Mind is a wonderful thing, the most profound study of the universe. It was designed to be free, to grasp the mighty laws of its own Creator, and a means was supplied by which that very thing could be done: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, ... but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” In order to maintain the supremacy thus gained, it was necessary for the education of the young to lie wholly within the control of the papal hierarchy; and it is with their educational institutions and educational methods that we have now to deal. It is hoped that the study of the Dark Ages will so accentuate the importance of Protestants’ maintaining their own schools, that the tendency now so strong in the other direction may receive a check. The education begun in the schools of the early Christians has been followed into the monastic institutions of the Middle Ages. The life and power of Christianity departed, and form alone remained. It has been said that “paganism in the garb of Christianity walked into the church,” and it can truthfully be added that _it gained admittance through the schools_. [Sidenote: Papal primary schools] In order to trace carefully the education offered by the papacy,—and that comprised all that was then offered,—the first quotations are concerning primary instruction. Laurie says: “Instruction began about the age of seven. The _alphabet_, written on tables or leaves, was learned by heart by the children, _then syllables and words_. The first reading-book was the Latin psalter, and this was read again and again _until it could be said by heart_; and numerous priests, and even monks, were content all their lives with the mere sound of Latin words, which they could both read and recite, but did not understand.”[83] [Sidenote: Prominence of memory work] Note carefully that work for these children was almost wholly _memory_ work. They were to _learn by heart_ and to _repeat without understanding_. This was the first step in that great system which binds the minds of the masses to the will of one sovereign mind. “Writing followed.” “The elements of arithmetic were also taught, but merely with a view to the calculation of church days and festivals.”[84] [Sidenote: Early use of Latin]