8765. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, Theology.—[continued].
In our University there
is no professorship of divinity. A handle has
been made of this to disseminate an idea that
this is an nistitution, not merely of no religion,
but against all religion. Occasion was taken at
the last meeting of the Visitors, to bring forward
an idea that might silence this calumny,
which weighed on the minds of some honest
friends to the institution. In our annual report
to the Legislature, after stating the constitutional
reasons against a public establishment
of any religious instruction, we suggest the expediency
of encouraging the different religious
sects to establish, each for itself, a professorship
of their own tenets, on the confines of the
University, so near as that their students May
attend the lectures there, and have the free use
of our library, and every other accommodation
we can give them; preserving, however, their
independence of us and of each other. This
fills the chasm objected to ours, as a defect in
an institution professing to give instruction in
all useful sciences. I think the invitation will
be accepted, by some sects from candid intentions,
and by others from jealousy and rivalship.
And by bringing the sects together, and
mixing them with the mass of other students,
we shall soften their asperities, liberalize and
neutralize their prejudices, and make the general
religion a religion of peace, reason and
morality.—
To Dr. Thomas Cooper. Washington ed. vii, 267.
Ford ed., x, 243.
(M.
1822)
See Education, Languages and Schools.
