The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-12-09

From the N,w yort .vraiar Post

The Bibls In the Pubiic schools,
From the N,~ Yofk kv.aiag fcst
The question Of making the English trans.
lation OF the Scriptures book to be read
in the common schools, is at present agi.
tated with considerable warmth. Some arc
for excluding it; others insist on its being
read, though We believe they do not desire
TO learn to read, the effect Of which might
be to prevent ii from being read reverently,
The principal reason given for excluding
the Sacred Writings, fsom our city schools
especially, is that large number OF the
population are Roman Catholic, and their
introduction would prevent the attendance
Of the children Of Roman Catholic families.
II has always appeared TO US that this
difficulty, were 1t the only one, might DO
obviaied by having selections from the
Scriptures made by committee oi both
Protes,ants and Catholics, for the use of
the pubic schools. We remember little
book of this kind called the Beauties Of
the Bible" made by retired clergyman,
which some yeare ago was q tayorte ol the
American iiresidos, aud, II We mistake not,
was often seen in the school II would not
be difficult, we imagine, 10 take from the
Bible portions including many Of lis sim
pie, touching aud instructive narratives,
iucr than auytbing Ia fiction, and passages
from its wholesome teachings more impres.
sivc aud Of more comprehensive importance
than any public address which the Caiho
lie himself would admit could not be read
without oditcation. IN those eases in which
the schools contain the cDtiiiren OF Catho-
les, we see no reasons Tor obecting to these
selections belrg made from the Donay b.
bic 0s the Roman Catholic translation IL
called. II ia not the Scriptures in either
translation that make Ecctg, or divide gOcic-
ty into denominations it is the different
CLOSES which men pn, upon them; II IS the
comments with which ihfy are accompanied.
In those cases in which the Bible ia direct
I'd, in general terms, % bc read 10 schools,
the teacher must make the selections. and
this task night MS well be performed for
him by committee.
The importance of recognizing in cduca-
tion the religious element, and OF accus,om-
ing the pupii to the idea oi strictly conform
lng his conduct to the will OF the Supreme
Being, has been much and earnestly dwelt
up0n by those who would have the Bible
read in the public schools. They made out
strong ease but they are met by the
Catholics with the remark, that all which
IL said Of the importance Of cultivatiug the
religious instinct Ii very true, but for them.
Selves they prefer to do il in their own way,
in schools oi their own, where their own pecu'
liar tenets are taught and children nrc train
ed up 10 bc Catholics. The FreemGn's
journal, the organ Of the Roman Catholics
in thla city, in an artice Of some length On
this subject, expressly dfclaIms iof itself
and for others Of its religious denomination
oil interest in the controversy about tho b.
bic in public schools. 1t says:
~ u alleged that there are twelve Of the
public schools where there Ia no BibI. reading
Sumr months ago the Trustees of the fonrtb
ward met and agreed to discontinue the ptac
tice ia ibe school ~ TIL. ward, We do not
know the motive. 1t seems 10 u, = device 10
get Catholic. 10 send their children ~ the pub
llc schoul-to increase the number of teachers
needed. OF To make larger job. for stationery
aud books, or, perhaps. 10 crowd the present
school house for the tune, and thus hsse plea
for ar contract 10 bald new school. house
In the ward. b0me sgRges, that the trustees
faBc ed the move would Ice popular With their
Catholic constituents. Hs0, they have missfd
IT, for the Catholics u that ward lOpk upon II
as a fniserab. dodge. We simply fer 10 tl,s
card Of the 81 James Free School Society. N
our "Cs,boiic KSgi.tsr' c0lumn ~ this week
forsv.dsnes ~ what the tx,hohcs Ofthe foWth
Ward thlnk ~ state ,cbooli.m, whether boDs
ally Bible Teadiug, or prDfsssediy goddess. We
fear that an idea ~ Catholic iutsrsstiu keeping
the Bib.e out ~ the public schools, may draw
~ the attention ~ some from the Outrageous
iailure ~ the state school system "a o'hsf res
pect.. outside u this the dispute has for Us no
importance.
Az the higots AMI all the fanatics, may re-.
a.snfe thsm.sises. fehOOis vLDse religion -
eunhusd 70 Bibl. reading. and schools whence
all rel g,su - b1nifhed, are alike ihsttiut,1bs
ttat 10 Catholic 10 a. Liberty - advocate 90 o,
fJf the ecu alton ~ CaiDDig youth. FapAi pro-
ranigAtions and Provincial Councils bA.s set
tied that q1estion Tor lath1.ic@ both 80 gehsr
al prinr pal and H ioesl app,if atom. let
no one ihsn be 10 sisd fSf dsy bJ the Bib's
qaest %. II 10 nat a stathOilr g1estipn. There
tnay be c5pf acts ubdT 1. there may he Jsbs,
there fg4Y be gSi4fi.s- bat Bsgef ab or5sf VI
'Popery.
TIE rsmc prin, re'ers 90 r"po't u 'he
Fnt : hool society of t'e Catholic pafisll
Of ..' Jane. a. proof of shat its oAn
feIly,ars cnmmuniD', /. doing to crlnra,e u.
,,1tn TO i'r ,fifrts II Their church 1Le
soci,'7 sthin ine past year, has received ~
cou'r pY'i.rs between . yh' anb fabe tbon-
s.rd d ..'. snd hAs e1p-nled IN the wort,
II Instruction. a iI,t.r mfc han eight thou
,.ud More than a tbou'aud ohid'cn hayc