Letter from Karl Gottfried Maeser, 12 September 1891
Provo,
President Wilford Woodruff.
Dear Brother,
Bro. James E. Talmage has just now left me after explaining
to me your approval of the plan of having ^gotten up^ a series of textbooks
for the three grades of religions instructions in our Churchschools,
Sundayschools, Primaries [et. et.] When Bro. Talmage first sugges-
ted this idea to me, I saw at once the great benefits that would
probably be derived from such a step, in as much as I have
realized for a long time the want of a religious textbook
constructed upon correct Normal principles. Hence my
enthusiastic endorsement of the Sunday school Leaflets,
the first real step in that direction. With great joy I learned,
therefore, of your approval of Bro. Talmage's plan, which he
had laid before you upon my suggestion. Considering
also the many difficulties which the introduction of the
Religion-Classes is encountering in some Stakes, among
which the want of proper methods is the most promin-
ent, the publishing of suitable textbooks would remove
many objections that have been raised against this
wise move of the First Presidency. The Religious
Classes is a supplement ^and effect^ to the secularisation of
our district-schools have become a necessity in
