The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-18
THEY WILL NOT
USE PUBLIC FUNDS
Baptist Position on State Aid
to Their Schools.
Mr.. J. w. BAlLEYS VIEWS
8aptis's Will Also Oppose the Use of Public
Funds for School Purposes by
Any Other Religious
Body.

/ Desiring to obtain full information
/ upon the discussion OF State aid to
| schools which took place at the Baptist
! State Convention held in Durham last
! week, a, reporter yesterday called on Mr..
j. w. Bailey, editor of the Biblical
! Recorder, who took part in the discus
sion, and asked him to state the matter,
and give his views on the subject He
very kindly consented.
What is your position in the matter,
Mr.. Bailey?" was asked:
Il have been reported as attacking the
University" said he. THE truth is |
was advocating q constructive policy in
education. The writer who sent out the
report of the convention understood that
Dr. Huffman, Dr. Blackwell and l were
in debate. Each Of us voted for the
same measure. There was no fight
"The subject under consideration was
general education. BY permission [ had
read a communication from a conference
of our secondary school men requesting
the convention to appoint committee on
schools, With a view to forming our de-
/ nominational institutions into a system.
DR.. Hufham and l had urged the APP
pointment of this committee. ! had
argued for federation on the ground OF
self preservation. DR.. Hufham had ad
vised it on the ground of wisdom.
"At this point DR.. c. S. Blackwell de-
clared that no school that receives aid
from the State should be included in a
UNCONVENTIONAL system. This is no new
doctrine with Baptists. 1t is one of their
proudest claims that they have ever ad-
vocated separation of church and State.
DR. Blackwell said that many of our
Baptist schools now receive aid from the
State. | regretted the assertion, ques-
tioning its accuracy. l stated that two
months ago | had announced in the Re-
corder that eight of our UNCONVENTIONAL
schools-in Western Carolina-Were
using the public funds, having absorbed
the public schools. Immediately there
upon Rev. A. +. Brown, who founded
these eight schools and is now their
general representative, explained the
situation and gave assurance that so
soon as the present contracts should ex-
pire an en- would be put to the present
policy.
IF there are other schools in organic
connection with our churches that are
related to the State in this way. l do not
know of them My opinion is that the
Baptist schools that use public funds are
the exception, not the rule, in North
Carolina.
Certainly it never entered my mind
that any school receiving public funds
would be Incorporated in a Baptist sys-
ten. 1t is altogether foreign to Baptist
conceptions Such thing would never
be countenanced.
Il am glad that DR.. Blackwell brought
the matter up. Just as soon as | could
write q resolution reaffirminS our an
cient opposition TO UNCONVENTIONAL insti-
tutions receiving State funds, / offered
it. And it passed unanimously. If ncccs
sary the convention viii pass a rcsOlu-
ton declaring that it cannot recognize
as Baptist any school that uses public
funds.
There are only SO secondary schools
in the State that are in organic relation
to our convention or churches. Our syS-
tenn is all undeyeloped. The convention
appointed committee on schools that
will at least find out the facts and that
may succeed in proposing system that
will be acceptable. Such a system would
be a great achievement. / think we
must establish such system or surren-
der the field.
There are five hundred secondary
schools in North Carolina. Not over 100
Of them are UNCONVENTIONAL or Sectarian.
The others are private. OF these | sup
nose 100 are in the hands of Baptists
OF course they are free to do work fer
the State. They are not UNCONVENTIONAL
The fact that Baptist is principal or
owner of the school does not give the in
stitution sectarian character or de-
nomination relation. There must be de-
rominational relation or sectarian char
acter.
"Ycu may rest assured that Baptist
schools will not use the public funds:
and you may count upon it that Baptists
will oppose the use of public funds for
school purposes by any other religious
body. We are chagrined that these few
schools of ours have broken our cherish
cd record aud put us at disadvantage in
maintaining the principle that our
churches have done so much to win.
Perhaps a brief explanation of the
connection of the sectarian schools with
the public schools may be helpful. In
places where denomination builds a
good schol the temptation to absorb the
free school is great. The free schol is
weak 1t runs only four months, and
has only one teacher, as a rule. Here
is in the same district a good school
house, with several rooms and fair
equipment Here are several well cdu-
Gated teachers. 1t seems a pity not 10
put the free school children into this
school They viii have better oppor-
tunitics certainly. But if the school is
scctarian it is wrong. IT it is OF your sect
il may be no hardship. But suppose it is
of another? IL is wrong and contrary 10
the spirit Of our institutions. Even if
the separation of the schools works hard
ship to the sectarian school and deprivcs
tic free school children of opportunities
tho principle is worth more than its APP
r,lication will cost. We Baptists would
rather have no schools OF our own at all
than TO have schools that serVc us by
aid of he public taxes.
by the way, cX-Supt Mcbanc ruled
against The policy Of scciarian schools
ilsinc The free school funds. He made
}this ruins in response to Baptist pro-