The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-04-27
Voice of the People

ians. Presbyterisns. Dutch Reformed
and others. not to mention. the enor-
NOUS number Of such belonging to the
Roman Catholic church.
A noted educator writes concerning
the Lutheran schools tn. following:
Lutheran schools are not un-Amer-
lean but thoroughly American in char
acter and spirit. in that they not only
inculcate but In themselves exemplify
that one great American principles. the
separation OF church and state. We
know that the public schools cannot
and should not teach religion. since
that would b. taking over on the part
of the state certain functions OF the
church. therefore a violation % the
Constitution. And since on that &C
count Lutherans found and support
their own schools where I'll can he sue
c|essfully done what cannot be in pub
lie schools. they are living exempIif-
cations Of this truly American prin-
ciple % our American constitution
Nor is this all. This principle is fur
therrore expressly taught in these
schools. This all the more because
many ~Lutherans that came here in CO.
lonisl days and later did - precisely
to excape oppression arising from the
AAAfAFfN& uE e the SIdIF dIA IlQELA u
the old world monarchtes. Further
more. the teachers in these schools
are all men who have been born bere.
snd are 'mbued with a healthy amer-
lean spirit. The teaching q the sec
ular branches such as spelling. gram
mar. history. geography. etc, IS done
much a. IN the public schools and
largely by those or the same and stint
lar text books. 1t is clear that they
are American IN character and spirit"
In the second place the Lutheran
schools are not a detriment or a men
ace to our country, bur a distinct bIes-
sing because they train and produce
loyal and patriotic American citizens.
This they do not d. by a lot Of teach
ing OF the spread eagle variety They
90 1T in n more thorough going manner.
in 4 way that produces more substan-
tiaI results. Patriotism. love or coun-
try. obedience to the laws Of the land.
which. We take 1t. are essentials in
good citizenship. are for Lutherans
part Of their religion And as stated
above. the teaching or religion besides
the secular branches ia and always has
been for Lutherans the main reason
for founding and conducting their
schools. Lutherans fully subscribe 10
the statement from Daniel Webster.
Gladstone and Washington saving that
Christianity. instruction in the Chris
ttan religion makes for the best and
highest type Of citizenship. They IN
~reservedly accept the Bible as the word
Of God and az such as the only basis
of faith and morality. And as the Bible
in many places urges obedience to the
Of the land upon all Christians.
good citizenship is for Lutherans a
matter or religion. Thus the chill
dren OF these schools learn among 9th
ct things Luther's small catechism.
This contains a s~o-called Table OF Du-
ties. among which are scripture text
teaching the proper behavior toward
civil government. FOR instance. Rom.
Is. Ia. Let avery soul be subject unto
the higher powers, for there is no pow
or but IL God" This text and similar
ones are memorized by the children
and properly explained Thus good cit
izenship and patriotism o. the proper
kind is early IN life made a matter OF
religion. a matter OF conscience to
them. This is q service TO orr couu-
try FOR which s. cannot be too CRATE
ful. We do not claim too much when
We say that our schools have been a