very glad to have the Association ignore, as it has hitherto done. We come together not for the purpose of being driven further assunder, but for the purpose of being drawn together and assimilated by the free interchange of paternal thought. I think that whenever the Association departs from that policy, and undertakes to pass resolutions by mere majorities, upon matters with regard to which the wisest minds still pause and hesitate, we shall lose our whole power of moral influence, and our dignity will have gone. It has been upon this principle, I believe, that hitherto, whenever this question has been brought up, as at Newark, and at Pittsburg, the subject has first been freely and frankly talked about and then, the resolution itself passed by, laying it upon the table, or disposing of it in some other way, without intending any possible disrespect to the Bible, but simply on account of our firm conviction that it is not the province of this Association to enter into a question of that kind. MR. W. H. WELLS, of Massachusetts, said, that he believed no one had yet spoken from his state; and if any part of the Union might be sensitive with regard to the exclusion of the Bible from the schools, it would be Massachusetts. Yet, he did not believe that Massachusetts would desire the Convention to pass a resolution here, requiring the reading of the Bible, when there might be questions in various quarters as to the expediency of such a resolution. For one, he would be perfectly satisfied with the moral effect of the discussion which had taken place, if it should be reported. That would accomplish all that could be accomplished by passing resolutions, and he believed it would be satisfactory to every section of the country. He believed that all were agreed, that moral and religious instruction ought to be given in our public schools. He should prefer to leave the whole matter to the teacher. PROF. AGNEW, said, that having given away to Bishop Potter last night, and afterwards been prevented from making any remark, by the previous question being called, he thought it due to himself to explain his position. His views had been so clearly expressed by Bishop Potter, that he should almost be satisfied to adopt that as sufficient explanation. He wished it to be understood that he was not opposed to using the Bible in the schools. He used it constantly in his own instructions, and should be glad if all could do the same. But he did not consider the question as settled There might now be a quiet calm; but soon the storm and the earth quake might be upon us from this very question. He could not there fore consider it wise to enter into the question, and to attempt to pass either of the resolutions; for they could not agree upon any of them. He would therefore move that the further consideration of the whole subject be indefinitely postponed. The motion was rejected ; On motion by Mr Scott, the resolution, (with the amendments,) was laid upon the table. |