ough colloquially characterized as 'released time,'
present situations differing in aspects that may well be
constitutionally crucial. Different forms which 'released time' has
taken during more than thirty years of growth include programs which,
like that before us, could not withstand the test of the Constitution;
others may be found unexceptionable."[26] Justice Jackson added further
reservations of his own as follows: "We should place some bounds on the
demands for interference with local schools that we are empowered or
willing to entertain. * * * It is important that we circumscribe our
decision with some care."[27]

In a dissenting opinion Justice Reed took exception to the extended
meaning given to the words "an establishment of religion." "The phrase
'an establishment of religion,'" said he, "may have been intended by
Congress to be aimed only at a state church. When the First Amendment
was pending in Congress in substantially its present form, 'Mr. Madison
said, he apprehended the meaning of the words to be, that Congress
should not establish a religion, and enforce the legal observation of
it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any manner contrary to their
conscience.' Passing years, however, have brought about the acceptance
of a broader meaning, although never until today, I believe, has this
Court widened its interpretation to any such degree as holding that
recognition of the interest of our nation in religion, through the
granting, to qualified representatives of the principal faiths, of
opportunity to present religion as an optional, extracurricular subject
during released school time in public school buildings, was equivalent
to an establishment of religion."[28] He further pointed out that "the
Congress of the United States has a chaplain for each House who daily
invokes divine blessings and guidance for the proceedings. The armed
forces have commissioned chaplains from early days. They conduct the
public services in accordance with the liturgical requirements of their
respective faiths, ashore and afloat, employing for the purpose property
belonging to the United States and dedicated to the services of
religion. Under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, eligible
veterans may receive training at government expense for the ministry in
denominational schools. The schools of the District of Columbia have
opening exercises which 'include a reading from the Bible without note
or comment, and th