The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-13
Doctor Norris Says States
Claim on Child Ends With Pro
visions Against llliteracv.
RELIGION NECESSARY BRANCH.
Noted Methodist Divine Declares
That 1t Is the Church's Duty to
Develop Faculties of
Pupil.

"The state has no right to make pro-
found scholars. Its gratuitous system OF
schooling must cease a: the doors Of high
er education. and when the end. namely.
the prevention OF ilEteracy and the de-
complished, the future development c: the
mental faculties of the child is no con-
Germ of the state, but rightly belongs to
the church"
This, terseIy put, Is the sentiment ex-
pressed in an able paper by the Reverend
Doctor James c. Morris at the meeting OF
the ministers Of the NJ. E. Church. South.
yesterday morning. Doctor Morris IS pres
ident Of Central College at Fayette, Mo-,
one OF the largest and foremost institu-
tions of Southern Methodism, and coming
from him the paper is considered of more
than ordinary Importance.
In further commenting on his subject
after the meeting, Doctor Morris said that
in so far as the high school attempts to
do college work 1t must he reckoned in
the category of schools OF higher educa-
ton and consequently comes in for the
same criticism. He was also questioned
on tho free text book system and said
that In this matter he concurred with
what Archbishop Glennon said on the sub
ject relative to state paternalism ana
tendency to Socialism.
His paper also dealt with the education
Of the preacher. who. he said, must be
broad and liberal In his relations to others
He said that many preachers nave super
annuated themselves by failure TO STUDY
and to keep their minds vigorous and ac-
tive. To this fact he largely attributed
that the people do not wish a man FOR
their preacher who Is in the promised lana
and yet is feeding on mamma and Is trying
to feed the same to them.
CHURCH AND STATE.
Continuing, he said that there are two
great agencies contending to educate the
youth the church and the state. The lat
ter. he said. is making a great effort to
affect a monopoly.
THE state has such large resources az
its command and Possesses such facihues
that the church is at great disadvantage
What is the ground FOR the states claim
to educate Its sons and daughters? simply
to insure good sitiaenship in 11aeraey r. as,f. Is
ncient warrant for the state to maintain
public schools. Beyond this she does not
profess to 60: The question OF religion 4 Is
whether the children are Christians. Jews,
Mohammedans. Buddhists or atheists.
'On the other hand. the church adds tho
element Of religion: the Christian religion.
and vastly more. To her the-chiidren are
not only the citizens Of a. civil govern
ment, but also citizens Of the Kingdom Of
God. They belong to God primarily an, and
kingdom regards this as their highest re-
lation. She seeks not only to make them
good citizens. but Christians as we'll
Tho first responsibility for the religious
tuition Of the young lies upon the family
in the home, and there Is no hand Of man
or angel to which 1t may be committed
by way of substitution. But the church Is
required and expected to help the parents
We know to our sorrow that the element
Of religious training il sadly neglected.
The church which fails to educate her
children is betrayinE the Ark of God into
The monumental piece OF Christian prop
agandism Is the Jesuit movement under
Loyola in, the Sixteenth Century. That
was the strongest human element which
opposed the Reformation under Luther, and
II has done more to extend Roman Catho-
lie Christianity than any other agency
Of that church: 1t has deeply and strong
ly intrenched the church at nome. and 1t
has carried the gospel to the great outly
the whole world. In fact. the Jesuit
saved Rome and sent her on her way OF
overwhelming expansion.
The nucleus Of Jesuitism Is education.
the most careful Christian education of
immediate supervision Of the church. and
that system remains in vigorous opera
ton to-day. Whatever We Protestants
may say Of the religious phases or Jesuit
system seems almost an inspiration OF
wisdom and we may well study this chap
ter in the history Of cdus4tIrl as a
mighty factor in the evangeli-atirn Of the