Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1912-06-29
Declares Its Use Is Unfair
to Both Jews and
Catholics.
would Leave Religious Teach
ing to Church, Sunday
school and Parents.
RIGHTS THAT BELONG TO STATE

Last Sunday morning in the
Unitarian Church Of the Messiah
the Rev. Maxwell Savage preached a
sermon in which he argued that 1t
was unjust to the Catholics and
Jews to read the Protestant Bible in
the public schools, contending that
the religious training of children
should be left to the churches and
parents. From his sermon we
quote:
'If a man is convinced of truth
his first duty should be to obey 1t,
his second to teach It to his children.
Now among the ancients secular
truth was unknown; everything had
its religious aspect and influenced a
mans relationship to the gods. Only
In the modern world has the division
between things religious and things
secular been made. In early times
the tribal chief was also the chief
priest. The Roman church still car
ries on this idea through the claim
Of temporal power by the Pope. The
Church of England is still able to
partly control educational matters.
The thirteen original States of these
United States founded themselves as
a purely secular nation. It is the
first great instance in history Of
this being done and this country, as
a country, is thereby not religious
nation in any defining sense of that
word. And yet the Government
-;-k4I. 5sd - c.fvo IN 4ho faonhino o
of the children. Now why are you
and I taxed for the maintenance OF
public schools? The answer clears
up the whole question. The ruler
must be trained so that the Govern
ment shall be just and efficient. Who
is the ruler here? The answer
sheEe-pshsSztfe tate has the right
to train the children. Here every
adult male is a ruler, a sovereign
Therefore every adult male should
be educated to be competent to look
TO the interests of the whole. That's
the principle. Yet people are slow
to see it. And that principle should
show us that the aim of the public
schools is and should be to train
the children in the essentials OF
American citizenship. II the aim
were other than that the money
spent would be wasted. Suppose
should ask for and get public money
for toys or baseballs for my boys.
Other men would wisely call a halt.
We have a right to each others
money in this country only for what
concerns all equally. No public
money except for public endsl You
and are not primarily concerned
that each others children should be
taught astronomy or Sanskrit, or to
sing or to play baseball. 1t would
be nice II all those who wanted to
learn such things could learn them,
but it's beside the main point. Our
main interest in each others chill
dren's education is that they shall
be trained in citizenship, history and
government, else how can they do
their share If they don't know the
price or meaning Of a democracy?
We want their faculties trained. We
want them to know right from
wrong and that the difference can
be taught without the use OF super
natural revealed religion. Expert
snce, not revelation, has taught men
not TO steal, lie, kill, cheat, envy,
etc.
"The essentials Of morality can be
taught without reference to any one
religion. Still people insist that re-
ligion ought to be taught in the
public schools. Take the principle
involved. The United States rightly
refuses to dictate in matters OF re-
iigion. All seets are free and equal;
none receives special favor before
the law. Why? Because religions
first duty in the past has been and
still officially is TO prepare people
for the next world. Now it's none
OF the States business whether am
saved in the next world or not.
That's my business. The States
business is to do all IL can TO make,
me a good citizen OF this world and
this country. Take the use OF the
Bible In the public schools. Expert
once is slowly eliminating 1t. be-
lieve the law in this State is that a
passage shall be read without COM
ment each morning. I believe the
Bible should not be read in school.
Why? First, little reverence Is con-
nected Herewith. Second, it's hard
for a teacher, should imagine, to
read without giving some sectarian
bias to the reading. Third, is 1t Just
TO the Catholic? A consistent Cath
olic does not approve the Protestant
Bible and from HIS point OF view
rightly protests against its being
read TO his children, when he is
taxed for their schooling. SO he
builds and maintains parochial
schools. Has he any right on the
other hand TO wish for any public
money for those scho0ls7 Most as
suredly not. Fourth, IL is unjust to
the Jewish children and parents
this use OF the Bible In the public
schools. believe IN religion ut
terly. Religious questions are the
highest concerns OF man. TIE Ques-
tions concerning God, truth, our