Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-03-23
The PubIic Schools and the Bible.

D
Below we give an abstract of a SER
mon delivered by the Rev. Drs Hep
worth, of New York, on the 18th
inst:
ST. Paul's First Epistle to the Cor
inthians, xvi, l3:-"Quit We like
men," The reverend gentleman COM
menced by saying that the govern
ments of Europe were based upon and
protected by muscle and bayOnets,
while the government of America, on
the other hand, was based upon and
protected by brains and heart. The
necessity of moral education then was
easily seen. Freedom and virtue
were born of the same mother and
rocked in the same cradle. That fact
had been noted by our greatest states
men from Patrick Henry TO Daniel
Webster. 1t was Oftentimes said that
there was no recognition of God in
our constitution. 1t twould be remem-
bered that when Thomas Jefferson
presented to the American Congress
the first draft of, the Declaration OF
Independence he left out all reference
whatever to God, and that the Con-
gress, after due deliberatiOn, inserted
the two clauses: First, Appealing to
the Supreme Judge of the world for
the rectitude of our intentions;" and,
second, "That q firm reliance be-
placed on the protection of divine
Providence" Nearly every State
that had since entered the Union have
had in its preamble a similar clause,
the following being generally used =
II Fn ~ c.
political and religious liberty" &c
We were thus committed as people
to religious as well as to secular edu-
cation. No man entered upon an
office of any importance without SOL
emnly declaring his faith in the Al
mighty. In our colleges a part of the
scheme of education consisted of text
hooks upon religious matters. Paley's
Evidences of Christianity" and Way
lands "MOral Science" were taught
in every academic institution of this !
country. In our common schools il |
was the custom before the exercises OF !
the day to read portion of the Bible |
and to make a prayer. This educa- /
ton in religious matters was wholly 1
No sectarian teacher |
would be considered qualified for that |
position. Thus it was
tried to infuse into the minds of the |
young a sense of their moral as well |
as of their political obligating. After
upon the subject of the ne
cessity of a religious education the /
Rev. DIR. Hepworth continued:-Now, I
who asks US to take the Bible out oi |
the schools? Are the men who are
most Americanized, who are most in
1uential, who are best educated? q? No;
hey are persons who have come from !
he oppressive laws and customs of
he old country, and who have found
/ home in our republic. To republi-
AN institutions they owe all they
nave. Too often they have been
clothed prematurely with American
1t has, unfortunately,
happened that many q man, fresh
rom the mOnarchies of Europe, has,
within twenty-four hours after he ar
lived, by the chicanery of politicians,
'een empowered to vote. Indeed,
his attempt is made by what is term
ID the dangerous element of our
American society, as well as the un-
ducated element. If you ask me
What their nature is the answer il
Vain enough. Is it simply to get the
Bible out of the schools? Will they
'e satisfied if we substitute Catholic
Bibles instead of the one now in use?
Will they be satisfied if we use pray
rs Of their own making? No. The
ruth is that they propose TO under
nine the public school system They
ave Organized fight and Americans
must meet it bravely and squarely.-
We have taken them into our political
ouse. If they tell us that a tree in
ercepts their vision We will cut il
own. If they tell us that the house ,
; too small we will build it larger;
ut if with pick in hand they try TO
ap the foundation of our building, il
] time that we should be up and do
lg. They tell US that their plea is !
ne of conscience. l respect con-
eience as much as any man; but if !
heir conscience is in our way why Z
id they come to this country at all? q
{ they cannot accord with the spirit :
our institutions they have no right ;
Il our shores. Task whose conscience
troubled? Is it that of the poor !
ian whose children are in our public :
,hools? No. Is it that of the priest, =
no gives him his spiritual lessons
ON Sunday TO Sunday? No: Is it +
lat of the archbishop. who controls :
lie ecclesiastical affairs? No; it is :
Ither thatOf the Head of the Church, a
ho neither knows anything of nor 4
Ires anything for republican institu- v
ons. My doctrine is simply this :,
say to all the oppressed of Europe, :,
ONE 20 our country, for we have n
res enough for you all; use our in q
itutions for your own development q
I'd for that of your children; but do II
ot attempt TO destroy what we hold a.
dear. And my only motto is this n
Our nnhlic schI rnIs and nIIr PihIn- .