soil of nature is the task of the teacher, whether such teacher be parent, guardian, Sabbath-school instructor, or teacher in the common school. What care, what prudence, what tenderness, what assiduity, is requisite to this task, they best know who have accomplished it. How much encouragement and inspiration for their work they have drawn from the Bible and from prayer they know, and how blessedly the influences of both have descended upon the young hearts committed to their care the success of their work proclaims.

In the great majority of our communities where the custom is observed, the reading of an appropriate scripture-lesson, or the offering of prayer by the teacher, as introductory to the daily exercises of the school-room, or at the close of school each day, is unanimously approved. In some communities, however, the custom mentioned is not unanimously approved, but seriously and strenuously objected to by those who profess to entertain sincere and conscientious scruples upon the subject. In communities where the custom enjoys the sanction of universal public opinion, its observance should by all means be attended to, and the children of the school duly exercised in habits of prayer and attention to the word of God. But in communities where a combined opposition is made to the use of the Bible in the daily exercises of the school, and to prayer by the teacher, and where such opposition proceeds from conscientious scruples so strong and unyielding as to occasion either a serious disturbance in the school during the exercises of devotion or a withdrawal from the school of a large portion of the pupils, the case assumes a more serious aspect, and requires deliberation.

Our government is one of religious toleration, and guaranties to every citizen the enjoyment of the rights of conscience. The public school is an institution founded by the state, and its privileges and benefits are secured by law to all classes of citizens alike, irrespective of political or religious differences of opinion. Could the state provide for the religious education of the young in the common school as fairly and impartially as it provides for their intellectual culture, policy would dictate the enactment of laws for that purpose, and provisions would now exist in the law for the spiritual teaching of its whole minor population. But any legislation on the subject of religious education in the common school must encroach upon the most sacred rights of the citizen, and any laws enacted for that purpose would be repugnant to the spirit of republicanism, and violative of the great principle of religious toleration which underlies our system of government. Besides, such legislation would be impracticable. To appoint a course of religious instruction conforming to the tenets

of any particular denomination or sect would be equivalent to the establishment of a state religion an act equally in violation of the constitution and at variance with the wishes and interests of the people. To enjoin a system of public religious instruction which would accommodate the opinions and feelings of all would be impossible. To partition the public funds by pro rata distribution among the dif ferent sects, to enable each to support its own school and teach its own system of faith, would lead to such an absurd attenuation of the fund that it would prove practically non-efficient for any purpose whatHence, and for other reasons, the law proposes no plan of religious education in the common schools.

ever.

In other states, whose laws regulating common schools are similar to our own state law in respect to the matter under consideration, the question of religious education in the schools has been determined upon grounds of expediency, in a manner which I will immediately show, by quotations from authoritative sources.

In the State of New York, the Supreme Court has decided that "teachers may open and close their schools with prayer and the reading of the scriptures, provided they take care to avoid all controverted points or sectarian dogmas."

Hon. John C. Spencer, of New York, while acting as Superintendent of Common Schools of that state, said "Prayers can not form any part of the school-exercises, or be regulated by school-discipline. If had at all, they should be had before the usual hour of commencing school in the morning, and after the hour of closing school in the afternoon. If any parents are desirous of habituating their children to thank their Creator for protection by night, and to invoke his blessing on the labors of the day, they have a right to place them under the charge of the teacher for that purpose. But neither they nor the teacher have any authority to compel the children of other parents, who object to the practice from dislike to the individual or his creed, or from any other cause, to unite in such prayers."

Hon. John A. Dix, a distinguished jurist of the same state, has expressed the following opinion: "The teacher of a school may open it with prayer, provided he does not encroach upon the hours allotted for instruction, and provided the attendance of the scholars is not exacted as a matter of school-discipline."

Hon. Henry S. Randall, as Superintendent of Common Schools of New York, wrote as follows: "The position was early, distinctly, and almost universally, taken by our statesmen, legislators, and prominent friends of education-men of the warmest religious zeal, and belonging to every sect, that the instruction in our public schools should

be limited to that ordinarily included under the head of intellectual culture, and to the inculcation of those general principles of morality in which all sects, and good men belonging to no sect, can unite." "This decision has been acquiesced in without a murmur, by the whole religious public. The intelligent religious public have felt that there was no middle ground between religious instruction strictly so called in our common schools, and the broadest toleration."

Hon. Anson Smyth, while State Commissioner of Common Schools of Ohio, said "I do not see why the teacher may not be permitted to pray in his school, if he avoids all sectarian dogmas, and does not improperly consume time. But the teacher should not insist

on this privilege, nor should the local directors grant it, in cases where it would create dissatisfaction in the district, or induce a portion of the inhabitants to withdraw their children from the school, on account of sincere conscientious scruples upon the subject."

