The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-14
DO a Third Of the People Want Re-
lipiOn in the Public schools?


The discussion which is going on among
cur correspondents concerning religious
education for the schools is uncommonly
interesting. We have never received
more intelligent, more pungent letters
on any question than those which are
coming to us on this subject. 1t is re-
markable how widespread among the
most intelligent people of this time 10
deep, earnest thought on all questions
of religion.
In letters which we have printed dis
tinglished theologians Of the Roman
Catholic Church have presented an un-
compromising view Of the subject of re-
ligious education, founded on the theory
that the Christian religion is Of Divine
origin and the only religion which has
such absolute supernatural authority.
OF course, on that theory the position
they take is imperative the position that
as compared with religious education
there is none other deserving of con-
sileration First Of all, the obligation
under that theory is to save the souls
OF men and not 10 educate their in
tellectS and it is impossible TO take
any other ground than that the propa-
getion Of the Christian religion is the
prime duty of the State, the Church and
every individual member Of society, if
the eternal salvation OF maa depends
on it and can be secured by no other
means.
This theory is that a Christian theoc-
racy. similar to the Jewish theocracy
of the Old Dispensation, and on the
general idea of the theocracy which
the Puritans at first established in New
England, must replace q democracy
from which al! purely religious tests and
motives have been eliminated
We print to-day letter from the Rev
JOHN TALBOT SMITH, the chaplain of the
Convent of Mercy, at Madison avenue
and Eighty-first street, in which that
view of the prime obligation of religious
teaching ia presented and urged. This
Roman Catholic clergyman it will be
seen does not narrow the obligation by
conGping it to his own Church only,
but imposes it on all Christian Churches
as imperative under their teachings. He
assumes that third of our American
population are Christian believers and
argues that if they should unite as an
organized body in demanding that re-
ligion be made the basis of education
Ia .,,hr 81 -..I
even at the necessary price OF a radical
Constitutional amendment, the thing
could be done" Unquestionably, such
an organization would be so powerful
that the political parties would be COM
PEELED to take serious account of it; but
which one would venture squarely 70
champion it and take the risk of the
making the issue?
The objection that legislation and Con-
stitutional amendment to satisfy such
demand would be or would imply union
between Church and State. 30 hateful TO
Americans and SO directly contrary to
our whole political system, the Rev Mr..
SMITH brushes aside. Such a union, he
AYERS, is especially intolerable TO Cath
olios, for they have suffered bitterly be-
cause of it in countries where it exists.
The possibility Of tho establishment of
a State Church in America he treats as
the bugbear it is His declaration that
Americans could not be driven into &C.
cepting the European union Of Church
and State, is simply common sense.
1t is only harmony of Church and
State" that he wants, and he contends
that such harmony is az possible as it Ia
requisite, and that all Christian believers
will unite in calling for it,
The letters we have published from
many Protestant believers seem to prove,
however, that such concert is impossible
Ii we had printed all those received, and
even if we had included in these actually
printed their many bitter expressions on
the subject, we think the Catholic chap
lain would think differently. Except
from the Rev. Mr.. GEER and one other
Episcopal clergyman, all the letters we
have received from sources not Roman
Catholic have expressed either relent-
less opposition to any change ir the
| public school system, to admit Of purely
religious instruction. or have indicated
grave doubts Of tho policy, Even earnest
religious believers seem to fear that the
practical benefit from il would accrue
! almost exclusively to the Roman Catho-
lie Church, with it's already organized
and extensive system Of parochial
schools
SO far from any such unit y of Christian
! believers as the Rev Mr. SMITH expects
we think IL would be safe to assume that
| If there were any division on the sub Iect
IN practical politics fourffths Of the
! Professionals would be found on the side
I Of the policy Of the school system ~ it Is
is il safe TO assume that even all the
ten or twelve millions II Catholics would
/ 40 into the concert he desires2 He says
that the Catholics are leaving the public
! schools as fast as possible and they would
"al leave ~ u body tomorrow had they
, the proper bank surplus, That IN u
/ question on which We would not venture
to express arv decided opinion in oppo.
sition to Catholic priest, but we hive
very grave doubts about the matter.
Moreover, il only one-thrd Of the
| population of this country are Christian