Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-07-12
RELIGION In SCHOOLS.
LEARNED DISCUSSION OF WHETHER OR NOT
IT'S EXPBDIBNT.
Views Of Cardinal Gibbons-Re7. Dr.. Hill Expresses
Himself POreibly-Argumtnt Of Rev. Dr..
kinat ]. Salyags-Prot. ". 7. Harris
Decides in the Negative.

WAsHINGT- n, July 11.-PuJlic Opinion
will tomorrow publish papers from
the pens of Cardinal Gibbons, Rev.
DR.. Thomas Hill, expresident Of Harvard
University, Rev. DR.. Minot ]. Savage,
of Boston, and Prof W. T. Harris, editor
of the Journal Of Speculative Philosophy, on
this question: "Is religious instruction in
the public schools expedient? Ifso, what
should be its character and lin.itationsP"
Below are given extracts from these pa
pers:
Cardinal Gibbons says that an education
that improves the mind and memory to
the neglect of moral and religious training
is at best but an imperfect and defective
system. 1t is most desirable that our
youth should be made acquainted with the
history of our country, its origin and
principles of its government, and with the
eminent men who have served it by their
craftsmanship and valor. But it is not
enough for children to have a secular
education, they must receive a religious
training. Religious knowledge is as far
above human science as the soul is above
the body, as heaven is above earth, as
eternity is above time. By secular educa.
tiOn we improve the mind; by religious
training we direct the heart. The religious
and secular education of our children can
not be divorced from each other without
infctipg fatal wound upon the children.
With regard TO private schools, DIR. Hill
believes it the duty Of the State to inspect
them and require that the education given
therein shall be such as to prepare the pu-
pils for the duties of citizenship. The
State should not admit that education in
the psrochial schools of denomination is
a political equivalent for public educa-
tiOn. Least of all is Catholic parochisl
school capable of fulfilling the political
ends of a good education, since in them is
not only that partial and distorted view of
history, but a limitation Of the right of
private judgment, which must partly unfit
the public pupil for considering questions
of public policy with unbiased mind.
Catholic education is favorable TO the de-
velopment of diplomatists and political
managers, but it tends to unfit man for
frank and honest public discussion.
DR.. Savage argues as follOws
I'm the cage of those who believe that
the salvation of their childrens souls is at
stake, there cannot he q more Odious
tyranny than to compel them to submit
to q teaching that, to their mind entails
such horrible consequences. And in the
case of those who do not believe that the
endless welfare of their childred ia at stake
compelling them TO submit to the teaching
off religion they don't believe in. Believe
it is waste Of time and subjects them TO
the influence of what is regarded as hurt
fol sUperstitions, which hinder true learn
ing, impart false theories of life and duty,
snd so interfere seriously with the happi-
ness and progress of this world, if not Of
the next. In either case, then, it ID ty-
ranny."
Prof. W. T. Harris says; ut seems TO
me that religious instructions in the pub
lie schools is inexpedlent, on the ground
that they are for all citizens, whatever
their religious bslief or no belief. II is
the conviction of the average American
citizen that rights of private conscience
must be respected, and that Church and
State must he entirely separate. If the
State undertakes to regulate religious mat
ters. confusion occurs In parOchial
schools the influence Of the dOgmatic tone
creeps into the secular recitatiops and
drives out desirable critical alertness and
investigation spirit and STILES independent
thinking"