The Washington times., 1905-03-17
Continued from First Page.)


or other, should be recognized in our
public schools. has occupied attention,
Meanwhile, despite objections from many
quarters, Bible readings and the singing
of hymns of a decidedly sectarian char
acter, together with religious exercises
at the approach Of certain festive sea
sons have been permitted In the school
room. contrary TO the prescribed rule
CNo. 46) OF the school board that no
teacher shall exercise any sectarian in
fiueuce in the school
Tolerated in Schoois.
Thus. religious instructions or a more
or less seetariaH character being toll
Grated in our schools, over and against
our protests, the new proposition to ask
the school board that in addition there
to the Ten Commandments be made
the basis of moral Instruction could not
well meet with favor on our part, even
though the Ten Commandments are the
foundation of our own religion.
I wish to make it clear that [ am
heart and soul with the objects of the
conference to improve and systematic
neral teachings In our public SCHOOLS. /
agree to every proposition IN this di-
Iection. including the proposed lection
airy of Bible readings upon which all can
L
Commandments the basis fjr moral
instruction. The Ten Comma ndnents, Ia
part, contain elements purely religious.
Offering wide field for speculation and
Eectarian Interpretation. And expe-
rience shows that these viii creep in
Notwithstanding prescribed rules and
regula tions.
Have No Place There.
It seems plain that the more ana
the oftener these agitations are per-
mitted to create unrest and friction,
the deeper must grow the conviction
that for the good of the schools, for
the good Of the sacred cause of reIi-
gion itself. that stands for justice and
fairness. peace and good will, the
teachings of religion have no place In
our public schools, maintained by com
mon taxation and attended by children
of different creeds, and of no creed at
am sustained in this contention by
The constitutional provision that Con-
gress shall make no law for the estab-
lishment of religion, a provision that
meant 20 take the teaching of religion
public schools are part of the machin-
cry of the state.
II cannot be repeated too often that
the teachings OF religion as a potent
agency for the foundation of character
properly belong to the home the church
aud the religious school, where time
and circumstances and the sacred sym
bolism peculiar to each particular faith
admit of the thoroughness and effec-
Uveness through which alone the mind
of the child can be impressed, and his
heart touched and nodded
Would be Superficial.
On the other hand, religious instruc-
ton in our public schools can, in the
nature of things. be only superficial and
perfunctory, and therefore often more
HARMFUL than helpful 10 the chi1ds true
moral education.
The crv is raised that one OF the
causes of the increase in crime is to be
found in. the neglect of religious teach
ings in our public schools. Rather we
should say that crime fiourishes despite
the splendid work our public schools
nave been doing and are doing more and
more effectively from year TO year. We
might with equal and perhaps better
right jump at the conclusion that de-
plorable conditions confronting US are
due to inadequate or misdirected efforts
Of churches. temples, and other religious
organizations.
Wants ComD1.tsnrv Edycafion