faith and morals DR.. Lyman
Beecher who entered the college as a
student about that time said 1t was in
a most ungoldly state" and he adds,
most of the class before me were inf
dels, and called each other Voltaire.
Rousseau, D'Alembert, ETC." Our nation
/ can never pay the debt 1t owes to DR..
| Dwight for the warfare he waged against
! infidelity in Yale College during all the
| years of his presidency. He drove it
/ from Yale and his saving influence ex-
| tended to other institutions. He might
! be called in some sense the saviour OF
! his country in that perilous hour.
Washington in his Farewell Address"
lamented the moral conditions which he
saw around him, and he warned his coun-
; trymen against the dangers of ire
/ ligion and infidelity. Manifestly he was
! aiming his words at current conditions,
; then so threatening to all that was good,
wien he said, 'Of all the dispositions and
habits which lead to political prosperity.
religion and morality are Indispensable
supports. In vain would that man claim
! the tribute of patriotism who would Ia
bour to subvert these greatest pillars of
human happiness, these firmest props
of the duties of men and citizens. The
mere politician. equally with the pious
man, ought to respect and to cherish
them. volume could not trace all
| their connections with private and pub
| lie felicity. Let it be simply asked,
where is the security for property, for
reputation, for life, If the sense or re-
ligious obligation desert the oaths, which
| are the instruments of investigation in
Lour courts of Justice? And let us with
caution indulge the supposition that
morality can be maintained without re-
ligion. Whatever may be conceded TO
the influence of refined education on
minds of peculiar structure, reason and
experience both forbid US to expect that
national morality can prevail In exclu-
sion of religious liberty"
It is not surprising that the Father OF
his country was alarmed. Some of the
most conspicuous leaders of the political
thought of that period were most ag-
gressive in their opposition to all Things
religious. General Dearborn, who was
the Secretary of War in the administra-
ton of President Jefferson, on one occa-
sion In alluding to the Churches sald'
$50 long as these temples stand, we can
not hope for order and gooo govern iI,,
ment" Washington in his Farewell
| Address" traversed with purpose ana
emphasis such vicious sentiments De-
cause he saw the need Of sounding
/ note of alarm.
The General Assembly of the Presby-
| terian Church in 1898 bemoaned the sltua-
! ton in these words I'VE perceive with
pain and fearful apprehension general
| dereliction of religious principles and
F, practice among our fellow-cltzehs' Vlsi-
! BILE and prevailing impiety and contempt
/ for the laws and institutions of religion,
and an Astounding infidelity. which IN
MANY instances tends to atheism ITSELF
The profigacy and corruption of the pub
! lie morals have advanced with a progress
proportionate to our declension in relig-
ion Profaneness, pride, luxury, injustice,
! intemperance, lewdness, and every species
of debauchery and loose indulgence great
lly abound"
Behold to what lengths the evil leaven
which was working among the educated
classes operated to the corruption OF prl-
vate and public morals among all classes!
1t affected the whole life of the nation
and threatened even the stability of all its
social and political institutions
! l have dwelt at length upon the eff
feet of educational Institutions in order
that / might warn our people against
powerful effort which certain very as
, tute men, backed by millions of money,
are now making to capture and con-
| troll our colleges and universities,
While we sleep they work.
An educational trust is formed and is
| operating to control the institutions of
| highest learning in the United States,
| and to dom~Iate especially the colleges
and universities of the South