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

ter be lett open Tor puDnc discussion IN
the press. This was voted down. The mi
nority claimed that the meeting was pack
ed with those in favor of the report. and
that snap judgment was being taken. It
was even charged that the report was being
railroaded through, and at the conclusion
of the meeting, after the vote had been
taken, there was talk of arranging mass
meetings where public sentiment could be
ascertained.
Remarks of DR.. McKim.
In closing the debate Rev. DR.. Mckim,
who inaugurated the movement which re-
suited in holding the recent mass meeting,
said:
Religion and the state is one thing.
Church and State is another totally diff
ferent Madison and Jefferson have been
quoted opposing any relation between
the state and religion. when in fact what
they were resisting was the connection
between the state and an established re-
ligion Sir religion already exists in the
state. Jefferson in the Declaration re-
peated appeals to Divine Providence. Wash
ington warned us that morality could not
be maintained apart from religion, and
that the state could not exist without
morality and religion. Religion as an
acknowledgment of an Almighty Ruler and
Judge of the universe is incorporated In our
statute law, in the proceedings of our
courts, and in the law making Sunday
the legal day of rest
why do not out opponents. to be con-
sistent, incorporate a movement to strike
out of our statute book every law which
recognizes Almighty God-to Danish the
oath from courts of justice-to forbid
the use of prayer In Congress, to forbid the
appointment Of chaplains In the army, to
abolish the Sunday rest law? Why do they
not make a league with the secularist and
the agnostic and the atheist and secure
law like the edict of Julian, the Apostate,
withdrawing all licenses from educational
establishments whose masters are not certi-
fled not to be Chrlstians?
Many Chimeras Summoned.
MANY chimeras have been summoned
from the vastly deep of the exuberant
imagination of our opponents. According
to them it is "a menace to morals to teach
our children the moral law! 1t is "a menace
TO religious freedom to recognize the rights
Of the vast majority of our citizens, while
not infringing upon the conscientious belief
of the minority! This movement of ours is
another edict of DiOcletian which will re-
suit in cruel religious persecution!
But, Mr. Chairman. in fact this move
ment of ours is not revolutionary, but evo-
lutionary. Rule 48 of our public schools
directs the teachers to instruct the chill
dren in the moral virtues. We propose to
have them instructed by an authorized text
book of morals. The same rule directs the
teachers to inculcate in the children ohedi-
er ce to the commands of God. We propose
to specify which are the commands of God
and to teach them. The same rule enjoihs
the reading or the Blble at the opening OF
the school. We propose to give the teach
ers a carefully selected series of lessons
from the Bible to be read.
1--WE proceed on the principle that IL you
want a harvest you must sow the seed. Ii
you want moral living you must teach
morals The religion that we have in mind
to be recognized in the school is not sec
tartan religion, nor Is it degmatic theology.
1t is the great universals of religion
sknowledged by all religious people. The
plan of non-sectarian religious instruction
is not new experiment. 1t has been in
successful practice all over the British enl-
piFe for nearly forty years.
|, ID MT. Chairman, know II Is said. that