New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-30
WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT.
WHY DO PEOPLE OBJECT TO THE BIBLEf

TO the Editor OF The Trtbune.
SIR: Thanking you for printing my first COM
muncation and also for your comments thereon, al
though it seems to not fully warranted in all by
the text wish TO ada that ask one TO TO read my
Bible IL he thinks he has better version OF his
propose to teach no sectarian doctrine religious
dogma All ask Is simply the reading in the Public
Schools Of the Bible New Testament pure and simple
But you say whether Roman Catholics do or do not OBJ
ect Bible reading others VIGOROUSLY do This may be,
but only the result Of their early training Even Lord
Byron with all his infdelity, admitted that his grua
difficulty that he did believe the Bible and appre'
mend that the number who do not In their sober moments
is small indeed But you say that even these must not
be offended. Our courts require this class OF people
they take oaths TO place their hands on the Bible
and kiss IT, now, upon the premises assumed by you,
right have the public authorities thus to offend
against the Of these meni But hold there
ought not TO be any such men, and II We give
In regard to Hebrew children, If any such attend
the public schools may they not read the Old Testament
Public Schools and you shut the most important
source of knowledge and weaken ono of the greatest
bulwarks OF our civil and religious liberty. C. II.
NetO- York, Nov. 49, 1869.
LIBERAL IDEA FROM A PROTESTANT CLERG YMAN.
TO the EditOr Of The Tribune
SIR: Your columns indicate clearly enough
how much the question OF Bible reading in Common
Schools is now engrossng the public mind Simply as
indicating the views of Protestant clergyman send
yOu the following passages from Thanksgiving
delivered the other day IN one Of our city pupits:
There is but one other problem OF American states
manship 10 which will now call your atention-how
reconcile universal education with the conscientious
scrupes and demands OF conflicting religious seets We
must educate-that is settled. We have accepted the
doctrine that it the function OF free Government to
educate il children The discharge OF this duty isrecog
nized as Indispensable 10 the very existence OF such
Government. We have had for many years Common
School system, most admirable in the main. believe
though Susceptible very likely, OF minute Improvement
In our Public Schools children OF all nationalities and
creeds freely mngle and gradually melt into the mold
OF the typical American child, fitted In some degree at
least, TO advance into the typical American man and
citizen Better almost than the knowledge acquired IN
these schools is the effect OF intimate association at the
tender period OF life. Mutual liberation and Kindness
are thus learned, sharp prejudices are sOitened,
little amenities are practced, and genuine friend
ships spring up between Jew and GENTLE,
Catholic and Protestant which last in after life and tell
happily the common veal OF the state. Ihe very
genius OF our institutions frowns upon the idea OF sepa
rate educational establishments for children. varying IN
lineage and traditional faith This may be tolerated
under a monarchy, but here IL would he ruin Now,
strange 70 say just bgoted section OF the community
steD IN and cry Break these scho0sy0u teaeh 10