River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-12-08

" M y reach and convert the edu-
NNMLX Gated class of people be-
allies the church can claim
IN the future are the educated people,"
declared Rev. A. Watson Brown, pas
tor of the Fountain street Baptist
church of Grand Rapids, Mich. He de-
clared that the church has strength in
direct ratio to the amount of education
the people at large have. I
There is a widespread belief that
religion and education are antagonis-
tic. or, at least, unrelated departments
Of life" said Rev. Mr.. Brown. Certain
exits from the Bible are wrenched
from their connection and quoted as
roofs of this separation.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth. The spirit Of Christianity is that
Of self-improvement. Everything that
enlarges and enriches life, that in
crease the powers, that clarifies the
vision and sharpens the judgment and
elevates the tastes Is vital part of
our religion, for 1t determines cur atti-
tude toward God and the world, and 1t
determines the amount of service we
can render to the cause for which our
lives are devoted. When religion and
ignorance are welded, fanaticism is
the offspring. Divorce religion and
education and religion becomes super
stition, while education becomes inf
deity.
Education Is a Passion.
''The desire for education has come
to be passion in America. A few
weeks ago there was witnessed the
march of an army more mighty and
magnificent than any whose stately
tread has disturbed the peace of en-
pires since the first Eonqueror led forth
his savage horde. 1t was the march
of 100000 children from their homes
to the schoolhouses of our country.
They bore no arms and obeyed no gen
eral, but they hold within their power
the destiny Of our great nation. In 20
years this army will be the ruling pow
er of our national life. They will man.
age our great railroads and corpora
tons. They will sit in the halls of
state and determine the policies of our
republic. They will be the leaders of
thought and action-making our litera
ture, leading our churches and building
our cities
when we look at the educational
question in this way it's Importance
overwheims us. 1t is staggering. Can
any public question compare with it?
The work Of the schools is to lead TO-
100000 savages through barbarism to
civilization. Is such work anything
but 1ligious?
Individually, each scholar is receiv-
ing something of incalculable value.
An. education Is an asset of which no
man can rob him. 1t gives him influ-
ence and power. An unframed boy or
girl stands but one chance III 10000
of being an influential factor in the
worlds work. A high school education
increases the chances for influence 50
times, while college education in!
creases them over a thousand times.
Need of Conscience Training.
But schools and education are not
without their critics. 1t Is said thai
modern training exalts brilliance and
cleverness ct the expense of solid
worth and honesty; that it breeds q
desire, not for unself1sh service, bui
for a soft snap; that it is superficial
impractical and irreligious.
Much of this criticism comes from
expecting too much from the schools
but the leading educators recognize
that, as a recent resolution of the Ma.
tional Educational association put it,
the next great advance in school life
of this country must be to put con-
science training decisively above mind
training When we recall that the
great crimes of today are not the re-
suit Of ignorance, but Of perverted
shreWdness, we are reminded that a
knowledge of mathematics or litera-
ture or the sciences will not make hon.
est men. The men that wreck our great
financial concerns, that bring shame to
our government by bribery and cor
rupt practises, are not wanting in in
| tellectual training. There were, a few
years ago, in Joliet prison 200 college
bred men and only 119 illiterates.
True Religion Is Not Taught.
"As remedy it is proposed that re-
ligion be taught in the schools. This
is easier proposed than practised. True
religion is not taught. 1t is caught. 1t
Is a matter of life, not of formal creed
and catechism. Some principles could
and should be taught, but a studr of
ethics does not bring honor and self
control and inspiration to the heart
This comes only from personal conta-
sion. We can lift the moral tone of
the schools by exalting the office of
teacher. There is little incentive for
strong men to enter the teaching pro
fession. The salaries are miserably
| low. The average salary for a teacher
Is s340 a year, while the average an
nuai income for day laborer is $3.50.
But education must not be confined
to the schoolroom. The church and the
r. 9 must not ehirk their responsible
ties. The Bible school is the only place
where many children learn of the BIZ
BILE. which has more influence on his
tory than any other book. A child Is
entitled to know what is contained In
this great book. The public schools
cannot teach it withouT arousing bitter
controversy. The home seems to have
forgotten it's teaching function. The
church must put its best energy and
thought in the fundamental work of
building the character OF coming ma
ton"