Haeralis
Puritan Board Freshman
Recently, I've been reading through various essays in the Booker T. Washington papers and I have been so impressed at this man's understanding of the role of Christianity in education. I thought you all would appreciate the great truth that Washington communicates.
"The men doing the vital things of life are those who read the Bible and are Christians and not ashamed to let the world know it."
"In this utilitarian age when hands and minds are so largely occupied with things material—with that which seeks for shelter, food and clothing we are tempted as educators to forget the end and mistake the means for the end to be attained. Some of us seek to make a skilled hand, to give practical knowledge of agriculture, to give a technical and scientific knowledge that will enable one to help supply the immediate wants of the body—that will not only enable one to make himself independent by supplying himself with this world's goods, but will put him in a position to administer to the material necessities of his fellows. All this is well and most praiseworthy, but this is not the end of education— to provide the stomach, to fill the pocket, to shelter the body, but pave the way to that far off and higher purpose... studies are but instruments to lead our pupils up, up into that higher atmosphere of truth, virtue, love and unselfishness and higher still till they learn to lose themselves in service for others and it can be said of them as of the great Teacher: "They went about doing good." This, fellow teachers, I consider the true end of all education. Oh, my co-workers, let us not degrade our calling by considering that our mission is merely to cram the mind with facts or to fit our pupils to pass an examination, to give ability to earn a living or to make them skilled in the tricks of trade. No, ours is a higher, nobler mission than any of these—the formation of a Christ-like character."
"All education, whether obtained through the medium of the song; whether through the medium of the hammer; whether through the medium of Caesar; whether through the medium of the Bible; whether through the medium of the laboratory—any form of education—means not the end, but a MEANS TOWARD REACHING THE END in education. What is the end —what is the end at which all education should aim? Whether of hand or head or heart, whether that obtained in the industrial school, or the high school, the manual training school, or the college or the university—the great END should be the MAKING OF STRONG CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. Without that, all education is meaningless —without that all education is, in a degree, valueless! I believe that if we would make the best of education—if we would use it as a tool in the perfection, in the advancement of human character in the direction to which I am referring, regard must be had as to the emphasis which we must place upon these various kinds of education; emphasis in proportion to the use—the opportunity that there is for the use of these various kinds of education.
No man's life is really complete until he owns a Bible that is part of himself. One of the most valuable lessons I ever learned at this institution was the value of the Bible. For the first time in my life I had put into my hands a copy of that book which I could call my own. And ever since I have possessed that Bible. No matter how busy I may be and no matter how many responsibilities crowd upon me, I never have let a day pass without taking my Bible and reading a chapter or at least a few verses. It is valuable from an historical and a literary point of view; it is more valuable from a spiritual point of view. This morning I read from the tenth chapter of Luke the story of the Good Samaritan. You remember how the other fellows acted when they saw this unfortunate individual across the street, wounded and helpless. The Good Samaritan went to him and took care of his wounds. That did not impress me a great deal. Any individual with a heart in him would have done that. Anybody with human feeling seeing a human brother in misery would have gone there and done what he could to relieve his pains and heal his wounds. The Good Samaritan did two other things which were not his duty. He performed more than his duty. Man does not deserve credit for doing his mere duty. The Samaritan did two other things before he left the helpless man. He took out two pence and gave them to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay you." Add the extra two pence of labor in the classroom or wherever you can and you will find that you will succeed. The world will be looking for you, instead of your looking to the world for service.
"Those who obey laws which God has given us for the guidance of our moral conduct are not left without their reward. Show me a man who is prosperous and happy through a long series of years in his business life—one who is held in high esteem in the community and I will show you one who is truthful, honest and virtuous. He who lives for himself alone, sows to himself, makes his own comfort, his own gain the first and last consideration, will not reap happiness, but wretchedness and uneasiness instead. On the other hand one who gives himself to others, bears their burdens, reaps a reward in [the] form of happiness that is beyond the comprehension of the selfish... What is true of morality is true of religion. Draw nigh unto Me and I will draw nigh unto you, says Christ. This is the law and it runs all through religion. When we find ourselves drifting away from Christ, growing cold, indifferent, luke-warm, it is the effect of not living up to the standard laid down by Christ—it is the effect of neglecting our private devotions and the reading of our Bible. Let me leave this thought, if we would live happily—live honored and useful lives—lives modeled after that of our perfect leader—, Christ, we must conform to law—learn that there is no possible escape from the punishment that follows the breaking of law. Growth in this direction cannot be completed in a day, but let us make one supreme effort to begin growing in the direction of conformity to God's laws. We must not become discouraged if we do not see ouselves growing. As Prof. Drummond says, "All great things grow noiselessly. All thorough work is slow. All true development is by minute, slight and insensible degrees... What we want to be sure of is that there is constant growth each day we live—growth out of self into the lives of others; growth out of our lower nature into a higher; growth out of our animal nature into the rational; growth out of sloth and indifference into industry and application; growth out of sensuality into purity; growth out of a luke-warm life into the true warmth Christian living; growth into faithful serving and Joyous reaping; growth towards "One God, one law, one element, And far off divine event To which the whole creations move."
