New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-23
r1E RIFLE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TIE BIBLE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLo'
To TIE Editor Of The TrtOune
SIR: Shall the Bible be banished from our
public schools This is question that concerns every
Christian, less than every patriot OF our common
country Dare Christians thus ignore the word OF GOd
and Give their children the impression that Is OF no I'M
portance This Ia question that should no less excite
the sOictude OF every patriot aud we-wsher OF our
civil institutions Our children should DO taught at all
times and all places 20 reverence the Bbe ana DO edu-
Gated Ia tho fear OF God believe the Bible TO DO the
word OF God In which He has revealed to us His being
the works Of creation and the origin and destiny OF
the human race; has promulgated the Divine Law. and
made known 10 duties to our fellow menLand our
infinite obligations 10 Him as the Sovereign Huer Oh Vho
Universe Those Fundamentally truths We are COM
manded not only teach our children but 10 our chill
dren's children-that s. to all coming generations Ana
whore properly than in our Public Schoosi De-
eve II the OF all knowledge, without when the
world would have remained In state OF ignorance ana
barbarism until this day Our children should be taught
20 reverence it, and TO cherish its precepts ana hoy
teachings with their earliest education believe " 10 DO
the upon which fathers founded onr re-
publican institutions and the whence have ema'
mated all our religious and benevolent charities Shall
we then set aside and bring dscred upon the word of
God ana Danish &c from public schools a the behest
OF Rom-h Jigotry aud scOersi But some one our
public schools IN danger and we must not provoke
many millions OF Christians OF this free country viii not
rest supInely under this attempted revolution IN our
public schools Let the responsibility rest win those
who seek the innovation. This IL not merely an attack
upon the Bible, but upon the public schools themselves
aud only upon the public schools but upon tho very
found atons Z our free Institutions
No matter how insdiOus or under what DISCUSSES inc
enemy approaches, the attack must DC met az me h
old. No Republic can be long maintained where tho
citizens not enlightened, moral ana nave 1"
what does Rome care for the secular education Of her
Mind ~ an education has she given the people Italy
the OF her power OF Ireland Of France OF Spain
centuries IL IA not simply opposition 10 the Bible but
that may divert the schoOlfund from the Public
what kind Of an education she will give her children I'm
this country Judge her by her past policy and antece
upon us from every land where she has had sway Let
me ask the patriot IL this IA the kind OF education TO give
American children 10 qualify them to be good citizens
How long could this country maintain re-
publican government composed OF saon CiSc"S as
in the cities Of Brooklyn aud New.forkt Balish
tho Bible Public Schools divide the schOolfund.
what would their demsnd In all probability TO
abolish Public Schools altogether LET TINS question:
for once and for all me Public Schools for
no sect for nationality but American Free Schools
for all OF her children where tho fundamental principles
OF religion good morals and all useful knowledge should
be taught qualify them for the varied duties Of life and
make them enlightened useful and good clthens woiu
not infringe upon any mans rights or conscience the
Roman Catholics object to their children reading 9e rr9
testant version Of the Bible or the New (Which
Is most generally read In the Public SchoO lot them read
their own version they will then have rs fair all Oppor-
tunty OF converting our children to their faith as we
their children 10 can see no objection TO inns; all
would be placed upon an cquhlty anu NOehcc uOuo 10
no ones conscience Indeed II Catholics willing that
their children should read tho version OF
tleir own Bible let them do But
the Bible must not be discarded from our Public
schools No. never And division OF the Common School
Pnnd under any pretense whatever Our children must
not be educated In public schools rs Protcstants nor
as Catholics but Americana. drinking In their nspira
ton knowledge from tho common fountain,
ducing interest AIM universal love OF country
and OF our free Institutions, which guarantee equal priv
ilrges % ALL All and denominations give their
children such religious training IN the family the church
and the Sunday schools as their peculiar faith may dc
inte and offend none, CT