The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-04
The School bible Question - Argus
ment beforeEthe Cincinnati Supe-
s-

CINCINNATI, December 2.-The interest in
the Bible question before the Superior
Court is not abating, and citizens are
throngng the courtroom, the floor and gal
eries being filled. Judge Matthews, for
the defence, began the argument yesterday,
and at the noon recess to-day had spoken
four hours. His argument will consume
the whole afternoon. Hon. Rufus King
will make the closing argument for the
plaintiff probably tomorrow. and the decl-
sion of the court will probably not be rem
dered for two or three weeks.
Judge Matthews took up the first two
questions suggested by the court First,
Whether the reading Of the Bible was teach
ing sectarian dognas? and, second, What
good it was TO dispense with the reading Of
the Bible when Catholics refused to send
their children to schoofwhere there was no
religious Instructions? In answer to the
first, he said religious instruction rs pro-
posed by the plaintiffs was sectarian. The
Bible was read as holy book, q revelation
from Heaven, which Is q dogma held only
by Protestant Christians. The Jews held
the New Testament to be blasphemous,
and Catholics denied that the Bible is u
source of truth except as interpreted by
their infallible Church. Therefore, to read
the Bible in the way the plaintiffs propose
would be establishing dogmas held by one
sect as the law of the State.
In reply to the second question, he said
he had no doubt Catholics held precisely the
same views that were held by gentlemen on
the other side-tbat the State should provide
religious instruction. They now wanted to
secularize the Schools afterwards they
would try to strike 4 bargain with those
now attempting to have the schools made
vehicle of religious instruction. They would
say, "Lct us divide the school fund, and
give our children the religious instruction
we think is right, and you give you're
This would follow if the decision in this
case was in in favor of the plaintiffs.
He disclaimed being Catholic. or Jew,
or an infdel. He had belief in the divinity
Of Christ, and if asked the ground of his
faith would not enter into doubtful argyll
ment, but would say "he had felt the evil
dence OF Christ's existence and grace in his
heart, and" he continued, 81 have more
than three heavenly witnesses I have five
witnesses before the throne waiting for Inc
and calling for me to join them. This Is
my creed" He continued by saying that
because he was q Christian he desired to
exercise the attributes Of Christ, to be Just,
to be charitable, to, take, into the arms OF
his humane sympathy all classes of men.
lie would abate nothing of his belief, but
he would at the same time be magnanimous
by not compelling everybody else to SUBJ
scribe to his creed. ..
He charged that the ultimate result of the
argument of the plaintiffs was that Protest.
ant Christianity was the established Teli-
gion.; that its teachings were essential to
good government that because the Church
has not power to compel people to attend
its instructions, while the State has, there
fore the State must exercise it. He claimed
that the School Board in this matter had
used the discretion given it by the law, and
the court had right to review the exercise
of legal discretion. He illustrated by sup,
posing case where the School Board had
omitted to provide for gymnastics or to
compel them to provide religious instruc-
| ton.
Judge Mathews was proceeding to say
one of the members of the court had init
mated there was class of persons who
We're not entitled TO set up the right of con-
science, when Judge Storey denied making
such an assertion, and controversy fol-
| lowed. Judge Matthews took his seat. de-
clining to speak any further. but at the
solicitation Of the counsel and the court re-
sumed his argument.