New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-15
NON-SECTAR1AN SCHOOLS.
AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED XvITn
AMEN DMENT.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: VIII the proposed amendment to the Consti-
tuition OF the United States given in recent num-
Der Of The Tribune. as formulated by the National
League for the Protection Of American institutions
II adopted be permanent settlement Of the reli'
gious question In the public schools? Is lis IAN
2uage such that it cannot admit of different inter-
pretations? How far will II interfere with the pup
lie schools they now are? The object OF the
League IS said to be TO make IT impossible to appro-
pirate public funds for sectarian UNCONVENTIONAL
purposes. The amendment prohibits appropriations
to any religious society or institution wholly OF III
part under sectaran ecclesiastical control. Does
this cover the whole ground? The common schools
al present managed cannot be said to be sec
tartan under ecclesiastical control, ana yet VINO
that has given the subject any consideration does
not know that III some manner, directly OF ihui-
rectly, the religious question intrudes itsen INTO
them?
Any settlement to be effective must not give one
sect or any combinations of sects preference over
some other sect of whose growing power they may
be distrustful. 1t is not question TO be adJusteu
by agreement between sects of Protcstan's' UT pe-
tween Roman Catholics and Protestants' IL Is
much larger question. The keynote OF any per
manent settlement must be ths-no man snail DE
taxed to promulgate another mans religious creed
Nothing short of this secures absolute religious
liberty. The majority Of the people In the United
States are neither Protestants nor Roman
Catholics. 1t is often assumed in discussing this
divisions must be counted in the other Nothing
can be more unjust or further from the truth The
total population of the United States by the census
Of 1890 was 62,62 $50. The total membership OF all
denominations including Jews. Mormons. Shakers
and Unitarians is Sy6S65s about one in seven OF
the population If to this the entire Roman Catholic
population be added the whole amount Will be To-
037 s6O or a little less than one in four. Now If
some satisfactory adjustment Of the religiousschooi
question could be agreed upon by all of these forty
four sects three-fourths of the entire population
would then be unrepresented 1t Is idle to say that
the convictions of this threefourths of the popula
ton are less sincere or less sacred their rights
than are those of the minority. Nor would their
rights be less sacred IT, instead OF being in the ma
iority they constituted only a thousandth part OF
the whole population. Now this National League
proposes TO prohibit sectarian legislation. But are
the members of the League agreed to what Is
sectarian? Would 1t be allowable to appropriate
funds of the people for the maintenance of schools
in which Christianity was taught If they were not
under ecclesiastical control and no denominatonal
lines were drawn? Are the Protestant clergy who
are prominently connected with this organization
in favor of this amendment If 1t is understood that
1t prohibits the teaching OF the dogmas of the Chris
tian religion In schools supported at the public ex-
pense? Win it be consistent to allow the use OF
text books in the public schools that teach that any
one religion Is true and all other religions false?
Or that teach that the prophets OF one religion are
true and of other religions false? Or that the mir
acles that religious body teaches are true and
that another teaches false? VIII this amend
ment still allow of the exemption Of the property
of churches and cergymen from taxation for school
and other purposes? TIC exempt property for reli-
gious reasons from school tax is to place on
other property increased school tax because Of that
exemption, and so indirectly to use the pubic FUNDS
II The same number OF The Tribune which contains
the amendment proposed by the National League
also gives brief report Of an address on the school
Sde.'o Who ' says The Romish Church has ruled
the Bible out of the public schools in ST. Louis,
ou, Of the schools Of New brunswick" Evidently
he does not construe the new amendment to be
schools VIII an amendment that does not pro-
hibit its use as religious BOOK IN tne scnop Sn Do
not accept the reformation dogma or us ihfahi-
In an address delivered by Andrew D White last
oh he sSSeos ae pS Would have religious reading
and instruction, and would have book prepared
Inspired passages Of the Hebrew scriptures from
the inspired writings Of Homer Dante, Masn rns,
oacbers Of ancient and modern times. Such OF
the Bible in the schools could not be ooJfced 10 n nf
Il in the schools infallibe book or o,n n,h
wise than library OF religious literature misa
are library Of dramatic works with many IL, IN
spreS Ssefs y = to teach the doctrine Of IN
fallbe church pope is to teecn ,5s, h H.
then to teach the doctrine of an infaiiioe DOCK Is
Theodore Roosevelt in his address in Boston De,
,bose Who seek to discriminate against those peo-
pie tho hold given religious belief anu go M.
specia jurisdiction but the professors OF al ereeus
shall be treated alike in order tnat every nniv'
religious BELIEF may be. shall feel that he has as
voice as any Sn9r h man ch III te Let
! glance for a moment at few textpop psd eiven
II they disermnate against those school %0 history
porting to eptomize the history OF the Trrhhsbop
fIsber Christ is everywhere recognized as super
natural being in it. The Book OF Mormon AM, ions
KDran fo ngs Gf MeT
Mahomet Is pronounced s tne n1ot take up reader
p0s'or Of on 'hv weIknown series of school readers
and find this mote Sder On tines ns he value
| his work is much deprecated ~ ,he cared >
ous attacks he makes max the on historian did not
cent the editors theological views In h nn H., b
The editor find r fh1S eonrmed sceptic the
philosophical fortitude and TRANQUILITY OF MS rave
% 1faS ms Of nnoissr aabe
used series and Iee Exemplary in manners he lived a;
M aed sceptic religion" And ms IN, IN one eb ..
me sfie ,o nv very heart do commserate M
nondition The unbelicver one whose n'e nreck of
ngnd Gi utterly remediless reason is PROSTATE and
n ,,i's prejudice and superstition nave The
Of this letter not to advocate or tb
denim any form OF religion Editions D%I 20 OF this Gov
Iact an ,ts only function with respect TO rens,J.
IS to every elzs9 IN i resoSs bery T
nalienaoe suggest this amendment to the propose
Xv Amend%sn re msslns an
or the free syer av rased By
use IT'S propeia ytSorize either be used. for TN
founding idT Ss sseGrce s"e S
propriatoi, p"anv Church, religious denomination
or Tsscus %Sog or n p sGfe' Sde
undertakns ecciesiastical control. and Jewish, 10
Catholic or b %h ritual service
shall not be taught o'ai''' ~ '''""' '