The American Monthly Magazine

who wish to try an experiment at education without the Scriptures; but it can be done only in opposition to the experience of our ancestors, as well as to the great principle which was so powerfully and disinterestedly urged upon the French government by the philo. sopher Cousin, after his investigation of the system of education in Prussia, and by them adopted as the corner-stone of their system of national education.

A manly defence of some of the grounds on which the immediate and universal use of the Scriptures in schools should be urged, has been recently made in the legislature of New-York; and surely a society which advocates popular education, holding a meeting in the ancient capital of Connecticut, would be inexcusable if it should fail to re-echo the cry with decision and approbation: for the law of Connecticut colony, by which town schools were established, expressly states that the primary object of their foundation was, to secure the general reading of the Word of God.*

The reports from local Lyceums have always been listened to with great interest, and those which have been accumulated by the society will ever form a valuable part of its documents. Many of these it has not been found possible to publish; but they can never lose their value, as they present a variety of plans, devised for various circumstances, but for the promotion of similar useful objects, with their results, frequently accompanied by suggestions founded on experience, and of course worthy of attention.

And here it may be proper to remark, that reports from members are of double value when committed to writing, as they may then be recorded, published, and circulated.

*The following is the law of the colony of Connecticut referred to. It is in the first edition of the Statutes, printed in 1672:

"It being one chief project of Satan to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times keeping them in an unknown tongue, so in these latter times by persuading them from the use of tongues, so that at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded with false glosses of saintseeming deceivers; and that learning might not be buried in the graves of our forefathers in church and colony, the Lord assisting our endeavours:

"It is therefore ordered by this Court and the authority thereof, that every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those who order the prudentials of the town shall appoint: Provided that those who send their children be not oppressed, by paying much more than they can have them taught for in

other towns.

"And it is further ordered, That in every county town there shall be set up and kept, a grammar school for the use of the county, the master being able to instruct youths so far as they may be fitted for the college."

The "college" referred to is "the college at Cambridge." Provision had been made by law for the maintenance of scholars at this institution as early as 1644, not indeed from the public treasury, but by contributions under the direction of the government.

Additional provisions relating to schools, providing for their support and regulation, appear on the records occasionally, between the revision in 1672 and 1696, The Scotch era.

The seven past annual meetings have occupied three days each, generally including evening sessions or lectures. They have been attended by gentlemen from most of the states of the Union, many of them distinguished and able advocates of education. Numbers of these, and of others of the same character who have not appeared in person, have furnished labored and able essays on appropriate subjects, chiefly assigned by the Executive Committee; many of which, after being read, have been published, and gratuitously circulated by hundreds in separate pamphlets, or have enriched the pages of respectable magazines. Most of those which have been printed, may be found, either in part or in whole, in past volumes of the Annals of Education, and several in the American Monthly Magazine. A number of others, well worthy of a general perusal, remain in the hands of the Executive Committee, in consequence of the want of funds necessary for their publication.

But it is desirable that it should be borne in mind, that one of the first objects which the Lyceum has in view, in all its plans and measures, is the incitement of good men to active labors. So far as this may be attained by the present meeting, so far will it be regarded as successful; and if it fail in any degree to attain this end, so far it may perhaps be considered as held in vain.

There are many associations in this state such as are embraced in the broad definition of Lyceum, viz. library companies, reading, debating, literary, and scientific societies. Some of these will be recognized by persons present as the source of much benefit. But there is room, and there are opportunities here for a much wider diffusion of the spirit of association for public improvement.

Those who are acquainted with the various obstacles to such plans as ours, which abound in other countries, even in the most enlightened of Europe, must unite in admiring the facilities which are offered in a state of things such as exists in Connecticut, where general intelligence, equality, and regular habits so far prevail, as to present a tempting field for the display of the true energy of a system of general co-operation for the advancement of knowledge and virtue.

THEODORE DWIGHT, JUN.,

1st corresponding Secretary of the American Lyceum.