Objection is made to the regulation that it establishes a form of worship in the JOB, Chap. III; Chap. X, ver. 18, 19; free schools, and as such is prohibited by Chap. XXI, ver. 8 to 20. PSALMS, XXII. PROVERBS, Chap. VI, ver. 24 to the Constitution of Ohio, There can be no doubt, if it be a form of worship, what the 35; legal decision would be, were the question Suppose the JEREMIAH, Chap. I, ver. 5; Chap. III; Chap. XX, ver. 14 to 18. EZEKIEL, Chap. XVI; Chap. XXIII. THE BOOK OF HOSEA. carried into the Courts. If it is not a form of worship, what is it? Are the children to be taught, as the crazy and infidel, Times suggests, that the Bible is merely "a moral text book," to be ranked with the ethical writings of pagan philosophers and sages, and the reading of it each morning only an introduction to a system of morals? Are they to listen to MARK, Chap. V, ver. 25; Chap. XII it as the wisdom of the world, or the voice ver. 19 to 22; Chap. XIII, ver. 17. MATTHEW, Chap. I; Chap. V, ver. 27 to 32; Chap. IX, ver. 20; Chap. XIX, ver. 91 to 12; Chap. XXIV, ver. 19. LUKE, Chap. I; Chap II; Chap. VIII, ver. 43 to 48; Chap. XXI, ver. 23; Chap. XXIII, ver. 29. JOHN, Chap. III, ver. 4; Chap. VIII, ver. 3 to 11. of God speaking through inspired men? The question whether the daily reading is a form of worship depends largely upon the construction to be put upon it. We gather, from the sermons and arguments of those who insist that the rule should not be abrogated, that they consider ROMANS, Chap. I, ver. 24 to 30. the formula not only important in a relig1st. CORINTHIANS, Chap. VII. ious, but in a Protestant sense. There is REVELATIONS, Chap. II, ver. 20 to 23. small stress laid upon the moral or religIt is not the intention to condemn the ious edification of the children growing out passages above cited, further than to re- of it, probably because they are convinced mark, that it would possibly be out of taste that very little does come of it, but it is to read them in school, and that Catholics tenaciously held to as a token and a sign and Infidels prefer not to have their chil. dren read them at all. OPINION OF HORACE GREELEY. Speaking of reading the Bible in the Public Schools, Horace Greeley, says: that Protestantism continues to be triumphant, and that its spirit indwells and permeates the whole school system. Now, we do not ourselves say that this is so, but we do say that no man can read the sermons and addresses of the Protestant clergy on the subject without coming to the conclusion that they so regard the regulation, and would not be at the trouble to defend it if The great document mentioned above, they did not consider it a valuable token of which arose under the influence of the the supremacy of Protestantism, and an teachings of the French Encyclopedists, evidence of its power and presence in civil was at first very imperfectly understood in affairs. America, and, for half a century, from a They do regard it not only as an act of lack of a philosophical faculty of abstracworship, but as an act of Protestant wor- tion, it was misapprehended, and, besides, ship, and appeal to the people to sustain it intentionally falsely expounded, and exon that ground chiefly. The talk about ex- plained, if such had not been the case, how cluding the Bible from the schools is stuff. could have arisen the opinion that the UnNo child will ever be prohibited carrying as ion had been formed as a Christian confedmany Bibles into the school-room as he can eration of States? Our national fundapack into his satchel; nor will he be denied mental laws absolutely exclude any possithe unspeakable privilege of reading them bility of a connection of the State with at his leisure. Teachers, too may line their any religious institution or religious docpockets with them, and carry them about trine. Why should the Puritans have rewith them so long as they attend to the du- peatedly asked Congress to change the ties for which they are paid by the State. Constitution for the purpose of declaring Out of school hours, they can discuss the that the Union was a Christian State? merits of the book among themselves, or Fortunately, up to this time, they have with such of their scholars individually as not succeeded in carrying their scheme insolicit instruction. We know of no law, to execution, and divesting the Republic of rule, or religion to prohibit all this. Those its cosmopolitan character, although they who make pretenses that the Bible is to be have worked hard enough to do so. ignominiously expelled, ignorantly or will- tanism would have long since subjugated fully mistake the question at issue, which the whole of America, and forced human is as we have stated and we here repeat it, society into the narrow forms which we whether the School Board has not estab know from Connecticut and Massachusetts, lished in the public schools of this city a if