Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-10-07
The n,blo In tho Chicago schools.
PROCEEDINGS TO ABOLISH ITS READINa-FEELINd
or THE LEADING REIIaloU1 pEoPLE-wiiAr
THEY SAY ABOUT II.

PROCEEDINGS TO ABOLISH Irs REApINa--FEELINd
or THE LEADING RELIaIoUJ pEoPLE-wiiAr
THEY SAY ABOUT II. a#..
Correspondence Of the Nc,c FORK Timer
CHICAGO, Friday, Oct. l. 1875,
Tho Board OF Education of Chicago took up a
subject ut its meeting last night that required
tho utmost nicely Of handling l refer to tho
question OF excluding tho Bible from tho public
schools. Tho question has boon periodically
agitated for two or three years, without result.
ing in any definite action, but it had become a
matter of public comment and bitter criticism,
and had, indeed, become All important issue in
tho selection OF officials. Tho Bible qnestion
here wa. much like the Bible question: ~ hero
Catholics, Jews, and non scctariaus NdVucltctl
its abolishment. both ON tho ground OF it's being.
| non-nssenta to tho spiritual welfare OF tho poo
pie, and that it Taught doctrines not in Keeping
with tho belief OF the several clnsses.
The change was accomplished by II
change OF ono Of tho rules in committee Of the
| whole. This rule made it imperative to begin
tho morning service with appropriate singing,
reading of the Scriptures aud the Lords Prayer.
The now rule provides Tor tho appropriate sing
| ing" ouly, and leaves the Bible and tho Lords
| Prayer out entirely. When the subject was ap-
preached Prof. Wech, member OF tho board,
and gentleman who, although bred under pu-
ritanical inilnences has grown broad in his views
| hHu llneTal Ill MS TclltloN, uluNtu ut
| adoption Of tho amendment. Tho surprise OF
| the board may be Understood when, tho motion
| having boon seconded, tho vote was taken and
but one inspector voted against it. Not "a word
| was said for or against it. They evidently pro
ferred to settle tho matter without an airing oi
| sentiments, and challenge criticism u their nc
| ton upon tho mute yet expressive registration
of tho vote. or course tho action OF tho board
las caused a great deal of comment Throughout
tho city, and is variously viewed by representa-
tive clorgymen and laymen. 1t seems to be .
| matter Of surprise to many that IN alteration Of
the board rules so deli .ate in its nature and 10
radical III its tendency should have been accom-
plished 20 unanimously, and with an utter alb
sence OF debate. Many religious leaders ar
disposed to make fight upon this issue. o,
convinced that. tho holy book has N
proper place in the public schools. Robert Col!
yer believes the action OF the board to lave boel
just. He thinks the reading of the Bible in tl,'
public school is not wholesome, but hurtful t.
| the children, because 1t is done in such way, ~
rule, as to rob their natures of any growing
reverence for it that may be gathering in tn
home or the church. lie believes it tho bes
plan for tho safety Of tho common school sys
tom to make these concessions to the Catholic
on one hand, and to tho freethinkers on til
other, that " VIC may occupy tho strongest pot
sblc ground il there is to be fight
| Prof David Swing believes that the reading
OF tho Bible in public schools is contrary to Iii
| spirit OF tho Constitution, which assumes tina
no religious test shall DO submitted to tho pa
rents, and therefore not to the children. Ideal
with men, he says, rs men, and not Ms Christ an
or Jews. The Government hG, no more right {
teach the Bible than to toach tho Koran. Eve
if tho genius of tho country permitted the teach
ing Of the Bible III tho schools, he would doul
the propriety of continuing the custom, bccaus
no valuable moral results ever come from read
ing few verses hurriedly in the school house
The removal of the Bible from the public school,
he thinks, may make the churches assume til
moral education OF the children, and may stiul
ulato thel 10 greater activity in 4 field wh!cl
they have too much neglected.
The Methods. Presiding Elder OF this confer
ence regards this action as political concessio
and dangerous one. He believes it 10 hay
been done upon the ' demand" OF the Cstholi
! aud what he calls the German iuilel interest
Dr. W. W. Esart-, Baptist, feels the creates
, apprehension OF the consequence of tho actio
of the board He regards 1t Us a direct NOV
: toward irreligious education. DR.. Kohler,
leading jewish Rabbi, thinks this action wi
greatly strengthen the cosmopolitan views o
the people, and tend to greater lberality an
Christian feeling. Roy. o. IL. Tiffany, formerl
. of Washington, but now OF Chicago. ig auothe
who does not believe in religious irdoctrinatio
0 in the public schools but he regrets the actio
of the board l havo hastily sketclied an ou
line of the sentiments of some of the leadin
clergy OF Chicago on the nubiect, which sho
them to DO pretty evenly divided upon tho in
, portaut matter,