Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-13
The Bible and the Schools.


The effort made in the city Of Cincinnati
to forbid the reading of the Bible in the
common schools and the effort made in
New York city in favor of sectarian
schools, have provoked very general dis
cussion of the Bible question in every com.
munity.
In the New York Times we find the fol-
lowing communication, which we COM
mend to the attention of our readers:
1.-THE VALUE OF THE BIBLE AS STUDY
VIEWS OF PROMINENT MEN OF OTHER
sIn connection with the great contro-
versy now in progress, with regard to the
use of the Bible in our public schools, ii
has occurred to me that, If 1t were possible
for little to hush the tumult of the peo-
pie, q brief reference to the sentiments and
opinions Of the great men of other days,
book to be read and studied by the young,
would be of interest and profit to all. In a
letter addressed by Hon. John Quincy
Adams to literary society of young men,
he writes:
"'The first, and almost the only book,
demanding universal attention Is the Bible.
1t Is the book of all others to be read, at all
ages and in all conditions of human life !;
not to be read once or twice through, and
then laid aside, but to be read in small por-
tons of one or two chapters every day, and
never to be intermitted unless by some
overriding necessity. 1 speak as man of
the world; and l say to you, Search the
Scriptures. If ever you tire of them on
seeking a rule of faith and standf of
morals, search them as records of b. DRY.
The Bible contains the only auther Y.
PRODUCTION to the history of the wor,..
is book which neither the most ignc
and wea kest nor the most learned an?
telligent mind can read without implS
ment.'
1.-the youth of America, once remark
ed Hon. Lewis Cass, have a glorious thea
ter of exertion before them. That they
may appreciate its duties and rewards, and
may be prepared for its offers and demands
| by the lessons of the Sabbath and the Bible
must be the sincere wish of every one in
| terested in the progress and prospects
of our country, and especially OF those who
must soon pass from its councils, and see
its destinies committed to new genera
ton. Impressed with these considerations,
earnestly hope that Gods Day may be
hallowed, and His Word studied through
this whole land, till their obligations are
felt and acknowledged by all its people,
"The Hon. Chevalier Bunshen of Prus-
1 sia says:
| go hope that our children and our chill
dren's children will see religious liberty,
not only in this land (England) and in my
own country, but over the world when
the Bible and the faith of the Gospel will
| form the basis, as it il the only basis, of
civil and religious liberty; for the Bible is
! the only real cement of nations
The great German poet Goethe ascribed
| to his his belief in ethe Bible the inspira-
| tions he continually received to a moral
and literary life.'
"Sir Isaac Newton accounted the
| Scriptures of God to he the most sublime
| philosophy
"And we find even the noted sceptic,
| Rousseau, confessing that the majesty of
| the Scriptures strikes me with admiration,
as the purity of the Gospel hath its infiu-
ence on my heart
with special reference to the use of the
Bible in schools, will you permit me to
make one or two more quotations
"tAbove all things says Luther, let
the Scriptures be the chief and most fire.
| quently used reading book, both in primary
and high schools. Is il not proper and
right that every human being, by the time
he has reached his tenth year, should be
| familiar with the Holy Gospels, in which
the very core and marrow of his life are
bound? But where the Scriptures do not
bear sway, there would counsel none to
send his child; for every institution will
degenerate where Gods Word is not in
daily exercise"