Meanwhile the demand of the age to separate Church from State becomes more and more exacting. Religious instruction has almost entirely ceased in the public schools, and it is rapidly disappearing from the programmes of colleges and preparatory schools, and few academies are now scenes of religious revival, as once was common. The publishers of this series are glad, therefore, to offer a book so timely and full of helpful suggestions as this of Mr. Adler. It is hoped that it may open for many teachers a new road to theoretic instruction in morality, and at the same time re-enforce the study of literature in our schools. W. T. HARRIS. WASHINGTON, D.C., _July, 1892_. PREFATORY NOTE. The following lectures were delivered in the School of Applied Ethics during its first session in 1891, at Plymouth, Mass. A few of the lectures have been condensed, in order to bring more clearly into view the logical scheme which underlies the plan of instruction here outlined. The others are published substantially as delivered. I am deeply conscious of the difficulties of the problem which I have ventured to approach, and realize that any contribution toward its solution, at the present time, must be most imperfect. I should, for my part, have preferred to wait longer before submitting my thought to teachers and parents. But I have been persuaded that even in its present shape it may be of some use. I earnestly hope that, at all events, it may serve to help on the rising tide of interest in moral education, and may stimulate to further inquiry. FELIX ADLER. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY LECTURES. PAGE I. The Problem of Unsectarian Moral Instruction 3 II. The Efficient Motives of Good Conduct 17 III. Opportunities for Moral Training in the Daily School 27 IV. The Classification of Duties 37 V. The Moral Outfit of Children on entering School 47 PRIMARY COURSE. VI. The Use of Fairy Tales 64 VII. The Use of Fables 80 VIII. Supplementary Remarks on Fables 96 IX. Selected Stories from the Bible 106 X. The Odyssey and the Iliad 146 GRAMMAR COURSE. LESSONS ON DUTY. XI. The Duty of acquiring Knowledge 169 XII. Duties which relate to the Physical Life and the Feelings 185 XIII. Duties which relate to Others (Filial and Fraternal Duties) 202 XIV. Duties toward all Men (Justice and Charity) 218 XV. The Elements of Civic Duty 236 XVI. The Use of Proverbs and Speeches 245 XVII. Individualization of Moral Teaching 249 APPENDIX.