New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-31
RELIGION IN SCHOOLS.
EEIIGION IN SCFfDOIIH'
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
DOES NOT STRIKE TIE ROOT OF
THE TROUBLE.

THE TROUBLE
To The Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. The Amendment reported agreed upon by
the Educational Committee 81 the Constitutional
Convention suggests to my mind the reply OF oiiver
Cromwell 10 the Governor OF Ross VINO insisted
upon liberty Of conscience for his subjects as con-
dillon ~ surrcnderiug Il meddle with no mans
conscioocc " said cromwell but for going 20
mass where the Parliament Of England has power
that will not be- allowed o." II Is not unlike IN
character the religious liberation established by
Lord Raltmore i'm MARYLAND in IT'S carly history
which was only extended 10 those who profsssed 70
believe I'm the Lord Jesus Christ. This amendment
e. clearly I'm the interest OF the parties who are
active i'm seeking to force the establishment or
ori hodox Protestantism as the recognZel reHS'oh
Of the state. II authorizes the Appropriation OF
ruhlc funds 20 religious schools which tHach re-
ugious ,.nes but stlpulaes that the tenets taught
must be undonominational The permission IS also
apparently given 10 teach religious doGmas in the
nublc schools n they are no; UNCONVENTIONAL To
teach n religious tone, held by only one denom-
nation becomes unlawful In a school supporter
or aided by public funds. To teach a
religious tenet held by several denomina-
lions NJ puzzle expense. is proper and consttu-
tonal To teach "A religious tenet held exclusively
bv one body would h, unconstitutional even II that
RELIGIOUS body comprised one-half Of the entire
population To teach tenet held In common by
several religious bodies would come within the per
mi sion - the Constitution although the comblnel
populatl1u represented by these organizations was
only the smallest fraction of the whole popula ton
Public nprroprintions would not be permissible 10
n school teaching an lnfallhle head OF the church.
although the one denomination holding TINT beliet
number onc-icnth % our national population. II
would he allowable 20 teach In schools supported
| bv ruhlc expense the infalllbni,y Of a book be-
cause that being a belief OF several denom-
nations becomes unicnominational. although It IA
doubtful II there are ns many people I'm the nation
to-day who accept as there are who accept papal
nfalibii;y one rests upon belief In the nfallibili-
Is OF a living religious leader. and the other rests
upon belief the infalllhility OF religious leaders
who lived several thousand years ago.
II IL a part ~ the Inversnllst creed that all
mankind will be- saved. To teach this would deny
them share ~ public funds I'm their schools be-
cause Il IL UNCONVENTIONAL II IS part Of the relig-
| ous creed ~ many church bodies that the most Of
mankind will be- damned eternally This IL therefore
| undenomnatlonal and to teach IT Will come within
| the liberty allowed hy the proposed amendment OF
| the Educational Committee OF the convention.
The t-nltarllne hoil hat Christ was man. I, Is
| their very foundation principle They must forcgo
assistance from the stat or drop ms from their
teachings. Many orthodox churches teach that
Christ was God rms IS then uiH'no'nlhat lolal'
| and may hc taught I'm schools supported by taxa
1 It Would not b. construed as denominational
tenet 10 teach In 4 school that Christ came back TO
his disc pies after his death or hat Lazarus was
| rnlscd from The dead because these are common
|
| the dead 40 now also sometimes manifest their
presence 20 the living. s believed by many OF the
grratcef minds would not b" permitted IN a school
| receiving Fny public all. b"caus" this amendment
would characterize II as denomnauona and UNI
| constitutional .
| This amendment reported by this committee. II
1 n 1 effvair na'SS OF sr;ng Re
| controversy In tho public schools. II does not
| strike st tho root o. the tree Of eVil Whch has
| horne such troublesome fruit tn" wrong is In us
ing tho public funds Tor propagatnS religious dog
| mas ai all The only just and rational ground 10
stand On is this 10 man shall be- taxed 10 propagate
| another mans creed The teaching IN any NaF or
| All religious dogmas and doctrines should Dee pro
| h.bltcl IN 'he schools supported wholly or partly
| by public expense The new compulsory school law
| lg bic 10 fine and imprisonment VINO faNs u s"ni
his children between eight ard sixteen To- school
| during the school year. To lcgalz' IN" teachlnE
az religious dogmas In n" schools by constitutional
Amendment and compel ait'ndan'e az tne srnoDs
s 70 establish religious tyranny. No conSttutlonal
| amendment car permanently settle TINS question
that does not pu; all religious beliefs on the sam"
| footing 80 far as the State Is concerned No par
TALLY ~ taxation on account or r"giouS ma ,t'iS
| and 70 taxation To support teach any religious
| doctrines are the essential conditions OF religious
| Again this amendment while prohibiting the
| teaching Of denomnaiionnl dognas IN drhoh..hh-
| ,i"nol schools which receive help from the state
| docs not even prohibit he teaching ~ d"nonilhd.
rnali fenets I'm public schools roi under rohuol or
| religious denominations. Tho struggle VIII sim go
on among religious parflsanS ior poHuonS III H
| nIhiic schools and II viii not be contrary To TINS
| amendment for them their POSITIONS 10
nropacate then as they do their respective" pc
cfs and proscvtzc for the churches or their choice
Let there De an amendment for,,idu'ng ~ nPpln n
nrintlons of public funds schools not under con-
| irnl ~ the school department. ana iorDuilnE an
| determinations between religions ana all teaching
| OF religious dogmas In the schools . ,.r,c,,