The sun., 1890-01-14
PLAIN TALK FROM DIR. CROSBY
RELIGION IN THE SCHOOLS DISCUSsED
RY THE PRESBYTERIAN UNION.

Make . PoIioe station or the Normal Gel.
IeEo and n j all for Boodlers OF the City
College, says Dr. Crosby, aAd Teach the
Sinfnlness OF violence and FalsehOod.
ITO what extent, II any, should religion
be taught In the public schools1" was the oues-
tiop which engaged the attention OF the Pres
byterian Union OF this city at their meeting at
the Metropolitan Opera House assembly room
last night The discussion was opened by the
Rev. Josiah Strong, D. D., Corresponding Sec
rotary of the United States Evangelical ALI
ance. He began by attacking the educational
theories OF the Catholic Church. He said that
the Catholic system proposes to divide the
school fund.- II possible, and. II that is not DOS
sible. to establish parochial schools. He said
that the attitude Of the Catholic hierarchy
toward the public schools now demands atten-
ton that the 900 Catholic parochial schools.
the seventy five colleges, and the new Catholic
University at Washington all show that the
Catholics mean businesR The difficulty had
been met with one proposition, which was to
secularze the schools. Then the Catholics
call them goddess: they say that their
children cannot be conscentiously sent
to the public schools. This, he said. shows
that the Catholic system is un-American. He
argued that It Is not practicable TO divide the
school funds. because each denomination
dren. He denied that the public schools are now
| Protestant, and asserted that this Is clearly
| shown by the fact that dIstinctively Protestant
doctrines are not taught He denied that there
| is any ground for omplaint by Catholics as to
the present conduct Of the schools.
Speaking Of the complaints made by secular
| ists he said that the separation OF Church and
State is we'll enough, but It does not necessarily
involve the disregard Of religion. He urged
| that 1t can he no violation OF anybody's right
when undenominational religion is taught and
| this. he claimed. Is all the religion that is
taught-tho great fundamental doctrine COM
mon to all monothestc religions; that all the
religion taught in the school is necessary to
mako good moral training and instruction; !;
that morality cannot be secured except by the
sanction OF religion; that the State has the
right to take one mans money to educate tho
child OF another only on the theory that the ig-
norant child is O. danger to the State.
Ths Rs p 3D. Said oef0T snt 9f %bs ft
differed from his reasoning; He, questioned
the American doctrine Of the separation Of
Church and State in any scheme Of teaching
could not t. conceive Of a Church without doc.
| trine lie insisted that religion cannot be In
troduced into the PUBLIC school unless 1t Is doc
else. and he would Ike to know what are the
| doctrines in which all the churches agree.
less schools. He could not see that It was any
objection to school, of painting or bookkeep-
steone sae that tSs EToafsst power in the % pubic
school is the personality OF Its teacher and he
said it Sr the 9 thls
that naught but Christian personality will be
INTRODUCED into the public schools. He urged
the Rs STATE S % and that the STATE Gan DO It's WORK
best without the Church: that no religious
seSoSois eSnS that At the American doetrne Of the
separation OF Church -stsd stste pnst os car
i. The Rev. David G., Wylie. pastor Of the Knox
Ght Is Tia GHs between 5T zen the
IiRiQus, unsectarians. Tho Catholic Church
holds that teaching belongs to the Church and
Concluded that there should be in our schools
GENEROUS. gen M ' non % -sectarisn rhristianity. He
earnestly insisted that 1t is NO mixture OF
9z Bs s sasoe to Fee haseh
the purpose Of salvation OF souls. The State
educates for the purpose Of regulating the
The Rev. Dr.. Howard Crosby summed up tho
discussion In Ave minutes. He said that We
Am erican institutions Tho State is doing
VT has SoT right S to BE- teaching the higher edu
cation. Tho best thing that could be done with
the hSPS 81 re Hp n9o
me best thing that could be done with The
10 turn 1t into prison for boodlors; LLauchter.l
apk tbs eBep 5SES o % fh aHobs 9 s Ss
higher mathematics and the calculus and
philosophy than we would have To- tag 1.-THE the
people to give each Ghilf thousand dollars
tho fS Same H demoeratie American principle
think that half Of, Of what yh is done IN
The only argument for schools established By
the Government at ALL TO make citizens able
words. we should only, teach children, In
the public schools to read. to write. to cipher
That EhIw should MfS be the entre euricuium IN th
public schools. [Applausel Beyond that W.
have @ no right to go: o,u...,o.o,
this matter and the way 10 get out Of Il is to
limt, the, work OF the State to whore It belongs
the rublic schools than to teach it In a me-
chHnicS' institute for the learning Of techni-
lions r, Tor for bsnevoleDt % Work that are not con-
eorned with tho subject Of religion, Are these
beneyolent Institutions atheistic or irreliGious2
church. Before tho Stats can {eseh rSilgiqS
auGhteosr es end ga applause Or qoarsso % II we 1s are
TO have religion taught by the State in this
the local & Goyernmsnt. % What Kind Of a religion
shall We get from the Aldermen LLauGhter.l
the proper limit Of pu bile school that moment
ma shall be taught The only safe way is not
TO teach any, We invite the people Of all creeds
tax them to propagate our religious notions.
1t is not true that there i no difference be-
tween eligion and morality. l say there is
moral teaching to teach that there are three
sins against man. namely. violence. falsehood.
these are wrong will not offend any one. We
cannot go further without teaching religion
ing anybody in his religion. The State
has no right to go further than to
Tho whole curriculum canl be Hgone through
with in three years and when we limit public
education TO that we shall solve this problem
which has been agitltng. and is agitating US.
and will continue to agitate us. We must learn
that In our public schools We must recognize
the rights Of all"
Previous to the. discussion the members OF
tha nnlnn alArfah thnsA nllinArs, praalhant