The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-04

They Take This Stand on
/ Religion in Schools.
PETITIONS NOT SUBMITTED
Board of Education Expected to Act
Upon Subject at Meeting To-
morrow Night.

At tomorrow nights meeting of the
Board of Education the question of moral
training in the public schools on a dis
tinetly religious basis will probably be
considered. The matter will come be-
fore he board In the shane of two petit
tons, one circulated by ministers and
favorlng the plan and another circulated
by the Seventh Day Adventists opposing
it,
T. Hands Oft, is the attitude taken by
the Baptist ministers Of the city. as is
evidenced by their action yesterday at
Tie regular monthly meeting of their
conference. The conference has had the
matter under consideration for several
weeks. \ committee was appointed TO
draft a statement defining the position
Iof the conference relative to religious
obstruction in the schools. Tie members
of the committee wtre the Rev. S. II.
Greene, Calvary Baptist Church.; the
Rev c. Il. Winbigler, pastor First Bap-
list Church; the Rev. J. ]. Muir, pastor
Temple Baptist Church.
Text of Statement.
The statement reported by this com
mittee and unanimously adopted at the
4 meeting Ioii0WSs
THE Baptist Minister'S Conference de-
plorcs the present agitation in reference
| To the Introduction OF religious instruc-
| ton in our public schools as uHneces-
sary, unwise, and impolitic.
| 1t Is unnecessary because there is
| nothing in the present condition OF our
public schools in the District of Column
bla 10 warrant it, 1t certainly cannot
! be said that any Increase of crime al
! the National Capital has been due to
the neglect or proper instruction in oul
! schools
| 1T is unwise because 1t produces fric,
uon among citizens, and between faiths
! and ;2rouses prejudices for which tner,
/ appears no adequate Justification
| II IS impoiitic because. as 1t is large
| y ministerial movement the cry o.
/; clericalism is in the air and the charE,
/ IS made, with some seeming reason
| that the church is attempting 20 regu-
/ late educational matters
! We are of the opinion that the rule.
! adopted by me board of education anC
! now in operation confer upon he teach
ers all that is required 10 enable them Il
! impart proper moral Instruction, ana
| that any further regulation. and particu
| iarly any course of study relating Il
/ the incubation of religion, is to be de
| precated.
In Home and Church.
| ~On the general question involved il
| the discussion we desire TO say:
4. That the home and the church ar,
| the recognized places for religious in
] structioT. II either is derelict. the stat
Is not competent 20 supply the def
| cheney; neither is It needed 10 s,Iuple
ment by any of its agencies the tidelit,
! OF either or both
20 That 1t is not The function ot tn
state 20 teach religion. 1t has neve
been conferred on il under our system
o No I-.xc =.
les for such instruction
| g. mat whenever the state has as
| stunned that prerogative it has tran
scended its legitimate sphere, and som
on rs cltlzens nave been unjustly dis
eliminated against.
II That generally school boards are :
! consututed ana teachers appointed tina
| their qualifications 10 determine am
| direct religious instruction are not ia
vorable thereto. And any attempt L
| introduce a religious test either in tn
| election of trustees or the selection o
teachers, would be strongly resented D.
| the American people.
| - That whenever, even in the mos
| fudimentary manner. religious instruc
ton has been given by the state it ha
| opened the way for further encroach
ments, with the result of sectaria
STRIFE. bitter animosity. and gross in
1 justice.
| ..6 That the functions of state an
| church should be kept separate; eacl
| should fulfill its own mission and &C
! complish its own destiny within is dui
appointed domain
/ Il. That while we are IN hearty sym
pathy with moral instruction In the pub
| lie schools, we see no reason 10 reced
from the position OF our fathers or {
| depart from the traditions of our de
| nominational history, and we therefore
| as the representatives Of more than So
white Baptists IN the District of ColTn
| bia, place ourselves on record as or
| posed TO any movement which even b
/ implication favors religious instructio
IN our public schools And we do thi
! III the interests of the broadest CHART
| ard Of the highest aims of educatio
under our public school system.
/ 80. We regret the necessity for thi
| statement. but We feel compelled
make 1t, since our attitude has been mi:
! understood and misinterpreted'