Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-04
DEPLORES AGITATION
BAPTIST CLERGY OPPOSE RELI-
GIoUs INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS.

At the meeting of the Baptist Ministers
conference, held yesterday at the Calvary
Baptist Church, a report was submitted
and unanimously adopted deploring the
agitation of the question of inaugurating
religious instruction in the public schools.
The committee consisted of Rev. DR.. S. H.
Greene. pastor of the Calvary Baptist
Church; Rev. DR.. c. F. Winbigler, pastor
of the First Baptist Church, and Rev. DR..
]. j. Muir, pastor of the Temple Baptist
Church.
The full text of the report is as follows:
The Baptist ministers conference de-
plores the present agitation in reference to
| the introduction of religious instruction in
our public schools as unnecessary, unwise
and impolitic.
1T is unnecessary because there is moth
ing in the present condition of our public
schools in the District of Columbia to war
rant il. 1t certainly cannot be said that
any increase of crime at the national cap
ital has been due to the neglect of proper
instruction in our schools.
1T is unwiSe because it produces friction
among citizens, and between faiths, and
arCuses prejudices for which there appears
no adequate justification.
Regarded as Impolitic.
1T is impolitic because, as it is largely a
ministerial movement the cry of clerical
ism is in the air and the charge is made,
with some seeming reason, that the church
is attempting to regulate educational mat
ters.
I'VE are of the opinion that the rules
adopted by the board of education and now
in operation confer upon the teachers all
that is required to enable them to impart
proper moral instruction, and that any fur
Their regulation, and particularly any course
of study relating to the inculcation of reli-
gion, is to be deprecated.
ION tie general question involved in the
discussion desire to say:
Il. That the home and the church are
the recognized places for religious inStruc
ton. If either is derelict, the state is not
competent to supply the deficiency; neither
IS il needed TO supplement by any of its
agencies the fidelity of either or both.
''2. That II Is not the function of the
state TO teach religion. 1t has never been
conferred on 1t under our system of gov
eminent, nor has IL the accessories for such
| instruction.
| ed that prerogative II has transcribed its
| legitimate sphere, and some of it's citizens
have been unjustly Disseminated against.
~. That generally school boards are so
| constituted and teachers appointed that
! their qualifications to determine and direct
religious instruction are not favorable
| thereto. And any attempt to introduce a
| religious test either in the election of trus-
| tees the selection of teachers, would be
| strongly resented by the American people.
Opens Way for Entertainments
rs. That whenever, even in the most
| rudmentary manner. religious instruction
| has been given by the state 1t has opened
the way for further encroachments. with
| the result of sectarian strife, bitter ami
| nc sity and gross injustice.
&c. That the functions Of state and
church should be kept separate; each should
| fulfill its own mission and accomplish its
| own destiny within its duly appointed do
main.
-. That while we are in hearty sympa-
| thy with moral instruction in the public
schools no reason to recede from
| the position of fathers or TO depart
| from the traditions of our UNCONVENTIONAL
| history, and we therefore, as the represent
| atives of more than 6,000 white Baptists in
| the District of Columbia, place ourselves on
| record as opposed to any movement which
| even by implication favors religious instruc-
| ton In our public schools And we do this
/ in the interests of the broadcast charity and
/ OF the highest aims of education under our
public school system.
"s. We regret the necessity for this
/ statement but we feel compelled to make
It since our attitude has been misunder-
stood and misinterpreted-'