The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-31
I1NcULcATE RELIGION,
III $Rev.4Robcrt Strange, -. L

E
1NcULcATE RELIGION.
Rev.pRobcrt Strange -. ~ ~.
i think the Bible ought to BIO . used IL ~
Ina nublic schools, and l think also that
religion ought 10 be nculcntcd there,
IT Is generally accepted IN the OnitsH
states that 1T Is the duty OF me sta 1t
ia educate nll her children. ana that,i IN
order. to perform that duty, she mas ING
right To tax n man to mnintaln w! Wy
schools or the state, II he have no cnii-.
tlren himself or even II he SEND MS
children to private schools ana phS iol
Thorn there Tho reason for TINS ~ ~ ~
tho pillatthroplc one that II IS go0u ~
every child to have an educnt'oi, put =
Id the political reason that Tue ,AS..!sI
OF the children is necessary TO NY J, W.. u.
fare Of the state that lgnor 'le, 81 - =
menace to the state.
Now, morality is moro necessary s's (, ~
the welfare Of the State than euucatliotllif
wickedness moro Of q menace tha "a. y iig'1llo o
rance. ,@ ~. q n,
Therefore, il the state has the right
to use every, honest means 70 ,eacn ti.s
intellect Of her children. surely sho ms
tn, right to use every legitimate means means
to train the heart and conscience OF llsr
children. to train them Into the moral
ity so necessary for her safety ana pi5o'
gross. !. !, II, 4,
1 think thnt nearly all thought ilI men
will agree with Washingt ton, that the
treat means for training our citizens Into
high morality Is religion; that, IN Y TACT
true religion is the very basis OF goeo 1i
3mor.als. The experience Of mankind mas
proved that@religion, and religion alope,&
furnishes tho adequate motive for ris t:ta-
5eousness for public and private lnoraiity.
But what religion? Why. tho Christian
religion. we must frankly and stoutly
mn intain what Is the simps, fact that
this country OF ours Is Christian coun.{
try. Christianity has been the uPilltllll's .,
moral force in the growth, extension anu y.
progress of anglo Saxon cfvillzat ' =.
is to-daymthe religion of ninc-te ntns o. @,
our people who have any religion az az an az
l underlies our institutions, 1t permeates
our customs, 1t perVades our INV NV ., -
purifies our manners. III u .ss XIX
Congress recognizes that fact ~ hp-
pointing chaplains In tho army ana navy.
The preamble of our famous statue OF
religious liberty seems to me TO reter 10
Christ as the Hoy Author OF our reil-
gion..'' The religious section OF the BIZ
of Rights speaks Of Christian ,forbear-
anoe.'' III
While we freely give to every man COM
plete and full religious liberty to helleVe
or not believe in God, to believe Or NOT
believe in Christ yet we must frankly
md fearsessly say: We rs a people,
believe in God and Christ; we believe
that that faith has done much TO mako
us what wo are, and we will train up our
children In that faith
Now, them we may be asked, ! ac-
cording to what church or phase Or sect
OF the Christian religion will you incul-
cate Chrstlanity?' All he who asks this
question fails to- mako the very practical
distinction between religion and the
church institution which proclnlms it;
the Christian religion and any one OF the
different religious bodies which claims
to be the Christian church today.
Surely no church establishment can be
| upheld, no sectarian doctrine can be
taught by the State. There is no proba-
| hility-I had almost said possibility-of
| a union between the State and any
| church system In this country. But the
| great fundamental truths of the Chris
tian religion, on which all the churches
| or societies are founded, p-arvade and
! ChristaniZe the State.
There arc a few great truths which arc
common to every Christian church, to
| which they all assent independent of any
| distinction, doctrine or theory; such as
| God the Creator and Father OF all; Jesus
| Christ, the Son OF God and Redeemer OF
man: mans existence after this Hfe our
accountability to God, to be rewarded
or punished for the deeds done in the
/ body. How would wo teach these great
i central ideas and common truths of thu
Christian religion? L would suggest this
plan: Immediately after opening thu
school, teachers and pupils l,sclte to
gether, first, 1.-THE Lords Prayer" tc
which every Christian can say a heart,
'"amen;" second, the Apostles Creed
i the creed of Christendom, a summary 0
the facts or Christianity, with no thee
logical or ecclesia las teal theory; third, tn
Ten Commandments, the! basis Of az
moral law. Then let tho teacher reat
from tho Bible for fifteen minutes, max
ing no comment on what is read. Mega
lively, this is not opposed to the Bill 0
\ Rights or tho statute OF religious lib
erty; no Christian can honestly objec
& to what is said or read; II the IIebreI
! objects, let him keep his children a
z home a half hour later,
q Positively, this would teach the element
of the Christian religion to many chill
n dren who are taught nothing at home an
who do not so to- church or Sunda
school. This would associate IN tn
4 minds of the growing children God an
Righteousness with mental training, an
would make them realize day by da
that 1t is just as necessary to kno'
and obey God as 1t Is to learn to read an
write.
Rl "a a. :.,;;,.