Evening star., 1962-04-11

the God-fearing majority
has every right to make the
atheistic minority get down
on its knees and pray to
the God that Americans have
always believed in. To uphold
this theory 1t quoted (among
others) the people who came
here on the Mayflower,
whose practices included the
hanging Of witches and who
certainly did not believe in
freedom" and even Thomas
jefferson, who would turn
over in his grave If he knew
he was being quoted to sup
port such an anti-democratic
argument.
Freedom to Pray" IS a
misleading name for your
editorial; anyone who wants
to pray has the freedom to
pray. Churches have never
been suppressed in this coun-
try. So why is the absence of
prayer in schools a denial of
religious freedom? Certainly
having prayer in public
schools is denying the right
NOT to pray to those who
do not believe in prayer. And
atheists are not as tiny" a
minority as The Star seems
to think-only SO per cent Of
all Americans are members
Of any religious organization.
And even II atheists and
agnostics were a tiny minor
ity" it would be definitely
contrary to the First Amend
ment to force them to pray.
Christine Bland Edwards.
I want to thank you for
your editorial Freedom to
Pray" I wish we had more
people who would speak as
forcibly and inSpiringly on
this subject as you have
done. You who are in news
paper work have q great ef-
feet upon public opinion.
Clifford Homer Richmond,
Minister. Chevy Chase Meth
odist Church.
-
Although our country was
indeed founded upon a strong
faith in God on the part of
her founding fathers, an
equally strong ideal Of theirs
was the basic equality and
freedom of worship for every
member Of this Nation,
whether a member of a large
or small segment Of our pop
ulation. I am a member of
one of those militant" tiny
minorities" to which you re-
fer.
Although I am certainly
not opposed to individual or
group worship in a private
or voluntary institution, in a
public school, at which at
tendance is mandatory, such
practices tend to offend the
sensitivitieS of others. AS q
student in one of our loca.
high schools, I know the dis
tinct feeling Of "uneasiness'
which I experience at my be-
ing subjected to religion:
prayers, hymns or readings
even of my own faith, anc
most certainly of some othel
religion or creed.
Jonathan David POrath.
- -
The editorial Freedom tt
Pray" was very interesting.
do wish more American!
would speak out agains'
these things that people
would do to take our free
doms from us.
I went to school where W,
said prayer each morning
We loved to sing God BleS
America" before our flag ev
cry day. It did somethinl
for me. I love my God ant
my country. I would hate II
see atheists and agnostic
take this heritage from m,
children.
Lois Wilkers0n.
4 y 4
Thank you for your excel
lent editorial, Freedom t,
Pray"
Are not some minorit,
groups reading into our Con
stitution something whicl
our forefathers never intend
ed? Shall such rigid restric
tions be placed upon our chill
dren that no mention of tn
Creator and the Bible, n
prayers or hymns can be ut
tered in our schools? Is thi
freedom of worship?
The Christian Free don
Foundation states that il
l776 all textbooks used il
public schools were Christian
BY 1850 only so per cent o
the textbooks were Christian
In 1860 none of the book
used by our children in pub
lie schools we're Christian!
In most schools God ha