Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-09

Of the noon-tide sun. What tragic evil
is wrought when, instigated by a sec
ular scholasticism, he Is moved to des-
ecrate and despon such sacred founda-
lions, and departing from them, choose
for himself the impoverished life of q
religious nomad. wandering amid the
shifting sands Of parched desert OF
barren creedlessness and sheltered by
nothing better than an unsubstanttal
tent of faith which he pitches in some
new spot at the close of every passing
day!
Mr.. Hill suggests a peculiar peril
which besets students in secular insti-
tutions where they are out of reach
of the guiding hand of pious parents
and have no one by to supply the guild
ance which they need so sorely. He
says most truly, TOO many young peo-
pie are sent to the non-sectarian schools.
They begin to read books that they do
not understand. No one is by to guide
them, and they gather great many
ideas which lead them astray."
A youth enters college at that critical
period in life when habits are being
formed, opinions are being contracted,
and when as yet he mas little or no ex-
perience to instruct him and warn him
of the pitfalls and dangers OF the way.
At that moment of peril he finds him
self deprived of the safeguards or
home and surrounded by circumstances
that allure the intellect into delusive
paths and betray the will into hayward
courses. 1t is all important that at
such a time the most pronounced re-
lfgious influence and the most whole
some moral restraint should be brought
to bear upon him, and above all other
institutions the UNCONVENTIONAL college
is best prepared to furnish such saw
Ting influence and exert such restraint.
When youthful passion is at dts flood
and the controlling power of the home
is Withdrawn, or at best operates under
the disadvantage of distance, a youth
needs to live and study in the tonic at
mosphere and under the helpful govern
ment and inspiring instruction Of a pos
itfvely christian school. Even in de-
nominationaI college dangers to his
moral life can not be wholly removed.
bat in such an institution those dam
gers are reduced to a minimum.
In view of all these considerations the
colleges of the churches deserve to be
cherished and supported by all who love
God and care for the welfare or our
country and the moral security Of the in
telligent youth of the land. They neither
expect, ask, or desire financial aid from
the government, state or federal. In
Georgia their endowments are taxed, and
thus they are made to contribute to the
support of the secular institutions which
are maintained by appropriations drawn
from the state treasury. .Such policy
of taxation is neither wise nor just. 1t
is a disgrace to the commonwealth. The
iamented Walter B. Hill denounced it as
ian ubiquitous window tax laid on the
windows of the soul" He spoke none
too strongly against it. 1t is an embargo
on learning and a burdensome tariff i'm
posed on institutions that build charac-
ter. 1t was foisted on Georgia surrepti-
tiously through an unsupported and
speciously worded section of the consti-
tuition of 1877, and it has been perpetual
ed by a pitiful minority of pettifoggers
in the legislature, who though few have
been able to prevent the broad-minded
men of the majority from submitting to
the people a constitutional amendment to
repeal this ubiquitous window tax laid
on the windows of the soul" These pet
tifoggers know very well what the peo-
pie of Georgia would do If they were
given a chance to vote on the subject.
But they have been able to defeat the
will of the people and to damage chris
tan institutions for 30 years. How long
will Georgia endure them and their
shameful device of taxing the windows of
the soul?