the Constitution had not been in its way. form of worship-a form of Protestant wor- The next consequence, naturally, would ship at that, and so regarded by the Pro- have been the oppression of the non-Christestant clergy themselves-contrary to the tians, and as such would have been regardexpress letter of the Constitution of the ed not only the Mohammedans, Buddhists State of Ohio, and whether the Board and Israelites, but all non-Puritans and libshould not repeal it. From the Cincinnati Volksfreund. Puri eral Christians. According to the teachings of the Puritans, as well as that of Dr. Mayo in the School Board, an Israelite could only be tolerated, but not live in the United States as a citizen of equal rights and privileges; nor could do so a free thinker attached to none of the existing Day before yesterday there was made religious societies. We condemn so narhere, in Cincinnati, a decision of immense row-minded and unjustified expounding of bearing and importance. Inclusive of the great bill of rights of the nation, and all amendments to the Constitution, for we are glad, that the hypocritical adherents years, no question of such political and so- of that school in Cincinnati have been encial magnitude has been brought before the ticed into the open field, and have been badpublic, as the Bible question, which the ly worsted. School Board decided at its sitting day be- It is to the interest of all the numerfore yesterday. The School Board decided ous religious societies in the country that it in the true and genuine spirit of the none of them should enjoy an advantage American Declaration of Independence, over the others, and that the State should and in accordance with the letter of the not meddle with them. Puritanism has alFederal Constitution, and the Constitution ways tried to obtain the special protection of our State. of the State, and to exercise influence over it. Did it not force itself into the Freed. The resolutions adopted for our public men's Bureau and the negro schools of the schools were entirely at variance with this South, and try to model them after its own express provision in the Constitution of peculiar views and proclivities? Thereby, Ohio, inasmuch as, by ordering the Bible to all other religious sects, especially the be read, they gave to certain Orthodox ProCatholics and Israelites were materially in- testant sects, which consider the Bible the jured. What position would the latter oc- revealed quintessence of all wisdom and cupy if those fanatics should succeed in virtue, an advantage over the Catholics declaring the union to be a Christian con- and Rationalists, who; for reasons of confederation of States, and Ohio a Christian science or common sense, do not want the State? Fortunately the chances for doing Bible to be read in the schools, but are, so are becoming weaker and weaker. nevertheless, compelled to contribute to It is really wanting in America that the school fund, which, in consequence, is an intelligent Caucasian should be de- useful only to the Orthodox Protestants. prived of his equal rights with the rest of Hence, we had here a flagrant violation of the population, because he is non-Christian, the guaranteed right of conscience, which while we have placed the negro on the same the School Board was in duty bound to footing as the white man. If the State abate. takes no notice of religious affairs the No matter how just, legal and timely country need not become irreligious, for the the measure adopted by the School Board churches thereby become freer than before. may have been, the Orthodox American To the proclamation of the Christian Protestants will raise a hue and cry about State would succeed the question: "What it. They will denounce the resolution as view of Christianity is the correct one?" a concession made to the Catholics and May we be preserved from the misery to which infidels; they will prophecy to us the ruin the struggle about this question would give of all religion and morality, and declare rise! The majority of the School Board the civilization of the nineteenth century did a great work, of which Cincinnati may to be endangered. be proud, and about which even the remote Our German countrymen should not future will talk and write. It has at length allow themselves to be misled thereby, but delivered the spirit of the century and the stand firm by the cause of legality, justice, true idea of American democracy of the and freedom of conscience. Religion, fetters of fanaticism and the influence of morality and civilization will not perish, Puritanic narrow mindedness. It will find even though the Bible should no longer be imitators in the whole country, where not read, or rather repeated without feeling or an appreciation of the situation but cour- understanding. There have been religious, age have been wanting. virtuous and highly civilized nations