IN the third meeting, Thursday afternoon, November 16, the subject of discussion was "The United Church and Religious Education." (1) in the Home; (2) in the Sunday-school; (3) on the Week-day; (4) in the college; (5) in the Theological Seminary and Modern Life; (6) by the Press.
Dr. Richards, Reformed Church: The home, not the monastery, is the school of the saints. Religion has to do with the whole of man's life; religious education, therefore, embraces the whole sphere of the man. The home is the primary place for religious education.
Hon. John Wannamaker spoke on: "Religious Education in the Sunday-school:" If the conception of the preceding speaker could be realized, and the church in the home could be re-established, I should have nothing to do on this occasion but to burn my paper. No public school can include culture along religious lines.
Rev. Wm. Hayes Ward, LL.D.
Therefore the Sunday-school meets the need that springs from the lack of religious education in the many homes. I recommend that in the year 1906 the people of the churches "bring all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house."
Dr. Hodges, Episcopal, on "Theological Seminary and Modern Life," presented a scholarly discussion of the theological graduate and the theological seminary, in a way in which it could have very little to do with modern or any other real or practical life.
Week-Day Religious Education.
Dr. Wenner, Lutheran, presented the subject of "Week-day Religious Education:" First, the obligation of religious education rests on the family, and secondarily upon the church. Religious education should be under the direct supervision of the church and its ministry. The public school can not give religious education. The church and the state are entirely separate in character and in sphere. It is difficult to find any other agency than the church for the conduct of religious education.
After all this that is good and true, and in principle, right, he practically reversed it all by recommending the impossible expedient that "the state shall give to the churches Wednesday afternoon of each week for religious instruction! Not in the school-house, but in places of the churches."
Dr. King, president of Oberlin, Congregationalist, on "Religious Education in the College," presented a vigorous and excellent appeal for the absolute quenching of rowdyism and lawlessness so prevalent in college and university throughout the land, as the chief element in solving the question of religious education there.
Dr. Buckley, Methodist, on "Religious Education by the Press," gave a witty, entertaining, and instructive address on the relationship of religion to literature and the press in all ages. He closed a spirited and impressive speech with this splendid sentence, "The great thing is not to put the Bible in the public schools; but to keep the Bible in the pulpits."
