Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-07

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The report of the superintendent of char
tiles to the District Commissioners is one
of a good deal of interest. Attention has
already been called in The Star to parts of
it, and some exceptions have been taken to
the superintendent dealing with one of
the institutions of the city. Since he has
been in office he has labored earnestly,
and no doubt conscientiously, to cut off all
sectarian institutions from congressional
aid. In this Congress has agreed with him.
But he has his own views as to what con-
stitutes sectariansm. The dictionaries
give us the generally accepted idea when
they define Sectarian "a member or
adherent OF particular sect, school or re-
ligiouS denomination and sectarianism as
adherence to separate religious denomi-
nation This is the ordinary understand
ing Of the terms. But the dictionary view
is evidently not the view of the superin-
tendent. He puts aside the claim that in
situations are not sectaran because per-
sons OF different denominations are men,
bers of their boards of trustees and par
ticipate in their management, and because
no distinctions are made as to the religious
bellefs or preferences of the parents of
children received, or of the inmates them
selves" This" he says, 'is a sophism
which deserves to be set at rest at once
and for all time" As holding the ''sophism'
ourselves with the public generally, we
set at rest for all time" The process was
very simple. 1t was by quietly substituting
the word religious for ''denominationaT'
"a process that loeicians would call very
Migrant 'sophism." He says: ITO under
stand whether an institution is a religious
establishment, and whether contributions
are devoted to the - establish
ment of any particular system of religion. :"
etc: He then takes up the different insti-
tutions that care for children, most Of
which we judge would fall under his def
milton Of sectarian institutions. An excep-
ton seems to be found in the MauIshv
Home, heretofore classed by him as secta-
ran, but where, he now says, no religious
or devotional exercises are conducted -
This, we are told, is incorrect, but if it in
dfcates the ideal to which our institutions
that receive aid from Congress are to con-
1orm 1t is very significant. We do not see
why 1t should not apply to purely govern
ment institutions as well as those sustained
by private organizations or by churches
But it Is a striking fact that the most sue
cessful government Institutions those that
show the best results, as the Industrial
home School and the most difficult and adj
mirably managed reform school for hovs
have very positive religious exercises In
deed, the remarkable success of the reform
school in dealing with its wayward and
iawless inmates is, in our Judgment, largely
due to the kindly and judicious religious
influence brought to bear upon them
The writer has always been in favor of
leaving the support of sectarian instttu-
eioilS " tile denominations to which thew
belong, but the superintendent idea of
sectarianism would seem to rule pretty
much all religion out of institutions that
receive public money. Rather than this it
would be far better to give freely to every
institution, whatever its religious faith,
that can show reasonable claim in the
work it is doing.
1t Is not simply question Of money
though II any one chooses, let him compare
the expense of the old system with the
vastly increased expense of the present
1t is question of the whole character of
our institutions and of those who are to
go out from them to influence the commu-
nifty for evil or for good. Better Infinitely
better the former system, with all its i'm
perfectons. with no superintendent of
charities at all, but with the oversight of
intelligent and responsible citizens Of our
own District. than a system under which
the chastity epitaph can be written over
the doors of our institutions for children
that No religious or devotional exercises
are conducted here CITIZEN
/ January 9, 1860.