The New York herald., 1870-02-14
RELIGION IN TEE PC3LlU SCHOOLS.
from the Evening Tclegram.l

tFrom the Evening Trlegram.l @'.
In all the huDDub that has late been raised' on
the question OF the Bible In the public schools the
controversy seems TO have been carried soieyi in
regard 10 Catholic and Protestant prejn iices ana
proclivles There Is another class, howevcr clsum-
ing and entitled to distinguished consideration IN
the matter, winch so far bcea completely ignored.
We refer to the Hebrews dwelling IN oar midst aud
VINO form by no means an incolsiderable Or unin-
nuantal portion oil the CON hunlts. A large .nv.n-
Der vi the children OF Hebrew parents attend our
public schools aud II the reading OF particular
version edition VI the Bible DC 50 dstasteLai ~
dangerous TO either Catholics OF ffoIest.0ts as 70
call lortn The sharp anu unyenerous comments tnal
have from lime To time appeared III punt.
how much more dlstastefu must IL DC % those who
do not believe IN tue New Iestanent Ut Al. We
cunIanl that no possible narm can accrue 10 the
children attending tue schools by havin2 = pornon
the Bible read Ut the opening OF ihc schools. II Ii
safe to presume that not one child IL twenty lakes
pains 10 ascertain what particular chapter or verse
IN the Bioe is read any morniag Dy tne pfnc'pa or
presiding officer Experience Will, undoubtedly,
bear us out IN this assertion. Not ono caiid In >
score, aS u general thing, could tell five minutes
was. Oid James w. Gerard-twe beg ar. Gerapl's
pardon for calling him "0u.o but the TeleyruIn
goes for truth in all things. lone OF the firIhest
friends of puoc education ~ tins CITY, nssd ~ say
thai happy thought passed tnrou 81 his nud every
mornlng gnen ne !, aeard ARD Tue elosx stI,As
moment 100 00O little heads were bent prayer IN
the public scaools OF New lork city.p Tpis s no
doubt beautiful thought, aud calls up . very
pretty picture 10 the mfnd but lt rs that bendlnx
prayer more than the reading OF tue Bible,
whicn Is the real ground Tor disanechon anu als-
Satisfaction.
lne differences in the versions Of the Bibsc SO
very slight tnat the children, even LAey pald al
tention, cou,d no. dtsccra them. Inc worls OF tue
Lord'a Pray er,o ho yever, rs used bJ the Nnthoc.
are not exactly similar to those useh by The Pro-
testapt, ana the cuiren OF Inrlstin parents arc
taught " repeat tnas prayer Iay tue dilarence in
tle wording ID really matter oi moment. here
a gain IA SHOWN tie want of conhiuerattoh for tue
jews. They sDouid not b. required u Dend the
mead IN Difference 10 the teachings of one III whom
they do not believe. '.' 's
Then, again, the singing OF scctarlan hymns In
chorus, winch is praclseI 10 all the schools - DIS
tasteful. The simple words In the hymns may be al
agreeable, but the TACT that hymn is prescribed by
the rlLual OF tho MetaOdsJ or Baptist on EpIsCo-
palian Is Objectionable 10 both Catholics and He
brews Reading the Bible acts very well as means
OF bringing the cnidren To order but ihe =
! and hymns could aud should be dispensed witn.
The case or MISS Mcuean, who was punished by ner
teacher for refusing 10 sing alouo frotes.ane
hymn, and whose guardians obtained redl ess
through process Vi law Is still iresa In the nnds
OF many, aud should convince all thit as matter
Of policy. II not or dcerence to different religious
beliefs the praying ana the sin SiDg of sectarlan
hymns should be o.Iltted In the puDlic schools.