The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-10-10
Correspondence,
THE BIBLE Nv SCHOOL,S.

The objection against the use of the
Bible in our common schools urged by
your correspondent "Acer," in his
Letter from Benzinger" published
several months ago, was this that if the
Bible is read in school, or any religious
exercise is allowed, it will be used, or
abused, for the incubation Of sectarian
views. 1t 10 this objection alone that l
wish now to answer; and do it by say
log that the Bible is not sectarion
Jook. Whatever claims may be made
BY sects, the Bible belongs to the Catho-
lie Church of Christ, and Catholic chris,
tiapity certainly ought to have place in
the education Of youth. It is admitted
by all citizens of this country, with ex.
ceptious TOO insignificant to notice, that
the Bible was written by divine inspira'
tion, and is therefore to be considered
not as the word of man but as the word
of God. Not that the Bible contains all
the words shat God ever spoke to man,
but all the Bible is Gods aoork-the
apocryphal books, to keep clear cf dispu.
ted matters, being left out-ofthe account
This being universally admitted, it
seems passing strange that any one
should object to the reading of this book
in our public schools. 1 can we'll con-
ceive how any objection could be made,
except by an infdel, bigot, or fool.
One who professed to regard .he Bible
as collection OF cunningly devised
fables might with some show of con.
sistency (if not of reason) urge that
falsehood should not be put in the place
of truth. A bigot might object to the
translation used, and that on sectarian
grounds. But practically the question
among those who read Euglish-lies be,
tween the two most commonly used, one
known as the Donay version, first pub
lished by the English college at Donay,
1909, though the New Testament had
been published at Rheims some thirty
years. earlier, aud the other known as
the King James version, because made
at his command and published by his
authority in 1911. The first Of these
version is from the Latin vulgate, the
other from the original Hebrew and
Greek. They are two Independent
translations, unless-which is possible
? the translators of King James had New
Testament of the Donay version before
them and their substantial agreement
is a voucher for their general, accuracy
In the preceding papers L have usec
both these versions, and cited texts from
one OR the other indifferently, sometime
giving preference to one as best expires
sing the evident meaning of the origi
nal. Now bigot might object to tn
translation, Sut an honest man woul(
not object to the Bible if read in eithe
of the versions above named, which
ever was most used in the district-reaC
by the teacher, or by all the scholar
who are able.
Yet fool might object that tn
, school is secular institution, and tn
Bible which is religious book does no
belong there. So it is religion and tn
only true religion-that is sought to b
removed from our schools under plea o
keeping them free from sectarianism
But, however it might be under a des
potism, popular government depend
for its stability on the virtue not les
than the intelligence of the people an
there can be no enduring virtue apar
! from religion, and, may say, the chris
9 tian religion. What would the hopes c
our youth be worth for ttn,e-to sa
nothing of eternity If they are t
grow up aoithom reltgionP ? Will ruler
:. of people regard the oath of God,"
they are taught to despise religion an
: the Bible in their yOuth3
q But this paper is already longer an
y less to tho purpose than I intended
}. May it serve, however, to call attentio
|. to this most important subject, and lea
people to "stand in the ways, and Sc
and ask TOR the old paths, aohere as Il
It good ,oay, and ,oaM herein." G. G,