The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-12
RELIGION IN rrnLIC SCHOOLS
'"c views of I'M Episcopal Minister
1T torI Worth

'Ti W OftN.
fort Worth. Texas. December 1.-THE
following somewhat remarkahle commun,-
cation was written by Rev. n. NJ. Cotton
Nj A. b. Sc, CLondonl. rector of the
Trinity church. this city. and presented
the last school board THAT body however
Thought it not advisable t, give 1t con-
sidcration, claiming u jncxpodient to raiae
such question in the schools. The hoard
further. ms Tuctcd the secretary to not
ALLOW it TO 80 into the newspapers. hut the
news gathcr,rs outwitted the baard and
su'ceeded IN getting cory OF the com,
munlcation, which is as follows:
10 the School board OF the CITY of Fort
Worth
foiL Worth, Texas. November 20. 1891. t.
gentlemen | am sorry that Won never
received my FIRST communication; and am
also surprised inaSmuch as the postauthor-
tues have never returned it 20 me. How.
ever. since Dr. Mccoy assures me TINT
any communication have TO make shall
receive your most earnest confederation. |
venture to reproduce. as fag rs can. the
susseslions contained IN my first lester.
! believing as | do,
| l. That the church and no, the BfhI, -
the pillar ana ground OF the truth" ii
/ Tim, ILL., l5)
=. ihAt Ia call the Bible the word OF
God, MS many parsons ignoranuy TO- is
TO give to book Tor rather A collection ~
/ heo6s) the title which properly belongs
to God Almighty, Isl. John l. iSlN; and
SO 70 tonne perllously near a breach of the
! FIRST Commandment.
| .. That bssIns all religion upon this Bible
as a. loundatt-n instead OF on Jesus Christ
! tsee Cor Iii, IL Is main cause a, IN.
unhappy divisions" OF ghe modern church
te. x, 2i5 different aud competing chris.
tian sects in the Unted States alonc).
l. That reading the Bible in day schools
with noto and ISN'T would lead to the
teaching of religious dogma at the expense
OF the state, and 50 contravene the prin
ciples OF religious liberty laid down in the
! constitution
/ 5, That rcadingtho Bible without note or
comment is to treat 1t uselessly irreverent 4.
iy and suporstitiously you would not treat
any other hook sn.
g. THAI the Bible Is a very difficult book
and In no way adapted for elementary
instruction In the principles of religion
and morals requiring rs II does more note
ana comment than any ether hook in the
world
| hereby protest on behslf OF an earnest,
Intelligent and respectable minority OF
| your fellow citizens agsins; any religious
exercises whatever being conducted in the
| public schools by persons other than the
properly qualified aud authorized ministers
! OF religion, or thoss to whom thar function
may be assigned by the authority OF the
| religious bodies who are responsible for
| the spiritual welfare OF the citizens.
| And also hereby ask permission 10
| submit fer your most serious and earnest
| consideration solution OF the problem
commonly called "ths religious difficulty. .
| This solution OF the problem Is ons which
Is the result OF many years careful study
OF the subject, and one which has also re-
| ceived the appreciation OF some OF our most
| eminent thinkers and students of sncla,
| science.
| The proposal Is as follows,
! let the first fory-five minutes OF the
school day-from to 9:4s a. m,----be placed
| at the disposal OF the citizens for religious
instruction. to be used in such way ana
manner as may 10 them seem lit.
!: Let the school board place the rooms