New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-12-13
LETTER FROM A COLLEGE PRESIDENT.
kEROIss IN ASSUMED FACTS IN tn. Di,Ct sS0N CON
CKRSING THE BIBLE IL TIE SCHOOLS.

LETTER FROM A COLLEGE PRESIDENT.
kER0Iss ~ ASSUMED FACTS IN THg Di,Ct 6SloN con
cKRNiNG THE BIBLE IL TIE SCHOOLS.
TO the Bdifor OF The Trijune
SIR: Two references in the articles both
pro and con IN the communications on Ire school quos-
ton which have appeared in TIE TRIBUNE. take for
granted ~ fact what brief statement viii show 10 he
far from true. that te Bible in the schools
is opposed 10y Roman Catholics AMI that the Doua
zion represents Roman Catholic views of Bible transa
Catholics oppose tho Bible IN the schools.
why Is it that at Rome. the capital OF Catholic state
and tho Of Plus 1X.. Victor Emmanuel Catholic
sovereign. and mis- court. not only sustain bui invite
"Bble schools" in which daily the Bible Ia not
only read hut made textbook OF instruction. Protestant
teachers hcing employed tln Elsh. American. and ta
iani teacher, in thosa hchOosi The fact IL That the
controversy between the UlTamontancs or Impcriasts
and the Republicans. Old Catholics N tho Roman Gallo
o Chnrcb has for three centuries turned in sr at
ure Bible instruction IN schools aud colleges The
heads Of the universities and colleges Of Franco down to
the present time have steadily opposed spirit that
would exclude ts Bible. aud their reasons oT IT, s bear
ing on private a1d public morality. they have for three
centuries maintained under Frcnch regal imperial and
republican governments. Yet more; in Catholic Mary
land from ts earliest history, the acitaon-now per-
si>tcut since UrnontanisiA La tiumphcd in The iio
man Church. though at the italian court IT mover la,
found abcttOisthe febuke gven in the adreS, of Gov
Carroll pull lished in TIM TRIBUNE Of sept 49, bespeaks
The spirit that always has been shown by Catholics on
this question. Tho writer has been for sixteen years
president Of colleges in Washington, ID. G.. and ~ New
York City; both Catholic and Jewish pupils have daily
listened Ia the reading Of the Old and New Tcsdments
and though ccco-astc has occasionally iniorposed,
no parent has ever wished "a change.
Again tho Douli version IS exception to Catholic
versions. being Utramonane. and opposed to Old
Catholic yiews OF this any assure himself by
turning the fundamental doctrine taught by Christ
aud HIS Forrrunner (jec Mat. ILL, and w. 10 in the
Greek original, the Latin Vulgste the Catholic trarsla-
lions French italian. and Spanish and in the received
version King James. i'll all which versions the original
is followed, white in the Doua version, ts marginal
note admits the original Is not followed.
The important principle to DO held in mind is that
maintained in all test by the judges OF tue Federal
State Courts az necessarily following from tie American
constitutions. from the common law Of Great Britain.
accepted undar these constitutions, and from prevail
ing statute laws modifying the common law. In all such
cases. seen. Tor example, in the reports OF tho Grard
will aud Of the Ohio School Board decisions 1t Is Affirmed
that the moral system not the religious doctrine Of the
Christian religion il part Of American law rocog
nized for example. IN marriage and IN the sabbath,
winch are not i!bertine Jewish. MOhmnmedan pagan
institutions. but necessarily Christian. The proCedcnts
OF American constitutions and law all admit this II the
words of Jesus then to he excluded from Schools
then must those COnfucius aud Seneca he. II tho
gi0m Of Jesus Is excluded. the party demanding the
change will not be satisfied Til the very name of God.
and indeed till the pous expressions that ill Washing
toms writings are all oxpurga;ed from American text
books. ".
Nee- York, Dec. 10. 1873