2G
BYMrOPlUM.
.VOL VIII,
changes arc covered by outward con form,
ity. After material changes have been,
mude by legal fiction the civilian says,
"Behold the law still remains unchanged."
So when sceptical criticism has forced
the Church to conform to the spirit of the
age, the advocate of creed still cries out
"Emlcm! Eadcm!!"
It is curious to notice that of synchro,
nous events the cause is frequently mis
taken for the effect, and the client for the
cause. In no case has this error lead to
more important results than in the con
sideration of religion and civilization.
The usually simultaneous existence of a
purer religion ami a higher civilization
has misled many to assign the former as
the caussc of the latter. Yet I think no
one conversant with the facts can resist
the conclusion that it has been the prog
ress of civilization, the exhaltation of the
natural above the supernatural(if I puiy
use the cataclucsis)that has purified and
idealized rel'gion. It has been the refin
ing influence of advancing civilization
that has taken from religion its gross and
sensuous character so revolting in the
ceremonies of early times.
Scepticism is a relative term and in
one age is applied to principles which in
the next are received as orthodox. The
most sacred faith of one age frequently
becomes the subject of ridicule in the
next. The "brilliant but dangerous in
fidel" of one generation becomes the
"benefactor of mankind" to their children
Thus has scepticism, the unconquerable
momentum of mankind, pushed forward
our civilization and in turn our civiliza
tion has moulded and purified our rclig
ion Of all the gems that brighten the crown
of our godess of liberty, we prize none
higher than the freedom of the press
and the freedom of worship; the former
wc owe to the sceptics of England, the
latter to the sceptics of America. Elkve.
SYMPOSIUM.
SHOULD OUlt COLLEOE3 DISCAItD TIIEMAUK
INO SYSTEM ?
I.
We are sure that every student is more
or less interested in this matter, having
at several times, perhaps, questioned the
soundness and practicability of the sys.
tern. In our opinion it may well be ques
tioned in these respects.
It is not only unsound, but impractica
ble. To substantiate this, wc need but
mention the various methods in use to
settle the exact standing of a student. All
most every instructor has a plan of his
own. One marks the general success or
failure of each recitation; another judges
from the student's general ability: a
third marks every mistake against tlio
student, no matter how small a one it is,
and so, in a large class, the time is pret
ty well occupied in marking mistakes.
Perhaps the student is pcrfecth; fiunil
iar with his subject, but for the time can
not recall the phrase or word, and so ho
is marked down, and that little mistake is
recorded against him for others to notice.
But another consideration, and that is
this. Instructors have difiercut grades.
Some always have their classes graded
from nine to ten on a scale of ten, while
witli others it is equally complimentary to
the pupil to stand from eight to nine, or
even less; so that a student may pass in
a study under one professor with a stand
ing of eight, when under another iiistruc
tor the grade might be nine and five
tenths, although he may actually be do
ing no hotter.
And now. The most faithful students
do not always recite the lies'. One with
a glib tongue may show himself to a bet
ter advantage than another, even when
the gist of the los&ou is not so well un
derstood. Tlii? last point is the most im
pnrtaut. How well u student succeeds in
educating himtsolf, how well he knows to
Si
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