The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-13
From the Aledo Banner.
The bible In the Public Schools. s

From the Aledo Banner.
The bible In the Public Schools. II
In various parts of the United States i
there has been considerable agitation on
the question of using the Bible in the pub
lie schools; and in some states resort to
the courts has been found necessary to set
lie the difficulty, and in others the legisla-
ture has interposed by the passage Of ad-
ditional enactments on the subject.
Tn our own legislature, now in session,
the following act is pending, to-Wit;
That II shall be unlawful for any board Of edu-
cation, school board or board OF school directors
Of this state or school district to cause or allow
be read in any public school over which they have
jurisdiction, the bible, Or any version thsseof
Many persons will, doubtless, say that |
this act should not become q law; and will
insist that the bible ought to be read in
the public schools, either for worship, or
as text book, while there are many |
others. who do not, In principle, oppose
the proposed enactment, yet they think
1t lest not to agitate the question at this
time. -.--~. ---, 81
tits question that demands the candid
consideration of every resident OF our
state. The questions we should ask our
selves, are these: a-.La
Frrst.-Is it right, in the abstract, to
read the bible in the public schools either
as text book or for the purpose Of wor-
shipP = 5r'' .t..
Seconds it consistent with the con-
stitution Of our state and Of the United
States?
In the most Of the European govern
ments religion is supported by law; the
people are taxed to support the estab-
lished church. In Christian countries, all
are taxed to support some Christian de-
nomination or sect as in Austria, the
Roman Catholic religion is established and
supported by tax {; in Russia, the Greek
church, and in England, the Episcopal
church; in Turkey, the Mohammedan.
In each of these countries. If person is a
dissenter from the established church, he
is nevertheless compelled by law to sup
port it. 1st1-. .azi&
The early settlers Of this country, many
OF whom left the old country on account of
persecution for religious opinions. were i'm;
pressed with the injustice OF any and all
laws for the establishment of any religion
and so thoroughly were the people con-
WINGED of the injustice of establishing and
supporting q religion by the state, that no
law has ever been passed by any of the
states since the formation of the Federal
union, nor by the United States, for the
establishment of religion; but, on the
contrary, the constitution of the United
States, and the most of the states, pro-
hibit it. -..f
We have said to all the peoples of the
Old World-to the Roman Catholic and
the jew, to the Dissenter, the Non CON
formist, the Puritan, the Mohammedan,
and men of all religious opinions, and mer
without any religious beliefs Come to
our free country. We offer to you an asy
lum where you may worship God in your
own way, and where you shall not be taxed
to support any religion or any place of re,
ligious worship IFF-f =
All classes Of religioDists have accepted
our invitation and focked to our shores
The Roman Catholic is free to erect hi
costly cathedral, and worship in his way
but he cannot levy tax upon person t
erect and support his church against tn
consent of the individual The Jew erect
his Sabbath. and worships as he sees fl
So of the Episcopalian the Presbyterian
etc.
And all say this right
Then the common school system is es
tabished by the state; all of the peopl
are taxed for the support of these schools
for the erection Of these buildings, and tn
payment of the teachers. They have. i
great measure, taken the place of tn
private schools; because the tax must b
paid by every resident of the district; an
if any one sends his children to the privat
school his burden was doubled. z
these schools the Roman Catholics, Pro
testants. Jews, Atheists, Mormons an
Spiritualists send their children In tn
private schools, which we're supported b
voluntary contributions, each person coul
select the school that suited him. AnC
as they were generally supported respec
lively by some religious denomination, r,
ligious sectarianism and theology wei
taught. The Protestant bible was read
the Protestant schools the Catholic bib
in the Catholic schools with a priest as il
structor; and the Jewish bible in the Je
ish schools. f.s avn ~ -
But in the public schools, all of tho.
denominations are brought together, an
all agree that sectarianism should not
taught in those schools but many of the
demand that the bible shall be read in Il
public school
But, what bible? The Protestant say
King james Version; the Roman Catil
lie says, the Douai bible and the Je
says, the Old Testament only. While Il
Atheist and others say that none shall
read Now all cannot be gratified, and
one of the bibles can be read without vi
lence to the rights of others. Each OF
has right to his religious views, and b,
right to instruct his children in tho,
views, And the bible cannot be read
the schools without violence to some one
religious views. The jew objects to Il
New Testament, and says he does not b
lieve that jesus of Nazareth was Il
Christ, and insists that his child shall n
be taught SO. The Protestant insists {
using both Testaments, and rea
ing and teaching that Jesus W
the Christ the Son ofGod And the r
man Catholic insists that no one is comp
tent to understand and teach the s:ri
lures but q Roman Catholic priest.
is not insisted by the advocates of the
BILE in the public schools that it should
used as q text book, but only for worship
but it cannot be used for the purpose
worship without teaching sectarianisn
for the Jewish, the Catholic or the Prote
tant bible must be used, and whichever
used teaches sectarianism. If read by
Christian, passages will be read to tea,
Christianity. If by jew, Judaism W
be taught, The difficulty is all solved
excluding it from the public schools, al
let religion be taught at home, in the Su
day schools, the private schools and Il
churches l. n BAssETT