Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-06-23
Oat.of-TOwn TaIk-Seyenth sitting

"Well, Sykes, I haven't seen you about
for some time; but then don't wonder
at it; the fact is, this hot weather keeps
everything quiet" Everything except
the mercury" remarked Sykes, " that
seems to be on the move, early in the
morning, too. And yet, warm as the
weather is" continued Sykes, cit Is
scarcely warmer than the discussion of
the question of the Bible in the Common
Schools, which now occupies more or less
space in every newspaper. That is tie
question, Just now, and every man ought
to have an intelligent opinion in regard
to it." "Well, what is yours Z" said l,
" though, radical as you are, L suppose
NAV conclude that you would. abolish the
Bible from the Schools" "To be sure L
would" answered Sykes. at is the only
tenable ground man can take. L enter
tain great respect for the Bible and It's
teachings. but believe that even Il, like
all Gods gifts to man, is TO be used judi-
ciously. 1 have just been reading an
article on the subject in the Independent,
and 1 consider it wholly unanswerable;
worth more than whole volumes of such
commonplace talk as 'JEAd,' and such as
take his view of the question, furnish for
the Press" Radical every time, Sykes"
said I, " but let me propose a plan for
UumPrOnai-" "A plague on your
Compromises :" exclaimed Sykes, eve
have had too many compromises already.
Still, will hear what you propose" 81
was going to relate a little experience.
While engaged in teaching, my practice
was to open school with reading in the
Bible; and, at the commencement of my
first term in the Academy at M, L re-
quested each pupil to bring a Bible.
There being several Catholic families
among my patrons, of course several
Catholic Bibles were brought in. We
read in the Psalms, and there proved TO
be just enough difference in the two
Versions to make it interesting to notice
the variations in the text; and the
consequence was, that all the pupils,
Protestant and Catholic alike, were
unusually attentive, and a more pro
ftable Bible-reading l never wit
messed. The arrangement suited patrons
as well as pupils, and harmonized
the matter completely. Now, Sykes, why
not adopt this plan; let each denomina-
ton use its own Version of the Scriptures,
as was done in the case which L have re-
lated ?" Your plan might prove just
the thing" said Sykes, IS but one swallow
doesn't make SUMNER and it will re-
quire more than one single case to prove
your theosy good. The TRUTHS, would
practice the Golden Rule, and do by the
Catholic exactly as would have him do
by me if I were in the minority. L should
be unwilling to adopt his Version of the
Scriptures for use in School, and hence !
will not insist upon his adopting my
Version. Rather throw out the Bible en-
tirely, and then the Catholics will have
no excuse for getting up UNCONVENTIONAL
Schools. And suspect that they, more
than the Protestants, will oppose the abo-
lition of the Bible, for the reason that
they would be glad to have the cOntrO-
versy result in the subversion of our
Common School System, as it certainly
will if the Bible is retained. So l say,
throw out the Bible, and thus remove all
That's my plan" "Wel,
what about religious instruction-how
are our children to get it 2" Get it in
Sunday School," answered Sykes, little
and especially get it NJ
home. The truth is, there must be more
home instruction given, or this nation
will go to ruin speedily. We must re-
member what a stranger, who occupied
our pulpit last Sabbath, said to parents.
and not leave all the moral and religious
training of their children TO Sunday
School Teachers. Most of the opposition
among Protestants, to the abolition of the
Bible from Schools will come from those
parents who, for some unexplained reason,
don't see it to be their duty to teach their
children morals and religion at home. AT
least SO it seem. to me. But am talking
too long," remarked Sykes, rising to go.
i" but how sad it is to think that the adj
mirers of Dickens must evermore exclaim,
as they think of The Mystery of Edwin
Brood The Dickens is IN it =" l.
RELEAsED.-Msjor Daniel Murphy OF
Bridgeport, Conn, one of the Fenians OH
GERS who has for some time been confined
in Burlington Jail, was bailed out yester-
day, his bail is $1,000, being secured b
P. Kennedy and ]. Dullahan- General
O,Neil is expecting the same good fortune
soon.