Education on the frontier.

 How is it possible that Americans had a higher literacy rate in the frontier days than it does now?   Stephen Mansfield explains in his intriguing book Lincoln's Battle With God.

We should remember that the early English settlers in the New World left England accompanied by fears that they would pursue their "errand into the wilderness" and became barbarians in the process. Loved ones at home wondered how a people could cross and ocean and live in the wilderness without losing the literacy, the learning, and the faith that defined them. The early colonists came determined to defy these fears. They brought books, printing presses, and teachers with them and made the founding of schools a priority. Puritans founded Boston in 1630 and established Harvard College within six years. After ten years they had already printed the first book in the colonies, the Bay Psalm Book. many more would follow. The American colonists were so devoted to education--inspired as they were by their Protestant insistence upon biblical literacy and by their hope of converting and educating the native--that they created a near-miraculous culture of learning.
        This was achieved through an educational free market. Colonial society offered "Dame schools, " Latin grammar schools, tutors for hire, what would today be called "home schools," church schools, schools for the poor, and colleges for the gifted and well-to-do.
We should remember that the early English settlers in the New World left England accompanied by fears that they would pursue their "errand into the wilderness" and became barbarians in the process. Loved ones at home wondered how a people could cross and ocean and live in the wilderness without losing the literacy, the learning, and the faith that defined them. The early colonists came determined to defy these fears. They brought books, printing presses, and teachers with them and made the founding of schools a priority. Puritans founded Boston in 1630 and established Harvard College within six years. After ten years they had already printed the first book in the colonies, the Bay Psalm Book. many more would follow. The American colonists were so devoted to education--inspired as they were by their Protestant insistence upon biblical literacy and by their hope of converting and educating the native--that they created a near-miraculous culture of learning.
        This was achieved through an educational free market. Colonial society offered "Dame schools, " Latin grammar schools, tutors for hire, what would today be called "home schools," church schools, schools for the poor, and colleges for the gifted and well-to-do. Enveloping these institutions of learning was a wider culture that prized knowledge as an aid to godliness. Books were cherished and well-read. A respected minister might have thousands of them. Sermons were long and learned. Newspapers were devoured, and elevated discussion of ideas filled taverns and parlors. Citizens formed gatherings for the "improvement of the mind"--debate societies and reading clubs and even sewing circles at which the latest books from England were read.
   The intellectual achievements of colonial America were astonishing. Lawrence Cremin, dean of American education historians, estimated the literacy rate of the period at between 80 and 90 percent. Benjamin Franklin taught himself five languages and was not thought exceptional. Jefferson taught himself half a dozen, including Arabic. George Washington was unceasingly embarrassed by his lack of formal education, and yet readers of his journal today marvel at his intellect and wonder why he ever felt insecure..It was nothing for a man--or in some cases a woman-- the learn algebra, geometry, navigation, science, logic, grammar, and history entirely through self-education. A seminarian was usually required to know Greek, Hebrew Latin, French, and German just to begin his studies , instruction which might take place in a log classroom and on a dirt floor.
        This culture of learning spilled over onto the American frontier. Through pioneers routinely moved beyond the reach of even basic education, as soon as the first buildings of a town were erected, so,too.were voluntary societies to foster intellectual life. Aside from schools for the young, there were debate  societies, discussion groups, lyceums, lecture associations, political clubs, and always, Bible societies. The level of learning these groups encouraged was astounding. the language of Shakespeare and classical literature--at the least Virgil, Plutarch, Cicero, and Homer-- so permeated the letters and journals of frontier Americans that modern readers have difficulty understanding that generation's literary metaphors. this meant that even a rustic Western settlement could serve as a kind of informal frontier university for the aspiring.
Enveloping these institutions of learning was a wider culture that prized knowledge as an aid to godliness. Books were cherished and well-read. A respected minister might have thousands of them. Sermons were long and learned. Newspapers were devoured, and elevated discussion of ideas filled taverns and parlors. Citizens formed gatherings for the "improvement of the mind"--debate societies and reading clubs and even sewing circles at which the latest books from England were read.
   The intellectual achievements of colonial America were astonishing. Lawrence Cremin, dean of American education historians, estimated the literacy rate of the period at between 80 and 90 percent. Benjamin Franklin taught himself five languages and was not thought exceptional. Jefferson taught himself half a dozen, including Arabic. George Washington was unceasingly embarrassed by his lack of formal education, and yet readers of his journal today marvel at his intellect and wonder why he ever felt insecure..It was nothing for a man--or in some cases a woman-- the learn algebra, geometry, navigation, science, logic, grammar, and history entirely through self-education. A seminarian was usually required to know Greek, Hebrew Latin, French, and German just to begin his studies , instruction which might take place in a log classroom and on a dirt floor.
        This culture of learning spilled over onto the American frontier. Through pioneers routinely moved beyond the reach of even basic education, as soon as the first buildings of a town were erected, so,too.were voluntary societies to foster intellectual life. Aside from schools for the young, there were debate  societies, discussion groups, lyceums, lecture associations, political clubs, and always, Bible societies. The level of learning these groups encouraged was astounding. the language of Shakespeare and classical literature--at the least Virgil, Plutarch, Cicero, and Homer-- so permeated the letters and journals of frontier Americans that modern readers have difficulty understanding that generation's literary metaphors. this meant that even a rustic Western settlement could serve as a kind of informal frontier university for the aspiring.

