The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-13

the teacher leading and all of the child- rsn who will rscitins 1t in concert
 ''othsr features sf this e1srolse which the teachers may employ at their dis- cretion are to read verses from the Bible. and to allow the children to an- swer rou-caIi with Bible verses. One teacher during the present school year has asked the children In her room to learn the Twehty-third Psalm. No child Is required to take part in any of these things. though they are invited to do SO.
 These exercises have but one pur- pose and the teachers conducting them have but one desire. and that is that there shall grow up in the hearts of the children a habit of daily reverence for Deity and daily dependence upon him.
 ''It Is strictly enjoined upon each teacher not to introduce eecfarian views under penalty of being removed from her position.
 When Reverend MT. Costello came to me few weeks ago to protest against these practices. assured him that no duty pertaining to the relig- ious exercises was exacted of the pupils of the school, and that at the request of the parepts of the Catholic children. (there are four Catholic children in school of more than three hundred), should provide room in which such children might sit during the time of that they should be present to hear them.
 ''Iis answer to this was to the effect that he did not seek to have Catholic children excused from such exercises. but that he would have them stopped entirely by process of injunction, or by an appeal to the courts for adjudica- 4s< % 5 ~ . knew of no statutory or constitutional reason why we should cease practice that is as old as the public school sys- tenn of the State. and one that Is we'll nigh universal, and that we would do so until such injunction should be issued or such adjudication by the courts an- nounced.
 '.Referring to that part of Reverend Mfr. Costello's letter which seeks to bring the Jewish element of our com munity into this controversy, give the following bit of local school history.
 "At the beginning of the present ad. ministration of schools six years ago, prominent Jewish citizen was member of the Board of Education. A code of rules and regulations was drawn up and presented to the Board for their approval One regulation from this code Is as follows: The daily exercises of the school shall be opened with re- lfgious exercisess This Jewish n1em- Der voted for the adoption of this code and as long as he was on the Board, he gave ft his support
 'Furthe-rnore, during the school year of f906-'07, teacher who was Jewess was In charge of one of the grades She kept the requirements of this regula- ton by opening school each morning with The Lords Prayer
 During the entire six years, there have been a few Catholic children in the school, and during that time there has been built, by the aid of contribu- tions of Protestant citizens, a Catholic church. Other priests of probably less zeal. but greater discretion, have visit cd the community. and by their unas. .suniing conduct. have secured a com mendabls measure of sympathy and toleration from Protestant commun. ity. However. since Reverend MT. Costello has taken it upon himself to bring about this reform CD. there is s widespread feeling among the citisens of our town that his attitude is one of unwarraYtted and needless assumption
 Should his contention be ultimately sustained. Gas he confidently contends will happen), must not our Circuit Courts. our State Legislatures, and even the House Of our National Con- gress. cease to have their sessions opened with prayer by Protestant ministers? Surely these. no less than the public schools. are institutions that cfes or alliances that would endanger the religious liberty of any class of its citizens.
 'superintendent Greenville Public Schools"