that knew nothing of the Bible, and even in our Union there is a State (Missouri) where the reading of the Bible in the free schools, was expressly prohibited, but which for that matter, has not become more irreligious, immoral and barbarous than the rest of the States. From the Cincinnati Courier. After a long and exhaustive debate, the School Board of Cincinnati, day before yesterday, at length adopted the resolutions offered by Mr. Miller, on the last 6th of September, by a vote of 22 against 15. Such members of the various sects and confessions which desire to make their children acquainted with the teachings of [Here follow the resolutions.] the Bible or other religious books, have at These resolutions are in keeping with their disposal clergymen whom they pay the spirit of the Federal Constitution, themselves, and who have time and leisure which forbids religious tests, and in accord- to devote every week, a few hours to the ance with the letter of the Constitution of performance of this task. Ohio, the seventh section of which says; [Here the seventh section is reproduced.] By rights, and by law, the Bible should not enter our free schools, if they are to be and remain free schools. sect. we are opposed to Bible readings in the schools. We want secular schools, and From the Commoner, Nov. 20th 1869. It is certainly true that only a part of the nothing else. Nor has the State a shadChristian churches make Bible reading ow of a right to support any other. As their rule, and it is also indisputable that Jews, we do not want anybody to teach our the Catholics, and most of the more ad-young ones the religion of our fathers. vanced German churches oppose this rule. We do it all ourselves. Our schools for this The opposition of the Catholics to this special purpose suffice to do it all right. rule is a notorious point of divergence be- We do not like to see our young ones tween the old church and the new church. indoctrinated by heading contrary to truth, It was a disputed issue at the reformation. and translations often refuted by men like Moreover, there is a well known issue of Gesenius, Ewald, Hitzig, Umbreit, and othauthenticity and no Bible can be read er honest critics and acknowledged linwhich is not objected to by some Christian guists. We do not wish our young folks to hear their teachers say things in school Nor must we forget the case of the which the scholars know to be contrary to Jews. They would not perhaps object to truth, and in many instances know better the reading of the Old Testament, but they than their teacher. It places the master in certainly do to the new, or they are not an awkward light before his pupils. It does Jews, or very contemptible ones, no damage to our cause, because one hour These things bring us to the point we weekly, in our Sabbath-schools upsets all the insist on, which is this: that it is an im- sectarian precepts imposed in a week upon possibility to read any other than a secta- a scholar; it damages the reputation of the rian Bible, for there is no Bible recognized teacher with his scholars. We can not be by all, and that then all Bible reading to in favor of the Bible in the public schools, children in schools is a sectarion proceed- although we have no material objections to ing. urge against it from our religious standReading the Bible without comment is point. not teaching religion;-it is an artifice to From a general standpoint, however, we cover sectarian designs. We are Protest- are opposed to Bible readings in the public ants, for we protest against the covert way schools. The American people consists of in which Protestant religion attempts to a conglomeration of nationalities and sects, control the State. Our public schools be- united by the Constitution and laws of the long to the children of the land. Their United States, the common interests, and cause we plead, and we care not what rule the love of liberty and independence. The it is, if it keep one child of a conscientious gist of the whole is, we agree to disagree citizen from the school, then it is an out- on every point except the public governrage and it ought to be repealed! Deny ment, which we agree to support, maintain religious liberty if you will, to the adults, and cbey. This is in perfect consonance but leave it at least to our children. with our ideas of personal freedom, civil and religious liberty. It is admitted that a free government relies for its very existence on an enlightened people. Therefore we must have schools. Hence we have public schools to the purpose of educating enlightened citizens. The war cry for, and against the Bible in the public schools of Cincinnati is loud, Again, it must be the object of a good emphatic, and even passionate. The dis- government to aid in the development cussion has taken so wide a range, that the of the resources and wealth of the country. Pope