The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-07
AGAINST
BOARDS ACTION
Reading OF Bible in Public
Schools Opposed by Minis
ters and Laymen.
SEE IN 1T ENTERING WEDGE
City Attorney Pollard Heads
Delegation Which Appeals
for Reconsideration.
SEE IN 1T ENTERING WEDGE

Vigorous protest against the action
OF the City School Board in requesting
the daily reading of the Biblo In the
public schools WAS laid before the
board last night by delegations repre-
scnting tho Baptist Ministers Confer
ence of Richmond, the First Baptist
Church. the Grove Avenue Baptist
Church and the Beth Ahabah Syna-
Eogue. Contcnding for the absolute
separation of church and state and
for the nonintcrfcrence Of the civil
authorities in religious matters as ba-
sic principles of government, any in
frlngcmcnt of which should be resisted
TO the utmost, the protestants saw in
the School Boards action tho entering
wedge to a religious test In the Sc
lection of teachers and the Injection
of the question OF religious beliefs into
the selection of members OF the School
Board itself.
City Attorney Henry r. Pollard. an
officer of Grove Avenue Baptist Church
and a teacher of 4 mems Bible class
for tho past thirty years headed the
delegation. presenting as speakers for
the protcstants Rev. George w. Nc
Daniel. u. D.. pastor OF the First Bap-
tist Church; Rev. Il. II. Pitt. ID. d..
editor OF the Religious Herald; DIR. T..
y Calsch, OF Heth Ahnbah nagoguc,
and Rev Mr. Weatherby. of the Uni
tartan Church.
May Reopen Question.
The board adjourned without taking
any action. after brief debate. When
the delegation. which had requested
an opportunity 60 file n remonstranCc.
retired the clerk presented fifteen
commun ications from organizations fa-
voring tho daily reading of tho Bible
in the schools. including several Bap-
tist mems Bible classes. the Methodist
and Presbyterian Ministers Associa-
tions and other organizations.
Members differed as to the wisdom
of reconsidering the former action in
order to reopen the whole question.
with view to public hearing when
all parties might be heard. Those on
the Affirmative desired a hearing only
in the event that the question is re-
opened, in which case Mr.. Pollard
stated that he would desire to reply
In the absence OF the author of the
resolution. Mr.. Kimbrough, the board
adjourned without taking any action
the resolution standing as at first
adopted, with the resolutions of re-
monstrance on the table At a subse-
quent meeting motion to reconsider
Will be taken as test to see whether
any members have changed their
views and In the event that 1t is lost,
there VIII be no necessity for fur
ther hearing
Showing thnt the founders of this
nation had fought for religious free
dom, not for more toleration. Mr.. Pol
lard quoted at length from the writ
! ings of Wash hinEton. Madison and 9TH
ers, holding that the order was un-
sound in that IT directs State employees.
paid from State funds, to conduct a
daily act of religious worship
Boards Request n Command.
DR.. Pitt presented carefully pre-
pared paper expressing the views of
the bodies which have taken formal
action against the daily reading of the
Bible. He held that the boards re-
quest to the teachers was under the
circumstances, command. Since no
comment or explanation Of the daily
! Scripture reading was to be allow ed.
! the exercise, he held. was not 81 mat
| ter OF teaching, but a religious SER
vice. Tt was the deep conviction OF
the petitioners that. the State had no
| right, through the School Board or its
| subordinates, to assume control Of the
| religious life of any part of the COM
| munity.
| "If the State Is to command and
direct n religious exercise" continued
Dr. Pitt we are face to face with
| the question of religious tests for
| teachers. Let the State keep In its
be laid on the hoine and the church.
tho divinely appointed agencies for the
| PRONUNCIATION of religion, for when
ever the State undertakes to control
IL religion, then both government and
religion suffer"
| The situation, Dr.. Mcdaniel contend
cd was very different from that where
! tho teachers voluntarily used the Bible
| In their classes, No one would object
TO class in literature memorizing the
| twenty-third Psalm. any moro than
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