The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-03-29

ISA0 'hhNh IL NN A'o
liberality, to any great extent, can afford.
The editor seems to think there was 4 great
falling off in regard to the religious instruction
of the schools, oecasioned by the course pursned
by the government, in ignoring their denomina-
tional character, and assuming the entire contro!
of them, simply as free government institutions
for all, without any regard to sect. He speaks
thus:
possessed over the moral and religious instruction of the chill
schools were secularizei. their denominational character ex-
plunged, and religious instruction ceased, by order of the depart
ment, to be impaired to the young and tender who, receiving
none 1t home, needed it most"
If the editor can lay his hand on copy of this
" order of the department. and hand it to us, we
should feel much obliged. We have searched for
it in vain, and in a quarter where it ought to be
found, if it ever was issued. The fact is, such an
order necer ras issued, except from the brain of
the editor of the Potynesian. From the time the
government first assumed the charge of the pub
lie schools, we have had no law in regard to reL-
giouS instruction in them it has been left out,
and the teachers left to their own discretion, I'M
der the guidance of the pastors and parents, as
to what worship they would offer, or religious
instruction they would impart, so long as they
have not neglected the branches required by the
law to be taught, only excepting in mired schools
of Protestant and Roman Catholic children. In
these, which compose a very small part, say one
eighth, no worship has been allowed. ofensire to
the conscience Of any parent. No constraint or
compulsion on the subject of religious instruction
has been allowed. This fact we find stated again
and again in the official reports and circulars of
the Department of Public Instruction, and we
know it to be a fact from other sources. But
morals, and by this we mean Christian morals,
honesty, chastity, truthfulness, charity, &C., are
%enjoined upon every teacher by law and by
" order of the department, " isa part of his duty
and this is as far as the law ought to go.
AS to religious books, such as are found in the
native tongue, they are in every school, of every
class as much now as when they were under
the care of the American Mission at least we
have never seen or heard of one, without some
such books. In his report to the Legislature of
1852, the Minister of Public instruction stated
As a matter Of fact, however, religious instruction is Impair
ted freely. without hindrance, in all the public schools; in no
are not neglected"
And in his report in 1858, he says
ain the Protestant schools, everywhere, the New Testament,
owing to its cheapness, and the want of other books. is the great
r snda book, Tin the public schools M it is here that thou,
and elevating doctrines. On this most perfect basis more than
any other. is the morality OF this portion of the nation being
founded and built up"
Roman Catholic children also use such religious
books in the schools, even those of the most sec
tartan character, and portions of the holy scrip
lures, as their parents or priests furnish them,
without opposition. If this is a true statement
and let any one show that it is not-then what
becomes of the lame utation of the government
editor, that ''religious instruction ceasel by an
order of the department to be impaired to the
young and tender"
The native school masters, from 300 to 500 in
number, who have been employed in the public
schools during the last Is or 20 years, have not
been regarded as competent teachers of religion,
beyond the simplest elements. This is not their
Office. 1t is the work of the pastor and his au-
thorized conductors; and yet such religious in
s%truction as they have been capable of giving in
their schools, they have been not only allowed,
but encouraged to give, but not By authority.
There is no authority on the subject and very
wisely so. Because the government recognizes
no UNCONVENTIONAL character in our public
schools, and leaves the matter of religion to the
discretion of the teachers, only requiring them
to pay strict regard to the rights Of conscience of
all, does it follow that there is actually no reli-
gious instruction impaired in them?
The entire statement therefore of the editor on
this subject leaves a false impression, attributable
either to ignorance or malevolence, but if we
thought him inspired with any real interest for
the religious welfare of the rising race, we should
be gratifed mt the pious turn his mind has taken
Of late for it is not long since the same govern
ment scribbler came down upon our common
schools, because they taught nothing but the
. Bible and the Pilgrims Progress" Now, the
trouble is, they teach neither. Have the schools
or has the editor? Or is he merely
talking to say something and earn his pay?
Another point, and we have done for the pres
The government editor does not give the
correct reason for ceasing to recognize our free
schools as secf0rian. He says, it was sin order that
he principles of religious liberty should be car
OUT
1t was no such thing. The reason given by
he Minister of Public instruction in his official
to the Legislature of 1854, and on which
hat body acted, for ceasing to recognize any de-
lominational distinction in the free schools, was
economy. but serious disadvantages have arisen
If late from this state of things, Separate schools
or each sect.) In some places two schools are
Imported, where one would be sufficient; or {
hree, where two would answer and hence a 8
waste of funds" is his language, and he only t
tates that such sectarian schools were not sin c
with the theory of our laws and 9
ught to cease.
The Legislature, both Houses, referred the SUBJ t
ect to committees, who reported decidedly in {
lvor of the recommendation of the Minister, E.. +
/. Allen in the Upper House, and E. p. Bond t
n the Lower, and their reports were adopted. b
ee the lucid and able one of the latter in the p
of June II, 1854, in which he says
" They uhe commihee) would at the same time distinctly
clare their opinion, that the laws ought not to recognize any n
lily advise that in future such distinctions should not be re- L
lrded, in any new organization Of the free schools, that cir b
instances may make expedient. e r They 1.-THE school :,
icers) must make the best possible use OF the means at their ID
sposal. To scatter these among many small schools. would be
squander them for the expense of sustaining n small school
a large one are about the same. Yet the funds must be thus g,
altered, if we recognize the right of Sects, to a separate school d