would be futile, even if it were desirable, to attempt to revise this
decision of the American people. There has been, however, within the
past two or three years, a widespread discussion of the proposal that
arrangements be made between the educational authorities and
ecclesiastical organizations, under which pupils should be excused from
the schools for one half-day in the week-Wednesday afternoon has been
uggested-in order that they may in that time receive religious and moral
instruction in their several churches. This proposal has been set forth
in detail in a volume entitled "Religious Education and the Public
School," and has been under consideration by a representative committee
during, the past two or three years."

An interdenominational committee, consisting of Evangelical Protestants
only, was organized in 1914 for the purposing of securing week-day
instruction in religion for the children of New York. A similar
committee consisting of representatives of all churches, Protestant,
Catholic and Jewish, was organized in 1915 which is giving effective
study to the same question. The Lutheran Minister's Association is
represented on both these committees.

The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, representing
thirty denominations and a communicant membership of eighteen millions,
through its Commission on Christian Education is making a large
contribution to the study of the problem.

The Protestant Episcopal Church in its General Convention and the
Methodist Episcopal Church in its General Conference have made provision
through appropriate committees for the study and promotion of the
subject of week-day instruction in religion.