SCIENCE IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. 457 



must have advocates without judges we shall get at truth much faster 

 and with greater certainty if at least we hear both sides. Let clergy- 

 men be appointed to professorships relating to their calling. Then 

 they are in their place. Let them also be represented in boards of 

 government; but to give them any longer the controlling power either 

 in faculty or among trustees, or in the presidential office, is to inter- 

 pose the most effectual means to arrest progress in higher education, 

 to defeat the healthy growth of intelligence, and to dwarf and shrivel 

 the characters of the students, who ought to receive from such institu- 

 tions a thoroughly enlarging and ennobling influence. 



If this seems ungracious, as doubtless it will to some, it must be 

 insisted, with courtesy, indeed, but with firmness, that a necessity ex- 

 ists for reducing the too extravagant claims of the clerical profession 

 to authority by reason of their office. They consider that their po- 

 sition, as representatives of a higher power than man, makes their 

 anger righteous, and renders opposition to their declarations impious. 

 Hence they attack with great vigor and often vituperation, but, if the 

 objects of their wrath turn in self-defense, the rain of anathemas is 

 increased tenfold ; and should it happen that they are worsted in the 

 conflict, they begin to cry out that they are persecuted! Now, patience 

 is a virtue, and ought to be exercised ; it is the weak rather than the 

 strong who are intolerant ; but surely people who claim more than 

 they are entitled to must not expect that their claims will be recog- 

 nized. Much less, when their demands for respect involve the stop- 

 page of progress in knowledge and inquiry, can they reasonably an- 

 ticipate acquiescence. Clergymen often complain of the increasing 

 lack of deference shown to their order by the laity, while they bitterly 

 lament their very conspicuous loss of influence. Reflection, however, 

 ought to make the causes plain to them. The simple truth is, that 

 they have latterly been growing to be of less value to the community. 

 Many, indeed, are most excellent and useful members of society, and 

 such do not fail of receiving full recognition. But, on the other 

 hand, many are obstructionists to the advancement of civilization. 

 And it must be said, also, that far too many are substantially paupers. 

 They are supported by the community's earnings, and give nothing in 

 return. They do not even express thankfulness for what they receive. 

 If offered a crust of bread, they cry out for the best the table affords, 

 and threaten the good housewife if they do not get it. TJntil they 

 become moral and intellectual producers, they have no right to con- 

 sume. If, therefore, when they are rebuked, they think those who 

 rebuke them to be arrogant, in justice they must be plainly reminded 

 of their situation. Clergymen must neither ask immunity from criti- 

 cism because they are clergymen, nor must they expect to dominate 

 the educational sphere through any " inherent sacredness " of their 

 profession. If they attack, they must not complain if they are at- 

 tacked. If they think more highly of themselves than they ought to 



