The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1902-08-16
SEP4RA TON OF CHURCH
AND STA IT,

The unfortunate cOndlClOnS IN
France, arising from the action
of the government in closing the
religious schools, furnish the
strongest evidence of the Wis
dom of those American states
men who provided for the COM
plete separation of church and
state. The serious trouble which
an unwise union of church and
state is causing to the French
republic should warn those
Americans who would introduce
religious instruction into the
public schools of this country.
The abnormal conditions which
Justify the French government
to close the converts and to COM
pei the nuns to seek a more hos
pitable soil result from the fail
ure of France to recognize and
enforce the absolute divorce OF
church and state. Here in
America the public schools are
not permitted to teach religion
to the child, while the private in
stitution, with which the State
has nothing to do, decides for
itself the form of divine worship
most suitable to it's patrons.
The idea of religious tolerance,
which is embodied in the Amer
lean system of government, is to
true religion and to the cause Of
freedom what sunshine is to
young plants. Without that
broad spirit of tolerance, which
guided the forefathers of the
Republic when they built this
government, liberty can not
thrive and conscientious wor-
ship of God is Impossible.
The cause of human rights has
suffered more in Europe from
the hatred and bigOtry born OF
RELIGIOUS intolerance than from
any other source. Since the
time that the papal bull served
as an engine of oppression and
spread terror among the pop
ulace, the union of church and
state in European governments
has never ceased to cause
trouble, and it is really strange
that such an enlightened and
liberty-lOving nation as the
French still allows itself to be
harassed by this CHASTITY rem
nant of mOnarchical times.
DR.. j. l.. NJ. Curry who has
been in Paris, was interviewed
on this question which is just
now disturbing the French re.
public. Dr.. Curry said that in
his opinion the 'American plan
offered the only permanent set
Element of this veXed question.
Says Dr.. Curry:
ssThis means the complete separation OF
Church and State, leaving each perfectly
free within its own sphere. The state: has
no right to discriminate against the religious
opinions Of any man. Though a believer in
God and in the inpira,ion of the Scriptures
I would, never' helcss, respec, the belief Oh
non belief Of an Ingersol- There is such {
thing honest doubt.
ssThe difficulty with Spain is that she is
only just beginning awake to the great
educational problem which confronts her
The difficulty with England is that ar
an,iqua,ed idea Of responsibility compels
her to keep up established church. The
system obtaining France is more equitable
for it pays all churches alikc-the Jewish
rabbi who is despised because of the stipend
as well as the Catholic cure, who is onl
disciplined.
eff these countries would keep Churcl
and state within their respect spheres ano
let those who want this that form O.
religions, this that specie, of education
pay for it, religious would not be
developed in England, and France woule
not have to witness the sorry spectacle o
seeing well-meaning women who minister t.
the sick chased from post to pillar.
The citizens of our city arr
deeply grateful to the FIRE lad
dies of Opelousas and Lafayette
in response to our call on Tues
day last: the Opelousas boy
were in the hottest of it, ant
with our people had about give1
up all hope of saving the tow
when the train brought the fire
men of Lafayette. numberin:
some $50, splendidly equipped
xr011 licoi,1;rn1 aSSiSfi