The Nevada journal., 1859-04-15
The Bible in Public SchOO Is.

Mr.. Editor In the to-day's issue
of the Nevada Democrat. my attention
has been called to Il lengthy article,
headed, "The Bible in the Public
Schools" by w. F. Anderson. which !
feel demands more than passing notice
which is all l can give it at this time,
as other duties require my attention.
with his reasons for expell
ing the Bible from our schools, or tn he
logical argumen is by which he endeav-
ors to sustain his singular course of ac-
tion, Ishall have little to say leaving
them to abler pens or a future commuui-
cation. My object in writing
is simply to disabuse the public mind of
the wrong impression that said article is
calculated to produce. l wish to deal
with local facts, and discuss general
principles. While disclaim all ambi-
ton to the "crown of martyrdom" assig
ed me desire and demand simple JUS
tice-not to myself so much as to this
community. For l feel that a great
wrong has been perpetuated upon the
public, and it affected me personally,
only so far as l cnanced to stand in the
way of its execution. Till the evening
of the goth ult. had no thought of ap-
plying for the Public School, as stated
in the letter of application just publish
ed. Believing, as l supposed on good
gro und, that ] could lot obtain it, Oh
such terms and with such regulations as
| knew were essential to ensure a good
good school, l preferred to remain silent
Nor should l have applied at all, much
as l desired the situation, had not Mr..
Ro 'fe, one Of the Trustees, first spoke to
me on the subject and urged me to apply
And after had fairly and frankly sta
ted the only terms upon which l would
take charge of The School, land which
terms be it remembered were not chang
ed at the examination) he expressed his
appreciation and promised to vote for
me on those terms and expressed much
confidence that Mr.. Anderson would do
the same. With this assurance on his
part, wrote and handed in my appllca-
ton ara at the hour appointed sought
the office of Mr.. Anderson for an exam.
ination. l was the first candidate on
the ground and was soon Joined by
Messrs Jennings and Raymond. The
present lady teacher was also present
Messrs Anderson and Rolfe, assisted by
DIR. Overson. County Superintendent of
Public Schools, formed the august Com
mittee before whom, we four trembling
suppliants for public patronage must
pass the dreadful ordeal of an exanin a.
ton. BI: lest grow tedious. al
low me TO leave the recital of that har-
rowing examination,so rigidly conducted
as to enable the Trustees with such TN
erring Judgment to discoverin in the rela-
tive qualifications of each "in every
respect" and then parade them in print
before an admiring community with
their infallible brand upon them-I re-
peat-allow me to leave this painful
subject to notice some of its results as
given by Mr.. Anderson in his late art
icle. He says; Upon examination of
the gu alifcations of the applicants &c, F."
hey found
1st. THAT the qualifications of Mr..
Jennings were in every respect equal
to those of Mr.. Stratton." Examina-
ton of qualifications What examina-
ton! pray let me ask. When-how
and where did it take place1 How
was it conductedl and what dreadful