The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-26
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To relieve the mind of my reviewer as
to the fairness of my quotations from Dix,
Spencer and Randall, state superintendent
of schools for New York, | will say that
Dix, in expressing an opinion con the alb
stract propriety of making the Bible a
reading book in the common schools, ex-
pressed himself convinced of such pro-
priety." And yet he decided that prayers
could not be bad in school, TO 'encr0ach
on the hours allotted for Instruction.
Randall, while deciding against the BIZ
BILE and prayer in the public schools during
school hours, says: ~ believe that the
Holy Scriptures, and especially the portion
OF them known as the New Testament, are
proper to be read in schools, by pupils who
have attained sufficient literary and mental
culture to understand their import. | be-
lieve they may, as matter Of right, be
read as class book by those whose par
ents desire it. But l am clearly of the
opinion that the reading of no version of
them can be forced on those whose con-
sciences and religion object to such YER
sion."
Is LEX" capable of looking so far he
You'd the narrow confines of his creed rs to
comprehend how men with enlarged IN
derstandngs and broad catholic views, can
subordinate their own individual prefer
eDces to the general good? 1t appears not
And so long as such as he hold the reins Of
power | expect my conscience will she
pretty extensively oppressed. as indeed it
has been from the beginning until now"
l would suggest to my reviewer that, be-
cause an evil or useless custom has existed
for long time, is not sufficient reason
for its longer continuance. ! have been
long aware of the fact that s'there is not a
term of court in the state that is not OPEN
ed with prayer, no daily session Of the leg
islature, in either branch, is begun without
it" but have yet TO learn that any good
results from it.. 1t does not prevent our
legislators from taking brides and passing
iniqutous or unjust laws. 1t does not pre-
vent cur juries from rendering wrong YER
diets, nor our judges from giving unjust
decisions. 1t did not prevent Judge Taney
from deciding that the negro had no rights
the white man is bound to respect. 1t
consumes valuable time, adds to the bur
then of taxes, and-that is all | insist
that, because custom has been handed
down through many generations is neither
sufficient nor good reason for its con
tinuance. If it were so we should be IN
der obligation to observe the heather wor-
ship instead OF the christian, that being the
more ancient.
with law and gospel, 'shows ignorance
most complete" of the fact that the Quaker
does protest against being compelled 10 con
tribute in any way towards supporting wsr
or military establishments. As for nolv-
gamy, it is a Bible institution and was
practiced quite extensively by that man af
ter Gods own heart, the pious David who
sent Criah into the thickest Of the fight 10
have him slain that he might possess him
self of his "beauteous wife" Also by that
other chosen instrument Of God
the wisest man the world ever saw or
ever will see whose moderate desires were
satisfied with seven hundred wives and
three hundred concubines! Hence poly
gamy is right, "aud no man, and no dis
trict and no town has the power or the
right to exclude the statute book of chris
tianity in which this divine institution is
sanctioned, "from the public schools of
the state !"
What a sublime thing reason is, and what
beautiful thing consistency Truly hath
1t been said ''the rigid righteous % a fool.
the rigid wise another,'
Most emphstically can | retort ''For
searly forty wears T. Gt might be more
impressive to assume the royal prerogative
and saw .'we'O shave been conyersant with
newspaper discussions. on all sorts of top
los nolitical social literary and religious
and in all that long lapse of time j have
never met with such an instance of plarinp
ssnctitv and monstrous assumntion.
Take an instance or two: THE principle
which lies at the foundation of This com
nlaint is suhversive of all civil society"
etc
This ia mere assertion unsupported by
one particle of proof, nor can any proof be
adduced The proof is all on the other
side. Was there no 'ciyil society" in the
world before the advent of christianity?
The history of Greece and Rome will re-
fute the assertion. And where the exneri-
ment has been tried of excluding the bible
and nraver from schools in our fines.
there bas been no relanse. no want of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. - no s.subversion of civil
soc;e,v mo NEGLECT of the common cour-
,es;es and amenities of hiph toned social
life no axtv of morals have known
district schools in which the hihle was not
read nor nravers said. and they were not
one Whit behind apv school whose daily
sess;ons were onanoi with nravar and road
inc fror, Tho bible ei,,,ar in ;onrai stonG
me .rood behavior" or scholarship
ASd the Indications of nrocress in The II
rection Of The North CIarendnn rasolntion
are certainly verv tlatterne
The civ af Roston has eycIu6ed nraver
from its nnhlic schools thoupb # is left
ontinnal With the teacher IN resd from the
h,hia nv NOT bnt If read at ali il must he
absolutely without comment The citv
should go one aten further and exclude The
hihle Il i. n hone If contention. and there
are onv anornt Of class hooks less chico
t;onahIa in several nartionlars wb,c6
might mention thouph it is very true most
Of Them do need revising s,emascuIa ING :"
ae ,.I'exn has il But in all matters : re-
form we have N SNAKE haste slowly"
AGAIN. .,Christianitv. saws NV viewer
10 a mart or he common law of The state
Have we then a state religion? If this il
indeed 60 am sure il ia contrary 10 the