The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-23
So " y - From the Aledo Banner
The bible in the Public Schools.

Having very briefly, examined the sub. d
iect of the bible in the public schools, on ht
the abstract principle, now propose to a,
examine il under the second head, to-wit %
Is It consistent with the constitution of the Z
United States, and of the state Of Illinois ? Il
Our system of government does not con- In
template that the Federal government will T
take charge of the education of the people, Il
for that is left to the states respectively r.
but the first amendment to the eonstitu il
ton Of the United States provides that: n
q or no ss
ercise thereof"
This clause of the national constitution
inhibits the establishment of any religion !
by congress.
The third section of the second article ,
Of the constitution of Illinois, is as follews'
1.-THE free exercise and enjoyment Of rengiio oa
profession and worship, Ggtthom dsscroat,sdihvii
be denied any civil or political right, privilege or
capacity, on account OF his religious Opinions; NJ
ministry or place Of worship, against his consent,
nor shall any preference be given to any rehgious
denomination or mode OF worship"
Now, our public school buildings are all
erected and kept in repair by funds raised
by taxation. Every person who has prop,
erty to be taxed in the district is required
to pay the salary of the teacher. If the
teacher reads the bible in his school for
worship, then it is mode Of worship
which is inhibited by the constitution. If
there is q legal authority for the teacher |
to take one tenth of the time of the school
hours in reading the bible, and conduct |
ing public worship, then, to that extent, |
the teacher is violating this provision OF
the constitution; for it cannot be denied |
that It is mode of worship"
But this is not the only provision OF our |
state constitution on this subject, as the |
trainers Of that instrument doubtless
clearly saw the danger OF church ana
state" being united in our school system; |
they provided against it in section 30 OF
article 8, under the title OF education, IN
the following language to-wit:
'sNeither the general assembly nor any county,
CITY, town. township, school district or other pub
lie corporation, shall ever make any appropriation
or pay from any public fund whatever anything in
aid OF any church or sectaran purpose, or to sup
port any school, academy, seminary college, anl-
coatroiled by any church or sectarian denomina-
ton, whatever"
Is it not a violation of this section of the
law to pay, from the school fund, person
TO read the bible and conduct meetings
in the public school? Will any one say
that to do so, Is not to laid church or
sectarian purpose" But it will be said, in
answer to this, that the trainers of the
constitution did not intend to inhibit relig
io,ts worship and instruction in the public
schools, but that it was only to prevent any
denomination or sect of Christians from
propagating their peculiar views in the
schools, for the words ''sectarian, and
denomination" are used in this section Of
the constitution.
A denomination is defined by Webster
to be, IAN epithet, name, designation, ol
title, especially a general name belonging
to and indicating class of like individ
uals." Then the Christians are demon
alton. as are also the Mahommedans, tn
Spiritualsts and the Bhuddists, and thi
is the enlarged sense in which the word
used Then, if Christianity is taught i
the public schools, it is in violation of tn
fundamental law, for it is supported by a
appropriation of money from the publ
funds to aid denomination, to supper
denominational worship.
If the words we're intended to be use
only in reference to Christian denomin
tons or sects then it would mean that l
Christian sect, or denomination, or worsh
should be sustained or supported out
the public funds. / respect the motiv
of the great mass of the people who desI
to have the bible read in the pub
schools, and who desire Christian worshi
They believe that the Christian religion
the BEST the highest type Of religious fait
and heartily agree with them in TIL
Then they say this religion, which is t
best, ought to be taught in the pub
schools, for the children attending the
ought to have the best religious instrl
ton These are the same arguments til
have always been urged in favor of an
tablished religion. If the state has t
right to establish any religious institute
or worship in the public schools, and
maintain it by taxation, why not tax
people to support an established relig
and public worship for adults?
We must not forget that religious op
ions are not TO be propagated in this COZ
try by laws. ...,-
ask the Professionals if they are in ia
of reading the Douai bible in the schoo
1t not, respect the conscience and rehgi
faith of the Roman Catholics And
the Christians, if they desire the New l
lament to be excluded, and the Old Tex
ment only to be read: If not, respect
right of the Jews.
There Is no more legal right or auth
ity to read the bible in the public scho
for the purpose of worship or religious
struction, than there is to read, for wors
or religious instruction, the DEGREES ;
Bulls Of the Popes The Thirty.nine
tices; Methodist Discipline; the kor
or the Book of Mormons
The teachers of our public schools
to be examined in certain branches,
those are to be taught in the pu
schools among those, they are not
quired to be examined in theology or
ligion, or their knowledge of the Di
They are also required to have g
moral character, but they are not requi
to be Christians. or to have any religi
faith. Then why should the teacher {
duct religious worship in the pu
schools, or teach theology by reading
bible? If the bible is read in the schC
should the teacher explain and inst
the children, as he would in using
other book2 IF he should not,-why?
tainly, it is of as great Importance.
If he instructs them, his instruc
must be in harmony with his own be
If Roman Catholic he will teach the
trine of the infallibility of the Pope.
an Episcopalian, he will teach that
Episcopal is the only true church.
Presbyterian he will teach Calvanism.
Methodist, he will teach Armenian
ETC., etc. So, / say again, the solutio
found in excluding the bible from
public schools as text book or for
ship.
But the question may be asked:
should the legislature pass the act
pending, when the constitutional pr(