The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-30
THE BIBLE IN THE UNIVERSITY.
WAsHIsGTos SECULAR UNION, J


FREMONT, Wash, Sept. %. 1917
To the Board of Regents of the Washington
State NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.: The Washington
Secular Union, with local branches in nearly
every district in the state fake east and west of
the Cascades), organized to protect its members
and all other worthy citizens in the "absolute
freedom of conscience in all matters of religious
sentiment" as guaranteed by our state constitu-
tion respectfully call your attention and solicit
your earnest consideration of the following
facts:
Article l., section 2, of our state constitution,
reads: absolute freedom of conscience in all
matters of religious sentiment, belief and wor-
ship shall be guaranteed TO every individual"
"No public money or property shall be appro-
priated for or applied to any religious worship,
exercise or instruction, or the support of any
religious establishment"
The law of our legislature tpage SIC, Session
Laws, 18S990), act in relation TO the establish
ment and government OF the university OF the
state of Washington, provides:
Sec. Is. "The funds of the university shall be
derived from the proceeds of the sale OF land
donated by the United States for the endow-
ment of a university, and the admission and
tuition fees OF the students, and such appropri-
ations as the legislature may make"
Sec 81. "The sum of $4,000 is hereby appro-
priated out of the state treasury" etc.
1t is not denied that the university is sus-
tained by appropriations both OF public property
and OF public money. Nevertheless, at a meet
ing of the board of regents, held in the city of
Seattle July 10, 1880, the following resolution
was adopted:
Resolved, That the religious exercises in the
university be confined 20 reading passages in
the Bible and repeating the Lords Prayer"
The board OF regents thus declared that read
ing the Bible and repeating the Lords Prayer
constitute religious exercise.
The constitution of our state declares: "No
public money shall be appropriated or applied
to any religious worship, exercise or instruc-
ton"
The State university Is created and main
tanned by the civil government, and therefore
Is civil, not religious, institution, aud is not
maintained in the interest of, or opposition to,
religion, nor in the interest of any denomina-
ton or Sect but of the people. by the people, for
the people.
The sole purpose of our State university is to
provide the highest secular education to its
students, not to impart religious instruction, or
70 provide place of worship.
The state has no right to teach in its unIyer-
slty or in its public schools or elsewhere the
Christian, Jewish, Buddhist any other re-
ligion.
The attempt OF any body of Christians to in
troduce their dsnominational doctrines aud
dogmas into the university would by every
other denomination be rightly denounced as a
monstrous usurpation.
Liberty OF opinion, liberty OF worship, liberty
In all matters pertaining to religion is not a
| privilege created awarded by the state but
night inherent IL the personality OF the individ-
uai conscience, and the state of Washington is
pledged by It's constitution not only not to in
terIere with that right, but to protect it,
The board of regents has no more right to AL
thorize, much less to pay from public money,
for the erection OF chapel in connection with
the university, or TO pay salary to any person to
conduct religious exercises or give religious in
struction therein, than il has to apply the funds
OF the university to sending missionaries TO the
so-cailed heather.
Our worthy superintendent of public instruc.
ton, member of your honorable board. re-
Gently applied TO State Attorney General Jones
for his official opinion as to the legality or con-
sututionalty of conducting devotional or re.
llgious exercise in our public schools
Your serious attention is solicited to that
opinion. Our state attorney general quotes
Justice Lyon: "That reading Bible in the school
Is sectarian instruction.: that pupil of orii
nary intelligence is instructed thereby in Sec
tartan doctrines"
In conclusion, after reference to numerous AL
thorties, he decides that reading Bjbl. ia
strictly religious exercise within the meaning of
article l, section II, providing that no public
money or property shall be appropriated for re-
lieioUs worship or instruction.
The Washington Secular Union, its Officers
and members, are without exception the de-
voted friends of the university, and it is be-
cause OF our deep interest in its Prosperity we
desire there shall be no just cause for any sect
denomination or class of people to oppose or
Use influences against it, but rather that all can
unite in its support, and the true intent and
purpose OF its institution be fully accom- plisheti
Confident your respect for the constitution
ana laws OF the state viii insure your prompt
resembling the resolution complained of. and
that you viii forthwith issue the necessary or
ders to insure compliance by the faculty with
the requirements OF toe constitution pronibit-
ing religious exercises or instruction In conneo-
ton with studies of the university, ! have the
honor to subscribe myself, yours respectfully,
C. B. reynolds,
secretary Washington Secular Union, Fremont
wash.