New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-19
From the National Republican. J
Secular Songs.
Coiorsd Pastors Indignant.


There has been quite a sensation for sew.
eral weeks past among the colored people o
ashlngtOn because Of a certain course pur.
sued by some of the teachers in the public
schools. They have been striving to compel
children to sing secular songs against theil
conscientious scruples. These children have
made profession of religion during this reviva
season. and have told their teachers that they
did not think it right to sing those songs but
notwithstanding this plea they have been
rldiculed, abused, directly and indirectly, and
expelled from the schools. This was re.
garded as gross outrage upon the rights OF
the people, and SO the pastors took cogni-
zance of it and brought it before the weekly
meeting. A committee was consequently ap.
pointed to make, if possible, a private settle
ment of the matter. They waited upon the
superintendent Of the schools, and submitted
the following protest.
NOVEMBER %, 1872.
TO tie Boardof Trustees for the Colorei Schools
Of Washington and Georyetown
GENTLEMEN We, the undersigned, in be-
half of the religious community, do hereby
most earnestly protest against the course in
public schools of forcing children to sing
worldly songs when they profess conversion
and that the singing of such songsi is contrary
to the rules of their church and the dictates
| OF their consciences.
Respectfully, JOSEPH S. THoMPsos,
w. w. FOREMAN,
JAS. II. A. JOHNSON,
Committee from the Pastors w eekly Associa-
ton.
When the protest was submitted hopes
were entertained by its authors that it would
be conductive towards settlement of the
case in manner that would satisfy the ag-
grleved parties. 1t received, though, moth
ing more than the following response:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 80, 1872.
10 Rers. Jas. II. 4. johnson, ". ". Foreman
and Jas. S. Thompson, Committee from tie
Pastors Weekly Association:
GENTLEMAN: Your communication to the
Board of Trustees for the Colored Schools of
Washington and Georgetown, protesting
against requiring pupils who have made q pro-
LESSON OF religion to receive instruction in
music, except sacred, has been referred to
this office, with instructions to say that the
general interests of the schools demand that
no exception be made in enforcing compliance
with the prescribed course of instruction.
The board, conscious of the educating pow-
er represented by you in this community,
and, consequently, the great aid'you can rem
der towards promoting the general efficiency
of the schools, also desire me to express to
y y
them and the teachers Of our youth in their
efforts to correct any views growing out of
the unfortunate circumstances of our past.
whose tendency is to retard the progress Of
true education, and to reflect upon the grow
ing intelligence of a people.
am, gentlemen. very respectfully, yours,
GEO. +. II. Cook, Supt.
The reply was regarded as evasive and I'M
satisfactory. The committee was consequent.
ly recommissioned to visit the superintendent
and bring the chief points under considera-
ton to final issue and report at an extra
session of the association on the 18th instant.
They did so, and had an understanding that
the consciences of the religious pupils and the
rules of their church would not be regarded
in the course of instruction.
The association at once acted upon the re-
port: and adopted.the following preamble and
resolutions:
Whereas the colored public schools of
Washington and Georgetown are subjected
to an ollgarchical rule, and made the means
by which the ungodly violate the oOnscences
OF their pupils and the law of the true church;
and whereas some ungodly teachers in Wash.
ington have maltreated and directly or indi-
rect!y expelled religious pupils because they
would not violate their conscences and the
rules OF their church by singing secular songs
IN schools; and whereas the pastors among
the cOloredpeople of Washington and George
town have, as an organized BODY, most
solemnly protested against this wicked course
OF sad teachers who are sustained by SUPER
lntendent and trustees; and whereas the
pastors have received no satisfactory reply,
but have been regarded as the ignorant SUBJ
jects of slavery for entering such protest:
therefore be it
Resotred, That mass meeting of the re-
hgious part of the communities Of Washing
ton and Georgetown be held on Thursday,
January 2, 1873, at 7 O'Clock p. M. in Israel
church for the purpose of correcting this I'M
cody course, which, unrebuked has a ten
dency to endanger the fundamental principles
of Christianity, and advance the skeptical
sentiments OF the present age; and further
more be it
Resolced, That it is our "bounden duty''
to pray that the bill before Congress to in
crease the board of trustees for said schools
TO '''ne be passed, and that the board be
composed Of men whose motto shall be:
The religion of our Lord Jesus Christ and
The highest degree Of int :lccttlal training for
the rising generation.'
fesolred, That parents be requested to
leave with their pastors the names of their
children who have been maltreated and d.
rectiy or indirectly expelled from the schools
for the aforesaid cause. and also the names of
the teachers acting in the case.
Signed in behalf of the association, d. p.
Seaton, Joseph S. Thompson, Daniel Draper,
James II. A. Johnson, w. w. Foreman
Charles G. Key, president.
SONGS VS.. HYMNS.
The following in relation to the difficulty
pending between the Board of Colored School
Trustees and certain pastors will be read with