Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-19

from tt~ir un.es.s,y sd iscoupesexf pei
eaGs ans1 charge sssxlt ~ikh sheir cnssody,
naiusenaa.e ard education. Ard this u
precisely vhss the 6este 81 Naine dets
shsn il fases cAili:en from tAeff. paEeaes
ard puts their sdacstisn and teainlef info
the hsrds 81 The srrfees. IL il no. tguse
Of speech. thesefoss. - refer y The jana'esl
Ct the Refo1n School ~ the vaKes o. IL
State they ere 70 in iAU hrd In tack thus
. fully susaised By legal ansAsiity.
This beng %. il 10 osvioas thas shs]
parents OF the boys condaed In the Reform
School have nothing 10 do With ths Religious
Training Of TIE chiIdren vi lille there. They
have lost their legal riyh. TO edncass and
RaiD their ch;ldres because OF their evD
incsopsesnce Or neglees-
II cannot b. supposed that sueh pAFsnae
are b<ttEs qaAiided 10 dstermire What
kin3 Ct fsiairg ste:r children need
10 make Of them coed men thsn ase the
men appointed BY tbs State 70 have the
ovsfsiyhs Of the schoos. Indeed. Is might
be thought that tie sAd failure such par
enss make in the ,rsinirg Ct their children
10 OF itself prima faess evidence that their
ssyis OF training 10 wfoag and should b re-
vsfsed BY the Safe.
Nos can Il be argued that boy simply
By becoming . criminal becomes invested
With right which be vas never before per-
misted 70 exercise. Of debating What his
moral and religious instruction shall be- II
10 clear thai 10y y h 2se tastes, iaesinations
and habits are IN such urgent need OF re-
formation. il rot qualified % instfaet hs
guardians - to hcw he shsll be educated.
InAxmuch - good children in theis own
homes receive the moral aad religious train
leg selected for them by the parents, there
appears to De no coed resson Why bAd boys
needing to De reformed should net be given
the Instruction sad training which tLeif
legal guardians deem best.
Nor can the sacred figh.s OF parents asd
guardians be Get aside on the demand OF
any church. 1t is sometimes said that the
Roman Cathslic church clsims to be supe-
fier to the State or parent in matters
ct education, bu. We Sre scoondsnt that
such claim. il made by the church. will
never be admitted By the people OF this
State. If the Rowan Catholic church has
no moral or legal right to give children
training not desired by their pareSts, fhes
for precisely the same reason 1t has no
moral or legal right 10 gtrs the inmates of
| the Reform School a training not desired
by those in charge Of the Institution.
We believe We may fairly consider il -
settled that from legal and moral stscd-
point the training Of the boys in the
Reform School, physical, mental and
moral and religious, is TO be determined BY
the State. All the rights and duties OF .
fsths. devolvs upon the State, and no one
can step between 1t and its wards. The
Stale accepts no divided resp ssbiiiy. 1t
must shirk no duty. The State must
decide what .Tsiri1g is bss. adapted to
reform the boys and mould their characters
kright, and it is under no obligation to COL
suit the parents or say church,
| The instruction which the State gives
may be By ito own paid instructors, or vol
un.eer teachers may give their services
gratuit0usiy. but in either case the State 10
responsible for the Instruction. II. there
fore. the State permits volunteer Roman
Catholic teachers 20 inst.uc. the children at
the Reform School gtatuitously in the
tensts of their faih, the State virtually
teaches Romanism to its wards.
| In view Of all these considerations it
| appears conclusive that the trustees. acting
in behalf Of the State as the guardians Of
the boys, are in duty bound to give them
such moral and religious instruction as
seems mos. likely to result in the amend
ment and future benefit of their wards. II
the State is to make good citizens OF these
delinquent boys, sach moral and religious
instruction must be given. This does not
AN that any Of the dogmss of religion
need be taught. 1t is not the province Of
the State TO teach religious tsnets. Its
teaching must be limited to those general
| ~ ~ Chpintiunitu " hinb
modern civilization is based. Our govern.
mens is a Christian government. Our laws
are Christian laws. Our morals are based
| on Christianity, and the religious training
of the State Reform School must be
Christian instruciion-nos msterialism.
aenosticism, or atheism-not Buddhism,
Mohsmmedism or Confucianism-not Pres
byterianism, Methodism or Roman Cath
oiicism. but the general truths of Christi
anity, the power aud goodness Of God,
mans accountability IS moral sgent. and
lessons of morality and virtue.
This much the State must teach or it will
ne glsct the interests Of its wards.
But to teach the d0gDsas Of religion. the
State cannot iapfaiiy do. The Stcte has
of any church. IL has no right to decide
Wh6b CECcu 40 ChilNkcI 5hhiI ACCcpts AL
spirit Of justice. federation to all creeds
ard churches, she may permit clergymen
| Of all denominations to preach to the boys
those broad. general religious trrths which
lie at the basis Of our Institutions and gov
| eminent; blu. her youthful wards she must
proteet. from the riralytes Of religious zeal
OTIS until they have arrived at an sge and
moral condition which fits them 10 inttlli.
gently choose for themselves.
In accordance with this belief, tn. trus-
tees have adopted the bylaws governing
the religious instruction Of the inmates,
and statement showing the actual prac-
| .ice under them; and 1t is believed that
they will show tina. 10 change regarding
religious worthip at the State Reform
School is TO be desired By those having The
best interests of the boys at heart.
Respectfully submitted,
Per order, Boari Of Trustees.
W. W. BoLsTEa, Secretary.