Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-19

teaching in our public schools. The
| reading of the Bible without COM
ment marks the limit of such in
struction.
The adoption of a constitutional
amendment prohibiting the diversion
of public school funds to any sec
tartan or parochial school will lock
the second door against any trouble
of this sort and this should be ac-
complishcd within the next two
years.
With these two safeguards, we
may permit the children to be eX-
cused from our public schools for
religious Instruction without any
fear of infringing upon the funda-
mental American principle of the
| separation of the church and the
state.
I realize the school curriculum is
today overcr0Wdcd. 1t is not pro-
posed, however. t. eliminate either
natural science or physical education
from oul schools. but l submit that
the conditions confronting our coun-
try today demand that the things of
the spirit he placed on an equality
with both these subjects and given
definite place in our system of
education.
That will show the growing child
that this nation believes in God
That will assure the child an oppor-
tucity to learn of the God of his
fathers.
And finally it will encourage par
cnts to send their children to the
great American melting pot of the
public school without the over
shadowing fear that the spiritual
development of the child may be
| dwarfed.
America was settled by men and
women seeking amidst great hard
ships not for material treasures but
for the freedom of religious develop
mont and to that ideal we may now
wisely rccOnsccrate ourselves and
cur children.
DR.. Thomas was the next speaker
introduced and his address was one
of greeting from the State Depart
ment of Education,
There was time" said DR.. Thorn
as. when the child was divided into
three parts for education the ply
steal, intellectual and spiritual. In
the schools we left out the spiritual
and to avoid more or less scuirming
and~IestlessnCss might have left out
| the physical if possible in our edu-
cation of the child We made a ser
ious mistake for the child is q unit
and can he made a most dynamic in
divtdual by development as q unit"
pr. Thomas .averred that two of
the greatest things in the world are
democracy and the public school sys-
ten. He declared that one can not
exist without the other.
I'VE can not segrcgate children
for their education" affirmed the
speaker, land | do not exclude reli-
Gious lines. There is one thing more
needed in this country than brains
and that is character"
In closing DR.. Thomas declared
that the Bible. the fundamental book
is coming into the public schools and
it will be read there. He believes
that the family altar is coming back
and that the dust will be removed
from the family bible.
Tire next on the program was
solo by Professor Leedv.
The final speaker of the evening
was DR.. Hugh s. MaSill of Chicago.
general secretary of the International
Sunday School Council of Religious
! Education.
At the beginning of his address DR..
Magill declared that he represented
the Council which is the unit of all
of the Sunday School Associations of
the country with membership of
over % millions of people.
mo orc man could lead this or
sanitation" said DR.. MagilI, "but we
have leader who is more than hui
man and He is the Son of Cod"
DR. Magill said that he had been
travelling almost continuously for
three weeks coming to Waterville
from the Maritime provinces. He
said that week from last night he
will be speaking in Seattle. Wash