Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-21
THE BIBLE IN SCHOOL.

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOL.
The Superior Court OF Cincinnati have
given their decision in relation to the case
involving the use of the Bible in the pub
lie schools of that city. They make per-
petual the temporary injunction before
granted, by which the School Board were
restrained from prohibiting the reading OF
the Bible or any religious exercise in the
schools. Two Judges, Hagans and Storer,
held to this opinion, but Taft. the third
Judge. dissented and sustained the action
of the Board. Judge Storer said the Bible
had been used in the schools of Cincinnati
fifty years, and no opposition had been
made until the present Board adopted the
resolution expelling it. No scholar had
been compelled to read it against the wish
of his parent or guardian. The School
Board Justify their action on the ground
that many taxpayers are not believers in
the Bible; that Catholics do not believe
King James version is correct and COM
plete; and that others are by disbelief
precluded by conscience from attending
school. From synopsis of Judge Storer's
opinion we copy the following:
II is the Christian religion that is recognired
by the Constitution. The Legislature has
Sustained this sis~ by sxenspsias the family
Bible from execution. by providing that each
ary-eassce ssall he provided with one; that
BshAe shozii he IN the hands Of every inmate
q = Isxai. r.elsisassary. and Of refoEnaiaEy IL
ssasassozS- All iAis is Al the pnhlie expense :;
AID ia Is nov chained that the Bible cannot be
Rad In The couan,on schools. Nay. more; our
balls Of segsslssion, and our courts Of justice
are srpylsed with copies of the Bible, and il Is
only from the common schools that il is
son gha TO be expelled. TINS making them the
only exception 10 the general recognition of
the Bible as the exponent of morality and re-
hgion. Tie lowest view we can take of the
religion contemplated and recognized by the
Constitution is that which acknowledges a
Supreme Being. not q creature of the imagin-
alton, but as revealed in our eonsciences, and
the worship of that Being.
The defendants claim that the instruction
referred to in this bill of rights means the cul-
tivation of the sense of right and wrong, and
that the only religion meant BY that instru-
ment is that written in the human nature.
This was a bold proposition, and hard to sus-
tain on any other ground than that which jus
tilted the Juggernaut, the sacrifice ofthe Hin
doc widow, or the cannibalism of the South
Sea Islanders. Without the teaching of the
Bible we have no unyarying code of morals
or of human duty, but the defendants say that
the national conscience is to be developed
What is the process? What high and holy
motive is presented to the pupil who is de-
prived of the teachings of the Bible? By this
rule there would be no standard, and every
man would be law to himself.
The strife Of opinion would be uncontrolled
and the moral power of the country would be
dependent on individual caprice. The Bible
does not lead to sectarianism, which is the
work of man, not Of God The comments Of
men lead to sectarianism, not the Bible itself.
The claim that the conscience of the Catholic
and the Jew Is violated is not to be considered,
because there is no compulsion in either case.
The rules are modified so as not to afflict
the conscience of either In one of the dis
tricts the Douay version is read instead Of
King James version.
There did appear to be an injustice in the
matter of taxation but the mode of taxation
cannot affect the right giving religious in
struction. The Bible must not be excluded
because the taxes are not equally assessed or
distributed. The reading of the Bible is not
an act of worship. The lessons chosen are
naturally those tending to elevate the mind
and soften the heart. Its object is to calm
the mind and give wholesome lessons in NOR
al rectitude. If no religious test is required
no act of worship, no sectarianism, we can
not see how the defendants can exclude this
exercise. 1t is not claimed that they have
any new revelation, and we are led to believe
that thew have acted hastily.
The Bible was valuable as a literary or his
torical work. There was no censorship over
the classics the crusade was against the BIZ
BILE only against the book recognized by every
civilized nation as sacred, and that holds the
pre-eminent title of ''the book" If it is ex-
cluded many Others must follow, on the
ground that they offend conscience. These
resolutions are sweeping edict, and leave
the pupils not only without hope, but without
God. Not even natural religion may be
taught. If pupil asks about his origin he
may be referred to geology, but not to Gene
sis; if one asks why the Sabbath is observed,
the teacher must ask permission of the Board
of Education before the question can be an
swered.
On the whole, we conclude that we have
complete jurisdiction that the case presents
equitable grounds for our interference; that
the powers of the defendants have been tran
scended; that their action is ''ultra wires" and
void, and the injunction must be made perpet-
ual. tas a..