The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-20
RELIGIOUS TEACHING IN PUBLIC
sCHOOL8.

In the London school board bv vote OF 2
TO q plan OF religious education was re-
Gently adopted. under which 1t is ordered
thstths Bible shall be used AZ a''text book"
from which the teacher should give such
explanations in the Christian religion and
morality as are suited TO the capacities OF
children OF VARIOUS ages attending the
schools of the board" This instruction
must no. ''diyergs from the presentation
Of the Christian religion which is revealed
in the Bibie;" and the teacher is as liberty
70 eiucidate and enforce Christian princi-
piles by referring TO any part ofthe Bible.
These principles the circular defines IS
including "a belief in God the Father as
our Creator. in God the Son as our Re-
deemer. and in God the Holy Ghost as our
sanctitaer. 1t says. further. that the
"board cannot approve of any teaching
which denies either the divine or the hu-
man nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, or
that leaves on the minds of the children any
other impression than that they are bound
TO trust and serve Him as their God aud
Lord" II also gives liberty to the teacher
to use hymns in the religious exercises.
concluding with the Doxology or prayers
other than the Lords Prayer" Finally,
IL forbids any attempt whatever to at
tach the children to any particular re-
ligious denomination" and declares that
the religious opinions of candidates
will influence neither their appointment
nor their promotion, and that they will
not be subjected to any questions as to
their religious belief.
The opposition to this scheme was so
powerful and intense that il was only
adopted by a very marrow majority. and
the struggle il to DO renewed when the
new school board is to be elected. In the
minority of twenty ono voting against the
adoption of this scheme were seven minis.
tiers, ~ho opposed the circular on the
ground that IL justified dogma teaching.
or at least opened the door for it.
These ministers took the same ground
that the late Rev. DIR. Howard Crosby, .
distinguished orthodox divine of New
York city, always maintained, viz: that
religious instruction is impossible in
schools which are supported by the pub
lie aud In which children Of ali religious
beliefs are pupils. Rev. DIR. Crosby. .
strictly orthodox divine, was always sup
ported in this view by Rev. DR.. Lyman
Abbott, OF Plymouth chureh---both men of
firm religious belief Religious believers
with definite creed are naturally opposed
TO any religious instruction IN schools by
which a dogmatic tinge offensive to them
may be impaired.
II is q noteworthy fact that this bitter
struggle took place in Great Britain, where
there IL q union OF church and state :
where all persons are taxed for the sup
port of the Established Church; where
money is voted for denominations schools.
Nevertheless. even in Great Britain, this
scheme OF religious education in the public
schools came near being beaten by an op.
| position that included seven ciergymen.
! OF course in the United States, where
| there is no state church. where church
| and state are absolutely separated, no such
/ scheme for religious education In the pub
/ lie schools could stand for q moment afte,
/ an appeal had been taken TO the courts