The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-30
TAe Rible In the Public schools.

The bible In the Public Schools.
MASS Nj TING AT THE COOPER INSTITUTE TO PRO-
TEST AGAINST ITS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF HON.
Nv. GERARD AND HIRAM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
ETC, ETC.
very numerous and enthusiastic meeting Of cit
gems held last evening the spacious hall Of the
Cooper Institute, which crowded Inconvenience,
Ser the purpose Of taking preserve the Bible
public Schools consequence Of the Board OF Edu
cation having refused TO restore in thirteen Of the
schools Of the city. The platform allied by the lead
ing members of the church the bar and mercantile pro-
session, ana tie attendance highly respectable.
The meeting was called order by General Lloyd, who
nominated the Hon. James W Grard as President.
Mr. Cros having read list OF the Vice Presidents and
Secretaries,
The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting at length. He
said that they selected him to ill the position with the
idea he would aid in crusade against any church
sec, they would be much mistaken; hut if he select
I'd to preside a meeting neutral every respect
neutral nationality neutral in politics and neutral in
reso creed-f he called upon to aid such body
Of his fellow citizens the Bible in the public
schools, then he would heartily give them all the aid
III his power (checrs)-and would thank them for
having nominated him as their chairman. He
iMr. Grard) was neither politician nor yet bgot
lie had refraned or years past from taking any part
whatever in politics. all the spare time he had was de
voted 10 public education, elevate the children Of the
working classes Of community and be only hoped he
might be favored With health and strength 10
prsevere in that gody and honorable work (Cheers)
The school system Of New York a mag
hinccnt one indeed-(Applause)-bu its grandeur and
character comprehended but by a few We
hyed IN city the second one in the world in
position and commercial prosperity and third IN popua
city the home for the people OF all cmcs kndreds
and tongues-and when these people brought their chl
dren public schools their aim TO elevate them
both morally and intellectually, that hereafter they
nisht become good citizens Of the republic Cheers)
There are 257 buildings in this Empire CITY devoted TO
eevang the moral and intellectual character OF the work
ing classes Of city aud there co 900 boys and girls
from the ages Of FIVE 10 twenty, daily attended them
There 400 teachers about thousand Of whom
OF the gent.r and more noble intellectual and
thy set Of women than the female school teachers
Guy do cxs! upon the face Of the globe Great ap
plause) There no class OF women whom he more
honored or paid more respect 70 than the teachers OF our
public schools, and there were two whom he highly re-
spected-ths Of Charity and the school teachers
he tell deep respect for the Sisters OF Charity or the
school teachers when he met them ia the street, the
one going on an errand OF mercy and the other 10 fan
the minds OF young children. In the public schools
Of city there inequaNy-the rich, the poor,
are treated alike. There national and religious
equality, for We DO not care what chime the child may
have come from, nor was thsre any attempt TO swerve
shem from the religion OF their parents. lie the public
schools they would nd jew and hea,hean Protestant and
eaihohc ali contributing to III our schools No child is
turned from the doors account of the color of its
skin (Applausc) They had children from all quarters
the globe and all countries had contributed their quota
except China and Japan Qaughter) He looked on the
public school a mill ground them all together, and
hoy oct good Americans. (Laughter.) ii they
wanted 10 show stranger how we brought up the rising
opening Of Of the pubc schools, where regularly at
O'Clock he would see the Book of Life opened and
short chapter read and Immediately after they would
lind the little children kneel and thank their God for
psssng the previous night in safety There was mis-
taken idea among many of the community as to the
made Of the Bible in the public schools II was supposed
nv many that the Bible was commented upon; that II
made class book Of in the schools. There never
vas reater mistake There but one Bible IN the
school and passed into the class room. II is
tex. eock is not taught there; and the teacher who
would read the Bible with any comment in add
iOSs
known cf any complaint beng made by parent
as 20 their chd's hearing the Bible read That very day
heard the Bible read TO the jew, Catholic Protestant,
&c and there the most perfect unan nifty. In the
Fourth Sixth and Fourteenth wards the reading Of the
Bbe had been stopped and they had left their homes
that evening 10 Dsrt that the Bible should he read in
these schools Enthusiastic cheers) What he believed
he (Mr. G. would speak utterly regardless Of whom he
migh cut bat he would not offend any sect. lie wocld
tell them where the opposition 10 the reading OF the Bible
came fum-he evil Law in the men whom the vote OF the
people placed IN the school officers chair They should
try local remedy nrst The disease my in radius Of
hall mile, taking the Five Points centre. Qaugh
ter. lie called upon the parents in these wards poor
and rCh 10 INSIST upon The school officers reading the
Scriptures the schools. The last remedy he would
sort 10 would be 20 the Board of Education, but he
would exhaust all appeal TO the school officers first.
