Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-09
Mr.. VOLTS Objectfons.

Chairman Wolf in speaking of the mat
ter to reporter for The Star, declared
yesterday:
1.-The Students Hymnal' is Objectionable
in character to a great number Of citizens
Of the District, and we believe that in its
use a legal right is being invaded, for the
Constitution in letter and the statutes in
form, guarantee us freedom from sectarian-
ism in our public institutions. We are not
opposed to the hymnal in our capacity as
Jews, as Unitarians, as liberal Christians, or
any other class. but we are arrayed against
II as citizens who believe that religious
forms in the schools are impracticable and
illegal We are proceeding against the
hymnal on purely legal grounds. and are
going to attack it in that manner. Our
memorial to the Commissioners Will be SOLE
ly a legal proposition"
Members of the board of education are
averse to being directly quoted In the mat
ter until the report Of the committee In
charge Of the question shall have been re-
ceived and acted upon. One Of the officials
said, however. that 1t would be just as
sensible for the people protesting against
the use of the hymnals in the schools to
object to the sessions Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives being opened with
prayer by regularly ordained ministers OF
different denominations.
II have no doubt" said he. that both
houses Of Congress would adopt such q
book Of songs as the Students Hymnal' IL
the respected statesmen were at all apt in
music and could arrange for organ ac-
compartment. The Christianity reflected in
the action of Congress in the employment
of chaplains Is not attacked as union Of
church and state, so why should such an
allegation be made in respect to the use
of a hymn book in the public schools?
when the board OF education took
charge Of school matters in the District
1t decided to continue the use Of sacred
singing in the schools, and readopted the
Students Hymna1.' The book Is made up
of religious songs, and that is all that can
be said against it as being sectarian. Those
who are objecting to its use would have
had adopt song books that were ire
hgious, and this We did not care to do
Other Objections.
Rev. Alexander Kent, one Of the leaders
Of the crusade against the hymnal. when
the movement.
the matter was first brought to my atten-
ton. The information came to me at that
time to the effect that there had been a
new departure in the opening religious ex-
ercises in the high schools, and that 1t had
become not optional. but compulsory for
each ppil to provide himself or herself with
copy of the Students Hymnal.' At first
gave little heed to the matter, although
had a daughter in one of the schools. I
knew her religious beliefs were already
firmly fixed and that nothing in the book
could harm her.
II then learned that several Hebrew chill
dren had told their teachers they could not
conscientiously sing the hymns contained
In the book, for they were Numerically
opposed to their doctrines and the teach
ings OF their parents. am informed that
these children were told that IL they desired
to continue in attendance at the schools
they must conform to the rules. Children
who did not purchase tbs books were kept