These opinions and decisions are predicated upon the fundamental idea which is recognized in them all of the sacred and inviolable rights of conscience. If this principle, which is theoretically inwrought into the national and state constitutions of our country, is to be practically respected and deferred to; if constitutional obligations have not utterly lost, in these times of relaxed obedience to law, all their sacredness and binding force; then must the doctrine be abided by that the conscience of the citizen is sacred, and can not be offended by any policy of state or edict of office, with the sanction of the law and the constitution. If the principle be ever admitted (in our forgetfulness of constitutional guaranties to the citizen) that the rights of conscience must give way before the will of the majority, and a corresponding practice attain, then will the breach be opened through which the bitter waters of sectarian fanaticism will force their way, and the last vestige of religious toleration and the rights of conscience will soon be swept away before the angry and desolating flood.

Intolerance of opinion is the great public besetting sin of the age. Publicly encouraged, and indulged and fostered in narrower eireles, it tyrannizes over free mind without scruple or hindrance. Opinions no more go forth, with high, elastic tread, free and unbound, as in the better days, but tramp slowly along, weighed down with the fetters of inquisitorial power, or pine in dungeons, as in the days of the mar

*The decision referred to by Mr. Randall is that of two eminent jurists', in which it is held that "prayer is inadmissible as a school-exercise, in schoolhours, when seriously and conscientiously objected to by any portion of the inhabitants of a school-district."

tyrs. The present is not a time to lend influence to the encroachments of overgrowing and overgrown proscription to strengthen the hands of those who would oppress because weakness can make no successful resistance. Rather is it a time when the voice of defense should be lifted up for the great principle of toleration in state and church protection to the citizen in the enjoyment of every civil and political right, and freedom to worship God, without let or hindrance, according to the dictates of conscience.

To sum up my opinion, I say, upon the right and expediency of introducing religious exercises into the common school, that—

When the exercise is not objected to by persons having religious scruples upon the subject, and when conducted upon catholic principles, the Bible should be read in our common schools, and daily prayer be offered, either by the teacher, or by the reading in concert of the Lord's prayer by the whole school.

When sincere and conscientious scruples are entertained against such devotions by persons whose children attend the school, such religious exercises should not be held during school-hours,

STATE TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

I desire, through the medium of the state press, to call public attention, and particularly the attention of teachers, to the late call for a state meeting of the teachers of Illinois, issued by President Edwards, of the Normal University. The object of this meeting is, as stated in the call, "to hold a Teachers' Institute at the Normal University, beginning on Monday, August 1st, 1864, and coutinuing four weeks, provided seventy-five teachers will promise to be present." The meeting proposed in this call is the second of a series of State Institute meetings for teachers, which it is hoped will be continued at annual intervals as long as we have a system of common schools to maintain. The first state meeting of teachers for mutual improvement was held at the Normal University during the latter part of the month of September and the first week in October last, at which time only fifteen teachers, out of nearly sixteen thousand who are actively engaged in teaching public schools in this state, were present. Notwithstanding the small attendance at the State Institute last year, President Edwards has determined to persevere in the good work for teachers, which was commenced with a view to their improvement in the profession of teaching. It will be observed that the holding of the Institute in August next is conditioned upon the attendance of seventy

*

five teachers. I appeal to the teachers of the state for a general and hearty response to the present call, and sincerely hope that many more than the stated number will attend the meeting in August, and avail themselves of the excellent instructions in the art of teaching which will be given in the course of drill proposed in the programme.

The time fixed upon for the meeting of the State Institute is certainly most favorable. Occurring about the close of the vacation period, and just before the commencement of the fall term of school, the occasion seems to be a most suitable one, as preparatory to the active duties of the teaching-year, which opens soon after the adjournment of the Institute. Teachers who are aiming at success and excellence in their profession surely will not permit so favorable an opportunity of improvement to pass without availing themselves of the rare benefits which an attendance upon the meetings of the Institute will secure.

It is desired that all the teachers in the state who can be present at the Institute will communicate immediately with President Edwards, at the Normal University, pledging their attendance. No expenses will be incurred during the session of the Institute, but for board, which can be obtained in the vicinity of the University for $3.00 per week.

I respectfully request newspapers throughout the state to publish

this circular.

JOHN P. BROOKS, Sup't Public Instruction.

By a notice in this number of the Teacher it will be seen that it has been decided to hold the Institute.- PUBLISHER.

MATHEMATICAL DEPARTMENT.

CONDUCTED BY S. H. WHITE, OF CHICAGO. (P.O. BOX 3930.)

EXAMINATIONS.-To insure the complete mastery by the pupil of the different portions of a study, it is necessary that frequent tests be applied, in the shape of examinations. For this purpose there is an advantage in occasionally presenting a list of questions which have not originated with the teacher. In giving instruction, every teacher looks upon a study from his own peculiar stand-point, and has his own methods of presenting it. The mind is trained according to his cer