Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-20
DR.. C. {. LOCKE CITES CHICAGO
AS AN EXAMPLE,
SAYS HEBREWS AND CATHOLICS
HAVE ENDORSED SYSTEM
Reads Letters Sent Him Through the
Malls Since First Sermon Was
Preached Two Weeks
Ago

OulSl CiluA GAA last 4AAESAANs
In addition to strongly reaff1rming
his position on the subject, DR.. Locke
read a number of letters which have
been sent to him regarding the pro-
posed change. He took his text from
l Kings, Iii. 8: "Give thy servant an
understanding heart, that 1 may dis
Germ between good and bad" He said
in part: - -.
last fortnight has developed the in
teresting fact that the patriots of the
city of Los Angeles will not be salts
fled until there shall be more definite
moral instruction in the public schools.
1t also has revealed the existence of
widespread and increasing desire to
have the Bible restored to its place IN
the curriculum of the school room.
'At a recent meeting of the National
Educational association in Cleveland
the teachers put themselves on record
as believing that conscience training
must be placed decisively above mind
training. The following resolutions were
adopted at this meeting by these near
ly ten thousand teachers:
Moral Training Urged
=" We earnestly recommend to boards
of education, principals and teachers
the continuous training of pupils in
morals and in business and professional
ethics, to the end that the coming gen
Grafton of men of affairs may have
vell-developed adherence of unfair
dealing and discrimination.
The National Educational assocla-
ton wishes to record it's approval of
the increasing appreciation among edu-
Gators of the fact that the building OF
character is the real aim of the schools.
We hope for such a change OF
public sentiment as will permit and
encourage the reading and study OF
the English Bible
"The teachers find it necessary that
there shall be a standard of morals,
a text book on character
1.-The recent proposition to place a
hook in the schools which shall con-
sist of excerpts from the Bible, which
shall be wholly without denominational
OF sectarian trend or bias, has been met
with some bitter, almost rancid, oppo-
sition from some quarters not entitled
to much respectful consideration. For
instance, through the mails 1 have re
ceived the following communication:
'Sir-The Bible is a lie. Christian
ity is a lie. Christ never existed. God
Is a nonentity. You may as we'll stop
your preaching, for the reason it will do
"'ATHEIST.'
"'P. S.-If you know anything about
God, prove it! Where is God? Answer
Denounced as Enemies
"While I have utmost pity for this
atheist, vet in this discussion the
atheist is not to be considered, and
why? This is not an atheistic nation.
This nation believes in a Supreme Be
ing. We are not under obligation TO
pay any regard to atheists any more
than to anarchists. They are botn
nd v,rOCnaritU of
this republic.
"A nation whose entire legal fabric
is taken from the Bible will not give
heed to a group of iconoclasts who
would destroy all standards of law
and morals. No, this is not conten-
ton with people who deny all authority
and who would utterly destroy our re-
publican form of government.
Another 'Amiable Correspondent
denounces the pastor of this church
as a ministerial anarchist, and charges
great inconsistency upon those who
are great sticklers for law and order,
and then advises action which would
be in violation of the constitution OF
the state of California. This man is
as uninformed as he is ill-tempered.
Section of the constitution says:
"rNo public money shall ever be
appropriated for the support of any
sectarian or UNCONVENTIONAL school or
any school under the exclusive control
of the officers of the public schools;
nor shall any sectarian or denomina-
tional doctrine be taught or instruction
therein permitted, directly or Indirect
ly, in any of the common schools of
this state
you will remember that in my ser
mon two weeks ago I quoted two par
agraphs from the political code of the
state of California in which it is de-
clared that it shall be the duty of the
teachers to impress on the minds of
the pupils the principles of morality,
truth, justice and patriotism, and give
instruction during the entire school
course in manners and morals
Schools Not Immoral
"Our public schools are not immoral,
or non-moral institutions; devices for
turning out intellectual prodigies, but
a sublime organization for making full
rounded citizens.
Il notice that an unusually well in
formed and highly respected Hebrew
assertion that the movement in Chi
cago was supported by well known
Jewish rabbis. 1t is q matter of his
tory with which everybody can make
himself familiar. 1t is true that 1T
did not meet with unanimous favor
among all the Jewish ministers, but 1t
is Just as unequivocally and unmis-
takably true that some of the rabbis
heartily co-operated in that great
movement with that group of educa-
tors and clergy whose names l gave
you in my previous sermon.
Another correspondent Is suspicious
OF us and thinks that this is an in
sidious effort to propagandize Meth
odist religion. He thinks that ex-
cerpts should be made from the Koran
and other so-called sacred books.
"Macaulay said the greatest argu-
ment against the pagan religions OF
India was India itself. So of Moham-
mechanism. Will not this wise CORE
spondent read the Koran and his other
favorite oriental books and make a
compilation of such excerpts as he
would wish his children to study in
the schools?
This profound writer thinks that
no instruction is needed. He says that
morality and ethics are inherent in
nature and are, therefore, scientific.
This man is certainly not father of
a family, or has never taught school,
or presided over a juvenile court, or
he would not advise leaving a nations
youth to their natural instincts.
Attorney Is Answered
1T is amazing what an amount of
chaff passes among some people for
common sense Some men are so de-
termined to oppose the suggestions OF