, 1875-10-04

The Rev. G. L. Thompson, Of tho Fifth Pres-
bytcsan Church. yesterday preached upon the
subject Of the recent action OF the Board OF
Education In abo1lyliug the reading OF the Bible
iu tho public schools. Following Is synopsis
Of AH eerulon:
But the Word Of God is not bo1nd.-iI. Timothy,
f.,9
This waH tho comfort of the imprisoned Apos-
tic and dc(ender Of tho truth. Though he was
bound, tho Word Of God waa free. No shAcklcB
could bo thrown over It, no prison-burs could
couhuo it, no tyrant could hush ita
voice. Worry sublime IL the picture tho
Apostle presents in this pnsaago. The persecu-
tonR Of tho Church wers casting ther shadows
bofoFe. Perhaps In prophetic vision ho saw the
bloody dAys that wero coming, Christians hunt
cd like beasts, their books thrown TO tho tla.nes,
and thelr souls BY slow torture liberated from
their bodies. But amid all the tarknesn onepath
Of light broke through the agca. "Tho Word Of
God is not bonnd."
Bind, silenco, slay tho living proaoher,-
oh men! Ia In your power; but to arrest the
flight, to Hhackle tho embodied movement OF hia
eternal thought, whose impulse ls gath
crod from all past ages, aud which with
that impulse is spinning down The ring
lug grooves Of human lissory-for this,
rotiam eau forge clatus that arc strong enough
to chaln this word, or prevent its triumph.
How riguRlly heatnonfsm failed in lts efforts
to bind tho bible how every attempt only scat.
tered further tho flaming tongues that spoke its
message; how tile blood OF tic martyrs mna the
seed Of tho Church, tlls YOU already know. The
awakening ia also familiar chAptor. when the
Chain that bound tie altar 10 tho Bble melted
npou them. Martin Luther had found Latin
1,lble. With IL came gradually the right Of pr-
yate judgment. and with those tho Reformation.
There 10, In my opinion, no cause for alarm IN
Wow Of the recent action Of the Board Of Edc-
cation III striking out from tho public schuul
rules tho otausc that ruakca the reading Of tho
bible aud the repeating OF tho Lords Prayer
part OF tho opening exercises Of Tho school.
Tho Bible aud ChrlBtaulty have always bad to
mako progfsaa against the Governments Of
earth. Thor proeTsss has oceu fEeoet and mos.
rapid when wholly separated from tue State.
They asK no patronage from cisai powers. The
13!ble IL quito nblc to win ~ triumphs
wholly Independent Of tho attitude which
4be to walk erscs aud alone, and cares for no
supporting crntch or State authosty, 1t Ia On
this idea our fathers clossed the sea. 1t ia TO
this idoa wo arc steadily advancing indorss
from The heart tho words OF President Grant,
uttered . few days ago At the Army Keunioa at
Dos Aloines:
Let IL labor to add sl necdful guarantees for the
greater security ot free thought free speech, fro
aud eqas rights and privileges. to al nen, irrespective
Of nationality. So!oF. Or religion. Encourage free
propraea to their support shall be appropriated 10 tte
support Of any seet.ttan school resolve that neither
tho State nor Tho NAsiou. nat both comhined. shall
support Institutions Of lraTninK 0tler than thust
suacent to afford every child growing IN ia the land
ths opportunity Of Rooa common schoot education,
ton Le.,s the matter 81 ssixon to .ho fsmiy altar
tho church. Aud Tho private sehuo supported entirely
" pirate soats.buttoaa. and sssp Tho Church sui
tH& 4 Ia La