, 1873-06-27
THE BIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS.

Tho cAao that nttraoted 30 much attention In
Cincinnati and throughout tho country, as to the
uso Of tho Dlblo In the public schools, has just
boon decided by tho Supreme Court Of Ohio.
Tho oaao began in the action Of tho Doard Of Ed
ucation Of Cincinnati, which body, On Nov. /,
1860, prohibited "roligious instruction and tho
roading Of religious books " In the common
schools, and repealed so much Of tho regulations
as required that tho opening exeroiBoB In eycry
department shall commence by reading por-
tion Of the Diblo, by, Or under tho direction Of,
tho teacher, and by appropriate singing by tho
pupils" An application WAS made to tho Bu-
porior Court Of Cincinnati for an injunction to
rostrnin tho Board Of Education from putting
this prohibition into effect, and tho writ wns
granted. Tho caso waB deliberately argued, and
tho report of tho debates aud of tho Judgment
Of the Court was published, making 1argo
volume. In addition, thoro wero several public
meetings held, and tho action Of tho Board Of
Education furnished to1t for many sormons in
tho churches, not only OF Cincinnati, but in all
parts Of tho country. It now turnH out TINT, in
tholong arguments before tho Superior Court and
in tho Judgment Of that Court itaolf, tho only
question Of law involved was not touched at all.
Tho Supreme Court Of Ohio have had the case
boforo them for Bome time, and on Tuesday last
unanimously decided as follows:
l. Tho Constitution OF the Btate oea not cnton or
roquiro religious instruction, the reading Of rotg-
io1ls books In tho public schools Of tho Slate.
2. Tho Legislature hnytng placed tho management
DlEectorst TruHteea, aud Boards Of Education, tho
Courts have no riBhtful authority to interfere by
directing what instruction shall 10 given, or what
books shall 10 read therein.
The Cincinnati Commercial! atates that tho
decision of tho supromo Court is in accordance
with tho general expectations Of tho Bar Of
Ohio. There being no law requiring religioua
instruction or the roading Of tho Biblo in tho
public schools, and tho Board Of Education and
tho School Directors being fully authorized to
prescribe tho courBo Of study and the books to
bo mod nt thotr discretion, tho Courts hnvo no
authority to control tho exercise of that dis
cretion. This places religious instruction on
tho same footing with instruction In arithmetic,
and tho use of tho Bible aa q textbook with tho
eAie 0@ *AAA%%AoAA p AooHA"EA3p w 0AeAuAGA
OF changed at the discretion of the
Board Of Education. Tho other question,
whothor School Doatd may include religious
instruction and tho uso Of tho Biblo aa toxt-
book, was not decided, though tile spirit Of tho
decision is to tho e1oct that tho authority Of the
School Doards il inal as vol in tho introduction
as in tho exclusion Of books and studies. There
iB d State Convention now In Boesion in Ohio
preparing q now Constitution for TINT State,
mud this decision Of tho Court will probably load
to a controversy in that body bctwoon those in
favor Of secularizing the common schools and
those who insist upon religious instruction as
part OF their courso. A religious principle being
supposed to exist in this cuso, tho struggle o7or
1t In tho Convention will probab1y bo warm