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Show Religion Classes lust ; IMml Superintendent Nelson Says So and Gives Startling Testimony. Sectaries Have Been Misusing 336 Schoolhouses in Utah. By A. F. Philips. Special to The Tribune. WASHINGTON. Dec. 39. Superintendent Superintend-ent of Public Instruction A. C Nelson of Utah made a star witness for the protest-ants protest-ants In tho Smoot Inquiry today. Ho verified ver-ified in detail every Important contention made by Tho Salt Lako Tribuno concerning concern-ing tho uso of tho public schools of Utah for sectarian purposes. Ills statement that an Investigation mado by him had disclosed the fact that "religion classes," wherein Mormon doctrines doc-trines aro taught, are conducted by public pub-lic school teachers ln 33S schoolhouses ln Utah created a sensation. Superintendent Nelson acquitted himself beforo tho committee as a high-minded gentleman. He showed by hla manner that tho result of his researches Into the question of tho Illegal use of public schoolrooms school-rooms had been a painful surprise to him. Ho had heard for months complaints along these lines and determined to Investigate. Ho wrote to all County Superintendents and asked for reports. Weber and Iron, jcountlfes had Ignored his request All others had reported. But six of tho counties coun-ties uro frco of tho "religion classes."' Superintendent Nelson, -though a Mormon, Mor-mon, answered frankly and fully all questions. ques-tions. He related conversations had with Attorney-General Breeden on the subject of his Inquiry, read a copy of tho letters ho had sent to Ihe several County Superintendents Super-intendents and stated that ho had decided, after Investigation and Inquiry Into tho law, that schoolhouses cannot bo legally used for religious Instruction. Ho said there aro 2S0 school districts In tho Stato containing COS buildings. Salt Lako City is omT district, with forty buildings. Where They Aro .Taught. Religion classes are taught after the dismissal dis-missal of tho regular classes at hours ranging from 2:S0 o'clock to 4:30 o'clock In the afternoon. Religion classes are taught In the Stato as follows: No. No. County. Dlst. Classes. Beaver 9 0 Box Elder 30 44 Cache 26 It3 Carbon 11 2 Davis 1C 1C Emery 12 20 Garfield 10 0 Grand 2 0 Iron ,. 7 Juab : 13 1C Kano A S Millard , 17 22 Morgan S 11 Pluto S 0 Rich 7 14 Salt Lako 3t) 12 San Juan 2 2 Sanpete 17 23 Sevier 17 2S Summit 17 0 Tooele 12 0 Uintah .... 1C 16 Utah ' 20 16 Wasatch 9 ' 16 Washington :iS 38 Wnyno 12 24 Weber Salt Lako City 1 0 Logan 1 7 Provo 1 0 No report. Tribune's Fight Wins. Tho Salt Lake Tribuno has been leading a campaign against tho uso of schoolrooms school-rooms for sectarian classes for more than a year, and It will be of Interest to all Utahns who nro sympathy with The Tribune's Trib-une's crusade, to knpw that Superintendent Superintend-ent Nelson has taken prompt steps to eliminate the ovll. Ho has caused to bo sent to the school superintendents and school trustees tho following official loiter: Salt Lako City, Utah. Dee. 5, IDOL To tho School Superintendents and tho School Boards of tho State of Utnh. Qcntlemen: For somo tlmo pasl this ofllco ha a bcen almost constantly con-stantly in receipt of letters from citizens In dlfTcrcnt purtu of tho Stato protesting against tho uso of public school buildings for religion, re-ligion, class pun06cs. In ordor to ascertain with cOrlalnty tho prcvalenco of this uh of tho publlo school buildings, letters of Inquiry wero sent from this ofllco to all of tho county and city ochool superintendents. Tho replies received convoy tho Information: First That tho religion classes arc conducted In u largo number of public rchool houses throughout tho Stale Second That theso religion classes aro held Immediately after lho clow of tho school; and from further Information It Is found that not Infrequently tho regularly employed teacher teach-er of tho school 1j also tbo teacher of lho religion re-ligion classes. Permit 1110 to call your attention to Sco 1, Art. 10 of the Constitution of lho State of Utah. It reads as follows: 'Tho Lcgislaluro shall provldo.for tho establishment es-tablishment und maintenance ofl n. uniform zystom of public schools, and which shall be open to nil children of tho State, und bo frco from sectarian control." Sec. ISIS of tho Ituvlscd Stntutofl of Utnh, 1S9S, Is also pertinent to tho question at hand. It snys: "Ho atheistic, Itilldol. sectarian, religious re-ligious or dcntinnnntlonal doctrlnos shall bo taught ln any of tho district schools of this Statu. Moral Instruction tending to Impress upon tho minds of tho pupils tho Importnnco of good manners, truthfulness, tcmporanco, purity, patriotism and Industry, chall bo given In every district school, and all such schools shall bo frco from sectarian control." It la evident thnt both the founders of tho Stato Constitution and lho Legislature which enacted tho foregoing statuto Intended tho publlo schools ot Utah to bo frco from sectarian sec-tarian Influences as well as from tho Influences Influ-ences of atheism and Infidelity They wero In cntlro harmony, too, with tho predominating predomi-nating American sentiment on this question. Kvon tho propriety mcroly of reading tho Blblo ln tho publlo schools has bcen culled Into question, becauso readers can read and havo rend their peculiar religious vlows Into ecrlp-turul ecrlp-turul quotations. Tho publlo school Is designed de-signed nn tho common mooting ground of oven" child und youth of tho Innd. regardless of ruco or station, creed or purty. It must over remnln frco from any luflucnco or condition con-dition which would havo a tendency to chango Us pre-eminent position among tho grcnt Institutions In-stitutions of our country. Ak school officers it In our duty to guard against any condition which might glvo an opportunity for sectarianism to enter Into or Iniluonco our publlo school system. AVherovor religion classes aro held, beforo leaving tho sclioolhouyo for tho day the pupil receives religious as well au secular Instruction, fomc-llmes. fomc-llmes. too. from tho samo teacher. It Is not to bo expected thai Immature minds will discriminate dis-criminate clearly as to tho respective functions func-tions of tho school and thu church ln tho religion re-ligion class work, but ll Is to be oxpectod lhat a lartjo percentage of tho children will look upon nil of their class cxorclsos :ui tho school work of the day. Tho religious teachings teach-ings may bo of lho most wholesome and uplifting up-lifting charnctor, yet. In a country llko ours, whero tho right to worship according to tho dictates of Individual conscience has given rlso 10 varied rollglous beliefs, und whero lho schools aro supported by all taxpayers of tho community, to hold children after tho regular regu-lar school houTs of tho day for tho purpono of Inculcutlng Into tholr minds tho doctrines of any religious creed must, of necessity, bo more or loss objectionable to the people of tho community holding different rollslous vlows. Tho Constitution nnd laws of the Stato emphatically em-phatically declare that tho public schools shall bo freo from rollglous or sectarian control. con-trol. Such botng tho case, and tho conditions condi-tions ns horcln set forth obtaining, I nm of tho opinion, and you aro horrby so advised, that the religion class work, when conducted In public school buildings. Is In vlolntlon ot tho Piilrlt of tho Constitution and tho statutes stat-utes of tho State of Utuh. Respectfully. A. C. NELSON, Stuto Suporlntcndent-of Publlo Instruction. |