The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-02-19
For the Hinnesotian.
CARD

A friend, minister of the Methodist Church
has called my attention to the following para
graph in the Western Christian Advocate, Of
Jan. 10Th:
'The Rev. L. Palmer, writing from Minnesota
to the New York Baptist Register speaks thus
of Popery: ...
"A son of Hon. Thomas Ii. Benton died few
months since, and died Catholic, and had a
Catholic burial, though his parents are Protes-
tants. And he became such by attending a
Catholic college. The elite of Saint Paul Pro
testants too, send their daughters to the Catho-
lie school. In Galena, ILL.,, they elect Catho-
lie mayor and rule the Bible out of the public
schools. the Catholics are so strong
PrOtcstants are SO lukewarm, while the Man
of Sin is making such rapid strides, that Pro-
testant. Presbyterian n S. minister in Saint
Paul calls the Bible sectarian book and thinks
it should not be tolerated in schools. How is
this! Is it intolerance to use the Protestant
version of the Scriptures in schools, contrary to
the wishes of the Catholics?'"
For the information of the reader, it will be
necessary to state at the outset that Mr. Palmer
is mild, gentlemanly and useful minister of a
small Baptist church at Saint Anthony, and the
undersigned, the only Presbyterian minister
n. S., in Saint Paul, would not introduce him
to the public, if his misstatements widely cir
culated as they have been in the public prints,
did not seem to require correction.
He says the IN. S. Presbyterian minister in
Saint Paul calls the Bible sectarian book, and
thinks that it should not be tolerated in schools
In making this statement he has been entirely
misled in every particular. The undersigned
loves the Bible, but he does think that the
Douay and new Baptist version of it, give it a
scctarian aspect. On the other hand he can
very readily suppose that Roman Catholic
can be sincere in his assertion that he believes
the translation made by divines and laymcn of
the Church of England, "a translation which 1
prcfcr) is translation that has a sectarian col
oring.
The N. S. Presbyterian minister of Saint Paul
has always been the Secretary of the Society
for the circulation of the Scriptures in Mime
sofa, and was it necessary only to consult his
own wishes, the Bible would be in every house.
shop, grOggery and school of the Territory.
He has ever advocated the position that a
majority of voters in every school district,
at their annual meeting, due notice hav-
ing been given, have right to determine
whether the Bible shall be read in the free
schools. But while taking this ground he does
not think that it would be tolerant for the citi-
zens of Little Canada district, who are chiefly
Romanists, to compel the few children of Prot
estant families in that district to read the Douay
version of the Bible. He believes that it should
be left optional with the parent of each child
what version shall be used.
AS Protestant, taught from childhood to
admire the principles of Roger Williams, he is
always panied to see intolerance anywhere, but
especially among Protestants. Many good and
conscientious men in their zeal to see the Pro-
testant version of the Bible read in our common
schools, have forgotten the divine precept, "Do
unto others as yc would they should do unto
you"
If Mr.. Palmer was living in Italy near by the
Florentine prison in which are confined Francis
and Rosa Madiai, he would esteem it high
handed tyranny if the Tuscan officers should
say, you shall read the Scriptures only as they
are translated in the breviary. Is the tyranny
any the less if board of school trustees insist
that no Roman Catholic child shall he permit
ted to read any version in school but that OF
King james? l trow not.
If such sentiments as | have expressed will
warrant Mr.. Palmer in saying that | call the
Bible a sectarian book, and that it ought moi
to he tolerated in schools then am willing in
his estimation to he thought not only luke
warm Protestant, but no Protestant at all.
EDWARD D. NELL.
Pastor First Pres. Church. St. Paul