Dredging the River

When we lived out in Washington state we were told that in the past the Nooksack River was dredged so that it would hold more water and not keep overflowing it's banks.
Spurgeon used this picture as a wonderful metaphor for suffering:

 "He is digging you out; you are like an old ditch, you cannot hold anymore, and God is digging you out to make more room for more grace....The spade will cut sharply, and dig up sod after sod, and throw it on one side.  the very thing you would like to keep shall be cast away."

Peace Makes Rich

What a gift peace is -- peace with God, peace with our conscience, peace with our fellow man.
Matchless gift, this peace.    The absence robs food of flavor, robs shelter of warmth and robs labor of satisfaction.

"Charge your conscience....."

Owen takes seriously the battle against sin.   Doing so, he maintains, requires us to weigh seriously the holiness of the law:

Bring the holy law of God into your conscience, lay your corruption to it, pray that you may be affected with it.  Consider the holiness, spirituality, fiery severity, inwardness, absoluteness of the law, and see how you can stand before it.  Be much, I say, in affecting your conscience with the terror of the Lord in the law, and how righteous it is that every one of your transgressions should receive a recompense of reward.  (page 103, Overcoming Sin and Temptation edited by Justin Taylor and Kelly Kapic)

One great tool to this end is the Westminster Larger Catechism in its section on the law of God.  If you are as prone to self-righteousness as I am, this may aid in the cure.

The Power of Panting

Today I struck gold while reading Overcoming Sin and Temptation by John Owen (get the one edited by Kelly Kapic and Justin Taylor, Crossway publishers).  Actually every time I read it I strike gold. One of the best veins yet.Under the heading Constantly Long and Breathe After Deliverance from the Power of Sin, Owen says:

Longing desires after anything, in things natural and civil, are of no value or consideration, any further but as they incite and stir up the person in whom they are to a diligent use of means for the bringing about the thing aimed at. [To translate, longing for an ice cream cone is of little value unless it compels you to get your wallet and drive out to the DQ.] In spiritual things it is otherwise.  Longing, breathing, and panting after deliverance is a grace in itself, that has a mighty power to conform the soul into the likeness of the thing longed after. 

Further he says:

Strong desires are the very life of that 'praying always' [Luke 21:36] which is enjoined us in all conditions, and in none is more necessary than in this; they set faith and hope on work, and are the soul's moving after the Lord.

And as a warning:

Assure yourself, unless you long for deliverance you shall not have it. 

Take comfort, then. If you are panting after  God and always feel you do not have enough, this is a great sign of grace in your life and a cause for rejoicing.

God my refuge

God, in His mercy,  exposes our sin so we see its evil.  He forgives our sin so we no longer bear its guilt.  And he purifies us from sin so we are protected from its danger.   

Cottage Cheese and the French Revolution

This week we took some cottage cheese out of the refrigerator.   My daughters told me it was not good anymore.  I skimmed off the top and set it back on the table assuring everyone.

"It is fine now.   I took the top off."

To which Ruthiey replied:

"Yeah, that's what they said during the French Revolution too."

To which we howled in laughter.