The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-10
The Bible In the Public school.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-ST: Apropos
Of this question will YOU allow me to add my
little dab of darkness to the confusion already
reigning through the prevalent tendency TO
darken counsel with words?
l take it to be self-evident that no good
man nowadays should want to thrust his
particular brand of religion upon other peo-
pies childrcn-and one of the dearest prlyi-
leCes of an American is the right TO choose
for himself the religion he wishes to support
That is what religious freedom means.
II was long ago said that Orthodoxy
is my doxy, heterodoxv your doKy," and
herein is great truth UNANIMOUSLY appre-
hended.
Let all good Americans try to rest salts
fed, each with the possession OF his own
precious faith. Let each hug this faith TO
his bosom in ECSTASY, but let us all earnestly
pray to be delivered from trying to thrust
Upon the children of our neighbors this faith
u ours, merely because We knov it TO be the
only correct and soul-saving "doxy." Other
people of other faiths may krov the same
things of theirs-and while they are mistaken
from our viewpoint, we may Do mistaken
There are many diverse systems Of religion
in America and for all these hereditary
enemies to dwell together in amity It Is es
sential that no one system shall be allowed
to arrogate to itself any state right or Priv
lege not possessed by all the others, Now
in the public schools, il Is naniieetly Nm
universal religions, As there are so many.
no time would be left for the three 1hs't
hence in our desire to be fair to all, we must
necessarily exclude all This leaves all on
the same footing that is, dependent on prl,,
vate enterprise To push each along toward
that universal acceptance it is bound to gnin.,
as, with human frailty. boldly proclaim
mine does, 1t need not fear in an open Gontt4e
with Error, Let THEM grapple--aa pet On
Truth But Let them nes s tp5t So tco ,ns
Mormon, Christian Scientist, an qt"r!'.'
Buddhist, Dowieite a Catholic, lIotcS.I,
ant Il voudou worshlpper n QUAKER, a Ae'oN
Adventist and Anv-Oid-lhing, can send -
child to thc school supported by the SttNo
and know that the child will le4rn. hotgl' z
there 20 cause il u deepisc the religion 81 =
ne can choose his religion, his poItirs 8
doctor and lis LAWYER as best praseS MA,
And. above all, teach, him by ptHcePt e%a
example that az an American he is - .
charitable toward others who have i3 th"t
unWisdom chosen Il different preacher
different political boss. i diIereat lawyer or
n different doctor,
goes into rapturcs over the ner"S'It.
teaching in the public. schools the i%lh
her foretathers, asserting stoutI{ 'naI y
It may not be good enough Tor others who'
unfortunately for themselves, bad foTG-
fathers different from hers. II lf po",,'e
that even she has strayed so far from q .
faith and practice OF her forcfath"rs "
she no longer countenances bUrainE wtc''s
or boring holes through QUakcrs' tongues,
or branding Catholics or even owning 81. " 80,
Al the best her Protest9nt forrl !thr's
religion or there would never have been
Protestant RELIGION. and she would u"" be d
Catholic; or. 10 go further back, 2 Jewe"S
fighting vaantly 70 keep the RtnIe out .
conclusion most foudly TO be wished, we're
she 4 hit more logical. NAVY
BROOKLYN. July s.