Show jA if Communications cat r rA 4 e P f. X A COMMUNICATION FROM FROllI THE J FA FACULTY Apropos of a certain article which appeared appeared appeared ap ap- in a recent issue of THE CHRONICLE CHRONI CHRONI- CLE and which might give rise to a misunderstanding misunderstanding misunderstanding mis mis- understanding as to the position of the Faculty in matters of religion the Faculty desire to make the following statement Any who are disposed to cavil and even minded fair-minded persons who are inclined to support the University might easily be led after reading the article referred to to suppose that it fairly represents the trend of thought here and that the institution institution institution is as is hinted in some quarters infidel or agnostic in its teachings on religion This being a territorial institution and depending for its support on money raised by general taxation it is plainly unfitting that it should be the exponent of any party or clique in politics or religion Party Party- politics and sectarian religion are alike justly excluded from a voice in its man man- Is it therefore to be dumb on questions of state of morality and of religion religion religion re re- ligion By no means If a course on constitutional history is given is the in instructor instructor instructor in- in in charge to have no opinions on matters relating to his subject Must he hebe hebe hebe and neither be an agnostic on States State's rights affirm nor deny the right of the President with the Senate to make treaties and to levy war If a course in ethics is given must the instructor be wholly agnostic as asto asto asto to the value and place of Utilitarianism as compared with intent intentional onal ethics If he teaches science has he no right to express an opinion as to the relation of scientific theories to theology and religion In the t f. f latter case he may justly limit himself to his chosen field and refuse to trespass upon upon upon up up- on the territory of philosophy In that case he must not even be agnostic in his utterances but be silent and confine himself himself himself him him- self to empirical science For agnosticism i is not a doctrine of science but of phil phil- But as to the attitude of the Faculty in questions of religion it may be said that so far from being religious anti-religious or even agnostic it is religious pro-religious and by no means indifferent to the interests of a genuine genuine genuine gen gen- and broad religion Prayers are conducted conducted conducted con con- ducted every very morning They are led by different professors in turn All students are invited to be present but none are compelled to be as that would be contrary to the genius of American government which while recognizing the great need and worth of religion favors no establishment establishment establishment establish establish- ment thereof nor lends its support to one form above another It regards religion as a mans man's ans an's private concern and so long as ashe ashe ashe he does not trespass on the rights of others or endeavor to use the arm of the law to enforce religious opinions and to do violence violence violence vio vio- lence to another's conscience it allows him to live his religious life according to his own ideas of fitness This is as it should be All that religion religion religion ion demands is a fair field and no favor and it will demonstrate its vast significance and nd its present and eternal worth On behalf of the Faculty GEO R. R MATHEWS J. J |