Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-12-10
FREE SCHOOLS AND AN OPEN
BIBLE.


Education in excluding the Bible from the
public schools, and the attending discus
sions, have become matters Of such impor-
tance that as faithful chronieler of passing
events we cannot pass them by. The action
Of the Board is thus stated By the daily
Press
s'The Cincinnati Board Of Education has
decided. by vote of twenty-three to fifteen,
to exclude from the public schools not only
the Bible, but also all religious books and
fbe singing of religious songs. OF the votes
in favor of excluding the Bible there were
Protestants, three Catholics, ten free
thinkers, eight
This action at once raised a cry Of alarm,
and reused spirit of resistance. Protes-
tants at once charged that it was not only
an attack upon the Bible but also upon our
American system of free schools. The
Catholics promptly and frankly aekuOwL
edged the charge and proceeded to defend
their action.
The Tablet Of New York City,-the high
est secular authority Of the hierarchy OF
Rome in America, says buntly, that per
mitting the Bible to be excluded, will not
modify the antipathy Of the church to our
mode OF secular education. Not only Is
the church opposed, it AYERS, to the Pro-
tcstant Bible being used in the schools, but
If that translation were Supplanted by the
ponay Bible, their hostility would not bJ
cooled. No, not if Catholic lessons from
the Popish Bible we're chosen, and thes'
alone. with commentaries by the mos
learned theoloEians Of the Catholic Church
we're made the only christian education IN
our schools, the Catholics would yet oppose
the continuance Of the schools with deter
miuation which nothing but their total sup
preston could, or can, under any clrcum-
stances, weaken or allay.
The Roman Cdilollc Telegraph, remark
ing upon the successes gained in the Cinein-
natl Board of Education. says
1T was blind worship of ezPeiieney to
sustain a school system that tramples upon
fbe rights of Catholics. The blindness has
driven these defenders Of the common
schools to a second defat, which, By skill
ftil maneuvre, they imagined they had
escaped. The first chapter In this school
controversy is now closed it ends with the
triamph of the law. The second chapter
will open with agitation against the law It
self in the name of Justice and the right
that both Protestants and Catholics have to
positive religious instruction IN sepCrate
schools. IF the school law be modified 70
secure denominational education for al,
Catholics viii cheeTfuy pay their portion
of the school fund If this wise amend
ment cannot be made taxation for school
purposes must cease. Now that the Bible
has been excluded from the schools, if the
professed PreteStants have been sincere IN
all that they have said in its favor they
must agree with the Catholics IN the second
issue of this question. Consistency will
make them our friends in the future. u
The Feenan's Journal, their mouthpiece
10 New York city, says:
IF the Catholic translation Of the Books
of Holy Writ, which is to be found in the
homes of all our better educated Catholics,
were to be dissected by the ablest Catholic
theoiogian In the land, and merely lessons to
be taken from it-such as Catholic mothers
read to their children; and with all the
notes and comments, in the popular edition,
and others added With the highest Catholic
endorsement; and if these admirable Bible
lessons, and these alone. were to be rltled as
to be read in all the public schools this
lc0uld not diminish, ~ am substantial de-
gree, the objection lrs Catholics hare 10 let
ting Catholic children attend the public
schools -
Such evidence as this must convince all
unprejudiced minds that the movement is a
preconcerted and systematic one. In Gin
cinnati the work is in its first stage, in New
York City it has advanced to the second.
There they have succeeded in getting
S2l492S,4O appropriated to sectarian
schools and Of this they have obtained the
appropriation Of $I7I,63l,40 to Catholic
schools 1t will be remembered that a few
years ago the Pope in his encyclical letter
not only condemned our free schools. but
our free government All these things
point to a systematic though iusidjous war
fare against not only an open B bic, but
against free schools and free institutions.
We cannot believe hat the more liberal and
intelligent Catholics Of our own and other
communities, approve of these proceedings.
On the contrary we believe that every one
who loves our free institutions, be be Pro
tcstant Catholic or even free thinker, will
and must unequivoeally condemn every
movement that looks to the destruction oi
our free schools or in any way attacks oul
Institutions. 1t is true that Henry Ward
Beacher, Horace Greeley and the editor o.
the hdepeadat have declared themselves
ready to yield this first position, ifthe Carho
lies will compromise there and cease thei
attacks upon The free schools, but they are
c0ntemptuously told that the schools are the
main object Of attack and that they viii
make no compromise. In all charity. kind
ness and christian love and forbearanee We
would come to the discussion Of this ques.
ton. At the same time We would most
positively and distinctly declare that we can
not for one moment think Of surrenderne
either our open Bible or our Free Schools
There Is no enc Of ordinary intelligence, no
even the merest tyro 10 history, bnt know.
that to an open Bible, and that the Protes
tant Bible the world is indebted for all o
either Civil or Religious liberty that it to
day enjoys. Fore-warned is fore armed
The friends Of our free institutions are here
plainly and clearly notified that the founda
tions Of our civil aud religious liberties art
deliberately attacked with view to theiI
ultimate destruction let it be as distinct
Is announced that We regard an open BiblC
ana Free Schools as constituting the chic
oulTarks Of our liberties, that upon them
without regard to church or party, We planl
our standard determined to defend them t,
the Httermost against al assaiIants.
CONGRESS.