Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Apr 27, 1905

REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, a Congregational clergyman of some note, is quoted in the Literary Digest as suggesting that “the churches could unite in a resolute purpose to keep clean, upright, honorable men in control of the public schools.” Certainly such men should be in control of the schools, but church control of the public schools, even for the purpose of keeping good men at the head of them, would be a dangerous thing. Popular government does not mean government by a church or by any religious or secular organization of men, but simply government by “the people.” This is the idea upon which this republic was founded, and all experience shows that only in this way can republican government be preserved.