The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-27
MIR. ENos ON THE VALUE or RELIGION

iaeue will be found n letter from Mr.. John j.
Enos on the subject OF religion ard Bible study
in the public schools. The world enjoys re-
oelving communication 40 frank and tenn
pera,e In its views ana It rorroiuocs 1t in fun
even though It's length would ordinarily pre-
clude that.
Tho opeting statement OF this communica-
tion, that the editorial in Thursdays World
was a direct slap In tho face OF every lover OF
the Bible" is not borne out by the facts. The
editorial in question particularly stressed the
importance OF religious instruction. state
ment that " here repeated; but II objected to
that instruction being given by n secular organ
iza,ios and In face OF a speoifc law prohibit
ing Il. A moments serious reflection will dis
close to any reminded man the impossibility
Of successfully or satisfactorily giving religious
instruction In public school
II Is quite evident that Mr.. Enos is n deeply
reverent and religious gentleman, although he
does rot disclose the denomination to which he
belongs OF course his religious views, his in
torpretatlon OF the Bible. is under the theolog-
ical direction of somo denomination. Hence tho
question: II religious instruction IL TO be given
in the schools. under what sect Is that instruc-
tiob TO be conducted? And how long will other
seots be content to permit tho one to function7
Shall those who accept tho Bible az their
religious foundation. yet reject the divinity OF
Christ impart this instruction or interpreta-
tion of the scriptures2 Shall those who hold
with an abiding insistence that only through
immersion In the kingdom to be realized2 or
those who teach predestination ana infant bnp-
tism9 Or the footwashers7 Or tho Seventh
Day Adventists or soma other OF the several
hundred sects which grouped under the
general head OF tho Protestant church? Or shall
the Catholic church impart such instruction? =?
Or the Jew. from whose philosophy all forms OF
our religion sprang and who accept tho Old
Testament as historically correct yet utterly ro-
ject the new dispensation7
4 Let II be Understood Just here that not one
of these numerous seots or denominations have
tho slightest privilege or priority over any OF
the others before tho law under the scheme
of government set up and named the United
States of America. And the writer would espe-
cially stress here historic and undlsputed
fact; That in the law according all religious
denominations equal rights and equal protec-
tion while separating completely church and
state, il discovered not only the most significant
difference between this government and the
governments OF other peoples. hut the explana
ton for its uKexampled urge upon other peo
pies and It's unparalleled development and in
ternal peace which has thus far attended 1t.
Bible instruction can have place In tn
curriculum of the public school because that 1
positively forbidden by state law; It Is forbid
den by state law because the federal constitu
ton itself forbids the introduction of religion
affairs into government affairs. And It IL for
bidden by prudence because OF the divergen
interpretations OF tho Bible. II there existed
state religion IN the United States then II woul
not only bo scemly but Inevitable that we shoul
have strict deEominational instruction In tn
schools.
But to construe such a statement as an in
suit to lovers OF the Bible Is tho height OF alb
surdty 1t would be more absurd than {
charge The World as being hostile TO the medi
cal profession because It adjures tho dsposl
tion OF the medical fraternity to interfere Il
politics and constantly seek TO faster tsclf upo
governmental agencies.
The whole country suffers from a want o
true religious thought and action. Indubitabl
the place to gain correct inspiration for rellg
ious thought and action is tho Book OF Books
ard the place to study that book is In tn
homo and the church, where It may be con
strued under that constitutional liberty OF con
science which marks the true genius OF tn
founders OF this government II affects tn
argument not at all for Mr.. Enos to say III
churches have failed and failing utterly 4
their mission In this respect.
That excuse merely calls attention to tn
fact that adhesion to a church does not neces
sarily make one Christian, any more than
forced study OF the Bible makes ono a Chris
tian. Between profession and practice there
too often a gulf oomprehendlng in its depth
all OF the baser qualities OF human nature.
The charity which Christ himself place
above every other quality in the Christian If
and which he himself practieed beautiful
when he refused TO rebuke the hereto to who
his attention had been called by the bgoted ar
ibtolerant OF his day. is the quality which
mankind needs.now more than anything ei,