The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-06-26
AGAINST THE BENNETT Law.
The German Lutheran Synod Declares
Strongly Against the Wisconsin
Measure.

lOWH HIu lIliTlceI OtueT sNtaSCS nu-
journed the 18th inst, after very
profitable meeting OF Il weeks dura-
ton.
The most important action Of the
meeting was the adoption Of the fol-
lowing strong resolutions:
WHEREAS, During the past years
several states having begun to intro
duce compulsory education by way
of legislation. were not satisfied by
establishing a general principle on
this subject. but legally defined
what is school in such way that
thereby the existence of our paroch-
ial schools has been brought into
question, we therefore are compelled
to express our position IN regard to
this and all similar movements clear
~ and unambiguously.
/. We consider the public schools
necessity on account Of the condit-
ions created by the constitution OF
the United States, especially in its
relation to the church.
2. Accordingly, we as American
citizens are obliged and are willing to
contribute to the maintenance OF the
public schools and in fact have never
refused to comply with this duty, al
though We are thereby burthened
more than other citizens in also main.
tanning our own parochial schools.
3. WHEREAS. However the public
school holds in regard to the church
an Indifferent position and affords the
children a secular instruction and
education only, the dominant spirit
being most frequently secular, in
some cases also sectarian, in some
cases even hostile to the church. We
however being bound in our consci.
ence to keep our children remote
from everything which is irreligious
and to give to them above all things
a thorough instruction in the chris.
tian doctrines as they are taught by
the Lutheran church, therefore the
establishing and maintenance Of
christian schools is with us a matter
of conscience.
4. Not considering the fact that
we wish to preserve for our children
the precious blessing of the German
language, the instruction in this, our
language, could not be given up, il
we bear in mind the present state o1
our congregations, which consist
mostly Of recently imlnigrated mem
bers, If we wish to preserve our chill
dren for the Lutheran church.
5. For the maintenance of oul
parochial schools we claim no sup
port of the state and protest agains
the use of public school funds fol
parochial or private schools.
6. WHEREAS, We have to supper
our parochial schools wholly by ou
own means. we can not grant to thu
state the right Of prescribing to u
either objects or language or Aeth
DDS Of instruction, or the qualifica
tions OF our teachers.
| ]. WHEREAS, We live in countr.
whose population for the greaterp par
speaks the English language, we con
slider it matter Of course. tina: W
must give to our children ehanc
for obtaining thorough knowledg
of the English language.
/ i, It is our earnest endeaver t
see that oas children shall be instrue
ted in the elementary Atuljes not OIL
ly as well as in public schools, bu
even better: we, therefore. emplo
only such instructors who max
teaching a profession OF their life.
! 8. We are in favor of compulsor
attendance at school. If thereby
} understood the general principle tina
/ parents shall send their childred t
school, it, however. being left to tn
: discretion of the parent or guardian
to select the school to which the
wish to send their children. Cons,
Quently, we are opposed to compu
sorry attendance at school, II thsreb
is understood the compulsory attent
. ance at the public SCHOOL.
10. WHEREAS, These, our resol,
! lutions, contain no principles of e,
. pediency regarding which there coul
. be pro or con, more or less, bu
IRE the exact expression of that wllic
we have found to be the inalienab
privilege and sacred duty of a Lutl
, eran Christian who Mt the same tim
knows himself to be true citizen {
| the untea states, We protest again'