The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-01
THE BIBLE In THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Controversy In Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI, Ohio, Nov. 80 1869.
TIE following points were made yesterday by Mr..
w. NJ. Ramsey, IN his argument before the Superior
Court for the plaintiff in the matter OF enjoining the
school BOARD from expeing the Bible from the
schoos:-
To show themselves entitled to the relief prayed
for the plaintiffs must establish two prop0stions-
first that religious instruction in the contemplation
OF the law Is an essential element of our common
school system OF education; second, that the Board
power to prohibit all religious instruction in the
schools Of the city. The propositions will be met, 1t
may larry DC antcipa.ea, oy nrst general denial;
action on the part OF the School Board, religious
instruction ID unlawful. | respectfully submit
that religious instruction s an essential part OF
common school system OF education; but aflirm
with entire confidence as proposition OF law. that
had the constitution simply declared that It should
be the duty OF the Legislature to establish schools
the constitution would be precisely the same;
tnat religious instruction would be as clearly
press language Of that INSTRUMENT mt. lie lie
then quoted the customs OF public schools
n other countries the grants N state a
the United States-Athen5 and oxford, Ohio,
among other instances-to show that religious In
structi0n was contemplated. In conclusion he
sald:-"Tnese resolutions forbid all religious In
structiOn. AS before remarked they are in sub
stance Reputation not only OF Christianity, put Of
oil religion, In the broadcast sense Of which the term
is susceptible They clearly constitute such case
as was supposed by the Court ID pronouncing It's
OPuiOu III VIC uiIulu VIII Ciise. ucslTe 10 AuOpI
and submit to the Court as part OF my arguments
every word OF the great argument OF Mr.. Webster In
that case-an argument that was not answered or
denied by the Court so FAR as It's conclusions were
concerned. The holding OF the Court that Chris
tianity might be taught in the Orphans College by
piouS laymen avoided his conviction without con-
trOvertng his premises"
The argument occupied three hours. Judge
Stalls spoke two hours yesterday for the defence and
VIII conclude to-day. He said Christianity was no
part OF the law OF the state, Tor II 1t were certain
duties, peculiarly Christian, must be enjoced upon
certain rights which none but Christians possess.
The observance OF certain virtues, usually called
Christian, are enjOned by the state, not because
they are Christian but because they are essential
the good order Of society. The State enforces no
duty as Christian duty. The Christian holds civil
right In preference over persons protesting other
creeds or creed. The Jew, for instance, has the
same remedies for wrongs, can sue and hold prop
erty, ONCE and VOTE His synagogue Ia exempt from
taxation the as the Christians church. lie
Reports, section 1871 lie commended that NO power
over things spiritual had ever been delegated to
government. Christianity was no part Of the COM
mon law or Ohio now, as was the with Massa-
chusetts, New York and Virginia once; but not in
Ohio to-day, thanks to Protestant Roger Williams,
son. To show the diversity OF opinion that
existed between Christians on the authority OF the
New Testament lie quoted from Rev. Samuel
Richardson's book. He said 1t not little curl
GUS to now nearly this summary OF Presbyterian
divnes agree with certain propositions advanced by
Jesuit father OF this city IN recent lecture the
Bible, though the conclusions OF the two are widely
divergent. The Legislature OF Ohio cannot Judge
between the two nor can the Board OF Education OF
the city OF Cincinnati be the Judge. The honest
convictions Of both OF these memorials should be re-
spectcd by the state OF Ohio.