III that failed they should appeal ~ the Board
al Eaucaop and insist that The Bard should restore the
lao.e lie cmtrcaicd them lock az the list u who
Ng.t nicd nA the char 81 school officers They
utterly able of the position. New York should be
governed ~ commercial men, yet the Cooperation was
ccmposed OF two partes--ono %ho have no name-Do
ard the other dealers out ~ and poison. lie
man. yet these were not the men whom they
should enifus ibcr daughters and children with they
Wcre not the govern Their city. they only IL
for Aldermen ard Cuuncimen. Enthusiastic cbeers.)
Nr Grardl would rather surrender the whole system.
fChccrs) Hld not these 600 children $1,000 athersY
auFticr) They should appeal TO them, and they would
aud a nereut ~ school officers elected. IL the
meeting only their eyes the city th,y would he
ASHAMED 10 ind the men whom they haye elected
Mr. NnAM KErcHUN then addressed the meeting. When
.ne ErraFf Al England brought
them the Bible. and their pcsterty 70 ts day bal reye-
rcncgd Il, and the shie ives the American book lie al.
ludcd to the number II copies % the Bible circulated by
American Bible SoSiety, and the oonif buttons re-
ccivcd tbs country Tor the purpose aud with all that
shooy n tie city q New York. What Influence had pro-
daccd 60 amcnable result Not those who dsbclicvei
m tie Bbe: bgs the influence of the Roman Catholic
church. loud Cheers) Who was there present, or any
where else. that ccaid deny that fact No one lie DID
say that the Roman Catholic church wss op-
POSED 10 N. Bhe, but df not IKE the translation.
The Protestant translation was fair one made by men
selected ~t great and ~ho had exercised ~ much
Earning and care could he expected from mortal
lie coniended that the Roman ,athofc ATTY not or
POSED the Bible, but they had 10 follow the advice of
,her clergy whose ain ii vas to have tho schools IRE
sided over by their ogu nominees (Appausc.)
In the course q BE remarks he alluded 70
he conduct 4 the eorpmauon in giving thirty.
Catholic Orphah society ~ I'D not object % any sect
party supporting their religious schools bat they
should % With ter money, no, Al the expense 81
abe cty treasury The valve 81 hat land-half mil
hon u drlus-was gwen Tor charitable purpose he
would not complain hut 4 ~as gwen 70 purchase Roman
Catholic votef-I decidedly corrupt (Apflansc.l
They nj, yet prepared % let the schools % The
wall BY appointing drunken lhspeciars AID bringing the
schools inio disgrace They should vote for proper
men pbo morally ani intellectually carabo az 5ng
trust such the school uccr s Their country
MAS iuvaoed-but their not with the sword
ur the bay one and they should entc7vor not u allow
thrm 10 "a pps lou IN the citadel ~ cxpcnF that
~hich they bal FOR the pcrpctgty q eva AMI religious
liberty.
Nr BEooEs having addressed the meeting thanks
we're awarded 70 the Chairman, when the assemelagt
separated.
Theatrical aud other Amussmcnts.
InnarM ItN IN -IIn AImlrars nr enneslTlan and