El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-11-16
RELIGIOUS ELEMENT IN SOCIETY
NEED NOT BE ENTIRELY EXCLUDED

TNcF If Is fashionable lust now for advice to be given
y OF offered freely BY Americans to other nations and
other peoples 10 what sort Of constitution and laws they
ought to and how they ought to order their lives
word to Mexico With reference the problem Of churches
and missionaries VII doubt be quite as unWecone as Il
IS timely.
The topic Is also as full Of dynamite any that could
Be chosen which another why It IS N Line with
the spirit Of the freedom, alias democracy awakened
Mexico had plenty Of that seemed to her con-
elusive for dspossessng the Roman Catholic church In
1873 There had been good deal Of mixing up Of regon
and politics II the early days and the church was not N
vaby n accord with the elements that were gaming the
upper hand politically.
France vent through much more and more ez-
tended travail before the present status established
and the regime N Mexico today is less rigorous toward
religious and usages than that in France French
cathocs would regard the Mexican laws as an improve
ment upon those under which they labor.
But there is provision Of the constitution Of 1917
that possibly might be modified without danger to the
state The constitution Of 1917 is Of course, applicable to
al religions sscts and institutions and makes no dscnl-
nation, which is admirable The provision referred to Is
that which requires that all ministers (neud1ng most
teachers IN schools conducted by any church or cult shall
be Of Mexican birth.
About onesh Of the pupils attending any school IN
Mexico attending private schools according to statistics
financed and conducted by the members Of some religious
deuominati0n-by all Catholics, as the various
protestant ee have established many institutions Of edu-
cation and public service IN Mexico and many foreigners
have been teaching IN Mexico.
In al countries no matter how thoroughly their edu-
catonal systems may be organized considerable proper
by The public funds through taxation. Many Of the largest
and mist successful colleges and universities IN the United
States are private in the that they receive public
revenues and supported from gifts endowments5 and
fees aided by various religious secs Hundreds Of thou
sands Of persons the United States also attend primary
and secondary schools not supported BY the state The
system works vel and Is open to valid objection so
long as certain fundamental requirements N the interest
Of the states welfare are met.
Il VII be long before Mexico is n position to establish
and maintain complete system OF schools supported solely
from public reTenuespriary, secondary, and technical
schools colleges professional schools. Aid from Amer
lean and other Sources whether to funds to trained
educators OF both might not be unwelcome.
The fear is Of course that ministers and teachers not
Of Mexican birth would engage political activity nisl
to the government II would If this fear could
be removed BY suitable regulations and adequate super
vision.
The socslled "hberar movement ali over the world
which mauifes5 itself in communism socialism soviets,
rternationas and radcalsm IN all forms, Is avowedly
auti-rehgous These movements, and religion bitterly
antagonstc these movements, and al churches are hope
lessly at odds.
Il not to be believed that Mexico is deliberately head
ing toward aratonasm' toward atheism and the intol-
Grant Stree thought that is the very anthess Of freedom
and the implacshle foe Of liberty.
IN these times when the entire world is deeply rou-
bed torn by social and civil conflict the religious spirit
the most powerful conservative element not to resist
progress bat to hold to what GOOD and to preserve
civilization from destruction
War against the church churches political and
temporal bodies seeking through their organized power to
impose their manads laws on unwilling majority, IS
justified It has been justified through the ages
But that something different religion, which
a part Of the spiritual essence Of man.
Growth Of Iatioualis1l,7 atheism, intoeIant -fTee
thought to be feared by Mexico BY the United
and England than any influence that hbeTazed
and freely fructifying religion is likely to exert.
The humanistic works IN Mexico VIII not develop as
rapid7 they should, VIII not be capable Of performing