The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-11-05

MS DOOk vi al Doks, uuu ucrt VI
all. lie right when in its proper place;
but in school where the children Of
those who adhere to all religious faiths
jew, Gentle, Pagan, Protestant and
Catholic-this good Book should not
be used as a part Of the course of
study or exercises. The reason is
plain. Not that we individually OBJ
ject to its sacred teachings according
10 the Protestant or King James ver-
sion, but because Of that broad liberal
ism which should characterize every
American citizen who values his own
or his neighbor's liberty and freedom
Of speech and belief. To deny to
those who differ from US on points the
illogical the same liberty which we en-
10y in these respects. is to stultify our
selves and give the lie to our boosted
liberality. In other words to compel
the children of Catholic or Jewish
parents to listen to the reading and
exposition of translation Of the
"Bible" different from their own is a
direct attempt at coercive religious
teaching. Our common schools are
open and free TO all, Of whatever faith
or creed, and nothing should intervene
10 mar the peace, harmony and equal
enjoyment Of all alike. If it be-Frop-
er and just to force all the pupils to
listen to the reading of our version of
the Holy Scriptures, would it not be
equally right and proper to have the
Jews and Catholic "Bible" read and
sxpounded to their children who attend
these schoolsl All are taxed alike
for their support. This is eminently
. Democratic form Of government.
but to force the Bible into the COM
mon schools by legislative enactments,
ID to destroy tina. broad principle of
Democracy of equal rights
to all and exclusive privileges to none "
Chicago. we believe, first set the exam
pie of Excluding the Bible from our
public schools We note now that
even grave. religious, protestant New
Jersey has done the same. These
schools are not theological seminaries.
Nor should they be in any sense
schools where religious dogmas are
ught or attempted to be inculcattaed.
Other means Of religious teaching are
open and abundant. The pulpit, the
Sunday-school. and the family altar
are far better and more potent feds
Of operation in this regard. Church
and State" should never be mixed even
in this slight regard. Attempts to do |
60 even in less degree than the one
referred to, have, in other years,
brought ON religious war which had
its end in very carnival of blood. 4
Let US, then, citizens Of the first and
only successful Republic the world has
ever known, resist with all our power
and influence any aud every step which
would, if carried out, produce even an
attempted repetition of such calami-
~. We should live in perfect harmo-
ny-conceding to those who believe in
Divine Gospel. the same liberty of
thought and belief which We as Prot
'stants claim for ourselves. Even
.mong the various Protestant denonli,
nations of our country there is a vide
difference of belief as to the true
teachings Of scripture" and no parent.
for instance, of Presbyterian or Cal
yinistic faith, would consent to have
his child taught the doctrines adhered
20 by those Of another faith. Why,
then, should we not accord To the jew.
Catholic, or Uniyersalist the same
right of objection The field upon
which We have entered for discussion
IS a broad one. but il does occur to US
that there is but little room for a,gu.
ment in opposition TO the views We
have but feebly, il is true, presented.