The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-12-01
THE DAILY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1888.

The plan Just adopted by the Board OF
Education, and announced in the othclal
column of the ADVERTISER one day last
week, whereby the use of the Govern
ment schoolhouses is to be granted to
the ministers of the various religious de-
nominations for the purpose OF lmpart-
ing religious instruction to the young,
does not strike us as favorably as 1t does
some others. The concession does not
seem, on it's face, to be very important
one, and it is possible that it may not
lead to any unpleasant complications,
though of this latter we are not at all
sure. 1t seems to us, nevertheless,
step decidedly in the wrong direction. 1t
is the thin edge of wedge, which those
who have urged it's introduction will lose
no opportunity of driving home until,
could they accomplish what they evil
IDENTITY desire, the school system OF the
country would be split into fragments,
upon strictly sectarian lines. We have
read the circular referred to, several
times, very carefully, in hopes OF finding
some logical connection or consistency
between it's first and last portions. Our
search has been in vain. If there is any
thing in the premises which justifes, or
even suggests the conclusion, we have
been entirely unable to discover it. The
provision of law which provides that ''nO
person in holy orders or minister OF reli-
gion shall be eligible to fill the office OF
President of the Board of Education or
of Inspector General is first given,
with the additional statement that it is
the "evident intention of the law that
the schools shall be strictly secular.
The language of the same statute is fur
Their quoted as follows: "The object of
common schools, supported by Govern
ment, is to instruct the children of the
nation in good morals, etc.," and long
catalogue is then given of the various
duties included under the general head
of "good MORALS" such as honesty,
truthfulness, charity, obedience to par
ents and teachers, kindness, chastity,
etc. Having stated these facts, and laid
down these premises, the Board pro-
ceeds to announce a conclusion which
furnishes as fine a specimen of what the
logicians call "non sequiter'' as we
have seen for long time. The circular
proceeds as follows: "YOu will from
this time forth open school every morn
ing by reciting the Lords Prayer in
unison" This, it will be observed, is
not permission, or even a recommend
alton, but positive and unconditional
order. The schools, not may, but shall
be opened every morning by the recita-
ton, in unison, of what is really quota
ton from the sacred book of one parti-
cular religion, viz, the Christian. So
far as appears, there is no provision for
excusiug the children of Jews, Moham-
medans, or other religionists who reject
the New Testament, and who may have
decided and conscientious objections to
their children taking part in any such
exercise. Here is consistency with
vengeance. Then follow the instruc-
tions to school agents, relative to ar
ranging with the clergymen of any de-
nomination, to allow them the use of
public schoolhouses at certain specified
hours, "for the religious instruction of
such scholars as may choose to attend
with the consent of their parents, etc."
In our view of the matter, the whole
arrangement is of the nature of a conces-
sion where no concession was needed,
nor indeed justifable, under the terms
of the statute, and its plain intent as set
forth in the very circular in which the
new departure is announced. 1t is SIM
ply a sop thrown out to satisfy the clamor
which has been raised in certain quar-
ters. We do not believe in sops of this
kind. They are apt to prove as mis-
taken in policy as they are inconsistent
in principle, and to lead to far more
trouble, IN the end, than they seem to |
save. The present instance is not likely |
to prove any exception to the general |
rule.