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At a meeting of the
The day of meeting designated was Wednesday the 12th instant.
Upon signifying my inability to be present on that occasion, the board kindly suggested that I might be heard in writing.
I proceed therefore to state my views accordingly.
At a meeting of the trustees held at
It was unanimously agreed at that time after a full discussion of the subject that both faculty and students should conform to the college rules in relation to chapel service, and a resolution to that affect was entered on the minutes.
Since that period I heard of no complaints on the score of Chapel service, until
the last meeting of the board held at
It prays, if I remember correctly, for an exemption from attendance on divine service at the College Chapel, on Sunday of all students who signify their desire in writing, if of age, to be thus exempt for the purpose of attending religious services elsewhere — and also of those under age whose parents or guardians signify the same thing in writing for them.
I consider the ordinance requiring attendance on chapel worship an excellent one. It has operated advantageously to the institution, I learn for sixty years, and as a police regulation simply, is almost indispensable, to its government and prosperity.
But if this police regulation can be carried out as effectually to the students and as easily to the faculty by permitting a portion or all to attend divine service elsewhere, than in the College Chapel, I should think there need be no objection to such an arrangement.
The alteration might be made, and if it does not work well, the trustees might abolish it at any time & restore the ancient order
If it is well known to the faculty that all the students attend religious service
at about 11 oclock in the forenoon somewhere in the village of
There are considered to be at this time four churches in Chapel Hill with regular
pastors, viz.
One advantage in this arrangement perhaps would be to make those members of the faculty, who were ministers, and whose turn it might be to preach to the students, to bestir themselves a little and endeavor to deliver such interesting discourse as to prevent their hearers from leaving them to sit under the ministry of others.
The course of religious instruction, given by way of preaching publicly in the college chapel on the Sabbath, has no doubt been very proper & free from what might be termed sectarian bias. Ministers of different persuasions officiate there, and alternate, and no apprehension need be entertained, that an improper sectarian turn will be given by the public ministrations on that arena.
The great danger of sectarian bias is to be found in the recitation rooms of the
Bible Classes. Where the professor is surrounded by his pupils only and feels
called on to explain the Sacred text
With my own convictions of its impropriety, I should feel willing to have it
dispensed with entirely; but I prefer leaving the question for the present with
those gentlemen, members of the board, who have passed through a college course
in our
The object of the Bible Course, is I understand, to impart a historical knowledge of that Sacred Book only and not to interfere with those religious tenets that divide the Christian world.
But it is quite apparent to the board, how readily the occasion of hearing a
Bible Class, might be embraced by a very zealous professor to give the
recitation such a turn as to enforce on the minds of his pupils the
Most of the Christian denominations have religious schools of their own; to these they may send their sons, for that kind of religious instruction, which they desire them to receive; and no one else has any right to complain of such a course.
But our
I object to the Bible course for the following reasons, viz.
1st In order to obtain a distinction on the Bible, it
requires about two hours hard study on each Sunday; which I conceive to be
rather a profanation than an observance of the Sabbath.
2d Because a compulsion to study the Bible without
veneration and love for its truths, is repulsive to the mind. In such case the
student is apt to place it on a level with his other text books, and loathe it
more than any other. And when the restraints of College life are withdrawn, he
is apt to close his bible, with the purpose of never opening it again. In this
way it is probable that more infidels than Christians are made.
The Christian Religion is a thing of persuasion not of coercion, and the mind must first be impressed by a supernatural power, before it can readily receive and properly appreciate the Sacred and Sublime truths of the Bible.
3d Because such religious impressions and doctrinal
instruction as the preceptor could impart to the student might be very
exceptionable to the mind of his parent or guardian.
But as I said before, I do not propose to press this question now against the
wishes of any member of the
I think it important, however, that the
I feel assured from information received entitled to my belief that such has been the case; I trust the occurrence has
been seldom however, and hope it may never be repeated.