RELIGION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
By Editor
THE Baltimore American of March 18 contained an editorial on this subject, from which we take the following in advocacy of principles of a total separation of church and state, upon which this government was founded: The home is the place for the inculcation of religion, and the church must co-operate with the parents or bring its beneficent influence to bear upon them. It is useless to ask the state to do what it should itself do. There is no wiser provision in the Constitution than the absolute separation of church and state. It is scarcely too much to say that it has been the salvation of the nation. Anything which tends to confuse the issue, no matter on what specious ground it may be urged, is vicious and may become dangerous. The church has its sphere, and within that sphere it is most gladly welcomed by all good men, whether they be church members or not; but the political institutions of America are by definite provision of law and by tradition and custom, exempt from religious interference, not because of any prejudice against the church, but largely out of consideration for its interests. Experience has shown, and experience is showing, that both the church and the state are better off when they move along parallel lines and do not come in contact with each other.