Jón Bjarnason Academy - 01.05.1935, Page 16

classes in their night school 43 are conducted by university
graduates. Education alone does not keep a man out of prison.
Statistics from some years ago show that the United States
spent $3,500,000,000.00 in criminal apprehension and prosecu-
tion. That is far more than all gifts made for benevolent and
religious purposes. I think it would have been economy, if
half that amount had been expended for the extension of the
Kingdom of God. We do not believe, however, in state-supported
religious institutions. Christian education is dependent on
the benevolent spirit of the members of the Christian church,
and I am sure that the results more than justify the effort
put forth or the money expended.
Who can estimate the wholesome influence and the bene-
fit accruing from our schools—supported by true Christians?
Not only the nation and the church, but also the home and the
individual reap the harvest. Our Christian schools radiate
the spirit of Christ,—the spirit of truth and righteousness,
love and peace, brotherhood and service. They are the fore-
runners of civilization and progress.
I am for the Christian school with all my heart and all my
soul. I want the Christian school to be both Christian and
collegiate. I do not want either element diminished. The
only excuse there is for the church school is the religious one,
—to teach youth religiously. Not merely to tolerate a religious
attitude. Not merely to place about students a code of con-
duct. I believe in the Christian school, in full collegiate meas-
ure, to lead our youth intellectually, with religious emphasis.
Not to tether a single impulse to investigate. Not to pull down
any curtain before the exploration of any truth. Not to close
unanswered any question they may bring. But let it lead
youth religiously. Let education and religion walk hand in
hand.
If Christianity cannot live in the presence of the open
mind, it cannot live at all. If Christianity cannot meet our
youth in fearless leadership and guide them into every avenue
of research where truth can be traced, then it cannot hold
their interest or allegiance and should not aspire to do so.
The progress of Christian faith in the world can never he
found in any system of qualified learning that would com-
promise the idea of free inquiry.
Christianity has only led the world as far as it has,
because it has had no fear of the truth. We must challenge
our youth with the call of the open mind. Youth need not
close one window to the truth in following Christ. Truth
and God are never in collision. God is truth—and there is
no trail of truth which, if honestly followed, can lead away
from Him. If we have a God who is to be rescued and kept
secure in His place by little folks such as we are, then we
have lost a God to worship. Religion walks right along with
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