Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-04
RELIGION IN SCHOOLS
Advocated in New York by
CIergymen of All Faiths.
TEXT BOOK BEING PREPARED
Princeton to Send Missionaries to the
Mandarins.
TO ATTRACT WITH ATHLETICS
Difficulties Connected With the Gull
ture of Lemons Planting and
Orchard-Fruit's Sensitiveness.
TEXT BOOK BEING PREPARED
TO ATTRACT WITH ATHLETICS


BY WILLIAM +. CURTIS
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
S. S. ST. LOUIS, AT SEA. June ., 1905.
A movement is on foot In New York city
to secure the passage of rule by the
board of education providing for non-sec-
tartan religious instruction in the public
schools. 1t is advocated by clergyHen of
all faiths and several denominations They
agree that no harm can possibly come t
any child If he is taught the truths of
the Old Testament: If he Is instructed to
know that there is God. the creator of
all things and the ruler of all things and
that we His creatures should worship Him
and obey His laws. An organization has
been formed for the purpose of promoting
a movement against what are called God
less public schools Prominent among the
leaders are several Jewish rabbits. several
Catholic priests and representatives of the
Episcopalian, Presbyterian. Methodist and
Congregatio churches. 1t is proposed
that the curriculum of the public schools
be arranged SO as to include at least one
lesson once week the great truths
that accepted by all denominations and
that lesson IN moral philosophy be given
twice q week.
Bishop Greer who is quite active in the
movement. says2 There must be moral and
religious training among the children OF
our public schools II we expect 10 continue
to be a righteous nation. | am a strong
believer in the public schools. l approve
them they are, and for what they stand.
They serve a great patriotic purpose in
educating children of nearly every race in
the world and making Americans oil them.
/ know of school where seventeen diff
ferent natonaiities are represented among
the pupils. These schools are not entirely
Goddess. They cannot be where they have
God-fearing teachers, and most of the
I al, ~1.l,a lNrN.a
exerting a wholesome moral If not
religious influence. That is good as far as
ii goes. but it does not go far enough.
Moral training rests upon the knowledge
and the reverence of Divinity. and every
race believes in and every religion is based
upon the recognition OF a supreme being.
And no harm can be done by teaching the
children of the public schools their respon-
sibility to their Creator.
The Rev. DR.. Atterbury, pastor of the
Park Presbyterian Church, takes the same
view Bishop Greer and recommends the
preparation of a text book which shall be
without sectarian bias, but contain the
fundamental truths OF all religions
Rabbi Mendes, who is member of the
committee, says that the Jews Will gladly
support the movement for Three new
RS and want their children instructed in
Reverence, righteousness and response
bility well as in reading. 'riting and
'rithmetic.' This generation Is irrever-
ent.' he says. and irreverence leads to
not neglect to teach the masses of children
that are thronging our public schools their
obligations to their Creator and the object
of their conscience.
Father Mcmillan of the Paulist Catholic
educational order says that there will be no
objection on the part of the members of his
faith If character building is introduced
into the public schools. and that the basis
of all character Is recognition of a su-
preme power and reverence for religion
The Sunday school is Ineffective" said
Father Mcmillan. because 1t meets but
once a week for a very short session. and
we cannot expect religious influences in the
tenament houses. On account of religious
differences shall have to be very care
ful In preparing a text book. but II will be
easy. Everybody but atheists must readily
admit the necessity OF moral education and
religion is the basis of all morals
Preparing a Text Book.
The committee is now preparing a text
book which will be submitted to the criti-
cism of clergymen OF the different denomi-
nations-Protestant. Catholic, Jews and
Greeks-and their Endorsement will be OBJ
tanned before the matter is brought into the
board of education 1t has been thought
best to settle the question as TO what shall
be taught before asking official permission
to teach anything. II the proposed text
book commands the approval of every re-
ligious denomination the board of educa-
ton naturally Will feel less delicacy in
treating the subject. One of the commit
ment said that 1T would be based upon the
Ten Commandments and the additional
commandment proposed by the Saviour"