THE 



POPULAR SCIENCE 

 MONTHLY. 



AUGUST, 1889. 



THE SPIRIT OF MANUAL TRAINING. 



By C. HANFORD HENDERSON, 



PBOFESSOB OF PHYSICS AND CHEMISTBY IN THE PHILADELPHIA MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOL. 



AN observant foreigner once said of America, " I found prog- 

 ress in everything except in their schools and churches." 

 One must take with a grain of allowance the impressions of for- 

 eign tourists. They are solicited so importunately by the objects 

 of the senses that they fail, as a class, to appreciate the real sig- 

 nificance of American institutions. But there was, nevertheless, 

 not a little truth in this brief criticism. The schools and the 

 churches have not kept pace with the march of events. Perhaps 

 one notices them straggling the more, because of all institutions 

 they are supposed to be the most jealous guardians of the interests 

 of humanity. Yet in hundreds of communities the land over the 

 masses of the people are but half persuaded of the utility of the 

 one, and treat with increasing neglect the ministrations of the 

 other. While these protestants against our current scholasticism 

 and ecclesiasticism were few in number, their complaint attracted 

 little notice. Now, however, that their ranks are grown to large 

 proportions, a deep importance attaches to the question as to 

 whether these institutions are, or are not, properly fulfilling their 

 functions. 



The hand of Destiny never seemingly pointed with more un- 

 erring certainty to an impending change than it does to-day as it 

 stretches out toward the school and the church. The office of the 

 teacher and the office of the priest are passing the review of a 

 thoughtful public sentiment. Of the failure of the Church to 

 justify her proud title of " the institute of humanity " little need 

 be said. But, however imperfect one may regard her present min- 

 istrations, he can scarcely withhold his affection from an insti- 



TOL. XXXY. — 28 



