The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-12-10
A Question to be An.Wered.

From the Toledo COmmOrcIal,l
II is, we suppose, mere mistake or
misapprehension Of some newspaper men
to ascribe so much importance to Mr., H,
W. Beechers recent expression Of opinion
in favor Of the exclusion OF the Bible
from the public schools. In saying so,
however; we intend no intimatiOn OF con-
tempt for the Plymouth preachers judg.
ment on the subject. The truth Is that
Mr.. Beecher, several years ago, expressed
the same view, and respecting the par.
ticular point referred to, his Thanks.
giving Day discourse contained nothing
new.
As u matter Of fact, it il worth while
to say that, during several years, a
tendency OF opinion in favor Of the with.
drRwal Of the Bible from the schools has
been growing steadily stronger among
the members Of different Protestant com.
nunions. We need not say that the
change indicates no lessening Of their
respect for the book or Of the Importance
they attach to II as an instrument OF re.
ligious instruction. In some cases, in.
deed, a very different feeling may be said
to have caused the change Of mind. By
observation, inquiry and reflection,
they have reached the conviction
that the perlunctOFy reading Of the
Scriptures, us practiced generally in
the schools, is adapted rather to degrade
than to exalt the volume In youth.
full minds. The knowledge Of the
book, thus acquired, amounts, they be.
lieve, to very little, while the impression
thus received, regarding its spiritual au.
thority and dignity, seems to be equally
Insignificant. On the other hand, they
cannot deny that the plea Of violation Of
the rights Of conscience put forward by
Roman Catholics Is one entitled to seri.
Gus consideration. 1t may be, and no
doubt Ia true, that the PapAl hierarchy
desire and aim at nothing less than the
destruction OF the school system. But In
alleging the reading OF the King James
Bible ~ an objection to the schools, they
do urge what seems 10 majority Of RO.
man Catholics feature Of the school sys.
TEN offensive to their religious, or at least
their sectarian convictions. IsraeliLes
also on similar grounds object to the
reading Of the New Testament, and even
OF any Christian translation OF the Old
Testament. Whether rightly or wrongly,
multitudes OF sound Protestants are will.
ing to conCede that, from their respective
points OF view, both Catholics and Israel.
It's offer Legitimate objection. Should
the question come up for regular settle.
ment by the ballot these Protestants
would undoubtedly feel much embarrass-
ed in taking sides. However partial to
school Bible reading, they would hesitate
in requiring Catholics and Jews to sup.
port the system. Thus the schools are
weakened in the popular mind.
On the other hand, by removing the
Bible from the schools many PrOtestants,
members Of important sects, might be
brought to agreo with the Papists in re.
garding the schools rs goddess. They
might become ready to ClamOr for their
abolition, and to make independent pro-
vision for the education Of their children
in parochial schools, preWbyterial acade.
mics, synodiCal colleges, etc.
Now, the fact 10 which we intended to
direct attention Is n manifest tendency,
apparent in certain religious newspapers
and sermons delivered In different sec.
tions Of the country, to Set aside the no.
ton that schools without Bible reading
or special religious Instruction would be
unworthy OF Christian support. The
view Is that a State school Is an inStitu.
ton for purely secular teaching, and that
the absence OF religious teaching from It's
curriculum no more renders II goddess
than the failure to read the Bible in n
shop or a counting room stamps the
establishment As goddess or its managers
as atheists. II proteStanta generally
could Re brought to take this view, they
would be nightly strengthened in their
championship Of the schools, and we
doubt not that the Romish hierarchy
would be grievously disappointed. Their
lever would no longer have the poa $40,
or standing place necessary to Its effect In
lifting the school system.