The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-15
Tue ASrI-BIBLE MOVEMENT N OHIO.
Exclusion OF the Bible from The Pubic Schools
or Characterization and status of the
Question.

Question.
CINCINNATI, Nov. G, 1850.
The proximity or this day to the anniversary that
links the name Of Guy Fawkes with a grea. politlco
religious event In the history OF England surrounds
the question OF the Bible In the pubic schools with
peculiar significance to the minds OF very large
class OF citizens or this city. There many. very
many intelligent people who really regard the at
tempt TO dispense with the reading OF chapter Ia
the Book-as a religious preliminary 10 The regular
exercises OF the day-as falling short only OF the
tankest nidety; while at the same tne there is
hardly father or mother Ia the city, ana certainly
not single taxpayer, but feels or less interest
In the subject Affecting them ther children. AZ
matter OF mere local interest 1t ia all absorbing
and OF that peculiar sort that enters the home circle
In c0ntradistincton to politics. which may be eiton
tho street. The history of the opposition 10 the
Bible as a text book in the common schools OF Gin
rnnati. as q moral standard dates back as far as
1852 when effort was made by the Roman Catho-
iIo members OF the Board or Education to exclude
i. Without going into detals OF that movement
row. 1t proper to say that 1t was narrowed down
10 this:-That in order to satisfy the Roman CathO.
Nos who or course, DO not believe in the King
James version OF the Bible, Ii was proposed that The
Douay version should be read when required by
parents or guardians; but This was rejected and
after q protracted warfare and terrible excite
ment that eliminated in bloody mob in the vicinity
Of the Cathedral at which the Pope's Nun
clio, the venerable Bedn. was visiting,
the question settled for the time In favor OF the
retention OF the King James version ana reading Of
the same by the teachers at the opening OF each
days studies. Since that time the subject has re-
manned In state OF unsettled settledness. large
Infux OF German emigration since then has
brought TO the 'Queen City of the Vest thousands
Of thrifty industrious trades people and their
teeming families. The city has become the Western
centre Of Jewish population. and II Is perfectly safe
to say that the great majority Of the Germans win
all OF the Israelitsh population, numbering perhaps
10000 Hebrews, are opposed TO the Bible Gu purely
theological grounds. This opposition has sprung
up since the old feud OF 1852. and strengthened by
the former element or opposition from Irish ana
American Roman Catholics and moderately large
class Of socalled free thinkers put forth renewed
and formidable effort few months ago to exclude the
Bible from the common schools. The subject became
deeEncdy OF accidentally associated with propo-
ston to sell or lease to the Board OF Education the
Roman Catholic school houses, OF which there are
ten or dozen fine, large substantial structures ca
pablo OF accommodating over 10000 pupils, and the
contest has gone forward with the usual bitterness
and intolerance accompanying the strife between
Professionalism and Catholicism II IS very strange
that in tins country, where there Is so much room,
men viii stop 10 wrangle over an inch OF space;
strange that with the destructive tendency OF Iei.
gous strife warning them against 1t they VIII cher
tsh the feelings that beget It, and In desperate Ieck.
iessness plunge mady into the fray. IL might seem
unjust to look seriously upon This contest, but there
It has aroused and Inc depth TO which has stirred
public feeling. IT has enlisted tue attention and
eors of the pulpit, the bar and Of course the press
It, and IN fact the forces on both sides are arrdyed
Te subject OF purchasing the Catholic schools was
dropped August last, after some attempt at nego-
iiation tue glst OF which was that the buildings
sderatl0n and the Catholic children would attend
oea or and n SSa
ings be given over on Saturdays for the meeting OF
Catholic societies. This last provision Is strictly for.
hidden In Ohio constitution, but II was not
urged as essential. Now out OF this there spfang
the tact that what the Catholics really wanted was
division OF school iund, to be used for me edu
.neir iah, and 70 this the objection a,o was
made 1t would only satisfy a class
Of relisionlsts and set very bad pre- pre-;
gloas sect would clam ther share, Jews, Presbyte-
fians, Methodists, Baptsts, &C. Nc, ciamorng FOR
would be either pulled to pieces or must undergo
such q radical change as would amount TO the same
tbHg. In the midst OF the negotiations Archbishop
Purcell one OF the best Of men aud pufest PATROLS,
happened to remark that IN order 20 accept certain
Tor nm TO near what Rome had to say before he
could consent to The proposed innovation. Now,
any one with grain OF sense knows that Rome Is
Inc seat OF the Catholic Church government ana that
her priests and pre.aes everywhere must TAKE
Pope IN all matters pertaining to the spiritual wei.
fare OF church. In matter 80 vital as the edu
cation children II Is not to he supposed that he
would depart from the usages and requirements OF
his church. But his simple, plain, straightforward
declaration made In the drectline or progress, even
In the matter untler consideration, construed
meaning a submission TO a foreign p0tentate OF our
abide by. or have it rammed down our tnroats for
fear OF having them treacherously cut. That this
construction had much TO DO WIN prend,sing tne
OF determining at the time the majority that closed
the doors against further consideration OF the
we now COME to the kindred question OF the
Bible III the common schools. IT was undoubtedly
sprung by the Catholic membefs OF the School
Board, but tue abest advocate OF the dissentients
was Thomas vickers. pastor OF cnurch society
here calling itself the First congregational Society
OF CINCINNATI The form In which the opposition
70 the Bible manifested Itself was brief resolution
introduced in the Board Of Education 10 dispense
with the usual reading OF selection from the Bible
and singing hymn at the commencement or the
school exercises. This gave rise 10 discussions in
the Board, which cover several weeks TO crowded
columns OF reports and communications in the daily
papers, ana to depth ana breadth OF pupic ieeiing
immeasuraeie. During the contest pubic meetings
were held IN the largest hal IN tue city. Tne anti
Bible meetings numbered only a few hundred people
in their audiences; the Bbleites were orarnuied
together thick ana heavy, like keg fu OF nails
Undoubtedly the former mad the hest OF the argu-
ment There Is noinng recognizing the Bible in Tie
constitution OF tile State In auy way ana that Is toe
but Inasmuch that document says that whereas
morality and religion are essential 10 good govern
worship, the Bbletes claim that the BOOK h the
foundation OF Christianity aud therefore should nave
apace IN the schools Yes; but 10 the Catholics 1t
is stumbling block and 10 the Jews and Free
Thinkers Ioosnness and ont II must, for peace sake
Il Tor no other reason. Thus, then Is the public
mind torn with strife and the public peace dis
turbed.
ON last Monday night tire board OF Education went
into Committee Of tue Whole TO consider Tor the for
Lleth time the BtOe question. The Board Is COM
posed Of Irotcstants Free Thinkers, Catholics aud
Jews forty IN ALL There were thirty seven members
present on the eventfn evening. The discussion In
COMMITTEE OF the Whole was mostly directed to an
individual personal review by tue leading speakers
VIZ, one OF each sect as classified and some person.
ates cropped out. The Protestant faction moved
to postpone TIL the first Monday In May, by which
time lu third OF the members and embracing the
most determines opponents 10 the Bible, would be
out, but the motion WAS lost 10y sixteen TO twenty
u md fnI ia Ha