ON SECULAR EDUCATION.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 821, 20 September 1877, Page 3

ON SECULAR EDUCATION.

Slb,— l had intended to have written a | few lines upon another topic, but the conduct of our rollers is so extraordinary that I am unable to re iat the impulse constraining me to pen a few thoughts upon the importance of a religious versus a political government. | Happy the people who live under a religious government Is not thin our high privilege. How zealous our rulers are for- the propagation of the fnith and 'or the honour of the divine law. In their esteem, human laws for the correction ot abuses or for the improvement of the condition of the people are rot to be compared m value for a moment with the religious instruction of the people — who can fail to, appreciate the motives of men ao'disintehiHted,' who' regard neither plnce nor paj,, but aim onlj to 'promote the interests of the -people. Do iot they dispiny all the virtues of the Book for wh'ch they contend so earnestly, . wuo docs not admire their love of truth -Burely the charges -which they prefor one against another must be false. Forbid it holy charity that we should think that all men are li'»ra— shall we not praisb their ireekness. With what calmness they deliberate, with what gentlenesg they speak, with what, self control they argue. Btgal m their place, power, and pay, and raised so far above us, we ennnot but look up to them as our example worthy of all imitation, teaobing us to understand the nature of true patriotism nnd shewing us how we should submi' ourselves to all kinds of wrong for public good. Do they n't preach to us Baying, murk our wisdom, it it directing us for your benefit to secure by the very best means the very best ends — Listen to our words Demosthenes and Cicero combined, could not rival ri«. Behold our manners co blanri, so courteous so kind. Accept our exertions, are they not the fruits of much Btudy and patient preparation. If the maxim is true "like priest like people," is it not equally true that rulers are the reflex image o* a people. To ordinary minds the picture, is not pleasing and the prospect painful. We fear that our great men m their zeal for the Book forget its preceipts. '" Blessed are the meek. Ren« der to all their dues. Wherefore laying aside all malace and evil speaking. Love as bre<hren, be- pitiful and courteous."

It is a well established fact that religion has a i way 8 suffered most from the bands of i«s professed but false friends, who h< nour it with their lips but smite it wi'h their handc From the days of Constantino the great warrior, but most meddlesome pedant, until the days o' witty Charles the Second, and down to our own day the ruh -r« of this world have meddled with religion to their own hurt and to the gref of good men. In the first place they have done it to please a party and by it* aid to secure their own power Then they have made a cat's paw of the Church to pounce upon the mics who gnaw away the mashes of the net *hich keeps truth a prisoner.. What does it matter that the consciences of si me are wounded, if power can be retained and the many plea «?d.

The Church would never have had the power to persecute if ii. had not been for the help of the Ciown, the sword of the State has been drawn fo smite or to alaj the innocent, to gratify a ruling priesthood, or a superstitious people. The Chnrch condemued, the Civil power txe* cuted its di -drees Whin the auto da Fe whs celebrated m Spain the ecclesiastical judge or judges, handed >>ver the delinquents 'o tlie joeticcof the mv gist rate to be puniebi-d, with bland words begging the executioner to deal mercifully with tbe delinquents. A Bible imposed by a State legi lature prompts the .fear of any other Book deemed religious, and sanctioned by the majority being imposed by like autbori'y to create divisions acd to stir up stiifes. In either case the V l ™* ciple is the samr, aod if a righteouß principle) ought to be carried out to its utmost limits. I will not quote Latin, but you know the line : "I fear the Greeks when they bring their presents." Insert the thip edge of the wedge and. v^ii.b sufficient mechanical ' power you can cleave the hardest og. Our advice to our Legisla* •urea is, be religious, but do not attempt >o rule consciences and souls.

In conclusion allow me to say I would that we were all agreed, that we were of one mind, that we could with one purpose teach not only all the cbidren, but all people to be religious —.Yours, &o, J F M. September 14th, 1877.