sciences; when the light of conscience illumines the moral world, separating truth from error, and virtue from vice. The light of the newly-kindled sun, indeed, was glorious. It struck upon all the planets, and waked into existence their myriad capacities of life and joy. As it rebounded from them, and showed their vast orbs all wheeling, circle beyond circle, in their stupendous courses, the sons of God shouted for joy. That light sped onward, beyond Sirius, beyond the Pole-star, beyond Orion and the Pleiades, and is still speeding onward into the abysses of space. But the light of the human soul flies swifter than the light of the sun, and outshines its meridian blaze. It can embrace not only the sun of our system, but all suns and galaxies of suns; ay! the soul is capable of knowing and of enjoying Him who created the suns themselves; and when these starry lustres that now glorify the firmament shall wax dim, and fade away like a wasted taper, the light of the soul shall still remain; nor time, nor cloud, nor any power but its own perversity, shall ever quench its brightness. Again I would say, that whenever a human soul is born into the world, God stands over it, and pronounces the same sublime fiat, "Let there be light ;" and may the time soon come when all human governments shall coöperate with the divine government in carrying this benediction and baptism into fulfilment.

LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS

ON THE SUBJECT OF

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION;

CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED.

MASSACHUSETTS DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, ART. II.

"It is the right, as well as the duty, of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious professions or sentiments, provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship."

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF MASSACHUSETTS, ART. XI.

"All religious sects and denominations, demeaning themselves peaceably and as good citizens of the Commonwealth, shall be equally under the protection of the law; and no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another shall ever be established by law."

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, AMENDMENTS, ART. I. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

CHAPTER 169.

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL FUND. SECTION

SECTION

2. Investment of moneys.
3. Income only to be appropriated.

1. Moneys derived from the sale of lands in the state of Maine to be appropriated to the encouragement of Common Schools. SECT. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That, from and after the first day of January next, all moneys in the treasury, derived from the sale of lands in the state of Maine, and from the claim of the State on the government of the United States for military services, and not otherwise appropriated, together with fifty per centum of all

moneys thereafter to be received from the sale of lands in Maine, shall be appropriated to constitute a permanent fund for the aid and encouragement of Common Schools: provided, that said fund shall never exceed one million of dollars.

SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That the investment of the moneys hereby appropriated shall be made by the treasurer and receiver general, with the approbation of the Governor and Council first obtained.

SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That the income only of said fund shall be appropriated to the aid and encouragement of Common Schools, and that a just and equal distribution thereof shall be made to the city of Boston and the several towns and districts in the Commonwealth, in such manner as the Legislature shall hereafter appoint: provided, that there never shall be paid to any city, town or district a greater sum than is raised therein respectively for the support of Common Schools. [March 31, 1834.]

REV. STAT.-CHAP. 11.

MONEY RECEIVED OF THE UNITED STATES FOR MILITIA SERVICES. SECTION

13. Proceeds of Maine lands and militia claim appropriated to school fund.

SECTION

14. Investment of school fund.

SECT. 13. All moneys and stocks in the treasury, on the first day of January in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, which shall have been derived from sales of the Commonwealth's lands in the state of Maine, and from the claim of the Commonwealth on the government of the United States for military services, and which shall not be otherwise appropriated, together with one half of the moneys thereafter received from the sale of lands in Maine, shall constitute a permanent fund, to be called the Massachusetts School Fund, for the encouragement of Common Schools, according to the provisions of the twenty-fourth chapter; provided, that said fund shall never exceed one million of dollars.

SECT. 14. The investment of all moneys, appropriated to the said school fund, shall be made by the treasurer of the Commonwealth, with the approbation of the Governor and Council.

REV. STAT.-CHAP. 15.

SECT. 12. Towns shall have power, at any legal meeting, to grant and vote such sums of money as they shall judge necessary for the following [among many other] purposes, that is to say-For the support of town schools. [See also, Rev. St., ch. 23, 9.]

SECTION

REGULATIONS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE
DISCIPLINE OF COLLEGES.

69. Innholders, &c., not to give credit to
under graduates, except, &c.

SECTION

70. Licenses not to be granted to persons violating, &c.

71. Penalty for giving such credit.

OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SECT. 1. In every town containing fifty families, [since extended to all towns, however few the population. St. 1839, ch. 56, § 1,] or householders, there shall be kept in each year, at the charge of the town, by a teacher or teachers of competent ability and good morals, one school for the instruction of children in orthography, reading, writing, English grammar, geography, arithmetic, and good behavior, for the term of six months, or two or more such schools, for terms of time, that shall together be equivalent to six months.

SECT. 2. In every town, containing one hundred families or householders, there shall be kept in each year one such school, for the term of twelve months, or two or more such schools, for terms of time, that shall together be equivalent to twelve months.

SECT. 3. In every town, containing one hundred and fifty families or householders, there shall be kept in each year two such schools, for nine months each, or three or more such schools, for terms of time, that shall together be equivalent to eighteen months.

SECT. 4. In every town, containing five hundred families or householders, there shall be kept in each year two such schools for twelve months each, or three or more such schools, for terms of time, that shall together be equivalent to twentyfour months.

SECT. 5. Every town, containing five hundred families or householders, shall, besides the schools prescribed in the preceding section, maintain a school, to be kept by a master of competent ability and good morals, who shall, in addition to the branches of learning before mentioned, give instruction in the history of the United States, book-keeping, surveying, geometry, and algebra; and such last mentioned school shall be kept for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town, ten months at least, exclusive of vacations, in each year, and at such convenient place, or alternately at such places in the town, as the said inhabitants at their annual meeting shall determine; and, in every town, containing four thousand inhabitants, the said master shall, in addition to all the branches of instruction, before required in this chapter, be competent to instruct in the Latin and Greek languages, and general history, rhetoric, and logic. [This section modified by St. 1840, ch. 76. Modification repealed by St. 1848, ch. 283.]