Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-16

state be one thing, union of religion ana
state quite another. This is undoubtedly
true, genealogical considered but not
when put to the practical test Not the
state, but the church is to propagate re-
ligious teachings. The public school is a
machinery of the state; use it for religious
propaganda and you estapllsh union OF
church and state.
'Since the PRONUNCIATION of the Deca-
logue, 5000 years ago, its spirit has per-
meated civilization. The laws of nations
are based on its precepts, and even though
they be not taught in our public schools,
their influence is constantly in evidence.
Great crimes are not committed out OF
ignorance of the enormity of the offense.
but as the result OF vlciousness ana
through the absence of self-control. And
self-control is taught in our public schools
together with other virtues that develop
character and good citizenship
Seventh Day Adventists Object.
The objections of the Seventh Day Ad-
ventists. as presented by Mr.. w. w. Pres
colt, are as follows
1--WE respectfully represent that we ear
nestly love the religion of Jesus Christ, en-
terrain the highest respect for His true
church and sincerely desire the peace and
prosperity of the nation: that we believe IN
the Bible as the Word of God, book of di-
vine authority, and in the Ten Command
nents as the basis of all genuine morality;
that we recognize the present alarming in
favor of any legitimate effort to lessen all
forms of wrongdoing; that We believe in
Christian education, the only true basis of
which is the Bible as the divine revelation
of the principles of righteousness in charac-
ter and conduct; but in the interest of a
pure religion an interrupted church and
the peace of the state we are compelled to
protest most earnestly against any move
ment which we are convinced violates the
principles of Christianity, even though it
grows out of sincere desire to advance the
interests Of the kingdom of Christ upon the
earth. %
I'VE make this remonstrance against the
demand for the introduction of religious in
struction into the-public schools:
81 Because we are convinced that it is
contrary to the Christian principle of the
complete separation of church and state.
And we further maintain that there is no
difference in principle between union of
religion and the state and union of church
and state This movement is declared to be
an effort tdbringato bear upon the board of
education the influence of the church, as
represented in sae conference composed of
representatives Of all the various religious
denominations. Other citizens equally inter-
ested in the3 public schools, but who do ret
belong to the church, are not invited to be
present or to take part In the deliberations
of this conference. This is plainly church
movement idIt Should not be forgotten, as
stated in the Emitted States Senate report
adopted January 10, 1929, that all religious
despotism commences by combination and
influence, and when that influence begins to
operate upon the political institutions of
country the civil power soon bends under it,
and the catastrophe of other nations fur
nishes an awful warning of the conse-
quence.'
IF this movement is successful 1t will de-
volve upon the representatives of the church
to direct in the preparation of the required
books and the necessary instruction for the
use of the teachers in the schools. The state
VIII then, at the demand of the church
and under the guidance of the church, teach
such principles of such a religioneas the ma
:sority of the church. may agree upon. This
can be nothing else than a. union. both of
religion and state, and of the church and
the state. THE very fact that 1t is thought
necessary, to Introduce into this recommon
dalton for religioug instruction in the pub