The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-11-25

Olus w = dsh lfldJ l14C 1 1Glll L O1C DO
because prayer and the
scheels tend to lay the foundation of
a sound and pure morality. We hold
that no system of morality will COM
pare with that taught by our Divine
Savior, and which was so beauti-
fully illustrated in His daily life
while he tabernacled among men,
The principles which He taught are
pure and elevating the rules of life
which He inculcated are excellent,
and when carried out promote the
highest welfare of individuals and the
best interests of society For this
reason we feel it important that the
Bible should occupy a prominent
place in every system of education;
particularly in our schOols-those in
which the children of the masses are
educated. We feel 1t important to
the prosperity and perpetuity OF oul
Republic, that the truths and prin-
cipleS and motives of our christianity
should be made familiar to the chill
dren and youth OF every community.
We feel it important that every means
should be employed to educate the
children of the land in the scriptures
because such knowledge lies at the
foundation of all proper views of OBJ
ligaIions and duty to God, and of the
responsibilities and duties of our rela-
tions as men and citizens. We hold
that a sound and pure morality can
not be obtained apart from the recOg-
milton of God and of personal re-
sponsibIlity to Him, and apart from
the principles taught in the sacred
scriptures. We hold that the infiu-
ences of the Bible and of prayer are
al Salnfo1.yY aInx-afino ur,DoO
tive of the happiness and truest well
fare of humanity, that they should be
brought to bear upon children and
youth, everywhere, at all times, at all
points of their education. We hold
that christianity should touch society
at every point it should be central
and controlling element in all our sys-
TENS of education, in all the machine
ry of society.
9TH. We ask that the 18th rule be
rescinded because its existence and
enforcement will be prejudicial to the
interests of our public schools and of
our growing city. We feel that our
public schools, if all recognition OF
God and His teachings are excluded
from them, will prove a curse rather
| than blessing. We feel that if it is
published to the world that all relig-
|
| public schools of this city, by a rule
| of the Board of Education; that our
schools are goddess institutions-es
sentially infidel-that many Protest
ant christian parents, seeking for a
home and who would be valuable
accessiOns to our population, would be
turned away from our city
| For these and other reasons which
| we might urge, we ask that the 18th
rule of the public schools OF this city
be rescinded.
That we may not be misundeI stood
it may be proper to state that we
| don't ask that our public schools shall
be placed under the control of any
denomination of christians, nor thai
any sectarian instruction shall be
given to them, nor that any child
shall be compelled to repeat the Lord:
Prayer or read verse from the Bible
if the parents of the child are consci
entiously opposed to such religion:
services in the school. All that we
ask is that there shall be no rule il
the schools by which religious services
shall be excluded from them, anC
that they shall be opened each morn
ing by the repetition of the Lord!
Prayer and the reading of a portion
of the New Testament.
Respectfully submitted,
f. BUCKINGHAM,
S. GoRMAN,
II, SINSABAUGH,
| Committee appointed by the Pro
testant pastors of the city to represen
them before the Board of Education
CANTON, o., Oct. 7, 1868.
On the 4th of November, 1868, al
the members of the Board in writing
approved of Mr.. Schaefer's reply be
ing read to the Protestant Pastors.
On the 5th of November, 1868, a
ten o'clock, a. NJ, the Clerk of tn
Board sent to each mem9er of tn
Committee of Protestant pastors
note,of which the following is copy
Your presence is solicited at tn
Office of the Board of Education t
hear the reading of the reply to you
address on the subject of the 18th rule
at three, P. NJ, this afternoon"
Nov. 5th, 1868.