The Washington times., 1905-03-16


good thing in the schools, ana sug-
gested that the state go further than
TINS and make provision for the enforced
eeaehIng 5 ,f OF a systematic morality, bas-
ed upon the Ten Commandments, and
reIlglon as II is expressed in the Bible
Ihey held that while religion should
De taught IN the church and at home
ana while there should never be an at
tempt to introduce sectarianism in the
school teaching, that the only founda-
tion Tor good citizenship was a morality
IaSed upon the teachings of the Bible
1t recommended that the conference pc
t1tlon the Board OF Education to intro
dIce such teachings
The report was signed by Merrill r
Gates, Wallace Radcliffe, Randolph III
Mckim, Frederick D. Powers Henry
Y Satterlee, ]. G. Butler. D. ]. O'Con-
nell, john Joy Edison, Charles ". Need
ham, Wayne MacVeagh, and James E
Gilbert.
The Opposition Heard.
Rabbi Louis Stern and w. W. Pres
cott Were heard Immediately after the
report The former said:
I am in favor of moral instruction
In the public schools, and even a lee
Bible, with selections from sources other
than sacred, but I oppose, even though
Hebrew, the proposition to make the
Ten Commandments basis for moral
Ious instruction has not and should not
have place in our public schools
ne stated that the practical results
coming from a union of church and
state and the union OF religion and
state would be the same IN time as the
public school was but the machinery of
1t was the church's and not the states
place 10 teach religion. He feared sec
taFianlsm and more drastic measures
would follow. He stated that he
thought the church could accomplish
more in the sluns than In the schools.
Mr. Prescoft's Views
Mr.. ". w. Prescott presented the OBJ
Jections of the Seventh Day Adventists.
He read from manuscript He stated
that the Seventh Day Adventists, while
recognizing the Bible as a book Of Di-
vine authority. were compelled to pro-
| test against any movement which they
We're convinced violated the principles
OF tnflSuan1ty. even though il grows
OUT or a sincere decire to advance the
interests Of Christianity.
rms remonstrance against the move
| ment was based on the following rea-
I sons:
Because 1t IS contrary to the Chris
i tlan principle OF complete separation OF
| church and state. The church Is TAX
| ing a hand in the matter now, and will
| OF state In this manner. The proposed
| plan enters the realm OF conscience and
violates the true principles Of religious
| liberty.
The state in time must decide what
religion is to be taught If this move
ment takes effect. It may decide tc
| teach the religion Of a certain sect
| 'All classes of people are taxed to sup.
port the schools-all have equal rights
in them. Some of them may not want
| to be taxed for such a movement.
| Because, to quote James Madison
Tt is proper to take alarm at the first
experiment upon our liberties
Because the minority has as much
right as the majority in a matter oi
| conscience. 1t has been well said that
| true Christianity never shields itself
| Because the introduction of religious
| training In school will not bring abou
the desired results Of lessening crime
The home, the church, the private schoo
| is the place TO teach religion.
Dr.. Kent Opposed.
Dr.. Alexander Kent, Of the People
Church, arose after Mr.. Prescott H,
moved that the report of the committee
of fifteen be given to the people and tn
press He said the people in the confer
ence did not constitute a Russian bu
reaucracy, and the people and the pres
should have an opportunity to discus
it, He was in accord with Mr.. Pres
colt and did not believe his argument
| could be met by those that believed ii
supernatural revelation.
| He declared religion was a matter o
| faith, and there were facts that JUST
fed such faith IN the universe as wei
as in the Bible. Science should b
| taught In schools.
| DR.. Craft arose in opposition to DR.
Kent and Mr.. Prescott. He said the!
| were trying no revolutionary measure
and all laws and customs were founded
on Christianity.
| Or. GaIaudet said that DR.. Kent pro
posed TO take the report out OF the hand
| of the conference and put 1t In IN
hands of the people and press. H
! thought the conference should decid
the matter. Let the press and the pub
lie criticise them IL they VIII. :"
| Dr. NeedhaTa stated that good citizen
ship was not based On geology or mathe
mattcs, but based on moral teaching
He thought this report favored mora
teaching and that alone.
| DR. Gates thought we ought TO know
| what sort OF teachers we send our chill
dren to. If they teach morals we ar
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