THE MORAL LAW IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
By G.
The organ of the National Reform Association advocates the placing of the Ten Commandments on the walls of the public school-rooms. Ostensibly this would be a laudable purpose. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Therefore no legitimate pains should be spared to make known God’s will in all places, that the creatures of His hand may know how to “give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name.” But the people who are advocating this disposition of the commandments of God are also teaching the people that one of the commandments does not mean what it says. Now if the pupils should be told that the fourth commandment, which says that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord,” does not mean what it says, would it be surprising if they should imbibe the notion that some of the other commands meant something else? If told that men had changed the fourth commandment, might they not logically conclude that they had just as good a right to change or ignore the other commands? Suppose, too, that a zealous, conscientious teacher should undertake to enforce the entire law upon the school as a matter of arbitrary discipline (and many of them would), the good purpose would as really be frustrated as though he were an unbeliever (as many of them are), and should take occasion to belittle the law of the Lord. The Ten Commandments are unobjectionable anywhere, and may do good anywhere, if allowed to be their own interpreter—if the Spirit of God be allowed to make the impression of the Word. For, after all, the law of God is of practical benefit to individual character only as it is received in the heart. G.