, 1889-07-25
Is III EXPEDIENT?
Symposium of Opinions Concern
ing Religious Teachings in the
American Public Schools.
Expressions of Eminent Clergymen
AS to tho Character and Limi-
tations of Such Teachings.

hpCpTt HtIfdllpUul btNtltIultINs VIZ
ccrning the methods OF conducting the
public schools of Spokane Falls have
awakened deep interest In that sub
! iect In the East IL is presented in n
different form. Instead of the problem
AS to the propriety of bribery in the
selection of teachers for the public
schools the people are confronted with
| tho question, as religious instruction in
| the public schools expedientP If so,
what should be It's character npsl linz
| itationsp Public Opinion of Washing
ton, ID. c., July -, published opinions
| of numerous clergyihcn of diticrcnt faiths
on this proposition. Below are given
extracts from these papers;
CARDINAL GIBBONS
saws that an education that improves the
ihind and memory to the neglect oi
moral and religious training Is Mt best
bat an imperfect and defective system.
1t IL most desirable that our youth
should be made acquainted with the
history of our country, the origtn ana
principles of its government, ana WIN
the eminent men who baVe served ~ oy
their statesmanship and valor. But itls
not enough for children to have secular
education, they must receive religious
training, Religious knowledge Is as far
above human science rs the soul is above
the body, ~ heaven Is above the cartll,
as etetnitv IL above time. By secular
oduction we improve the mind; by reli-
gious training we direct the heart. The
religious and secular education of our
children cannot he divorced trom each
other without innicting fatal wound
upon the SOUL they must go hand III
hnnd, otherwise their education is shal-
low and fraEmentary curse instead OF
o blessing Picty, says the cardinal, Is
not to be put on for state occasions, but
H. to be exhibited in our conduct at all
times. Our yoyth must put in practice,
every day, the commandments OF God,
as well ns the rules of arithmetic. Then
he asks, How can they familiari2o them
selves with those sacred duties
ii they are not dolly incul-
catedP The CatcchctiCal instructions
given once q week in our sunday schools
are insufficient to supply the religious
wants of Our children. 1t is important
that they should breathe every day u
healthy religious atmosphere in schools
in which not only is the mind enlight-
onod, but the seeds of Christian faith
and sound morality are nourishcd and
inVigorntod. The combination of religi-
Gus and secular education is easily ac-
complished in denominational schools.
To what extent religion may he brought
in the public schools without infringing
} the rights and wounding the conscience
of some of the pupils is-a grave problem
boset with difficulties, and very hard to
| Ut HfiNf'lf llltNuluNll 40 llApNt SNiiNlpia oiN
usually attended by children belonging
to the various Christian denominations
by Jews also, and even by those who
profess no religion whatever.
REV. THOMAS HILL.
Rev. DIR. Thomas Hin says that public
schools, with compulsory attendance
are an essential adjunct of republican
government, and that the republic is
bound to superintend with care the edu
tion of the children. And, whatever
may be the theoretical relation of relig-
ion and morals, It is practically true
that children can be kept pure, truthful
and honorable In no way So etfectuaty
as by the Cultivating of their natura
/ rcyerent sense of religious sanctions
lie concludes, therefore, that rdlig
ious instruction is more than e}pe
dient; il is demanded as Il political ne
cessity. Hut IL must not be giveit by
text books. Lecturer. q -reGli.saillans.l :
selection of teachers OF good chafarr
and good sense, then by careful Selection
of wholesome reading, and finally by
daily brief religious exercise, at which |
passage from the Bible shall be read,
prayer rccited and perhaps a hymn
sung, But great care should be takei
that there be nothing in the service q
which any reasonable parent could oh
cct. The state he says, does not under
! take to define Christianity, or 10 decid'
upon the true Interpretation of the script
ures, but assumes Christianity as par
: of the common law of the land
With regard to private schools
DR.. Hill believes IL the duty of tn
state to inspect them, and requir
/ that the education given therein Shal
, be such as to prepare the pupils for th'
duties of citizenship. The states shoul'
not admit that education IN the paro
! i 9 q. "a
? litcul equivalent for II public education
Least ofall lisa Catholic pnroChial schoo
, capable of fulfilling the political ends q
u good education, since in them Is no
only that partial and distorted view q
history, but limitation of the right o
. private judgment which must PARTIAL,
7 unfit the pupil for considering question
= of public policy with an unbiased mind
Catholic education is favorable TO the dc
, vclopment of diplomatists and politica
= managers but il tends TO unfit aiinal
e for frank and honest public discussion
, The aim Of every lover of our couutr!
and its liberties should therefor
= he to render the public school
I 50 manilcstly superior, morally ant
intellectually, to private schools II
! to draw ali the children into them
REV. MISoT J. SAVAGE
! Rev. Minot j. Savage argues as fol
, that the salvation of their children
souls is at stake, there cannot be NOR
odious tyranny than to compel them {
submit to teaching that, to thei
minds, entails such horrible conse
quences; and, in the case of those wh
} do not believe that the endless welfar
of their children is at stake, compellin
, them to submit to the teaching of u ro
: ligion they don't believe, is waste O
f time, and subjects them to the influence
t of what is regarded rs hurtful supersti
9 tions, which hinder true learning, i'm
: part false theories of life and duty an
G so interfere seriously with the hor
piness and progress of this world
case, then, it is a tyrar
, ny. Mr.. Savage concludes. Re,
= by saying that the public school, is SUI
4 ported by the equsl taxation of peopl
/ of all beliefs, and exists and hasa rigl
to exist simply for'the sake of such es
ucntion as fits for citizenship, and so 4
: for the public good. The church an
8 the home give ample scope for all ind
I vidual peculiarities of belief. The pul
lie school is for the people and for all tn
Z people, Let 1t be kept true 10 its ow
: high and sacred mission.
, Prof w. II, Harris, editor of che Joul
nal Of Speculative Philosophy THINKS
7 the state undertakes to regulateircfigDu
. matters confusion occurs. In parochil
4 schools the influence of the doginat
fand drives out "A desirable critical aler
ness and investigating spirit and stitls
} independent thinking. Mr.. Harris cit,
|. the 'inhdelity" in Germany rs an argt
ment against religion i'm the schools.