The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-12-31
Churches and Children.

Churches and Children.
The secular press in this day Is COM
PEELED now and then to treat of subjects
which seem at first glance to be of a purely
religious character. This is often because
Of the fact that religious questions enter
sometimes into the very heart of political
problems Thus we have in our country
system of common school education,
sustained as political institution by tax
alton, and with this system every man
who pays taxes, every parent who has
children, and every good citizen, rich or
poor, is more or less directly concerned.
Inasmuch as our institutions are re-
publican, or, more properly, democratic,
in form, and among the people are large
numbers of worthy citizens Of the He
brew faith, it is universally agreed that
it would be un-American, intolerant, and
tyrannical to tax them for the sup
port of schools in which the Christian
religion is taught, and still more intol-
Grant to enact truant laws compelling
their children to attend such schools.
Therefore it is agreed that no religious
education shall enter into the common
schools, or, to state the doctrine in its
commonly accepted form, all State educa-
tion shall be secular
For long time there has been an ex-
cited controversy between Protestant
citizens and Roman Catholic citizens on
the question of the use of the Bible as a
book in schools Ardent and sincere Pro-
testants have desired and pressed the use
! of the Bible. without note or CONNIE
tary, as a book from which portions
should be read daily to the young. 1t
is evident that such reading would be
regarded by the young mind as au-
thortative, and Of course the intent is
reading it would be to impress on the
students the value Of the Book of books
as a guide Of life.
1t is noteworthy that the large body of
Hebrews, who here as elsewhere are re-
markable for calm submission to what
ever laws are imposed on them without
much protest or fuss, have not been
considered in the discussion of this ques-
ton, whatever may be their religious
views with reference of the New Testa-
ment. Protestants have looked only to
Catholics as concerned in the contro-
versy, and it has been and is still some
times warm controversy, as every one
knows.
While it has been going on great
change has come over our common
schools, and the scope of their teaching
has vastly enlarged High schools and
free colleges have been added to the sys-
tenn In schools and high schools alike
philosophy and history, physics and met
aphysics, all branches Of what may be
called modern science, are taught by sec
ular teachers and from secular text
books. Inasmuch as all agree that no
religion can be taught, as a matter of
course the system Of common school edu-
cation teaches history in which no God
appears Cor at least very impersonal
sort of Deity, and philosophy equally
destitute of any oyerruling Deity. If
it be otherwise in any local schools, it is
an exception to the system, and permitted
only because in that locality there is no
taxpayer whose peculiar religious con-
victions differ from those of the com
munity at large.
The earnestness with which the use of
the Bible has been pressed, and the dust
raised in this particular controversy, seem
to have entirely blinded the eyes of good
men everywhere to all other religious
subjects involved in common school
teaching Men have adopted practically
the idea that if they can have verses of
the Bible read daily in schools that is
an all-suficient leaven of religion to be
mingled with the education " of the
young, and it is very rare indeed to hear
Of any inquiry into the character of the
other text books or teaching in use. AS
matter of fact, the text books which
are used depend often on the sharp rival
ry Of school-book publishers, and com
mercial influences such as effect markets
of produce and manufactured goods are
Of controlling influence on the education
of the American child. The most per-
suasiye publisher secures the adoption of
his text book by the men who have the
choice in this or that locality. Parents,
clergymen, religious teachers, take small