A Bible in Every Schoolroom? The Epworth League's Careful Campaign in Western Washington
Meeting in convention, Methodist delegates moved to demand Bible reading in the public schools — then softened the demand, and asked the legislature to put a constitutional amendment to a vote.
June 30. — Four hundred delegates are here, and the Epworth League is in convention for Western Washington. At today's session a resolution was introduced demanding that the Bible be read in the public schools. Numerous amendments were offered from all parts of the house. A request asking the legislature to submit a constitutional amendment to that effect was also made.
After a brief discussion the modified resolution was adopted, which stopped short of demanding the reading of the Bible in the schools.
The election of officers resulted in the choice of the following for the ensuing year: President, Miss Hattie O. Caughran, Tacoma; vice presidents, Miss H. Fox, Oak Harbor; Rhoda Williams, Chehalis; W. H. Latsch, Vancouver; C. Hill, Tacoma; secretary, H. Feese, Tacoma; treasurer, S. Morford, Seattle. An ovation was tendered Miss Caughran, the new president. She was called to the platform, where she made a speech of thanks.
A prominent Methodist visitor at the convention is Rev. Chan How Tan, pastor of the First Chinese Methodist church of San Francisco. He was introduced to the audience and spoke briefly. He is on a tour of inspection of Chinese missions throughout the Northwest, and will go to Portland to visit the mission there today.
“A resolution was introduced demanding that the Bible be read in the public schools... After a brief discussion the modified resolution was adopted, which stopped short of demanding the reading of the Bible in the schools.”
The fight over religion in public schools is older than Washington's statehood; here a church league openly pressed the legislature for a constitutional amendment. The delegates pulled back from the word "demand," a signal of how carefully even religious bodies trod around the separation of church and state. That argument resurfaces every time a school board debates prayer, Bible study or religious holidays today.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.