The Washington herald., 1911-10-26

Continental Memorial Hall last night
gave impetus to movement for the re-
form OF the nations educational prop
uganda.
DIR. THWING'S ADDRESS.
After the announcement by President
| Horace Davis that Ihe subject before
the house was Religion in education. %
the conference listened TO an address by
! President Charles F. Thwing, Of West
ern Reserve University OF Ohio. DIT.
| Thwing said that education should be
utilized as the agent of religion. and that
whenever it swerved from this mission
/ our educational system was grievOusly at
| fault. He said the teacher should he
possessed Of intellectual discrimination.
| and should realize that Gods love TOR
man is more important than the mere
! form of the revelation Of that love. must
! remember that the nature OF the child
! is not originally sinful. but. on the CON
trary. positively innocent. Education, to
he OF any real benefit 20 the child must
| he vital and not mechanical, as is often
the fault with instruction in public
schools.
The speaker asserted that the old con-
/ Ceptions Of he'll and heaven have little
value in modern education. The really
! religious teacher. he said. will not cling
to the old-fashoned idea that there is a
literal holI. but to the contrary, will he
capable Of instilling better instruction II
he or she IS possessed of liberal views
that discount the myth of an actual hell
In closing. President Thwing stated that
the teachers highest mission was to in
spire a love Of God in the minds OF his
pupils and that this inspiration could
hest he given through the instrumentality
Of broad views on religious subjects that
will prove attractive to tn" pupil rather
than discomforting and productive Of
fears.
Would Add Another "R."
Prof. F. ". Hooper, of the Brooklyn In
stitute, asserted that the well-known
three RS curriculum OF the public
schools was too closely akin to atheism
to be American. and that before it can
properly lay claim to that distinction it
must add the big p Of religion. He de-
clared that a thorough course in the his
tory and principles of Christianity should
he prescribed in the curriculum as soon
as the student is advanced TO the study of
! readers
Dr. Frederick winsor, of Concord
Mass, indorsed the sentiments expressed
by Prof. Hooper and went farther. He
! insisted that before the public school sys-
tenn can be completely Cleansed from the
stain OF an enCroaching atheism
course in comparative theology Tnust be
added to the prescribed grammar and
high school currICula that the student
may better solve for himself the question
of what sect he shall eSpOuse.
DR.. Winsor contended that the public
schools need a complete revision of the
order in which the pupils are advanced
from one grade TO another, alleging that
the best teachers are generally to be
found where they are least needed and
that poorer teachers are placed in charge
Of grades that mold the character Of the
child in the impressionable years; IN
short. that the most experienced teachers
should direct primary grades
New York's Example.
The sneaker said that the home and
church were valuable agents in the cause
of education, and that their Importance
in this relation is too often underesti-
mated. He took occasion to refer to the
aid that New York City is giving hu-
manitv in bearing the burden Of educat-
ing and Americanizing the horde OF for
eigners who annually seek refuge within
her gates.
prof William E. Benson, founder and
treasurer of the Kowaliga School, at
Kovaliga, Ala, spoke briefly OF the COM
niendable work being accomplished by
his school in training the colored race to
better appreciate the advantages al
fcrded by agricultural pursuits in the
South.
trac+a5 favorable comment at each serv-
ice in which its members have parucl-
rTted.
Women Give Luncheon.
The afternoon session was largely given
over to informal luncheon. The Nation
al Alliance of Unitarian Women gave
luncheon at the New Willard in honor
of the women Of the conference. Miss
Emma C. Low, of Brooklyn, president
OF the alliance, was toastmaster.
At the same hour al the Arlington,
the ministers luncheon, at which Chair
man U. G. B. Pierce presided, was held
in the west parlor. DR.. Pierce called on
several Of the visiting ministers for short
toasts In the south parlor, the Uni
tartan Laymen's League entertained the
visiting laymen, comprising distinguished
citizens from every section of the con-
tinent. with dinner. DR.. Cyril H. Bur-
dette, Of New York, secretary OF the
National League Of Laymen, of which
William Howard Taft is president, was
toastmaster.
Addresses by President Howard Davis,
of the general conferences; Treasurer
Richard c. Hutchinson, and Frederick
Windsor, Of Concord Mass, pledged the
Laymen's League to cooperation with
pastors, in their efforts at solving soci-
illogical problems, that the church has
n uvil 20 rfolra