and his cardinals, Turkey and Hin- Intelligence is the main wealth of a people. doostan have been reviewed, and the old Little Rhode Island is wealthier than the serpent of hostility among Catholics and large and fertile Bessarabia. The intelliProtestants has been engaged to assist in gence of a people is cultivated first and the petty strife. We have said nothing on foremost in the schools. Therefore, again, the topic, because our readers know that we have public schools. The morals of a people are always in strict proportion to its (do it justice in the proper time. If unfair, intelligence and freedom. Therefore, all we shall have the best ground in the world the bombastic and grandiloquent phrases like to appeal to the intelligence of Catholic "the basis of all civilization," "the ground- citizens against the counsels of their work of public morals," the fundamental clergy, and have the advantage over them. principle of Christian goverment," and all It is the first step to infidelity, is another the like, actually mean nothing in this con- argument, the Bible taken out of school nection. The public schools are institu- and there will follow-well, what will foltions for the education of free, intelligent low? Nobody has said what will follow, and enlightened citizens. That is all. To and we can not divine it. this end we need good secular schools, and nothing else. If churches, chapels, preachers, ministers, deacons, sabbath-schools, tracts, teachand pious women, street The State has no religion, because we, ers, parsons the people, who are the State, agreed to preachers, prayer-meetings, revivals, campdisagree on this essential point. Having meetings, missionaries, colporteurs, &c., can no religion, it can not imppose any religious not guard Christianity against the advances instruction on the citizen, adult or child. of infidelity, the Bible reading in the pubThe Bible is the book of religion; all admit lic schools, thus much is certain, can not this; by what right is it imposed on the do it. If that reading promulgates Christpublic schools? We disagree on this book ianity, then it is undoubtedly contrary to which some call the Bible, and others call a the Constitution and laws of Ohio, which mutilated translation thereof. Who has a prohibit the State to support any particular right to force upon the community that par- form of religion. ticular Bible in the public schools or any- The arguments in favor of the Bible in where else? Citizens have the unquestion- the public schools are all vulnerable, howable right to maintain that they agreed to ever pompously they may be announced. disagree on religion, and to hold you to the If we are to be one people, we must remove contract in the management of the public the disuniting elements from our State inschools. stitutions; we must afford the benefit of edBecause the Catholics want it, we would ucation to all, in order to unite all in the not do it, is another argument in this mat- bonds of cultivated intelligence. The ter. We say it because eighteen thousand growth of freedom depends on the progress children, in this city, are deprived of the of enlightenment, and vice versa. Enlightbenefit of public education, by the whims enment springs from the sciences. Thereof Catholic priests and the caprices of Pro- fore let us have good secular schools, and testant partisans; therefore, impartial men, let the churches care for the progress of guided by the sense of justice and duty, religion. ought to remove the obstacle, and afford the opportunity to those eighteen thous nd innocent children to partake of the benefit of our public education. Therefore, we Mr. BEECHER said:-"We believe that ought to comprehend that the imposition of the Bible in schools would do a world that Bible on the public schools, is contrary of good and no harm. We wish that every to the spirit of our free institutions and the one thought as we do. When all the inhabiwill of our people. Because the system of tants of a district are agreed in having the general education can not be carried out Bible; they should have the liberty of makwith that Bible in the school, it ought to ing it a text book in schools. But, when be carried out without it. Because it is the the parents are of mixed faiths, and when apple of contention, we must lay it aside. many of them do not believe the Bible to The Catholic clergy is not sincere, is an- be the word of God, it is not right to comother argument; the Bible removed from pel their children to read it, or hear it read. school and they will discover some other This is religious compulsion, cover it as pretext to sever Catholic children from the you may. It is taxing men for the procommunity. All right. If that new pre-pagation of opinions which they repudiate. text shall be as fair as the present, we must A compulsory Bible in schools is not in ac HENRY WARD BEECHER. |