Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-26
SILLS DISFAV0RS
USE STATE MONEY
PAROCH|AL SCHOOLS

DIR. Kenneth NJ. Stills, president of
Bowdoin college, speaking before the
members of ST. Marks church in
this city in honor of st. Marks day,
declared that he was in favor of a
constitutional amendment prohibit
ing the use of State money for any
schools that are not under the di-
rect supervision of the State, pro-
yiding the amendment were taken
out of politics Bishop Benjamin
! Brewster of Portland was a guest
at the meeting and addressed the
members briefly. A fine supper was
served at the parish rooms by the
ladies of the church. Rev. John
Yates, rector of the church, presid-
ed. About Is members and guests
were present.
A fine supper was served at $50
by the ladies of the church, with
about IS present.
After the supper. Rev. John Yates
spoke briefly concerning the signifi-
canoe of the day and then intro
duced Bishop Brewster. The bishop
suggested some of the opportunities
that exist in the church, naming as
one the Concord conference of the
province, where one can go to study.
also the Wellesley conference. These
conferences give one a chance not
sonly to improve in the church du-
ties but to get the atmosphere of
the work. He described the beau
ties of the physical surroundings of
the Concord conference. He eX-
pressed hope that every parish in
the State would send a delegate.
He also mentioned the ministerial
conference for boys to be held in
Concord the first of the summer. He
declared that the church must have
an educated ministry because of the
depletion of the ministerial ranks.
Mr.. Yates next succeeded Presi-
dent Stills. After telling several hui
morous stories applicable to the &C.
casion. Mr.. Sills gave a fine talk on
Religious Education"
He declared that the church plays
q most important part. especially in
college town, for girl or boy
may come to one service and hear
something that changes the tenor of
their whole lives.
He said the American people and
church people themselves have no
idea of the actual function of the
illogical seminary.
"Unless we do have the right sort
of clergymen.'' said President Sills
I'VE will not be able to do what
God planned for this country to do"
AS president of a college he ea-
dressed the realization of the fact
that the good will OF people is nee
essary.
1--WE ought to remember that the
church and State are separate" said
the speaker, land that Is funda-
mental principle. That means that
the church has one function and
the state another, but the two over
lap although they must be kept sep
arate."
He declared that he believed there Is
much more sound instruction In Ameri-
canization in the parochial schools than
some people would have believed. He
expressed delight over the fact that
the Oregon school law forcing every
child to attend public schools was de-
clared unconstitutional.
"I hold as an individual that It is
not the function of the public schools
to teach religion" declared Mr.. Sills.
but without doubt the children need
religious education. 1t is very obvious
that this would bring all kinds of diff
ficulties. so 1 am against teaching re-
ligion in the public schools. But our
education without religious education
is producing an attitude among our
young people that is not going to make
good citizenship"
He expressed the opinion that the
Sunday school is declining and that
the answer is going to be found in the
religious day school-cooperation be-
tween the church in the school so that
the children can be dismissed for a
time from public school each week to
so to their respective churches for re-