Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-05-12
From the New York Observer
THE BIBLE QUESTION
RIGHTLY PUT.
by REV. W. 7. PISD1EY, D D.

The question is not whether much,
or little, or any Of the Book which
Christians recognize as containing
the revealed will of God for all
peoples and times, shall be read
daily, or at stated or irregular in
tervals, in the schools sustained by
public tax; but whether this Book
the Bible--shall be subjected to
the tndtgntty Of an expulsion from
the position which it has hitherto
maintained in our system Of pop
ular education. AS for the amount
of reading Of this Book actually
accomplished in our public schools,
we presume it might be dispensed
with, without any serious detri-
ment to any interest. We are dis
posed to think that there is not
enough of this reading done to
make it matter of very great i'm
portance whether it shall be con-
tinued or abated. But shall we
adopt a measure in regard to this
Book which shall seem to reflect
discredit and dishonor upon it, as
having forfeited the favor hitherto
bestowed upon it under the legis
lation of a Christian peopleP
If the Bible had never been IN
our public schools at all, and the
question we're now one of intro
duction, and not Of exclusion or
expulsion, it would be very diff
terent question from what it is
Our public school system, in its
history and results, is what it is and
has been, by virtue of its recogni.
ton of the Bible as the source OF
its moral teachings and influence
and in the practical workings OF
this system, as experimentally re-
allied, we see no reason why this
Book should be constituted an of
fender and be driven from the
sphere it has occupied as an au-
thoritative instructor and guide
for the inculcation of right moral
principles and habits in the lives
and characters of our children and
youth, at the same time that they
are acquiring the practical knowl-
edge of secular arts and sciences.
If, however, the question were that
of the introduction of the Bible in
ITO our public schools, and not
that of its exclusion from them, as
it is, then, if it would appear, from
past experience, that these schools
had done well without the Bible
that the moral culture of our chill
dren was amply provided for, with
out the presence of this Book
we would doubt the propriety of
introducing it in the face of oppo-
sition, on the principle that we
should 'let well enough alone"
and not hazard new experiments.
But that is not the question. 1t is
a question of revolutionizing the
entire school system, by taking it
from its existing moral basis and
giving new foundation; necessi-
tating an entirely new superstruc-
ture upon it. And every reason
which may be accepted as justify
ing this revolution, is a reason of
exception to the present moral ba-
sis upon which our system Of pop.
ular education rests,-of exception
to the morals of the Bible,--and
involves of course, not only that
the Bible itself shall be set aside as
an inadequate or unsafe moral in
structor and guide, but also that
the principles Of morality peculiar
to the Bible shall be placed under
a similar prescription. And hence,
if we accede to the demand of the
enemies Of the Bible in our schools
for its exclusion, will not consis
tency require them to go farther
and demand of us that we shonld
get up a new series of text books
on moral and mental philosophy
and political economy, and new
reading books and histories also,
from which everything shall be ex-
purged which can be traced to the
Bible as its prime source, and to
these for the books of
the same class now approved and
in use? And would we not be
compelled to grant them this farth-
er demand, if we would be consist
ent with our grant of the former? ?
We are aware that it may be
plead that this is a non sequitur-
hat it does not necessarily follow
hat the giving up of the Bible in.
rolves the giving up of the dis
inctive morals of the Bible. Then
Why are we asked to surrender the
Bible, if there be no objection to
is distinctive morals, and they are
o be still retained and inculcated,
n our schools? And who are they
who ask this surrender? They
Ire not the Roman Catholics. They
ire, perhaps, misunderstood by
many on this subject; and they
lave certainly, at different periods
md in different places, assumed
positions, in regard to it, very in
consistent with each other. They
ire known to be hostile to the doc
rine that the Bible, as the Word
If God, is the supreme rule of faith
nd practice; and to the liberty of
he people to be their own interpre.
ers of its teachings; and hence,
hey are, by no means, friendly to i
he universal dissemination and
eading of this Book, A few years ]
A