"The men doing the vital things of life are those who read the Bible and are Christians and not ashamed to let the world know it."
"In this utilitarian age when hands and minds are so largely occupied with things material—with that which seeks for shelter, food and clothing we are tempted as educators to forget the end and mistake the means for the end to be attained. Some of us seek to make a skilled hand, to give practical knowledge of agriculture, to give a technical and scientific knowledge that will enable one to help supply the immediate wants of the body—that will not only enable one to make himself independent by supplying himself with this world's goods, but will put him in a position to administer to the material necessities of his fellows. All this is well and most praiseworthy, but this is not the end of education— to provide the stomach, to fill the pocket, to shelter the body, but pave the way to that far off and higher purpose... studies are but instruments to lead our pupils up, up into that higher atmosphere of truth, virtue, love and unselfishness and higher still till they learn to lose themselves in service for others and it can be said of them as of the great Teacher: "They went about doing good." This, fellow teachers, I consider the true end of all education. Oh, my co-workers, let us not degrade our calling by considering that our mission is merely to cram the mind with facts or to fit our pupils to pass an examination, to give ability to earn a living or to make them skilled in the tricks of trade. No, ours is a higher, nobler mission than any of these—the formation of a Christ-like character."
"All education, whether obtained through the medium of the song; whether through the medium of the hammer; whether through the medium of Caesar; whether through the medium of the Bible; whether through the medium of the laboratory—any form of education—means not the end, but a MEANS TOWARD REACHING THE END in education. What is the end —what is the end at which all education should aim? Whether of hand or head or heart, whether that obtained in the industrial school, or the high school, the manual training school, or the college or the university—the great END should be the MAKING OF STRONG CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. Without that, all education is meaningless —without that all education is, in a degree, valueless! I believe that if we would make the best of education—if we would use it as a tool in the perfection, in the advancement of human character in the direction to which I am referring, regard must be had as to the emphasis which we must place upon these various kinds of education; emphasis in proportion to the use—the opportunity that there is for the use of these various kinds of education.
No man's life is really complete until he owns a Bible that is part of himself. One of the most valuable lessons I ever learned at this institution was the value of the Bible. For the first time in my life I had put into my hands a copy of that book which I could call my own. And ever since I have possessed that Bible. No matter how busy I may be and no matter how many responsibilities crowd upon me, I never have let a day pass without taking my Bible and reading a chapter or at least a few verses. It is valuable from an historical and a literary point of view; it is more valuable from a spiritual point of view. This morning I read from the tenth chapter of Luke the story of the Good Samaritan. You remember how the other fellows acted when they saw this unfortunate individual across the street, wounded and helpless. The Good Samaritan went to him and took care of his wounds. That did not impress me a great deal. Any individual with a heart in him would have done that. Anybody with human feeling seeing a human brother in misery would have gone there and done what he could to relieve his pains and heal his wounds. The Good Samaritan did two other things which were not his duty. He performed more than his duty. Man does not deserve credit for doing his mere duty. The Samaritan did two other things before he left the helpless man. He took out two pence and gave them to the innkeeper and said, "Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay you." Add the extra two pence of labor in the classroom or wherever you can and you will find that you will succeed. The world will be looking for you, instead of your looking to the world for service.
"Those who obey laws which God has given us for the guidance of our moral conduct are not left without their reward. Show me a man who is prosperous and happy through a long series of years in his business life—one who is held in high esteem in the community and I will show you one who is truthful, honest and virtuous. He who lives for himself alone, sows to himself, makes his own comfort, his own gain the first and last consideration, will not reap happiness, but wretchedness and uneasiness instead. On the other hand one who gives himself to others, bears their burdens, reaps a reward in [the] form of happiness that is beyond the comprehension of the selfish... What is true of morality is true of religion. Draw nigh unto Me and I will draw nigh unto you, says Christ. This is the law and it runs all through religion. When we find ourselves drifting away from Christ, growing cold, indifferent, luke-warm, it is the effect of not living up to the standard laid down by Christ—it is the effect of neglecting our private devotions and the reading of our Bible. Let me leave this thought, if we would live happily—live honored and useful lives—lives modeled after that of our perfect leader—, Christ, we must conform to law—learn that there is no possible escape from the punishment that follows the breaking of law. Growth in this direction cannot be completed in a day, but let us make one supreme effort to begin growing in the direction of conformity to God's laws. We must not become discouraged if we do not see ouselves growing. As Prof. Drummond says, "All great things grow noiselessly. All thorough work is slow. All true development is by minute, slight and insensible degrees... What we want to be sure of is that there is constant growth each day we live—growth out of self into the lives of others; growth out of our lower nature into a higher; growth out of our animal nature into the rational; growth out of sloth and indifference into industry and application; growth out of sensuality into purity; growth out of a luke-warm life into the true warmth Christian living; growth into faithful serving and Joyous reaping; growth towards "One God, one law, one element, And far off divine event To which the whole creations move."
