The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-03
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
The Bible in the Schools.
The Discussion Continued
Argument OF Judge Mathews.

CINCINNATI, December 2.-The inter.
est in tho Bible question before the
Superior Court is not abating. Citizens
throng the court room. Floor and
galleries filled. Judge Mathews, for the
defense, began his argument yesterday
at noon. AT recess to-day he had spoken
four hours. His argument will consume
this afternoon. Hon. Rufus King will
make the closing argumentfor the plain
tiffs, probably tomorrow. The decision
of the Court will probable not be rem
dered for two or three weeks.
Judge Matthew'S took up the hrst Two
questions suggested by the Court. Inc
first, whether reading OF the Biple
was teaching sectarian dogmas," and
second. "What good was it to dispense
with the reading of the Bible when
Catholics refused to send children to
school where there was no religious in
struction." ., >.
In answer to the first, he said relig-
ious instruction, as proposed by the
plaintiffs, was sectarian. The Bible
was read as the Holy Book and revela-
ton from Heaven, which is a dogma
held only by Protestant Christians. The
Jews held the New Testament to be
blasphemous, and the Catholics denied
that the Bible is a source of truth ex-
cept as interpreted by their infallible
church. Therefore, to read the Bible as
the plaintiffs proposed, would be estab.
fishing dogma held by one sect as the
law of the State.
In reply to the second question, he
said he had no doubt the Catholics held
precisely the same views that were held
by the gentlemen on the other side
that the State should provide religious
instruction. They now wanted to secu-
larize the schools. Afterwards they
would try to strike bargain with
those now attempting to have the
schools made the vehicle of religious
instruction. They would say let US di-
vide the school fund, and give our chill
dren religious instruction We think is
right, and you give the same to yours.
This would follow if the decision in this
case was in favor of the plaintiffs.
He disclaimed being Catholic or Jew,
or intidel; he was an Orthodox Calvan-
list. He had belief in the divinity of
Christ, and if asked the ground of his
faith would not enter into doubtful ar
gument, but would say he had felt the
evidence of Christ's existence and grace
in his heart, and he continued, have
more than three Heavenly witnesses, l
have five witnesses before the throne
waiting for me and calling for me to
Join them. This is my creed. He con-
tinued by saying that because he was
Christian he desired to exercise the
attributes of Christ, TO be just, to be
charitable, and to take into the arms OF
his human sympathy all classes of men.
He would abate nothing in his belief;
but he would at the same time be mag
unanimous, by not compelling everybody
else to subscribe to his creed. He
charged that the ultimate result of the
arguments of the plaintiffs was that
Protestant Christianity was the estab.
lished religion, that its teaching was
essential to good Government, that
because the Church has not the power
to compel the people to attend it's in
struction, while the State has, therefore
the State must exercise it.
He claimed that tie school board in
this matter had used discretion given
it BY law, and no Court had a right to
review or exercise legal discretion.
He illustrated it by supposing a case
where the school board had omitted to
provide for gymnastics. He said the
same power existed in the court to COM
pei the board to provide gymnastics as
to compel it to provide religious in
struction.
Judge Matthews was proceeding to
say: One of the members of the Court
has intimsted that there was class of
persons who were not entitled to set up
a right of conscience.
Judge Storer denied making such as
sertion.
A controversy followed, when Judge
Matthews took his seat, declining TO
speak further, but at the solicitation OF
the counsel and of the Court heresumed
his argument, referring to the case in
the second Howard, Nidalt VS.. the exc
cutors of Girard, and the case in the
second Harrington.